95 Thor Columbus or 95 Winnebago Vectra?

Inlaws owned a 97 Columbus for several years they even lived in it for about a year. Only problem they ever had was brake fade/failure due to contaminated brake fluid. I personally would lean toward the Vectra since at least in my mind it is a higher level coach.

The choice should obviously be made on which rig is in better condition. Both are probably on a 1994 P30 chassis which will be OBD1 not the newer OBD2.

The Vectra was a high-end rig in its day. It is supported in back on two airbags which requires an air pump and a couple solenoids and a level control mechanism that could sometimes require maintenance. I would think perhaps those bags would have to be replaced being this old. Last time I needed a spare part the original vendor was still manufacturing it but if they should quit I would assume that air bag suspension could be supported from a recycle yard. Firestone probably still makes the bags themselves.

The Vectra also has a nice feature that keeps water in the water heater hot as you drive down the road using heat from the engine.

The front cap metal edge to which the windshield gasket secures the windshields at the top tends to rust and requires a bit of maintenance the first time you have to replace a windshield. Taking out the other windshield usually breaks it which means you would have to buy 2 windshields if you wanted that whole rusty edge cleaned up by your replacement shop. The rusty edge will usually be associated with a leaking windshield too.

That after market Gear Vendor unit bolted on to the back of the Vectra transmission is a great feature that I can hardly imagine being without if you spend any time at all in the mountains.

I'm getting ready to head back east in a couple months with my '95 Vectra and expect to probably rack up 8000 Miles or more by the time I swing back West late in the fall. But then it's all about the maintenance.

Good luck in your search. Remember that anything you buy is going to require initial maintenance (new tires!) and lots of continuing maintenance. It's just part of the motorhome world.

Edit: I might also mention that Vectrs has basement air so there's nothing much on the roof. Lots of room for solar panels. I easily fit four 210 watt panels up there. My high point is the rear ladder where it wraps around and that is only 11 feet 4 inches.

Mrsmoos wrote:
On our neverending quest for a reasonably priced Class A motorhome and we have found 2 other "contenders". Both 1995 year. One is a Winnebago Vectra w/ 28,000 miles on it. Supposedly it has been sitting for 2 years. Pics look good but you know how that goes...
The second motor home is a 95 Thor Columbus with 46,000 miles on it with a rebuilt transmission (3k on it) and new bigger A/C unit on it both from Nov 2015. They both have a 454 engines with the Thor having L480E overdrive and the Winnebago having a "gear vender".
So without seeing, which rv SOUNDS better???
I have heard some bad things about Thor but seemed like it was with the newer ones.

The Vectra was Winnebagos top of the line gas coach in 1995.

Condition, condition, condition. It's all about condition.
A level entry unit in good condition is a better choice than a high end unit in poor condition.

All things being equal, I would probably pick the Winnebago. Which floor plan works for you?

The Winnebago's floor plan is better--I don't like the "split bathroom" in the Thor where in order to take a shower you have to cut off access to the bedroom.

split bath never bothered me, more room
nobody besides the DW will ever being going to our bedroom
makes no difference to us which one is in the shower when the other needs to go to the bedroom to get something

now if you have company a lot, like the grand kids
that changes things some

still, i would prefer the Vectra, but NOT because of the closed bath
i would prefer the larger bath of the thor, IF all other things were equal

So the Thor sold quickly and after listening to all the repairs the guy did in the 2 years he had it I am kinda glad we didn't go there even though it was super clean on the inside.
The Winnebago Vectra is the 33RQ model with a 460 Ford motor. The panel that tells the levels of the tanks etc is not working. We are not sure about the other things such as A/C, heat , refrigerator etc because the owner did not turn it on beforehand. She is a widow and the RV is crammed in on the side of her house and has been sitting for apx 2 years. Some of the vinyl ceiling material has been torn down and the fiberboard or whatever is under has been painted. The rest of it looks ok inside--needs to be cleaned obviously. It will need all new tires as they are cracked. The owner is having her son get it out so that we may test drive it (hopefully the tires will last for that). So--anything we should be looking for with this ford motor etc. Also we forgot to get the size of the tires and can't seem to find that info anywhere online. Anyone know the tire size for this model? Any input?