They all suck, but Thor is in a class of its own! If there’s a cheap or poor quality to way to do something that’s the Thor way. I’ve bought two, a 2023 Hurricane 34J that I sold with 1,500 miles after 3months. Stupidly I just bought a 2024 Thor Sanctuary 24C and it’s a mess with finger pointing between General RV and Thor but no resolution. Do not think these problem units are the exception, they are what Thor does. They make a living off people believing that no one could be as bad as the reviews. Don’t think it was just during Covid, they just used it refined newer and better ways to push out low quality junk IMHO. Do not give General RV a non-refundable deposit. They’ll tell you that you need to give them the deposit with your offer for it be considered. I knew better and still fell for it. Don’t be an idiot like me, never, ever buy one.
Haha, love to see this. As we've talked about before Joel, I'm a happy 2023 Thor Vegas 24.4 owner. But we aren't full timers by any means. I hate the 24.3 layout but love the 24.4 layout. I wouldn't pay anywhere near MSRP for it. We paid under $100k for ours but had to go down to Idaho to get it. They all seem to go for around $130k in the Seattle area. I do agree that the quality on these is questionable at best. Fortunately I'm a DIY kinda person and first thing I did is went through and started fixing/upgrading minor things.
@@joeb954 The MSRP is $173k. Even with a very good discount, out the door around $115k, the quality and design choices aren't acceptable. Then again, with people considering even a $100k motorhome cheap or affordable, it's no wonder these RVs have skyrocketed in price over the past few years! To each their own though, if it's good enough, it's good enough!
I was thinking the same. We are buying the smallest Thor Class C that they make and I'm already thinking about the changes that I will make. Reinforcing that shower floor is number one on the list. We had to reinforce the floor of our Keystone Cougar TT. It just seems to be something they are lacking throughout the industry. As far as the drawers, we will probably replace the few box drawers that our unit come with. The boxes themselves can be ordered to size by a company on the internet and will be much more solid that the ones stapled together.
A trailer. I know most folks don't like that answer, but one will save over $50k, receive a much higher quality product, and you can keep your tow vehicle if you already have one, or update at a reasonable price while also having a vehicle once you detach as most folks enjoy at campgrounds/RV parks. There's a Coachmen product, but that price is also much more and the quality is marginally better, for a larger rig too. In the US, we don't have great options for this size!
When will toyota introduce a 25ft rv in the usa? I would like to see aleast 10 miles per gallon on this coach. Owners are getting 8.1 miles per gallon.
Wife wanted to go to see this model last spring and I convinced her it was a piece of JUNK! Long story short we went to see it, man she couldn’t believe it! It was worst than the one you showed. Went and bought a Jayco class C after several months of use one problem came up the door handle shifted, took it apart, tightened it applied small amount of locktite problem solved 😀
I'm so glad because these really make Jayco's rigs look like gold! We had high hopes because of their reputation, and our unit didn't pan out but I'd recommend them any day over something like this!
Good morning guys ! Ya I agree that it’s not the best and it sure seems like it would be a rattle trap for sure. Don’t understand the two different fans either. The Murphy bed is a big no and the lack of exterior storage is also a big no. That emergency exit window in the kitchen see,Ed to be a bit odd too. Seems like it would be hard to use 🤷🏻♂️ Great review ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Good evening!! The fans really bothered me. I just don't understand that move, it was very much intentional. These emergency exits really are very interesting, I don't see them being of much use in an emergency... Thanks!
Agreed completely. Folks think that this price is "cheap", and that's only because most motorhomes are $200k+ MSRP which is inflated nonsense. These materials really are terrible and sad to see.
Lmao... Joel, you were way too kind. Can you imagine a couple who worked their entire life saving for their retirement. Then, when the day finally comes, buying one of these milk cartons with wheels. I actually like 2 of the floorplans of this motorhome. The inside storage is incredibly generous, as well as a reasonably high cargo carry capacity thats just over 3000 lbs. Its the cheap materials, shoddy craftsmanship, lack of pride and caring that goes into the build of these that really prevents it from being an option. And the worst part is, this is not a secret. Thor knows this, the Dealers who carry and sell these models know. The sales team probably cringe when somebody asks for a tour of one. And most of the rv community knows as well. You would think Thor would listen to the public, step up its game, and put out a better quality product. Even if the price has to go up accordingly. But instead they ignore the complaints, close their eyes to the blatantly obvious, and continue to put out a good concept, but at a very sub par constructed, cheaply manufactured, problemed product. They will probably continue to do so until we the public demand better by voting with our dollars instead of settling for such a headache, because its affordable. After the time spent fixing and missing use because of repairs or dealership waiting, how affordable was it? Or how much did you save over a better built product? Anyway, enjoyed the video as always. Thanks for the barrage of smiles and laughs today. Great job and stay safe.
The problem is, if you want something that is class A style but not a giant bus, there really aren't any other options. There's that Coachmen Euro that looks great, but that isn't even available yet and I still prefer the layout of the Vegas 24.4 which is also a foot shorter (big deal to me). It's a niche product for sure and I wish there weren't so many quality issues, but I've already fixed most of them myself.
