Good & Not So Good
Good: Drivability. The 30GS handled and pulled like a much smaller RV and felt ill at ease only on the worst roads. The Ford E450 chassis also came equipped with a great set of power-assisted, antilock brakes. In a rig this large (14,500 pounds), strong stoppers are a necessity. Jayco’s cabinetry was another plus. Slamming the handcrafted maple cabinet doors of the 30GS produced a solid, reassuring thump. As my kid is a premier drawer-slammer, I consider myself an expert at judging quality by ear.
Not So Good: Exterior storage. When camping we take gear. Too much gear. We need someplace to put it. In this department more than anywhere else, the 30GS is lacking. It has outside storage compartments, but they are small and shallow. Our folding chairs ended up inside, and our fishing poles went in the shower. Note: It is not a good idea to place treble hooks in the shower.
Living With Greyhawk
Once packed, we headed east toward the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. With a 212-inch wheelbase, the 30GS handled our freeway transit easier than I anticipated. When there was finally an open highway ahead of us, I pressed the rig to a steady 65 mph. I’m a driver sort of guy. I like to drive things: sports cars, trucks, RVs, tractors, anything that has wheels. It gives me a sense—via my posterior—of how well a vehicle is built. I have to say, on my “wallowing” scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being race-car steady and 5 being a round-bottomed boat on a windswept lake, the 30GS rated a solid 2. It rode consistently solid and surefooted. A note on gas mileage: At the end of the trip, the 30GS averaged just over 9 mpg.
Beyond the city of Oakdale, California, and its neighboring green foothills, Highway 120 narrowed into a twisting ribbon that climbed steadily toward Yosemite Valley. Even in the tightening pass, the 30GS was a pleasure to drive. Only in a few occasions was a lower gear required to mount the steepening grade.
Although it measures 30 feet 10 inches from stem to stern, the Jayco was a breeze to maneuver through the small mountain towns that hung from the road. Added ease came from the backup camera and cabin-mounted monitor, another part of the optional Customer Value Package.