Jayco
Australia's largest RV manufacturer. Caravans, camper trailers, motorhomes, and pop-tops across all price segments.
Est. 1975 · Family-owned · Australian made
Key facts
Brand activity
Where it sits
Position in each ranked field, counted from the top.
Models
About Jayco
Background
Jayco Australia was founded in 1975 by Gerry Ryan, who had previously worked on the assembly line at Sunwagon Camper Trailers, eventually becoming foreman. A study tour to the United States led Ryan to work closely with Lloyd Bontrager, the owner of Jayco Inc in the US, and a lasting relationship between the Ryan and Bontrager families was formed. Ryan started with a $10,000 loan and a team of eight in a small shed in Cranbourne, Victoria. The first camper trailer prototype was completed in 1975, with the first production unit rolling off the line in January 1976.
Jayco has grown to become Australia’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles. As of 2015, the company was estimated to hold around 45 percent of the Australian caravan market. The company moved to a purpose-built 50-acre facility in Dandenong South in 2007, featuring a 60,000 square metre factory plus two additional complexes. Gerry Ryan stepped away as CEO in 2015 and remained as non-executive chairman. In the 2026 Australia Day Honours, Ryan was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to business, sports, tourism, and philanthropy.
Ownership & Structure
Jayco Australia is a privately owned company, still controlled by the Ryan family. It operates independently from Jayco Inc in the United States, though the two companies share a historical connection through the Bontrager family. Jayco Australia has no parent company and is not listed on any stock exchange. The company has over 150 dealers and service agents across Australia.
Manufacturing
All Jayco products are manufactured at the company’s large-scale facility in Dandenong South, Victoria. The factory produces caravans, camper trailers, motorhomes, and toy haulers. Jayco’s scale allows for production-line efficiencies. The company has invested in modern manufacturing equipment and processes over the years, and models carry a five-year structural warranty.
Market Position
Jayco builds everything from entry-level camper trailers (J-POD) through to large motorhomes.