Community Forums

TheBusDriver · 04-26-2015, 07:03 AM

I am looking into getting a 2015 or 2016 Jayco Seneca 37HJ to go Full timing but have so many questions, all my research has been on Class A diesel pushers. We have buses uses Freightliner M2 chassis with the same engine and transmission so I know how they perform, my question is on everything else. I know Jayco has the best warranty with 2 years, I was doing all my research on the Entegra’s but realistically the Seneca is all we need with the right floor plan.

1. How much propane do you go through?. I see the stove, tank less water heater and refrigerator uses the propane. Does the refrigerator run on house batteries before propane when not on shore power??.

2. Is there anyone Full Timing with a Seneca and how are you doing with living space?.

3. The Seneca has a small DEF tank, how often do you have to fill the tank?.

4. I don’t see the CB antenna on the option list but I see most of the Seneca’s have it on the driver’s side mirror, is this standard equipment?

These are just a few questions I have but I know I will have more. If you have other positive or negatives on the Seneca please share them with us.

Thank you in advance to all the members.

FixerCQI · 04-26-2015, 09:11 AM

Take this for what it's worth, I'm not a Senaca owner but very nearly was. I research things to death when I'm interested. If there is one thing I've learned from this forum it's the recurring advice to buy your last MH FIRST!

Oh, and listen to what your dear wife wants for sure!

With regards your questions:
1. You can select which way the fridge runs, but how much propane you will use is very difficult to predict. There is a forum section about Boon-docking here that should give you many tips no matter which unit you use. Boondocking - iRV2 Forums

2. There is adequate space for sure in the Seneca to full time. All of the necessities and many of the luxuries are there too. There is 127.4CFT of basement storage, so that is adequate. Mostly it depends on the Boon-docker

.

3. Sorry, I can't remember how big the DEF tank is, but, according to Cummins and the DEF manufacturers and several respected forum members your Seneca 340 should get somewhere between 500 to 1000MPG. The driving conditions greatly influence the MPG.

4. I think if you order a Seneca from the factory you can have a CB antennae installed, but the whole CB system is a personal choice from many different types of equipment that serve many different requirements. So most people pick out the various components of the system themselves and either DIY or get pro installation. (It's way cheaper to)

I have more general info here http://www.irv2.com/forums/f113/2014...ml#post1976645 and here http://www.irv2.com/forums/f26/exhau...ml#post1970206

One good thing going for it, if you boon-dock, is the length. It will be easier to maneuver into many places. I have also heard that it is very competent on the road. Best of luck for you and yours no matter how you choose... fixercqi

KC · 04-26-2015, 10:07 AM

Wife and I are also looking at the Seneca, and at some point we will be using it full time for about 5 months in the year.

DEF has about 6 gallons per my sales guy (not sure if he is correct or not). But how you drive/ and conditions do matter.

Most fridges like the one in the Seneca run on Propane, Electric and some also run on DC.

Seneca has the CB antenna all ready installed.

KC

TheBusDriver · 04-26-2015, 07:26 PM

Thanks FixerCQI & KC for your replies, I try to research everything I can find as well, most of my research was on the Jayco Entegra’s all electric coaches. But after looking at the cost of an Entegra Anthem or even the Aspire with propane, I can still enjoy the Full Timing with a Jayco Seneca 37HJ and not blow all my retirement funds to do it. I guess my biggest issue was always having to fill up propane with the additional cost and inconvenience after just refuelling the coach. Well that’s something I will have to get used to. The floor plan on the Seneca 37HJ is a perfect setup for us with the TV/ fireplace across from the coach and a nice wardrobe area in the back. The dresser draws with table top and TV looks very close to the bedroom area of the Entegra’s. As for the CB’s I have 2 so that’s not a problem wiring it up, I just saw the CB antenna on the drivers mirror but I didn’t see it on the option listing so I wasn’t sure if it was standard equipment. I would have liked the pass through in the storage area but at least on the Seneca the storage doors are nice and large, I just have to find a place for wash brush poles, mops and ladder.

KC · 04-27-2015, 06:29 AM

Thebusdriver, are you planning on boondocking or going to campgrounds? If campgrounds you can us shore power to do most of your work, with Heat pumps, electric element in the hot water tank, you should not be using much Propane.

KC

TheBusDriver · 04-27-2015, 02:59 PM

Hi KC, from what I can tell the tankless water heat is make by Girard Model GSWH-1M. Reading the product info sheet on the tankless heater it didn’t mention anything on shore power so I have the salesmen at Sicard RV check for me. He did mention there are a lot of new changes coming on the 2016 Seneca’s.

KC · 04-27-2015, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBusDriver

Hi KC, from what I can tell the tankless water heat is make by Girard Model GSWH-1M. Reading the product info sheet on the tankless heater it didn’t mention anything on shore power so I have the salesmen at Sicard RV check for me. He did mention there are a lot of new changes coming on the 2016 Seneca’s.

Some of the units I have seen do have electric elements in them.

KC

mwwade · 04-27-2015, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC

Wife and I are also looking at the Seneca, and at some point we will be using it full time for about 5 months in the year.

DEF has about 6 gallons per my sales guy (not sure if he is correct or not). But how you drive/ and conditions do matter.

Most fridges like the one in the Seneca run on Propane, Electric and some also run on DC.

Seneca has the CB antenna all ready installed.

KC

. The antenna mounted on the drivers side, is the radio antenna. When mine was delivered the antenna was missing, and I had no radio reception. Radio worked great when antenna was installed. It looks just like a cb antenna?

TheBusDriver · 04-28-2015, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwwade

. The antenna mounted on the drivers side, is the radio antenna. When mine was delivered the antenna was missing, and I had no radio reception. Radio worked great when antenna was installed. It looks just like a cb antenna?

Hi MWWade, I know it looks like a CB antenna and connector when you first look at it, ghuffman3 on the Jayco Owners Forum works for Freightliner and mentioned when they build Class 8 trucks they always install a unit called a multiplexer which your coax cable would connect to a pigtail. I will have to give Jayco customer service a call for this one.

TheBusDriver · 04-28-2015, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KC

Some of the units I have seen do have electric elements in them.

KC

Hi KC, I know the older Seneca’s I believe I read somewhere in all this fact finding on Jayco’s tankless water heaters that some had a 6 gallon water tank with electric/ propane. So I put the question to the sales rep at Sicard RV to check on the tankless water heater and to see who the maker of the 34,000 BTU furnace if it runs on electric/ propane or just propane as well. This will most likely be a call to the Jayco customer service to get the right answer.