@bnr32jason I totally agree with you. It is a niche product, one that has appeal and so much potential. Everyone has different likes and needs as far as floorplans go, but in general, Thor's quality on this model and plenty of other models is very lacking and disappointing. Every motorhome is gonna have issues new and used. But most of the issues can be resolved or avoided before they even leave the factory. You shouldn't have to be fixing and adjusting and altering a brand new motorhome yourself. Not at the prices being charged, and not with the warranty which they milk the time on repairs with, so less gets discovered or fixed before the warranty expires. The quality or care is just nonexistent from Thor.
@@mikepizza76 I don't know what other people are paying for these, but I got our 2023 24.4 Vegas for $92k and I didn't even really negotiate that hard. Should I have to go through fixing things on a new motorhome? In an ideal world, no, but we don't live in an ideal world. In an ideal world there would be ten different options like this under 30ft and under $125k sales price, but this is it, this is the only one. There's the Coachmen Euro now, which looks great, but I haven't see any for sale and it has worse sleeping arrangements for a family. Thor met the niche for my needs perfectly, if it wasn't for the Vegas 24.4 we wouldn't even have a motorhome at all, simple as that. We spent four years trying to find the one that meets all of our needs, and there was only one.
The almighty dollar is what changes hearts and minds. Until this level of quality is no longer selling, they'll never change. It's just too damn profitable for them. They need some real competition!
I have to agree with Joel on this one, especially at the price point. This is clearly built by a company more interested in profits than providing a good quality product that works for a lengthy period of time.
Even Thor Gemini at my local dealer, trims and molding are falling apart, how much more if you start driving it, I'm scared that all cabinets will start falling one by one. And fan with no exhaust, that is so dumb! I agree do not buy this rig unless if you want to throw away your money.
I'm not a fan, personally, just because the Mercedes are notoriously expensive to repair, they tend to have heavier materials and much lower cargo carrying capacity. They were also a rather limited run, though without much research into why that is, I am a bit suspicious of that fact.
Okay, we've all learned something and sub-par product manufacturers should take note: If Joel is reviewing your coach, make sure Joel has a cap on, bill to rear preferably. Be proactive, maybe have one of those "Break glass in case of emergency" cases on the wall with a cap inside in case Joel shows up sans one. From what we saw, you're product just screams "Bet you can't find half the flaws", but at a minimum, let's not try not to over-stress the reviewer. Being an animal lover, I can appreciate the shortened compartment divider walls inside the galley cabinetry so critters can easily go from one compartment to another. Thanks for the walk through and pointing out the deficient design, materials, build execution, quality control, lessened life expectancy (via moisture/vapor retention/intrusions), etc. There were some positive aspects as well, but not enough. And structural corner joinery using a staple on an object that's going to be pounded and shocked during transit on the highway? Certainly helps potential buyers to know it satisfies a limited use niche and not to expect too much (or for long) and be very hard/aggressive in price negotiations if you're going to buy it.
Bahaha. Yes, extra ball cap please! "Animal lover" 🤣 Absolutely. As long as someone knows what they're getting and has that DIY upgrade attitude, it has potential. But it seems that the majority of folks have no clue where to start or what they're doing and it's a shame.
I've always felt Thor was the worst RV maker. Zero functional analysis, zero on design, zero on build materials and methods, and zero on fit and finish. What a crappy RV. So glad you exposed them. Thank you for not selling out and being truthful, a rare breed of human. When you see how cheap the RVs are from Germany, France, Italy, Slovenia, Japan - half the price of our, and so well designed. Compact, great functionality and aesthetics, good quality materials and solid build, and excellent mpg. Thor is an abomination in the RV world. A Euro RV runs $70 - $80K for same size. This one is $180K. Unbelievable garbage. 7:19 - Just look how they attached two wood strips together, with a corrugated nail! No wood glue, no screws, no Kreg joints, no bracing. An absolute disgrace. It will need to be rebuilt. 9:50 - No outside venting for the stove fumes. That makes me very angry too. How much does that cost? Now greasy fumes will settle all over the RV especially the ugly and totally unnecessary fabric window valance over the stove. Idiotic design. 12:01 - See thru walls? A water leak waiting to happen. I don't even want to think about the cheap roof. Shudder! Bed has no ladder space. Shower flexes too much. Dometic fridge maybe a compressor type instead of absorption propane fridge, but... very likely not the Secop (Danfoss) high end Swedish compressor. This is a cheaper, less efficient compressor type. Not one single Maxxair fan in there. Just the cheapo fans that make a lot of noise and don't move air. Maxxair runs $130 - $300 per ceiling fan at retail, cheaper at wholesale. No excuse.
It's hard to argue with! We think it's important to give the real life experience to people, even if it isn't the best. People deserve that, especially if they are spending their hard earned money on it! The Euro designs are so modern and cool- so different from what we've got going on here! "Cheap" is a great tag line for this rig!!
Quality control starts with a quality design. This is a "Fail" on so many levels. I'm laughing at the murphy bed, it looks so cheap. Having said that other motorhomes are not that much better. Even at the ridiculous prices they charge, they just pump 'em out as fast as they can, you get what you get, like it or not. These things depreciate so fast it will make your head swim.
We agree!! Murphy beds are not our favorite choice in any rig! We don't like having to put your bed up and down every time you want to use it. It's just not practical! Good quality is hard to find these days, no matter what price you pay!
