Sunseeker or Jayco Class C Bunkhouse

FEZ · 04-26-2012, 04:06 PM

We are looking at buying the Sunseeker 3170DS or Jayco Greyhwak 31FS. Please offer feedback on both. Thank you!

**bclemens** · 04-27-2012, 09:41 AM

I will preface this by telling you I am biased...but will give you a few comparisons, some may or may not be important to you.

Sunseeker features on the left - Jayco on the right
Heated Enclosed Tanks - Not enclosed, 12v pad heaters
Dump Valves Protected - Dump Valves exposed
Fiberglass Roof - Rubber Roof
2" Thick Sidewalls (R9.5)- 1 1/2" Thick Sidewalls (R5.5)
Azdel Composite under fiberglass - wood paneling under fiberglass
Available Serta Mattress - self made mattress
80 cubic feet of exterior storage - 37 cubic feet
Porcelain toilet - plastic toilet
Integrated entry step - power step
Optional power seat - standard power seat
Stainless steel sink - plastic sink

The 3170 bunks feature a bunk on top and a jack knife sofa below, so if it is raining the kids have their own area with a 19" TV, DVD player and gaming hook ups. The Jayco offers (2) bunks with 7" individual dvd players, if they use this area during the day they have to sit on the bottom bed and they only get to watch a 7" screen...no PS3, Wii of X-Box hook ups.

A few more notes. The Sunseeker back up camera is in the rear view mirror leaving the 7" touchscreen radio screen free for GPS or changing stations. That way if you are towing something you can have both screens going. The 7" touchscreen is also bluetooth ready...step in, pair your phone and you are hands free through the dash speakers. Also, this radio is 12v along with the 12v LED TV's so no need to run the generator or an inverter to watch TV going down the road.

The Jayco does offer a 2 year warranty, compared to the 1 year on the Sunseeker, but most of the equipment is covered by the manufacturer for more than one year anyway (water heater, furnace, slide outs, etc)

It's up to you to decide which interior you like better, but that should give you a good feature break down.

FEZ · 04-27-2012, 09:50 AM

Bclemens, thank you for the insight. I never viewed it from a side-by-side comparison like that before.

**bclemens** · 04-27-2012, 10:03 AM

I'd be more than happy to give additional details on any individual items...there are more things to compare but that gives you a good start when figuring out what the best value is.

Here is a picture of the kids zone (ignore the optional desk that can go in that area). It makes for a pretty versatile area for kids of all ages.

hunt247 · 04-27-2012, 10:10 AM

I'm not sure about Jayco, but I believe the Sunseekers are the only ones that have 7ft interior height. This also creates more storage in overhead cabinets above the sofa, dinette, and kitchen sink.

WoodbneK · 06-03-2012, 12:18 PM

How does the Sunseeker 3170DS compare with the Winnebago/Itasca, Access/Impulse 31JP? I really like the Kid Zone and the enclosed heated tanks on the Sunseeker but the quality of the Winne is very nice. Have you compared the two? I have it narrowed down to these two models and I will buy very soon.

FEZ · 06-03-2012, 01:27 PM

Hey all,
I just got my new 2013 Sunseeker 3170DS. We had it out for the first time this weekend, and loved it! There was nothing that disappointed me at all, and I even noticed a few things that were a plus. The quality I feel is top notch, and the price I feel was well worth it. I even would take this over the Winnie.

420brady · 08-07-2012, 07:58 AM

This is a great comparison thread. There are a lot of things I like about the 3170/3171 including the bottom couch/bunk. Question (since I haven't yet been able to spend any time in one), can the couch stay in bunk position with interfering with the walkway to the bedroom or with the bathroom door?

For those of you with kids, are there other models that suit a young family as well?

It seems like the Jayco 31fs offers an outside kitchen on the bunk slide out. My wife seems to really like this. Is this an option in the 3170/3171? What would this do to the CCC? CCC on the bunkhouse plan is my biggest concern, especially if I add the auto leveling jacks...

Finally, another thread mentioned some new floor plans to be unveiled in September. Will they be at the Hershey, PA RV show?

**bclemens** · 08-07-2012, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 420brady

This is a great comparison thread. There are a lot of things I like about the 3170/3171 including the bottom couch/bunk. Question (since I haven't yet been able to spend any time in one), can the couch stay in bunk position with interfering with the walkway to the bedroom or with the bathroom door? Yes, it does not take much more space at all

For those of you with kids, are there other models that suit a young family as well?

