Community Forums

james1411 · 08-13-2011, 02:44 PM

considering buying avanti, any owners that could share pros & cons, I would like to hear from them. Thanks in advance for any & all replies.
travel safe

Avanti2806 · 12-08-2011, 08:40 AM

We own an Avanti - some of our experiences can be found at:

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f26/damon...6-a-98868.html

LEZM3 · 06-24-2012, 02:54 PM

We purchased 3106 Avanti Labor Day weekend 2011. Overall very pleased.

tmcfaul1 · 02-09-2017, 12:37 AM

Do you still have your Avanti and if you still like it?

Reid · 02-10-2017, 07:41 AM

Yes, we still like our Avanti. Last year, went to the iRV2 rally in Elkhart and got a chance to tour Thor Class A factory. We were impressed with the construction. We also looked at many different brands. Did not see any that we felt were so good that we would trade in our Avanti. You asked for pros and cons

Pros:
- Streamlined design outside - helps get 14 mpg (when not towing)
- Interior: Curved doors and cabinets... classy look
- Pull down bed for guests or day sleeping.... easy and out of the way
- Supersized pass through rear storage
- Curved dining / seating. Table folds over to expand so 6 can dine
- Couch folds down for short bed
- Half-Time Oven: Microwave/convection/Infrared. Liked it so much bought one for home

Cons:
- Front Engine diesel is loud but doesn't bother me
- Did have problems with upholstery; Thor did not provide resolution because was not within one year warranty; upholstery manufacturer provided replacement material for my cost reupholstery.
- Had some leaks at front windows... caused by Damon factory failing to drill weep holes in window frame
- Initial trip after purchase - water all leaked out; Damon failed to secure water tank sufficiently and hose pulled out when tank shifted
- The Carefree awning is not carefree and wasn't long enough. While it was electric, you had to deploy the feet to raise level so you could open door and not hit underside of awning; switched to a 17' Dometic... MUCH better!

We've made numerous changes / upgrades to make our RVing experience better e.g.
- Added a drop down shelf to left of sink to expand food prep area
- Added Fridge-Fix (Smart RV Products) twin fan/light to keep fridge cooler
- Added a SeeLevel II Tank Monitor (Garnet Instruments Inc) to replace fresh / grey / black tank monitor that gave only 1/3, 2/3, full reading. SeeLevel provides exact percent
- ARP refrigerator control - was installed to reduce chance of damage to refrigerator caused by unlevel operation and to reduce chance of fire
- Unit has some LED lights but switched out all remaining lights to LED
- Switched out 12 volt battery with four 6-volt to increase electrical capacity when dry camping
- Added small solar capability with stick-on solar panels

Reid and Karen... currently at Key West Naval Air Station Sigsbee RV park

tmcfaul1 · 02-10-2017, 10:16 PM

Thank you so much in taking your time for such a thorough response, really helpful!

tmcfaul1 · 02-14-2017, 10:23 AM

To Reid's reply
-" Front Engine diesel is loud but doesn't bother me"

Thanks for your list of con's, since the other half is quite sensitive to noise, what decibels would you say the diesel engine is at? -as comparing to our dishwasher at around 50 decibel which doesn't require talking above the normal conversation voice level. Our current View noise level is acceptable to us.
I hope you were able to take care of the other con's without too much trouble from Thor. We're looking at a 2011 Avanti now but it's located 1000 miles from us so checking it out is not so easy and not sure what issues it might have or its bugs had been worked out. Any advice on this would be much appreciated.

tmcFaul

Reid · 02-15-2017, 05:44 PM

tmcfaul,

I don't have a DB meter but am guessing that the inside volume of the diesel is probably near what you have with your dishwasher. Outside, the sound is louder than your dishwasher.