That A pillar is a no go. Try driving that in a city for a few miles. I've driven semi trucks in L.A. and that is a serious point you need visibility. Not a fan of those $5,000 one piece windshields that are custom to just that one model.
I Live and have worked in the area these are made and most RVs made in Goshen and Elkhart are AWEFUL. They all use the same parts and relabel them per customer. Most units are broke as they leave the line and need repaired or put up to Canadian standards before moved. Please please please don't buy from these Companies. THOR, Grand Design, Forest River at the least.
I believe that the lower shower pan actually extends upwards in the wall, leaving a considerable overlap, as I understand it. But it's definitely an interesting design!
Driving one is noisy as hell. It's crazy how much one has to shout to the co-pilot. It's impossible to hold a conversation while driving down the road.
Guys you know what's funny is the fact that you give it even a little bit of leeway that is how they get people to buy their crap they put a couple niceties in it and glam you so the people that aren't as up to speed come in and whammo before they know it they bought themselves a new P.O.S. plain and simple. You couldn't give me a Thor product it would be too much work keeping it on the road and out of the shop and I do all my repairs on my rig because I just don't trust anyone to do it been burned too many times. Keep up the great work love the videos.
😮💨so sad. i like the front aero thing. i wanted to like it. that giant screw on the seat, the shitty quality and the shitty appliances killed it. even buying a striped out one id worry about the outside walls being as shitty..
You covered most of the problems so I don't have to echo your words. I tried to keep in mind this is a "budget" coach and to judge it accordingly and then you put up the MSRP which was NOT a budget coach price! I realize that is the BS price that every manufacturer of mainstream coaches shows you with a drastically cut "sale" price, but what a joke. All the hate points I would have said and the only thing I actually liked was the face. They are all cheap plastic, but I was able to say I was good with the face. Just don't look up because it's all ugly from there. I do remember you had some comments in the past from folks who say they own one and they loved it and thought it was beautiful... sooo, yeah. I was good with the color, very subjective as always, but I have been trying to not pay attention to color, but more on design, build quality, and materials. If I was king, only craftsmen would be allowed to build things, not just some trained monkey who is told how to do it and just go fast and forget pride in your construction. Of course, that would raise the prices much higher and what I keep seeing is not just lack of quality in construction, it's the gut-wrenching lack of quality materials and how they are applied. On and on, it never ends. I can imagine if you opened up the basement storage it would have been a huge disappointment as well. I would like to have told us the payload too. It would probably be something like 900 lbs or something even lower. Just WAY too many better options out there to even consider this pig. I have seen worse, but dang! Hey Joel (assuming Emma is still tasked with reading these)
I'm curious, what are the better options? Everything else I saw is a true class C where you have the truck style cab, I wanted the big open Class A cab. I bought a 2023 Vegas 24.4 for well under $100k brand new, I would have gladly entertained other options, but I couldn't find any. My only requirements were: Class A style cab, sleep my young family of 4 comfortably, under 30ft (because of our use case, we park in normal size parking lots regularly for youth travel sports), and under $125k. I looked HARD for other options because I heard so much bad about Thor, unfortunately there was just nothing else out there. (I don't know the CCC on this one he looked at, but on our 24.4 it's just under 3500lbs.)
@@bnr32jason Greetings! My better options comment is subjective and that was based on the $179,000+ price tag. I hope that Joe or Emma reads this and can help out with the price they paid for their big Holiday Rambler and how much they got for their money. I totally get you on the coach where you prefer an open Class A floorplan! But, you solved the problem by letting me know you can actually buy this coach for well under $100,000, which makes all the difference! That definitely changes my view on the coach when it comes to price vs. what you get for the money. Joe is an encyclopedia of options from his endless touring. I am into buying new, but if I would throw out one idea would be a used 2021 Forrest River Georgetown or a Coachman. But they are a bit bigger and a little over $100,000. All about budget and taste. Joel gets pretty worked up during this review and that domes from his history with quality of his last Class C and so he is hyper aware of even the little things from the danger of photo paper wood covered cabinets to that ridiculous paper thin aluminum drain plug in the shower. Your coach has a great payload which is another plus. Again, if you got your coach for well under $100,000 then you have nothing to regret. I have yet to find a "tiny" Class A like the Vegas that satisfies the quality tastes in me. I don't know why? Like people don't want a smaller Class A but built like a 40 footer!?! They do it with Class B vans like Leisure Vans made in Canada. Very expensive van but built with quality! So, you did well and we would love to hear how your coach works out for you. If you ever make a RUclips channel that covers your time in your Coach I would subscribe instantly. Hey Joel, if you are reading this... give us some ideas of what other coach you would choose as a better choice over the Vegas?
