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D-rek07's avatar
D-rek07
Explorer
May 13, 2013

Chateau Motorhome

Hi,
Currently I have a 1998 24' Fleetwood Jamboree. My family is getting too big and we are a little big for this. We have looked at a lot of different floorplans and brands of motorhomes. I think we have decided on the Chateau 31A but before I spend this much money I want to know what you guys know about Chateau motorhomes.
Thanks
  • Chateau was one of the three clone brands (FourWinds, Chateau, Dutchmen) manufactured by Thor's FourWinds company. Under that organization, each brand had the same models and floorplans, at approximately the same retail prices.

    Since Thor rolled its several motorized RV manufacturing operations into a new company called Thor Motorhomes, I'm not sure just where the Chateau is positioned. It still comes out of what used to be the FourWinds plant.
  • I have a Four Winds 5000 model 28A, which is made by Thor also. The Chateau is very similar, but possible a grade above mine. I love my 28A, and have no problems with it at all. The only way I would get rid of it would be for a bunkhouse. We have shopped around and looked at many different makes and models. I think the 31A is a great floor plan, and I would buy another Thor coach without hesitation.
  • We have a 2012 Ford Thor Chateau 23U and we LOVE it! 16 months and 16,000 miles so far. No repairs, normal maintenance. Everything works as it should. Efficient on propane and battery power. Been out for a few days at around 20 degrees and no problems with freezing anything. Been out when in the 90's and no problem staying cool.

    Added the Extenda-stay kit for the propane and swapped out the single house battery for 2 bigger ones. For the wife and I there has been enough water and waste capacity for 4 or 5 days of boondocking.

    Average about 8 mpg with the v-10 on cross country trip with no toad and 7.8 with a small toad on a dolly. Never noticed the toad when driving.
  • I have an 03 Chateau Sport 26Q/no slides. Love the MH and we have the 8.1 Vortec engine. Rides nice, plenty of power, nice floor plan. Would buy another Thor product without question. If I had the money I would buy an ACE now.
  • My Dutchman, made by Four Winds, Thor, has served us well since 2004. It now has about 45,000 miles on it. If I was looking to buy a new RV I would certainly consider another Thor product.
  • I have a 2008 Chateau by Four Winds. Overall, we love it. We've had some minor issues but overall it's held up pretty good. This is our first Class C so we are learning what is good and what's bad. I know next time I would not get one with the front window over the cab. Ours started to leak just recently and I just discovered it this week as we were getting ready to leave on a trip. My kids are just getting to the age were sleeping up top is getting difficult. The only real modification I've made is upgrading the shocks two years ago to bilsteins.
  • we looked at one that was listed for 85K with a sale price of 64K. Took it for a drive and it was terrible IMO. The quality control for the unit was bad, the trim for the headliner was not tight and was not designed to be tight it appears. Manual mirrors, no real seat adjust ment except fore/aft and over all a terrible test drive. It is still sitting on the lot and the sales guy said they would probably need to wholesale it!

    Just about all of this brand (chateau) we looked at had the same quality control, that is none at all. Even the generator exhaust system was just hanging loose. We found an 09 4 winds that was much nicer but decided to just keep the TT as we did not want to have payments for next 20 years!

    I dont know why the mfr's scrimp on the driver compartment. I can get a basic pu with better accomodations than most of the rv's we looked at. Jayco makes a nice one, but no outside storage, winnebago has the itaska and their line, itaska was much like the chateau in most respects, and the winne still did not have a nice driver compartment. The box is for the wife, the driver compartment for me! If we found 1 I liked she didn't like the box and vice versa. Hope you find something.
  • All the Chateaus that we have seen have been put together pretty well. Thor makes a lot of products and I would assume that they all go through a similar inspection process.