95 Thor Columbus or 95 Winnebago Vectra?
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 sitti...
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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.
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.