Lots to chat about here! I have to agree, I don't think the prices that these units are going for is remotely justifiable given the quality of craftsmanship or the hardware installed. Definitely, beauty is in the eye of the beholder though! The only real alternatives I've seen would be Forest River FR3 30DS, Fleetwood Flair 28A, Winnebago Intent 26M, something like that, though those are 1'-4' longer than the Axis/Vegas. You gain a lot, but it comes at the expense of added height and length. Prices seem relatively comparable, however! I will say, it seems reasonable to expect that if a manufacturer could make a B+ for a ridiculous amount of money, under a certain size and with very high quality materials and craftsmanship, that they should be able to shrink down a class A, though I suspect because the market doesn't exist, many aren't sure what to expect and because these little class As that Thor is making (seemingly) don't sell extraordinarily well that they wouldn't do well to invest in product design, engineering, tooling, etc. but I'd bet there is absolutely a market for a product this size with actual decent quality and a reasonable price tag. I'd say a unit with class B quality cabinetry, under 29', under $160k MSRP would KILL in this market. There's a lot to love about the Class A styling and benefits, and a lot to hate about the current product offerings.
As an owner of a vegas, come on man. You are telling the facts the vehicle but it is the standard w/ them all, just incredible. Yep, not the greatest but they are all junk. Which motorhomes do you like? Thing is to knowing to expect less ad pay alot$$.. I like mine the godzilla 7.3 is a monster in the mountains.
@@mrzif0013 We liked our Vegas 24.1 but the windshield trim around the top corners of the glass kept popping out. Had to have it replaced twice in 1.5 years. Heat warping I'm guessing due to the contour of the windshield???
Just watched another review of this RV. They forgot to install the table floor mounts but it came with the table and legs. I’m not kidding. If I hadn’t had seen the video, I wouldn’t have believed it.
I can’t believe that price . I have a 27.7 , theh don’t make anymore , which is almost a 30ft motor home, it works for us, i love it because it’s big for three people , and I only paid 74k for it . And , we have had it for 5 years , and not a spec of mold.
Man, by comparison that thing is a mansion with those slides! Great layout there. That price is also very reasonable for this type of unit, sounds like a much better deal!!
Just wait till the Japanese or European model makes it here. I bet you will see better quality from American companies or go out of business. Great honest video. Keep them coming.
How long do we have to wait for that? Wife and I started looking in 2019 for something small and Class A style and spent 4 years looking and waiting for something better than the Vegas. Only recently Coachmen announced the Coachmen Euro, but I haven't heard great things about Coachmen quality either.
What a cute little RV !!! Reminds me of something the Flintstones would have... A modern stone age RV for a modern stone age Family... you would drive that thing by petal power, just like riding a bike... LOL I think part of the reason they use such cheap materials is to cut down on weight, and cut down on how much gas you need to use...
Its all about weight. It is the first thing they think about. Weight, and where the weight is. As a certified RV Tech, I can tell you Thor was consistently the shiniest pieces of shit I ever worked on. Also, there is no such thing as a "Luxury" motorhome until you're spending 500k. Everything below it is just the same materials that you'd see in a 30k trailer, just a little shinier. Also find a Freightliner chassis motorhome. Far superior than a ford or dodge.
It sure is light enough that you could probably just pedal it around. 😂 They definitely don't care about the fuel consumption of the vehicles, it doesn't get more than 10mpg freeway from what I've seen being that it's on the same chassis as other gas motorhomes which is just a fuel-hungry beast by nature! While I do think that's the argument, weight savings, it comes at the cost of the environment being that these vehicles will end up in the junk yard and needing to be replaced much sooner. There are plenty of other reasons for this as well that I didn't cover because of the freeway noise here, including seam-placements and joints up on the roof, issues with caulking from the factory, etc. It's clear that the environment and/or customer savings via fuel efficiency isn't a primary goal here and that's a shame!
Cut down on gas? This sucks up gas at 8-10 mpg, if that! How do you explain using corrugated nails to cut down on gas? Or cheap fans that weigh the same as pricier ones? No excuse for such rubbish. The Winnebago Ekko is cheaper and better designed.
I wouldn't wish Thor on my worst enemy. Terrible quality and even worse support. My 2021 Tellaro had electrical problems for 2 years they never managed to fix. Thor ran out the warranty and left me high and dry with no working electrical system. Among the many problems they actually switched the stickers on the two water intakes.... how hard is it for the guy doing the stickers to get it right?
We've seen this happen way too frequently. It would've happened to us too with our Entegra Esteem but we traded out of it. You would think that the stickers would be an easy job.... but clearly not for everyone! 🙃
We have always had strong feelings that these are garbage, but when we see them we take a look and maybe we will be proven wrong. So far... we've been right 😂
@christucker7688 0 seconds ago I will never buy a Thor product in my lifetime. I will go out of my way to bad mouth Thor products the rest of my life! Thor makes the lowest quality products on this planet!!
They all suck, but Thor is in a class of its own! If there’s a cheap or poor quality to way to do something that’s the Thor way. I’ve bought two, a 2023 Hurricane 34J that I sold with 1,500 miles after 3months. Stupidly I just bought a 2024 Thor Sanctuary 24C and it’s a mess with finger pointing between General RV and Thor but no resolution.
Do not think these problem units are the exception, they are what Thor does. They make a living off people believing that no one could be as bad as the reviews.
Don’t think it was just during Covid, they just used it refined newer and better ways to push out low quality junk IMHO.
Do not give General RV a non-refundable deposit. They’ll tell you that you need to give them the deposit with your offer for it be considered. I knew better and still fell for it.
Don’t be an idiot like me, never, ever buy one.