It seems like the Jayco 31fs offers an outside kitchen on the bunk slide out. My wife seems to really like this. Is this an option in the 3170/3171? What would this do to the CCC? CCC on the bunkhouse plan is my biggest concern, especially if I add the auto leveling jacks...I have not seen the kitchen in the Jayco version. We offer an outside kitchen in the 2860/61. Its a great feature, but yes, trying to do that on a bunk model would further reduce the CCC...which is already fairly tight on a 3170. I'm not sure how Jayco would pull that off when they are normally heavier than we are

Finally, another thread mentioned some new floor plans to be unveiled in September. Will they be at the Hershey, PA RV show?

We will have a new Solera at hershey, but no the Sunseeker/Forester. That won't debut until a few weeks after that.

**bclemens** · 08-07-2012, 08:18 AM

I just looked at the Jayco kitchen. Looks like no sink and no TV outside.

ofranco · 08-07-2012, 09:38 AM

Hershey, PA RV show is September 12 to 16
New Sunseeker/Forester debuts a few weeks later.
Assuming there is a new 3170DS (floor plan change, features change, etc.)
When does Forest River start accepting 3170DS orders and when do the first ones start to roll off the assembly line?

**bclemens** · 08-07-2012, 10:11 AM

I don't think we'll be changing the 3170 much. Exterior & Interior colors mainly. Changing what is optional/standard...but no new options. The only other chance was adding (2) seat belts to the rear sofa and that was a running change.

420brady · 08-07-2012, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bclemens

I don't think we'll be changing the 3170 much. Exterior & Interior colors mainly. Changing what is optional/standard...but no new options. The only other chance was adding (2) seat belts to the rear sofa and that was a running change.

Sorry if this is a crazy question but are these change to the 2013 models? Or are they new 2013 models? It seems like the '13 product line is out and available.

**bclemens** · 08-07-2012, 12:57 PM

2013's are on dealer lots now but we will offer some additional colors as they become available during the 2013 model year. The seatbelts are already changed as well.

paulmlac · 08-07-2012, 04:50 PM

Nooo... We just bought a 2013 3100. Hoping it's not "extinct" by the end of September (being discontinued, changed significantly, etc). I'm in sales so understand about product life cycles. Just hoping it's not our only 5 day old baby!

SNB · 08-07-2012, 11:02 PM

I have a 2011 Forester 3171DS. The second couch area is really nice to have (both for kids and adults). We really haven't any major problems. Just got back from a nice week in the Tetons with kids and grandma.

Would be nice to get seat belts in the back couch as the kids get older so they can be separated -- too bad that feature is coming out now instead of two years ago...

**bclemens** · 08-08-2012, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulmlac

Nooo... We just bought a 2013 3100. Hoping it's not "extinct" by the end of September (being discontinued, changed significantly, etc). I'm in sales so understand about product life cycles. Just hoping it's not our only 5 day old baby!

No major changes on the 3100 either. Again, our big model redesign was back in 2009-2010. All we're doing is adding some colors and maybe tweaking the specs. (For example making the Onan gen standard and eliminating the Generac)

**bclemens** · 08-25-2012, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WoodbneK

How does the Sunseeker 3170DS compare with the Winnebago/Itasca, Access/Impulse 31JP? I really like the Kid Zone and the enclosed heated tanks on the Sunseeker but the quality of the Winne is very nice. Have you compared the two? I have it narrowed down to these two models and I will buy very soon.

Sorry, for some reason I missed this post. Attached is a comparison we did a while back. I'm not 100% sure it is totally accurate for 2013. It was for 2012 models however.

43firefighter · 08-29-2012, 10:24 AM

We just rceived out 2013 Sunseeker 3170DS. There were supposed to be seatbelts on the rear couch as well as the couch should have been bolted to the frame. Neither are there. Trying to find out how to get this corrected. The dealer we bought it from is saying it has to go thru warranty. The local dealer which is much closer says that repair would have to be completed at the factory. Any help on this??

Rene · 10-15-2012, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 43firefighter

We just rceived out 2013 Sunseeker 3170DS. There were supposed to be seatbelts on the rear couch as well as the couch should have been bolted to the frame. Neither are there. Trying to find out how to get this corrected. The dealer we bought it from is saying it has to go thru warranty. The local dealer which is much closer says that repair would have to be completed at the factory. Any help on this??

We have a 2012 Sunseeker 3170ds. We did the factory tour while it was being built. We requested to have seatbelts installed on the back couch in the kid zone, we were told the factory could not do that because it would not meet DOT requirements. Our dealer said that they could put them in for us but we would have to sign off as knowing it didn't pass DOT requirements. We dropped the idea and the grandkids ride on the dinette and the front couch where the belts are DOT approved. Precious cargo so we don't take chances.

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