Comparing Thor to Impulse
We are interested in buying a Class C motor home. We have been researching the Four Winds Thor and the Winnebago Silver Impulse. What advice can you give to us?
Forum Discussion
My 2005 Itasca Class C (by Winnebago) has corner seems in it's cabover, which are easy to inspect and these seams in mine still look tight, with no breaks in the caulking due to good Winnie workmanship.
However - what mine also has that is far more jeopardy than easy-to-inspect-and-take-care-of cabover edge seems - is the big Class C no-no. It has a cabover window. NEVER get this in a Class C if you have a choice. Mine has never leaked from general aging, even though my window in the cabover is now the 3rd one. My cabover window was shattered (it's not sandwich safety glass) a long, long way from home from a flying rock from an approaching construction truck! It took two replacement installs of the cabover window frame and glass assembly (one back East, and one here in CA) to finally get a window assembly in there that (now) doesn't leak.
Also, what my cabover now has to help insure no leaks up there is running lights that are blocked off with Eternabond so no water can ever be forced in around those lights when driving in the rain. I believe that cabover running lights may be a very big and subtle gotcha causing leaks in Class C cabovers - unbeknowns to most owners. The natural thing to suspect is the window (if you have one) and any cabover seams. I wouldn't trust the cabover lights, either. Notice that those newer Class C motorhomes with seamless cabover shell assemblies of course still have cabover running lights!
Note: Another thing to look for, in addition to a seamless fiberglass roof, is a fiberglass roof that is crowned. Some Winnebago motorhome models have (or may still have, if new) seamless fiberglass roofs that are flat. Flat is not good - even if seamless.
However - what mine also has that is far more jeopardy than easy-to-inspect-and-take-care-of cabover edge seems - is the big Class C no-no. It has a cabover window. NEVER get this in a Class C if you have a choice. Mine has never leaked from general aging, even though my window in the cabover is now the 3rd one. My cabover window was shattered (it's not sandwich safety glass) a long, long way from home from a flying rock from an approaching construction truck! It took two replacement installs of the cabover window frame and glass assembly (one back East, and one here in CA) to finally get a window assembly in there that (now) doesn't leak.
Also, what my cabover now has to help insure no leaks up there is running lights that are blocked off with Eternabond so no water can ever be forced in around those lights when driving in the rain. I believe that cabover running lights may be a very big and subtle gotcha causing leaks in Class C cabovers - unbeknowns to most owners. The natural thing to suspect is the window (if you have one) and any cabover seams. I wouldn't trust the cabover lights, either. Notice that those newer Class C motorhomes with seamless cabover shell assemblies of course still have cabover running lights!
Note: Another thing to look for, in addition to a seamless fiberglass roof, is a fiberglass roof that is crowned. Some Winnebago motorhome models have (or may still have, if new) seamless fiberglass roofs that are flat. Flat is not good - even if seamless.