Great share!
Haha, love to see this. As we've talked about before Joel, I'm a happy 2023 Thor Vegas 24.4 owner. But we aren't full timers by any means. I hate the 24.3 layout but love the 24.4 layout. I wouldn't pay anywhere near MSRP for it. We paid under $100k for ours but had to go down to Idaho to get it. They all seem to go for around $130k in the Seattle area.
I do agree that the quality on these is questionable at best. Fortunately I'm a DIY kinda person and first thing I did is went through and started fixing/upgrading minor things.
I love that you're sharing your own experiences as well, thank you!!
You talk cheap, cheap but look at the price! What do you expect from a MH in that price range, Newmar Dutch Star quality? You're a bit ridiculous.
@@joeb954 The MSRP is $173k. Even with a very good discount, out the door around $115k, the quality and design choices aren't acceptable. Then again, with people considering even a $100k motorhome cheap or affordable, it's no wonder these RVs have skyrocketed in price over the past few years! To each their own though, if it's good enough, it's good enough!
I was thinking the same. We are buying the smallest Thor Class C that they make and I'm already thinking about the changes that I will make. Reinforcing that shower floor is number one on the list. We had to reinforce the floor of our Keystone Cougar TT. It just seems to be something they are lacking throughout the industry. As far as the drawers, we will probably replace the few box drawers that our unit come with. The boxes themselves can be ordered to size by a company on the internet and will be much more solid that the ones stapled together.
You should get rid of that piece of shit
What are your recommendations to something this size?
A trailer. I know most folks don't like that answer, but one will save over $50k, receive a much higher quality product, and you can keep your tow vehicle if you already have one, or update at a reasonable price while also having a vehicle once you detach as most folks enjoy at campgrounds/RV parks. There's a Coachmen product, but that price is also much more and the quality is marginally better, for a larger rig too. In the US, we don't have great options for this size!
When will toyota introduce a 25ft rv in the usa? I would like to see aleast 10 miles per gallon on this coach. Owners are getting 8.1 miles per gallon.
I would LOVE to see that!
Oh c'mon, tell us how you really feel about the Vegas.😂
Weeeeeeell.... 🤣
Wife wanted to go to see this model last spring and I convinced her it was a piece of JUNK!
Long story short we went to see it, man she couldn’t believe it! It was worst than the one you showed. Went and bought a Jayco class C after several months of use one problem came up the door handle shifted, took it apart, tightened it applied small amount of locktite problem solved 😀
I'm so glad because these really make Jayco's rigs look like gold! We had high hopes because of their reputation, and our unit didn't pan out but I'd recommend them any day over something like this!
Good morning guys ! Ya I agree that it’s not the best and it sure seems like it would be a rattle trap for sure. Don’t understand the two different fans either. The Murphy bed is a big no and the lack of exterior storage is also a big no. That emergency exit window in the kitchen see,Ed to be a bit odd too. Seems like it would be hard to use 🤷🏻♂️ Great review ! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Good evening!! The fans really bothered me. I just don't understand that move, it was very much intentional. These emergency exits really are very interesting, I don't see them being of much use in an emergency... Thanks!
It is a shame they did not use more quality materials and detailed workmanship for the price.
Agreed completely. Folks think that this price is "cheap", and that's only because most motorhomes are $200k+ MSRP which is inflated nonsense. These materials really are terrible and sad to see.
Lmao... Joel, you were way too kind.
Can you imagine a couple who worked their entire life saving for their retirement. Then, when the day finally comes, buying one of these milk cartons with wheels.
I actually like 2 of the floorplans of this motorhome. The inside storage is incredibly generous, as well as a reasonably high cargo carry capacity thats just over 3000 lbs.
Its the cheap materials, shoddy craftsmanship, lack of pride and caring that goes into the build of these that really prevents it from being an option. And the worst part is, this is not a secret. Thor knows this, the Dealers who carry and sell these models know. The sales team probably cringe when somebody asks for a tour of one. And most of the rv community knows as well.
You would think Thor would listen to the public, step up its game, and put out a better quality product. Even if the price has to go up accordingly. But instead they ignore the complaints, close their eyes to the blatantly obvious, and continue to put out a good concept, but at a very sub par constructed, cheaply manufactured, problemed product. They will probably continue to do so until we the public demand better by voting with our dollars instead of settling for such a headache, because its affordable. After the time spent fixing and missing use because of repairs or dealership waiting, how affordable was it? Or how much did you save over a better built product?
Anyway, enjoyed the video as always. Thanks for the barrage of smiles and laughs today. Great job and stay safe.
The problem is, if you want something that is class A style but not a giant bus, there really aren't any other options. There's that Coachmen Euro that looks great, but that isn't even available yet and I still prefer the layout of the Vegas 24.4 which is also a foot shorter (big deal to me). It's a niche product for sure and I wish there weren't so many quality issues, but I've already fixed most of them myself.
@bnr32jason
I totally agree with you. It is a niche product, one that has appeal and so much potential. Everyone has different likes and needs as far as floorplans go, but in general, Thor's quality on this model and plenty of other models is very lacking and disappointing. Every motorhome is gonna have issues new and used. But most of the issues can be resolved or avoided before they even leave the factory. You shouldn't have to be fixing and adjusting and altering a brand new motorhome yourself. Not at the prices being charged, and not with the warranty which they milk the time on repairs with, so less gets discovered or fixed before the warranty expires. The quality or care is just nonexistent from Thor.
