Community Forums

Riover · 02-04-2014, 05:59 PM

Did the factory tour today. Pretty neat. Learned about their new Class C Toyhauler available in diesel (Outlaw). Really nice. The tour was definitely worth the price (free) and I would recommend it to anybody who is interested in learning a little bit more about their rv to give it a go.

DGShaffer · 02-04-2014, 06:44 PM

You should go and see the Newmar plant. I like the way the side walls of the Thor are bolted to the side rather than the way Newmar bolts straight down through the floor. The vacuum bonded side walls are also superior to the way Newmar does it by smearing glue on the frame walls and propping the exterior skin in place with boards. They run all of their electric inside the walls where Thor runs it through the cabinetry so it's all accessible in case you need to get at it.

They do use air bags to mover their units from station to station though.

How about the RV Hall of Fame?

Riover · 02-06-2014, 01:38 PM

Looks like I'm getting my rolling home back tomorrow. Excited to get back on the road and excited to have it all fixed up.

Redridge · 02-06-2014, 01:40 PM

cool... what was on your to do list?

DGShaffer · 02-06-2014, 04:17 PM

Glad to hear it!

bdickson · 02-23-2014, 11:48 AM

Can anyone tell me what is the average lead time to get an appointment at Thor? It looks like I'll need to take the Challenger there for repairs. I noticed today that the windshield has popped out of its seal at both top corners, and the front cap to body seal has separated on each side down by the V10 badges, leaving a quarter inch gap for about 12 inches. My schedule would allow a visit to Elkhart the last week of March and I'm wondering if that is far enough out to get an appointment. Also, if anyone has had to have exterior paintwork done, how much time might that add to the job? I understand that paint jobs are sent out and not done by Thor themselves.

User1011 · 02-23-2014, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdickson

Can anyone tell me what is the average lead time to get an appointment at Thor? It looks like I'll need to take the Challenger there for repairs. I noticed today that the windshield has popped out of its seal at both top corners, and the front cap to body seal has separated on each side down by the V10 badges, leaving a quarter inch gap for about 12 inches. My schedule would allow a visit to Elkhart the last week of March and I'm wondering if that is far enough out to get an appointment. Also, if anyone has had to have exterior paintwork done, how much time might that add to the job? I understand that paint jobs are sent out and not done by Thor themselves.

Give Steve Reed a call or send him an email. Email is sreed@tmcrv.com
and his direct phone # is 574-584-2120. When I dealt with Steve a couple of weeks ago the earliest appointment he had open was the end of April. And, by now I'm sure it is well into May. Unless someone has cancelled I am pretty sure the end of March is not available. They also book appointments by the work that is requested and not just by a specific number of coaches per week. Steve got right back to us via email.

Good Luck.

Doggy Daddy · 02-23-2014, 12:10 PM

Call Thor direct and make an appointment. They do not take drive ups. Along my travels I stopped by there for a new windshield and they referred me to Total RV a few miles away. That was a mistake.

They installed the windshield improperly and less than 3 months later started shifting and they installed new wiper blades that did not lock on the metal arm. Thor took care of me

on the windshield and picked up the cost of having it reset. BUT stay away

from Total RV.

While in Elkhart, don't pass up visiting the Nat'l RV Museum http://www.rvmhhalloffame.org/rvhall.cfm

gmadams · 02-23-2014, 12:41 PM

I canceled my appointment for March 10th. Maybe you can grab that appointment. Steve Reed told me that they were now into late April/May for new appointments.

Palazzoblues · 02-24-2014, 09:07 AM

I am going to Elkhart next month to pick up my Palazzo. I plan on staying in my Palazzo for two nights before I drive it home so I can thoroughly go through everything to have the Service Techs address any problems. Where in distance and location in relationship to the Service Center building are the RV hookups Thor provides for those who choose to stay in their RV's while their units are being worked on? I have not asked that question yet and not really that concerned, but after looking on Google Earth at the Thor Plant and service center building all I saw were parking lots and grassy or gravel areas they keep chassis.

Crabby Mike · 02-24-2014, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Palazzoblues

I am going to Elkhart next month to pick up my Palazzo. I plan on staying in my Palazzo for two nights before I drive it home so I can thoroughly go through everything to have the Service Techs address any problems. Where in distance and location in relationship to the Service Center building are the RV hookups Thor provides for those who choose to stay in their RV's while their units are being worked on? I have not asked that question yet and not really that concerned, but after looking on Google Earth at the Thor Plant and service center building all I saw were parking lots and grassy or gravel areas they keep chassis.

About 50 yards -- the other side of the service center parking lot. (not across the street at the factory where they build some non-diesel products.)

Palazzoblues · 02-24-2014, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crabby Mike

About 50 yards -- the other side of the service center parking lot. (not across the street at the factory where they build some non-diesel products.)

Thanks Crabby Mike. I see it now. I was looking all over the factory parking lot area and not right there at the Thor Service Center parking lot. It looks like the power hookups are right there between the guard rails. WOW, I can see why we have to wait so long for appointments. There's not that many spots over there. Plus I am sure the winter up in Elkhart has not helped the situation at all. Google Earth and street view are a wonderful thing.

Crabby Mike · 02-24-2014, 03:34 PM

I don't think the number of hookup spots limits them, so much as how many coaches they can fit in the shop at one time. I don't think the majority of people stay in their coaches onsite -- I know we've been there 3 times (with two different coaches) and never stayed onsite -- stayed in hotels twice, and the most recent time, just left it with them to come back a week later. (Well, it ended up being 3 weeks due to weather.)

Good luck with your upcoming delivery -- I've followed your saga on two forums, and assume/hope it will have a happy ending. In any case, if you have any dealings with the Service Center folks, I'm sure you'll be impressed with them, as most of us are.

Palazzoblues · 02-24-2014, 04:24 PM

Mike, Thanks for the words of encouragement. This has been a long and tiring process. I will will fly in on March 12th and staying in a hotel the first night on Wednesday night. I hope they have everything ready to go. Tony @ Thor sent me a photo of our new Palazzo as it was already in the Service center as of last week. At least I know they are working on it. I will not have any transportation other than my new Palazzo. So, I plan on staying there all day long to go over it. I really want to stay over night to do "my own" inspection and hopefully anything small I find can be addressed on Friday. I also want to drive it before I leave Elkhart and drive it home. If push comes to shove I could possibly stay into the following week as long as I have a good internet connection as I have the ability to work remote. Really my only concern is the weather. I hope there are no major snow storms while I am there. I haven't figured out what we will do with the water pipes as I am sure it will still be very cold up there. I hope Thor has some good ideas. I am sure this is not the first time someone has stayed up there in the winter. There are a lot of things I am concerned about, but I am sure it will some how work out.