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06-05-2014, 09:18 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 13
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23U Chateau build quality
We just returned from a 6k trip in new Thor Chateau 23U, FL to Southwest to NC and encountered many build problems (about 20 manufacturing defects) with unit including four serious water leaks, mis-wired TV antenna and keyless entry, inoperative power awning, rubbing mud flap, rubbing LPG copper line, improperly fused electrical panel, misaligned and sprung hinge on bath door, bowed screen door,and a plethora of annoying other issues. I previously owned a similar Winnebago for seven years and had very few problems. To exacerbate the problem, the dealer has been totally ineffective, but I'm an engineer and repaired all but three of the problems, many on the road.
Candidly, I’m sorry that I traded the Winnebago; new isn’t always better! My bad. Winnebago didn’t offer the Chevrolet platform anymore.
The bright spot is the Chevrolet 3500, which is a dream and my fuel mileage varied from 11 (with strong headwinds) to 14 mpg, but I drive a geezerly 55-60. (Remember the drag equation from aerodynamics?) The new 6L90 transmission is ideal, especially with the manual mode, which allows selecting the highest gear when climbing. The Winnebago had the Chevrolet 4500 chassis, which was over capacity and rode harshly, even with reduced tire inflation. It also had a four-speed transmission, not as flexible as the new six-speed.
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06-05-2014, 11:33 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: At various Florida State Parks.
Posts: 967
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RVGeek:
Welcome to the Forum and so sad that a manufacturer can let that many things slide by quality control. Sounds like it never went thru quality control. We hear about a lot of items that were never properly installed on new models, I guess that is why some people prefer to buy a two year old model in hopes that most of the items are repaired by the previous owner.
Again sorry to hear about your problems. Let's hope things will get better. Best of luck.
__________________
George and Brenda
2005 Newmar Dutch Star 3810, Spartan with CAT7
2013 Honda Fit
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06-05-2014, 02:51 PM
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#3
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,622
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Welcome to IRV2! It's great to have you join the gang!
Sorry you're having all the problems! Enjoy the forum!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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06-05-2014, 08:10 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 847
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Welcome to the irv2 gang! You should be able to feel and hear the collective wince followed by a groan from those of us reading your post....ouch!
The long term good news is indeed the Chevy chassis being what you want, but my vote goes to the fact that you're an engineer and "handy." Some of us (at least me) are not fortunate in that category. I hope that when the kinks are eliminated you guys have a great time with your new wheels!
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06-06-2014, 05:09 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Buffalo, IA
Posts: 2,825
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Welcome to the forum....
__________________
Terry & Brenda - From the Iowa Banks of the Mighty Mississippi
2011 Winnie Journey 34y, Freightliner / Cummins , 2012 Chevy Colorado Toad
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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06-06-2014, 07:44 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fair Play, SC
Posts: 986
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Howdy from SC and welcome to the forums. Sorry to hear about all your RV problems.
__________________
Richie, Rose and our Australian Terrier Harley
2004 Bounder 35R, 2012 ACME EZtow,2012 Kia Rio Hatchback
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06-06-2014, 09:25 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Country Coach Owners Club Retired Fire Service RVer's
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Ocala, Florida
Posts: 6,295
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Welcome and glad to meet you!
__________________
FMCA #F431170, GS #822128658, Escapees SKP #112655
2012 Airstream Mercedes Interstate Class B
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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06-08-2014, 10:47 AM
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#8
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Community Administrator
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Marquette, Michigan "Da UP" & Lehigh Acres Florida
Posts: 21,822
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__________________
John & Cathy R.
06 Pace Arrow 38L Workhorse W24
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06-08-2014, 08:53 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Fair Play, SC
Posts: 986
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Howdy from SC and welcome to the forums. Hope you work out all the issues soon.
__________________
Richie, Rose and our Australian Terrier Harley
2004 Bounder 35R, 2012 ACME EZtow,2012 Kia Rio Hatchback
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09-22-2014, 08:00 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 437
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bump 8=), How is the 23U working out???????
Saw one that was being traded in, while shopping for Rv this weekend, We really liked the layout. Talked to the owner, who was trading it in on a class A, as he was taking his 8 grandkids on trips, and wanted a bunkhouse A.
2011 with 21K on it, very good condition, I think the dealer was asking 45k for it.
seems a little high, but it is a dealer, and they always shoot high, and come down
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09-22-2014, 08:47 PM
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#11
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Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 31,302
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Sorry to hear that you have had so many problems with your new Chateau. Most new MH have some problems but it sounds like yiou had more then your fair share. Glad you have most of them straightened out.
Happy Trails!!!
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
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09-22-2014, 11:17 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Solo Rvers Club
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Ham Lake, MN
Posts: 3,038
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Glad you're aboard. Sorry you had problems with the new Thor. Thanks for sharing the info. Enjoy your adventures and be safe.
__________________
Have a wonderful day!
Ken (RVM 87)
FT DP Wanna B The journey is the destination!
Retired & perfecting procrastination!
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09-23-2014, 11:12 AM
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#13
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by IamJerryP
bump 8=), How is the 23U working out???????
Saw one that was being traded in, while shopping for Rv this weekend, We really liked the layout. Talked to the owner, who was trading it in on a class A, as he was taking his 8 grandkids on trips, and wanted a bunkhouse A.
2011 with 21K on it, very good condition, I think the dealer was asking 45k for it.
seems a little high, but it is a dealer, and they always shoot high, and come down
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$45k is really too high. I paid $53k new (2015 model), and had the privilege of debugging it! It's about there now, and I'm starting to feel relaxed going out, but we did discover another leak this weekend.
I agree the layout is very good and the bed is 80" long (but 54" wide). Thor is now including a TV, porcelain toilet, electric awning (though the gear train was a problem with mine), glass shower doors and several other items standard. The spare tire is an option! There is a storage location in the basement for one, and I bought a wheel and tire separately for about $150. It's a must; I had a defective valve stem in remote NM and it came in handy.
Thor makes the 23U in several brands. if you go that way, I suggest you make sure the dealer will commit to fix the bugs.
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09-23-2014, 07:00 PM
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#14
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Senior Member/RVM #90
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Columbus, MS
Posts: 54,622
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Welcome to IRV2! It's great to have you join the gang here!
Hope you get all those problems solved! Enjoy the forum!
Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!
__________________
Joe & Annette
Sometimes I sits and thinks, sometimes I just sits.....
2002 Monaco Windsor 40PBT, 2013 Honda CRV AWD
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