@@mikepizza76 I don't know what other people are paying for these, but I got our 2023 24.4 Vegas for $92k and I didn't even really negotiate that hard. Should I have to go through fixing things on a new motorhome? In an ideal world, no, but we don't live in an ideal world. In an ideal world there would be ten different options like this under 30ft and under $125k sales price, but this is it, this is the only one. There's the Coachmen Euro now, which looks great, but I haven't see any for sale and it has worse sleeping arrangements for a family. Thor met the niche for my needs perfectly, if it wasn't for the Vegas 24.4 we wouldn't even have a motorhome at all, simple as that. We spent four years trying to find the one that meets all of our needs, and there was only one.
The almighty dollar is what changes hearts and minds. Until this level of quality is no longer selling, they'll never change. It's just too damn profitable for them. They need some real competition!
@bnr32jason which dealership did u buy from and how did u find the best priced ones??
I have to agree with Joel on this one, especially at the price point. This is clearly built by a company more interested in profits than providing a good quality product that works for a lengthy period of time.
Isn't that the truth!
Even Thor Gemini at my local dealer, trims and molding are falling apart, how much more if you start driving it, I'm scared that all cabinets will start falling one by one. And fan with no exhaust, that is so dumb! I agree do not buy this rig unless if you want to throw away your money.
Couldn't agree more.
Got some DIY repairs to do on that unit. I don't know how people use those little round kitchen sinks.
No joke! Yeah, the round sinks just aren't as convenient at all. We had one in an Airstream trailer, it just wasn't ideal. Not as spacious!
Would anyone here have thoughts on the Winnebago Via? It's on the Mercedes Sprinter chassis.
I'm not a fan, personally, just because the Mercedes are notoriously expensive to repair, they tend to have heavier materials and much lower cargo carrying capacity. They were also a rather limited run, though without much research into why that is, I am a bit suspicious of that fact.
Okay, we've all learned something and sub-par product manufacturers should take note: If Joel is reviewing your coach, make sure Joel has a cap on, bill to rear preferably. Be proactive, maybe have one of those "Break glass in case of emergency" cases on the wall with a cap inside in case Joel shows up sans one. From what we saw, you're product just screams "Bet you can't find half the flaws", but at a minimum, let's not try not to over-stress the reviewer.
Being an animal lover, I can appreciate the shortened compartment divider walls inside the galley cabinetry so critters can easily go from one compartment to another.
Thanks for the walk through and pointing out the deficient design, materials, build execution, quality control, lessened life expectancy (via moisture/vapor retention/intrusions), etc. There were some positive aspects as well, but not enough. And structural corner joinery using a staple on an object that's going to be pounded and shocked during transit on the highway?
Certainly helps potential buyers to know it satisfies a limited use niche and not to expect too much (or for long) and be very hard/aggressive in price negotiations if you're going to buy it.
Bahaha. Yes, extra ball cap please! "Animal lover" 🤣 Absolutely. As long as someone knows what they're getting and has that DIY upgrade attitude, it has potential. But it seems that the majority of folks have no clue where to start or what they're doing and it's a shame.
I am lokking for my first motor home and this one with it's unique Design caught my eye. What do you reccomend for a first timer.
Are you guys saying that the huge discount of $75,253.00 is worth buying.that savings will be used for fuel.
Thank you Thank you for your honest opinion of this unit
I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
I've always felt Thor was the worst RV maker. Zero functional analysis, zero on design, zero on build materials and methods, and zero on fit and finish. What a crappy RV. So glad you exposed them. Thank you for not selling out and being truthful, a rare breed of human.
When you see how cheap the RVs are from Germany, France, Italy, Slovenia, Japan - half the price of our, and so well designed. Compact, great functionality and aesthetics, good quality materials and solid build, and excellent mpg. Thor is an abomination in the RV world. A Euro RV runs $70 - $80K for same size. This one is $180K. Unbelievable garbage.
7:19 - Just look how they attached two wood strips together, with a corrugated nail! No wood glue, no screws, no Kreg joints, no bracing. An absolute disgrace. It will need to be rebuilt.
9:50 - No outside venting for the stove fumes. That makes me very angry too. How much does that cost? Now greasy fumes will settle all over the RV especially the ugly and totally unnecessary fabric window valance over the stove. Idiotic design.
12:01 - See thru walls? A water leak waiting to happen. I don't even want to think about the cheap roof. Shudder!
Bed has no ladder space.
Shower flexes too much.
Dometic fridge maybe a compressor type instead of absorption propane fridge, but... very likely not the Secop (Danfoss) high end Swedish compressor. This is a cheaper, less efficient compressor type.
Not one single Maxxair fan in there. Just the cheapo fans that make a lot of noise and don't move air. Maxxair runs $130 - $300 per ceiling fan at retail, cheaper at wholesale. No excuse.
It's hard to argue with! We think it's important to give the real life experience to people, even if it isn't the best. People deserve that, especially if they are spending their hard earned money on it! The Euro designs are so modern and cool- so different from what we've got going on here!
