Forum Discussion

jla956's avatar
jla956
Explorer
Jun 19, 2017

Thor RUV Question

We are looking closely at the Thor RUV line. From what I understand Thor makes two separate lines of RUVs - the Axis model and the Vegas model. At first glance it appears that they are almost exactly the same - hopefully some of the forum members on here can tell me the difference between them.

Our son plays soccer year round, both in high school and for a club so we are constantly on the road to games, tournaments, or training camps. We would like to find something that we could throw everything into (mom, dad, son, and two Miniature Schnauzers) and head out to the events.

Some events will be just for the day and the coach will serve as our base of operations. Tournaments might last for two or three days and we would be staying overnight in the coach which would save on motel bills - and kennel bills for the dogs if we had to leave them at home. I understand the Thor RUVs have a generator so we could leave the AC running for the dogs while we were out of the coach.

Back in 2005 we had a new Fleetwood Discovery DP that we kept for three years. We're familiar with RVs but not with anything like these RUV models. They seem perfect for what our needs are right now so I would appreciate any feedback from owners that have these models. Let me know the pros and cons of how these coaches would match up with what we're looking for.

If there are quality issues with these coaches, problems with the engine or chassis, please let me know that too. Can the standard AC keep the coach cool in 100 degree + Texas temps or would we need to upgrade to a bigger unit? How about towing a vehicle - can the frame and engine handle a toad, and if so what size? How about the generator - does it run off of propane or gasoline - what are the service intervals? Anything that you can share would be most appreciated.

Thanks in advance for your help and feedback.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    I know they are on the E-450 chassis which will be noticeably rougher than the F53 and a huge difference from your previous DP.
  • I own a Vegas. The differences in the Axis and the Vegas are mostly cosmetic. Find the floor plan that meets your needs and go with it. 60 mph = 11.4 mpg. 70 mph = 9 mpg, with a toad 8 1/2 to 9mpg at 60mph. I had some small issues and Richards Motor Sales was there for me. I had to drive to Reading MI to pick mine up but I saved almost 5K on my next best price. I upgraded my A/C to the 15000 and its well worth it. As long as you have over 1/4 tank of gas you have a generator. I tow a toad with mine with no problem. Talk to Chris, he's an aggressive seller and will answer all of your questions very professionally, he knows his units. I have become pretty good friends with him after the sale. His cell is 1-517-398-5070 tell him Hoppert Builders told you to call.
  • I think you will find that they are essentially the same, except for colors and style of trim. Thor does this duplication a lot, used to triplicate their C model lines, still duplicates more with C's than with A's.

    Winnebago once duplicated almost all their model lines across Itasca and Winnebago brands. We ended up with an Itasca Spirit instead of the equivalent model in the Winnebago Minnie line because my wife preferred the interior colors in the Spirit. A factor like this might determine your choice, or maybe a dealer selling the Axis will offer a better deal than one selling the Vegas (or vice-versa).

    For a long time Monaco Corp did the same with C's and A gassers, offering nearly identical models across several model lines in Holiday Rambler and Monaco brands, all built on the same lines at the Holiday Rambler plant.