2015 Thor Challenger with Ford V10

[Rossey]

Hello folks...... DW & I are seriously thinking of trading our 07 5th Wheel & Silverado Dulley toward the purchase of a 2015 Thor Challenger 37KT with the Ford V10 Gasser. A motor coach has always been my dream & I think that at this point in our lives the fact that you can just jump into it at a whims notice & go without the hassle of hooking up to the truck is attractive. It would also make life easier for my 94 year old father in law since he wouldn't have to climb up the stairs to gain access to to bath located in the bedroom. That aside, I have researched this motorcoach but haven't found much info. on the Ford V10 as far as reliability & sufficient power. I realize this isn't a diesel pusher, but it something close enough to a pusher in our price range with most of the amenities. Those of you who have a Thor Challenger or something similar with the Ford V10 gasser care to comment ?? Oh one other question ...... Instead of towing a toad, we would probably just simply have a rental car company drop off a rental car to the RV park.........any comments on this ? Thanks again

[Cecilt]

JimM68 wrote:
I don't recall, either forest river or thor, at $158k msrp brand new. Similar floorplan in a Tuscany at over $250k...

I searched and searched, and found the same layout in a Monaco, and found one I could buy 2 years old for that same $158k...
WAY better deal. Way better coach. Fabulous quality, great chassis, top of the line for sure...

You can get a better deal buying a couple years old. Lotsa people with more money than (you fill in the blank) find out they just aren't cut out for this, and 2-3 year old motorhomes are out there, like new, barely used, just waiting for you to write a check.

I agree with your post until you compared new MSRP pricing to a used unit. That coach with a new MSRP could have been bought for 30% less or a net $110,600 give or take a few thousand. Did you Monaco cost $110k or $158K?

[Dale_Traveling]

Thor product owner, 2006 Hurricane 31D. Excellent chassis and house built on it. No issues with engine noise but the interior engine cover, aka dog house, has been sound and heat insulated (prior owner who ever you are, thanks). I've owned my 2006 for four camping seasons and after 30,000+ miles and 150 nights in the coach it has not once needed professional service or forced us to change camping plans. It hasn't been 100% problem free but nothing I wasn't able to take care of in my driveway. I do recommend giving consideration toward a used coach at least two years old. Your initial costs will be much less in addition to the prior owners taking care of any post sale warranty problems. New is nice but sometimes not always better.

Concerning a tow vehicle, your best option is to use whatever is in the driveway even if that means going with a dolly, transmission pump or whatever. Spending a few thousand to make it road ready will be 10X less than renting or buying a vehicle that is four down towable. My tow vehicle is a 14 year old Honda Accord. Costs me maybe 1/2 gal per mile loss in fuel economy, no appreciable power loss and no bank note poking me every month.

Good luck with your search but take the time to educate yourself including the saving or costs concerning cutting ties with your current rig.

[Rodz]

Effy wrote:
Never surprised any more on this forum that when someone finds exactly what they are looking for, asks questions about a specific model and then folks chime in that they should buy something completely different. Not a different model mind you but a total misdirect from the approach OP is going. Usually people trying to convince you that you should buy what they have... "don't buy that new model from x brand, you need to buy a completely different chassis that's 5 years old".....

:C yup

[Effy]

Never surprised any more on this forum that when someone finds exactly what they are looking for, asks questions about a specific model and then folks chime in that they should buy something completely different. Not a different model mind you but a total misdirect from the approach OP is going. Usually people trying to convince you that you should buy what they have... "don't buy that new model from x brand, you need to buy a completely different chassis that's 5 years old".....

[JimM68]

I'd recommend towing something 4 down. I've done "no car" and it wasn't good. Our motorhome never leaves the driveway without one of the jeep's hooked up, not even to run to the corner for fuel.

Our first motorhome was a Fleetwood pace arrow, 36 foot on a 26,000 pound V10 F53 chassis. It worked just fine, tho kinda noisy pulling up a hill.

Not a thor (or anything else) basher, but...
(is this where I add "a 37' coach on a 22k chassis makes little sense to me?")

When we were shopping for our next coach, for 2 years... we went to a lot of shows, and looked at a lot of new motorhomes. We found a floorplan we liked in a sportscoach, another very similar from, I don't recall, either forest river or thor, at $158k msrp brand new. Similar floorplan in a Tuscany at over $250k...

I searched and searched, and found the same layout in a Monaco, and found one I could buy 2 years old for that same $158k...
WAY better deal. Way better coach. Fabulous quality, great chassis, top of the line for sure...

You can get a better deal buying a couple years old. Lotsa people with more money than (you fill in the blank) find out they just aren't cut out for this, and 2-3 year old motorhomes are out there, like new, barely used, just waiting for you to write a check.

Not bashing, speaking truth... Thor and Forest river are at the bottom of the food chain. Tiffin, Winnebago, Fleetwood are a step up. Monaco Newmar and some others are another step up. All make quality gas motorhomes, but you still get what you pay for.

And just to get everyone mad at me... diesel pushers are better. They ride better. They are quieter. They have all the cool fancy stuff. The money that will buy a new 37' gasser will also buy a 5 year old (or less) DP...
Something to think about.

[TlovesBinaRV]

We just bought a challenger 37kt and we love it. Only thing we would have done different is not buy from camping world, but the Thor is as wonderful as you think. Good luck I hope you enjoy it

[dieharder]

Relied on rentals for one trip and one trip only. Have towed since.

Despite reservations made months ahead of time, when we went to spend and tour around Orlando for 4 days, Enterprise had no car for us the first 2 days. Was quite angry and disappointed in this and will never go that route again.

[carringb]

Have you considered a Newmar? They have a similar floor plan, and their build quality is miles ahead of Thor. They also use longer wheelbases so ride and drivability should be better. The Canyon Star 3913 has a 266" wheelbase:

[jkcruzer1]

I don't regret trading the TT. Love the 37KT floor plan. Almost identical to the 371.

[hanko]

Seriously, look at a few items alot of folks dont. Thats a big coach for a 22,000 lb chasis. its also a big coach for a 235 inch wheel base. My good friend got this same coach, and it was appalling the things wrong and the lack of quality control. It ended up going back to Elkhart for two months to be repainted. the paint was orange peeled completly. The list went on and on. I wonderd why he even drove it off the lot. sorry to say these things, but this is not somethng I heard, but facts I know.

[Rossey]

Thanks everyone for your advice........still vacillating between keeping the 5er & Dually & getting the motorcoach. Big$ decision.

[Frosty_s_Mom]

"Instead of towing a toad, we would probably just simply have a rental car company drop off a rental car to the RV park........."

oh good luck with that one. we had a reservation for a rental but broke down (as many of you will remember) in las vegas before we could get there to pick it up. they would NOT deliver because we were outside of their pick-up range, which is surprisingly small for all their advertising. as others have cautioned about the rental plan--don't plan on it.

[redguard]

Not a so called hater or basher at all. The link etc is just to give a heads up to the new buyers as to check out these possible faults on their new units before taking possession.(nip it in the butt so to speak) you may have had minimal issues but there are "plenty" out there that have had some major issues
For example.I have a allegro bus and if it was not for the so called bashers out there I would have never been aware of the roof rail issues and as I type Its in at a warranty repair center having them totally replaced free of charge
to be picked up today.

the one thing a person has to realize is whenever you build a motorhome this large and yet keep it as light weight as they advertise you will compromise the quality of the build so theres bound to be problems along the way.Its just the way it is

[smacdiesel]

I think you will be very happy with your purchase, both the coach and the engine will serve you well.