JCTex wrote:
Okay, new guy coming aboard!
We're about to take a "buy" look at a Thor Super C with the garage in the rear ILO a bedroom. Based on reading this thread and Jerry's buy experiences with his Thor, I'm wanting to consider a Nexus on the Navstar chassis, too.
I just posted a new thread here on the Class C forum. Please read it over and use all your expert-ness that's clearly been demonstrated in this thread on my question. My needs are broader than just mileage; so, I started a new thread.
BTW, I'm very disappointed with Jerry's mpg report towing his little car. I'm going to tow a 4-dr Jeep and was hoping for 15 mpg with the diesel. I guess not so.
I WILL be tuning and aspirating whichever Super C I buy, BUT not until after the factory warranty ends. Ford, in particular, is very, very mean about chipping their ECM. It does no good at all to return settings to factory because they have equipped their dealers with software that can tell whether the ECM has EVER been re-programmed other than by a password-entering tech. Ford has a history of denying coverage if the intake or exhaust have been changed, too, and the owner cannot PROVE the problem is NOT related to either mod. Ford puts the burden on the owner.
I've taken the position that the additional cost in fuel experienced w/o the tuning and mods, while quite substantial, pales to comparison with MAYBE having to pay for repairs OOP. Maybe after 15,000 miles or so after the usual suspect bugs have had time to show up, if the diesel cost is really bothering me, I may be willing to take the gamble. We'll see.
Thanks for your responses.
JC
McKinney
I'll give you my thoughts after purchasing a 2014 Chateau Super C last August...
This is my first RV I've owned; rented off and on for the past few years until I finally decided to take the plunge. Had I not been warned about the general issues that come with all newly purchased RVs, I probably would have had a nervous breakdown on my drive back to San Diego from where I purchased it in Texas. In short, by the time I was driving through AZ a day after owning it, I was already looking up my local Thor Authorized service center and scheduling an appt. Nothing critical, just a LOT of little problems. Some were Thor's issues, others were manufacturer's products that were defective on the coach (my diesel Onan generator wouldn't start and found out it was an issue with thousands of new Onan's).
But I won't go into the gory details on this thread.
Overall, after getting all the little issues resolved (some by the dealer and others by myself), I like the RV for the price and what it can offer. The main reason for going with it was the 10k+ lb towing capacity. We do a lot of desert dry camping and tow trailer with a prerunner, motorcycle, quad and two little dirtbikes for the kids. So we're at the limit. And it tows REALLY nicely. Unlike the mid-west, we've got lots of long grades going to and from our desert destinations. When I do my 130 mile (each way) trip to Imperial Valley from the coast here in San Diego, my MPG is between 9-10. That is with some really long steep grades to climb, then engine brake down the backsides. If I wasn't towing, I'm sure it could be better. But we don't drive that far, so its acceptable for me.
btw, after seeing the improvements that several owners on this thread have made, as well as a few changes I've done to improve the coach, it might be nice to start a Thor Super C owners thread to post improvements, issues, etc. I just recently relocated my house water pump from under the bed to one of the lower storage compartments after having TWO factory pumps leak (pour) water while dry camping. My change resulted in a vast reduction in pump noise in the coach and worst case, if it leaks again, it will be into one of the drainable storage compartments.
Best of luck.
Andy