You should probably inquire what is the engine/chassis of the one you are looking at (from afar). Ours was sold as a 2011 but if you look at the 2011 brochures it shows a Cummins / Freightliner. Our 3106 is a Workhorse / MaxxForce5 combo so it really is a leftover 2011 but completed in 2011. I don't know if there is a difference in the engine sound between the two. The MaxxForce5 uses diesel exhaust recirculation to clear engine pollutants. The new EPA restrictions caused new diesels to have to use Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF). I am not sure if the Cummins uses diesel exhaust recirculation or not

Yes, all of the work that Damon failed to do in the factory was either done by warranty or by myself.
Bottom Line: We love our Avanti!
Reid

tmcfaul1 · 02-17-2017, 10:34 AM

Thanks for the info again. We talked to the sale rep and was told that it is a F chassis and Cummins engine, then he said the reason Thor switched to the C from the Maxxforce was the noise, that the C is alot quieter than the M., like by half and closer to the View-true or false or he just said what we wanted to hear??

Btw, I downloaded a free sound meter app to my phone and it does a pretty good job of measuring the db level. If you're curious and have a chance to play around with this app, please let us know what you find on your Avanti in idling and in driving.
Another concern we have is the Avanti length, have you had any issues with parking in town, grocery stores, restaurants, staying at state parks and such? we have no issues with our View being only 26 ft long.

Glad you're still loving your Avanti even after many years (5?), we're still searching and if the other half can tolerate the noise, perhaps we've found ours too

Reid · 02-18-2017, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmcfaul1

Thanks for the info again. We talked to the sale rep and was told that it is a F chassis and Cummins engine, then he said the reason Thor switched to the C from the Maxxforce was the noise, that the C is alot quieter than the M., like by half and closer to the View-true or false or he just said what we wanted to hear??

Btw, I downloaded a free sound meter app to my phone and it does a pretty good job of measuring the db level. If you're curious and have a chance to play around with this app, please let us know what you find on your Avanti in idling and in driving.
Another concern we have is the Avanti length, have you had any issues with parking in town, grocery stores, restaurants, staying at state parks and such? we have no issues with our View being only 26 ft long.

Glad you're still loving your Avanti even after many years (5?), we're still searching and if the other half can tolerate the noise, perhaps we've found ours too

You didn't say what the DB app was.
We don't take our Avanti into town for shopping or whatever though we will stop at Walmart, Lowe's and other stores with big parking lots. When we travel, we tow a Mini Cooper on an Acme tow dolly and use the Mini to go to town. The Mini is automatic and has to travel with front wheels off the ground. The Acme tow dolly is just about smallest made...The ramps are not permanently connected so they don't stick out when parked like others and it can go completely under back of Avanti. When we are traveling to a destination (like Key West where we are now), we don't stop at campgrounds. I like to travel late so we will pull into a Cracker Barrel restaurant (always asking if we can park overnight) and eat there that night and/or in the morning.

tmcfaul1 · 02-19-2017, 10:10 PM

Sorry, the free db app is called Sound Meter with the letters dB on it. Just go to the play store on your phone and type in sound meter app. Then follow instruction to calibrate it and you're good to go.
So what do you think of the salesman's claim of lower spumds level of Cummins vs. MaxxForce engine?

Our current Winnebago is our 3rd MH and the other half doesn't like the idea of towing a toad so we've been either renting a car or driving the MH to wherever and it has worked for us since all three MH lengths are less than 26ft. I've hoping for a "regular" size bed plus more storage, hence, attempting to upgrade.

Thanks so much for taking your time with these comments. How do you like Key West, we haven't rv'ed there but have stayed at Fiddle Cove Marina RV Parks as well as Seal Beach Naval Station a couple times and they are both nice locations.

Reid · 02-20-2017, 12:39 PM

The Avanti 3106 is 32 feet long...

tmcfaul1 · 07-21-2017, 01:32 PM

We're looking for a 2012 Thor Avanti 3106 to buy, please let us know, thanks.

Scarab0088 · 07-21-2017, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmcfaul1

We're looking for a 2012 Thor Avanti 3106 to buy, please let us know, thanks.

Very rare as the last year the chassis (Freightliner/Cummins FRED) was used - actually the last of the 2010's - I think:
NADA shows that Damon's last regular year (merged to create TMC) was 2011. The 2012 is the last year available and as a TMC model line.

Here's a 2806 of the model year -
https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/201...ANTI-122649529

Best luck