2017 Thor Freedom Elite 29FE / need opinions
Seriously considering purchasing a brand new 2017 Thor Freedom Elite 29FE. Any information and opinions (good or bad) would be greatly appreciated. Looked at the unit today a Camping world. Got a pri...
Forum Discussion
Ron's list is very good. I'm sure that he probably spend a lot of time putting it together.
Here's a few other Class C design and convenience things to consider. Decide which ones are important to you when looking for a Class C. Our Winnebago Spirit line Class C meets most of these criteria - by pure luck because we didn't consider or know about any of this when shopping:
1. How large are the outside storage cabinets and how many are there? These cabinets can be taller in a Class C designed as a "basement" model. You can tell if a Class C has a basement design by looking at the floor of the cab and the floor of the coach. If the coach floor is higher than the floor of the cab (in other words there is a step up between them), then it's a basement design and most likely has outside storage cabinets are taller.
2. A basement model Class C will most likely also have a shorter climb up into the cabover bed because of the coach floor being higher than the cab floor.
3. Do the outside storage cabinets have metal walls and bottoms or are they fiberglass? (steel is superior)
4. Are the cab running boards aluminum or fiberglass? (aluminum is superior)
5. Is the freshwater tank at least 35-40 gallons ... not including at least 6 more gallons in the hot water heater?
6. Is the propane tank at least 14-18 gallons?
7. Is the total capacity of the grey water tank plus black water tank at least 60 gallons and is their plumbing and valves layed out so that they can be combined together if necessary when drycamping so as to extend the time between dumpings?
8. Can the hot water heater be powered by both propane and 120V AC?
9. Is there a full size spare tire included with the RV?
10. Is there a built-in ladder for access to the roof when on trips?
11. Are the rear wheel wells lined with steel so that a rear tire blowout isn't so likely to damage the coach?
12. Are the roof vent lids also covered with vent covers so that you can have the vents open in heavy rains and high winds?
13. Are the engine exhaust manifolds shielded so that the cab floor doesn't get so hot when traveling in warm weather?
14. Is all exterior plumbing mounted up high so that you can't see it - or catch it - on a curb or rock or tree root?
15. Is the black water drain hose stored conveniently in it's own outside cabinet instead of in a long square tube on the back of the coach?
16. Are the cab mirrors remotely controlled and do they tip up enough so that the driver can see way up to the rear roof corners to help miss high tree limes when backing into camp sites?
17. Is the toilet mounted on a raised pedestal (not the best), instead of right on the same level as the bathroom floor?
18. Is there a water pump switch on the bathroom wall reachable while on the commode?
19. Is there a bathroom roof vent with and exhaust fan with it's switch on the bathroom wall reachable while on the commode?
20. Does it come with curtains to block off the cabover bed, the cab area, and the other sleeping areas?
21. Is there a night light built-in down near the floor surface, near the bathroom area entrance, and with it's switch mounted conveniently near the bathroom entrance?
22. Are all coach storage drawers mounted on steel slides and do they have gravity locks so they can't come open on rough roads?
23. Do the doors on the outside storage cabinets have the convenient drop-shut latches?
24. Does it have an automatic step?
25. Does the automatic step when retracted tuck neatly and safely up into an opening in the coach wall ... or when retracted does it sill hang below the coach wall to maybe get hung up on things such as curbs?
26. Is the built-in generator installed well enough to be relatively quiet from the outside and comfortably quiet from the inside on long run-times for drycamping air conditioning and/or battery charging?
27. Is the built-in generator mounted up high enough so it's bottom as not visible from outside the coach nor exposed to possibe damge from hitting things?
28. Is the storage area under any and all coach dining seats completely available for storage - or is some of it taken up by the furnace or water heater?
29. Are the air conditioning and furnace outlet ducts distributed throughout the coach and at each duct can their air be aimed any direction, and can the air conditioning ducts' amount of airflow be adjusted at each duct (too much cold A/C air can be annoying when napping in a bed or eating at the table).
30. Are there speakers back in the coach for the cab radio?
31. Are there plenty of 12 volt receptacles and 120 volt outlets throughout the coach?
32. Does the coach have room included for at least two coach batteries of at least two 12 volt Group 27 batteries or two 6 volt golf cart batteries ... just in case the capacity is needed when not on hookups?