"Cheap" is a great tag line for this rig!!
4500 in upgrades in suspension shocks, drives like a butter
you might want to rent any motor home you are considering first for a few days.....
That really is a great idea too, especially for full time use, but it could save thousands of dollars in the long run!
Quality control starts with a quality design. This is a "Fail" on so many levels. I'm laughing at the murphy bed, it looks so cheap. Having said that other motorhomes are not that much better. Even at the ridiculous prices they charge, they just pump 'em out as fast as they can, you get what you get, like it or not. These things depreciate so fast it will make your head swim.
We agree!! Murphy beds are not our favorite choice in any rig! We don't like having to put your bed up and down every time you want to use it. It's just not practical! Good quality is hard to find these days, no matter what price you pay!
That A pillar is a no go. Try driving that in a city for a few miles. I've driven semi trucks in L.A. and that is a serious point you need visibility. Not a fan of those $5,000 one piece windshields that are custom to just that one model.
Agreed!
I Live and have worked in the area these are made and most RVs made in Goshen and Elkhart are AWEFUL. They all use the same parts and relabel them per customer. Most units are broke as they leave the line and need repaired or put up to Canadian standards before moved. Please please please don't buy from these Companies. THOR, Grand Design, Forest River at the least.
Did you notice the gap where the shower pan meets the wall, in the corner? Looks like they completely missed caulking that area.
I'm a Vegas owner and supposedly that gap is there by design. It gets brought up fairly regularly in owners groups.
I believe that the lower shower pan actually extends upwards in the wall, leaving a considerable overlap, as I understand it. But it's definitely an interesting design!
Driving one is noisy as hell. It's crazy how much one has to shout to the co-pilot. It's impossible to hold a conversation while driving down the road.
I can imagine!! I heard one just idling, and it was a bit noisy. I can't imagine freeway driving without better insulating somehow!
Guys you know what's funny is the fact that you give it even a little bit of leeway that is how they get people to buy their crap they put a couple niceties in it and glam you so the people that aren't as up to speed come in and whammo before they know it they bought themselves a new P.O.S. plain and simple. You couldn't give me a Thor product it would be too much work keeping it on the road and out of the shop and I do all my repairs on my rig because I just don't trust anyone to do it been burned too many times. Keep up the great work love the videos.
Very true, as long as it looks "good enough" people will buy it! 😂 That's a great thing doing all of your work, and thank you!
😮💨so sad. i like the front aero thing. i wanted to like it. that giant screw on the seat, the shitty quality and the shitty appliances killed it. even buying a striped out one id worry about the outside walls being as shitty..
You covered most of the problems so I don't have to echo your words. I tried to keep in mind this is a "budget" coach and to judge it accordingly and then you put up the MSRP which was NOT a budget coach price! I realize that is the BS price that every manufacturer of mainstream coaches shows you with a drastically cut "sale" price, but what a joke. All the hate points I would have said and the only thing I actually liked was the face. They are all cheap plastic, but I was able to say I was good with the face. Just don't look up because it's all ugly from there. I do remember you had some comments in the past from folks who say they own one and they loved it and thought it was beautiful... sooo, yeah.
I was good with the color, very subjective as always, but I have been trying to not pay attention to color, but more on design, build quality, and materials. If I was king, only craftsmen would be allowed to build things, not just some trained monkey who is told how to do it and just go fast and forget pride in your construction. Of course, that would raise the prices much higher and what I keep seeing is not just lack of quality in construction, it's the gut-wrenching lack of quality materials and how they are applied. On and on, it never ends.
I can imagine if you opened up the basement storage it would have been a huge disappointment as well. I would like to have told us the payload too. It would probably be something like 900 lbs or something even lower. Just WAY too many better options out there to even consider this pig. I have seen worse, but dang! Hey Joel (assuming Emma is still tasked with reading these)
I'm curious, what are the better options? Everything else I saw is a true class C where you have the truck style cab, I wanted the big open Class A cab.
I bought a 2023 Vegas 24.4 for well under $100k brand new, I would have gladly entertained other options, but I couldn't find any.
My only requirements were: Class A style cab, sleep my young family of 4 comfortably, under 30ft (because of our use case, we park in normal size parking lots regularly for youth travel sports), and under $125k.
I looked HARD for other options because I heard so much bad about Thor, unfortunately there was just nothing else out there.
(I don't know the CCC on this one he looked at, but on our 24.4 it's just under 3500lbs.)
@@bnr32jason Greetings! My better options comment is subjective and that was based on the $179,000+ price tag. I hope that Joe or Emma reads this and can help out with the price they paid for their big Holiday Rambler and how much they got for their money. I totally get you on the coach where you prefer an open Class A floorplan! But, you solved the problem by letting me know you can actually buy this coach for well under $100,000, which makes all the difference! That definitely changes my view on the coach when it comes to price vs. what you get for the money. Joe is an encyclopedia of options from his endless touring. I am into buying new, but if I would throw out one idea would be a used 2021 Forrest River Georgetown or a Coachman. But they are a bit bigger and a little over $100,000. All about budget and taste.
