The History of Jayco® RVs

Jayco RV has become well-known across the country and continues to be a leading manufacturer in the RV industry. Although it’s safe to bet you’ve likely heard of Jayco, do you know the history of the brand? Our team at Broadmoor RV is excited to share a little bit of that history with you today!

It Started in Indiana

Lloyd and Bertha Bontrager took a daring leap in 1968 to turn a family dream into reality. They began nurturing their idea in Northern Indiana when Lloyd created a prototype camping trailer. His design featured a unique lift system for the fold-down camper.

Growing in the ‘70s

In 1970, Lloyd launched the first Jayco seminars to give dealers and Jayco employees the opportunity to meet. He was able to introduce new units and new plants were opened in Kansas and Canada. The company was growing, so the addition of new plants and hands-on learning opportunities helped them continue to flourish.

Focusing on Family

In the 1980s, the Jayco family lost Lloyd to a devastating plane crash. Despite the heartache of losing the man who created their vision, Jayco continued gaining momentum and focused even harder on the mission to bring family fun to the outdoors.

The company released the Jay-Trek, a wagon gear travel trailer that was able to take hitch weight away from the tow vehicle.

Modernizing the Industry

As the 2000s came around, the world was changing and Jayco was able to stay afloat. The Jay Feather® was introduced, new technology peaked interest in RV ownership, and in 2011 Jayco became the world’s biggest privately-held RV manufacturer.

As the world continues to change, namely during a global pandemic, Jayco is able to honor its history while looking toward the future. There’s no doubt they are still writing their own history! Our team at Broadmoor RV would love to show you firsthand how amazing Jayco RVs are. We are located in Tri-Cities, WA, and proudly serve the Seattle and Spokane areas.