33. Is there an outside 120V AC receptacle?
Good luck with your search!
Here's a few other Class C design and convenience things to consider. Decide which ones are important to you when looking for a Class C. Our Winnebago Spirit line Class C meets most of these criteria - by pure luck because we didn't consider or know about any of this when shopping:
1. How large are the outside storage cabinets and how many are there? These cabinets can be taller in a Class C designed as a "basement" model. You can tell if a Class C has a basement design by looking at the floor of the cab and the floor of the coach. If the coach floor is higher than the floor of the cab (in other words there is a step up between them), then it's a basement design and most likely has outside storage cabinets are taller.
2. A basement model Class C will most likely also have a shorter climb up into the cabover bed because of the coach floor being higher than the cab floor.
3. Do the outside storage cabinets have metal walls and bottoms or are they fiberglass? (steel is superior)
4. Are the cab running boards aluminum or fiberglass? (aluminum is superior)
5. Is the freshwater tank at least 35-40 gallons ... not including at least 6 more gallons in the hot water heater?
6. Is the propane tank at least 14-18 gallons?
7. Is the total capacity of the grey water tank plus black water tank at least 60 gallons and is their plumbing and valves layed out so that they can be combined together if necessary when drycamping so as to extend the time between dumpings?
8. Can the hot water heater be powered by both propane and 120V AC?
9. Is there a full size spare tire included with the RV?
10. Is there a built-in ladder for access to the roof when on trips?
11. Are the rear wheel wells lined with steel so that a rear tire blowout isn't so likely to damage the coach?
12. Are the roof vent lids also covered with vent covers so that you can have the vents open in heavy rains and high winds?
13. Are the engine exhaust manifolds shielded so that the cab floor doesn't get so hot when traveling in warm weather?
14. Is all exterior plumbing mounted up high so that you can't see it - or catch it - on a curb or rock or tree root?
15. Is the black water drain hose stored conveniently in it's own outside cabinet instead of in a long square tube on the back of the coach?
16. Are the cab mirrors remotely controlled and do they tip up enough so that the driver can see way up to the rear roof corners to help miss high tree limes when backing into camp sites?
17. Is the toilet mounted on a raised pedestal (not the best), instead of right on the same level as the bathroom floor?
18. Is there a water pump switch on the bathroom wall reachable while on the commode?
19. Is there a bathroom roof vent with and exhaust fan with it's switch on the bathroom wall reachable while on the commode?
20. Does it come with curtains to block off the cabover bed, the cab area, and the other sleeping areas?
21. Is there a night light built-in down near the floor surface, near the bathroom area entrance, and with it's switch mounted conveniently near the bathroom entrance?
22. Are all coach storage drawers mounted on steel slides and do they have gravity locks so they can't come open on rough roads?
23. Do the doors on the outside storage cabinets have the convenient drop-shut latches?
24. Does it have an automatic step?
25. Does the automatic step when retracted tuck neatly and safely up into an opening in the coach wall ... or when retracted does it sill hang below the coach wall to maybe get hung up on things such as curbs?
26. Is the built-in generator installed well enough to be relatively quiet from the outside and comfortably quiet from the inside on long run-times for drycamping air conditioning and/or battery charging?
27. Is the built-in generator mounted up high enough so it's bottom as not visible from outside the coach nor exposed to possibe damge from hitting things?
28. Is the storage area under any and all coach dining seats completely available for storage - or is some of it taken up by the furnace or water heater?
29. Are the air conditioning and furnace outlet ducts distributed throughout the coach and at each duct can their air be aimed any direction, and can the air conditioning ducts' amount of airflow be adjusted at each duct (too much cold A/C air can be annoying when napping in a bed or eating at the table).
30. Are there speakers back in the coach for the cab radio?
31. Are there plenty of 12 volt receptacles and 120 volt outlets throughout the coach?
32. Does the coach have room included for at least two coach batteries of at least two 12 volt Group 27 batteries or two 6 volt golf cart batteries ... just in case the capacity is needed when not on hookups?
33. Is there an outside 120V AC receptacle?
Good luck with your search!
