One of the most noticeable things about the Starcraft 15 is its size or lack thereof. It’s just 4.9m (16ft 1in) long and has a travelling height of just 2.23m (7ft 4in). That’s mighty attractive to anyone who fancies the caravan lifestyle but is daunted by a large towing combination.
Jayco’s caravan construction technique is fairly standard throughout its range. The manufacturer’s Endurance chassis is designed in-house and in this case has 100x50mm (4in x 2in) main rails and drawbar. Where it differs from a typical industry chassis is in the cross members. Instead of being 50x50mm (2in x 2in) RHS, Jayco used pressed steel C section – the C section still gives good strength but the punched holes reduce the overall weight.
On the drawbar is one 9kg gas cylinder which is going to last forever if used just for cooking. However, for handling and ‘don’t run out’ reasons, it does seem to me that two smaller 4.5kg cylinders might be better.
Up front, the bedroom area looks fairly similar to a conventional caravan, except that the overhead lockers above the bed are somewhat lower than usual. Otherwise there is the normal amount of cupboard and drawer space.
In a van layout like this, the corner lounge arrangement works well. It’s designed such that two people can get in and out quite easily. Underneath the seats there are a couple of drawers and also a double powerpoint.
Stay tuned for the full review coming next month in Caravan World #566. Subscribe today for the latest caravan reviews and news every month!