Joel gets pretty worked up during this review and that domes from his history with quality of his last Class C and so he is hyper aware of even the little things from the danger of photo paper wood covered cabinets to that ridiculous paper thin aluminum drain plug in the shower. Your coach has a great payload which is another plus.
Again, if you got your coach for well under $100,000 then you have nothing to regret. I have yet to find a "tiny" Class A like the Vegas that satisfies the quality tastes in me. I don't know why? Like people don't want a smaller Class A but built like a 40 footer!?! They do it with Class B vans like Leisure Vans made in Canada. Very expensive van but built with quality! So, you did well and we would love to hear how your coach works out for you. If you ever make a RUclips channel that covers your time in your Coach I would subscribe instantly.
Hey Joel, if you are reading this... give us some ideas of what other coach you would choose as a better choice over the Vegas?
Lots to chat about here! I have to agree, I don't think the prices that these units are going for is remotely justifiable given the quality of craftsmanship or the hardware installed. Definitely, beauty is in the eye of the beholder though! The only real alternatives I've seen would be Forest River FR3 30DS, Fleetwood Flair 28A, Winnebago Intent 26M, something like that, though those are 1'-4' longer than the Axis/Vegas. You gain a lot, but it comes at the expense of added height and length. Prices seem relatively comparable, however!
I will say, it seems reasonable to expect that if a manufacturer could make a B+ for a ridiculous amount of money, under a certain size and with very high quality materials and craftsmanship, that they should be able to shrink down a class A, though I suspect because the market doesn't exist, many aren't sure what to expect and because these little class As that Thor is making (seemingly) don't sell extraordinarily well that they wouldn't do well to invest in product design, engineering, tooling, etc. but I'd bet there is absolutely a market for a product this size with actual decent quality and a reasonable price tag. I'd say a unit with class B quality cabinetry, under 29', under $160k MSRP would KILL in this market. There's a lot to love about the Class A styling and benefits, and a lot to hate about the current product offerings.
Thanks for the honest review!
As an owner of a vegas, come on man. You are telling the facts the vehicle but it is the standard w/ them all, just incredible. Yep, not the greatest but they are all junk. Which motorhomes do you like? Thing is to knowing to expect less ad pay alot$$.. I like mine the godzilla 7.3 is a monster in the mountains.
@@mrzif0013 We liked our Vegas 24.1 but the windshield trim around the top corners of the glass kept popping out. Had to have it replaced twice in 1.5 years. Heat warping I'm guessing due to the contour of the windshield???
Just watched another review of this RV. They forgot to install the table floor mounts but it came with the table and legs. I’m not kidding. If I hadn’t had seen the video, I wouldn’t have believed it.
The number of people who missed something so simple...
I can’t believe that price . I have a 27.7 , theh don’t make anymore , which is almost a 30ft motor home, it works for us, i love it because it’s big for three people , and I only paid 74k for it . And , we have had it for 5 years , and not a spec of mold.
Man, by comparison that thing is a mansion with those slides! Great layout there. That price is also very reasonable for this type of unit, sounds like a much better deal!!
Just wait till the Japanese or European model makes it here. I bet you will see better quality from American companies or go out of business. Great honest video. Keep them coming.
How long do we have to wait for that? Wife and I started looking in 2019 for something small and Class A style and spent 4 years looking and waiting for something better than the Vegas. Only recently Coachmen announced the Coachmen Euro, but I haven't heard great things about Coachmen quality either.
Thanks! And I'd love to see that level of quality come over here. It's game over for the big 3 if that ever arrives.
I just started looking at RVs. I did notice that Thor is substantially less quality. I won’t consider a Thor
For a list of 173k, tips expect more. The rv industry sure is cheap in the realm of using quality materials and construction methods
I'm sticking to Oliver Trailer
Those little trailers are LEAGUES ahead of these. Even the little Scamp we used to have puts this to shame!
What a cute little RV !!! Reminds me of something the Flintstones would have... A modern stone age RV for a modern stone age Family... you would drive that thing by petal power, just like riding a bike... LOL I think part of the reason they use such cheap materials is to cut down on weight, and cut down on how much gas you need to use...
Its all about weight. It is the first thing they think about. Weight, and where the weight is.
As a certified RV Tech, I can tell you Thor was consistently the shiniest pieces of shit I ever worked on. Also, there is no such thing as a "Luxury" motorhome until you're spending 500k. Everything below it is just the same materials that you'd see in a 30k trailer, just a little shinier.
Also find a Freightliner chassis motorhome. Far superior than a ford or dodge.
It sure is light enough that you could probably just pedal it around. 😂 They definitely don't care about the fuel consumption of the vehicles, it doesn't get more than 10mpg freeway from what I've seen being that it's on the same chassis as other gas motorhomes which is just a fuel-hungry beast by nature! While I do think that's the argument, weight savings, it comes at the cost of the environment being that these vehicles will end up in the junk yard and needing to be replaced much sooner. There are plenty of other reasons for this as well that I didn't cover because of the freeway noise here, including seam-placements and joints up on the roof, issues with caulking from the factory, etc. It's clear that the environment and/or customer savings via fuel efficiency isn't a primary goal here and that's a shame!
Cut down on gas? This sucks up gas at 8-10 mpg, if that! How do you explain using corrugated nails to cut down on gas? Or cheap fans that weigh the same as pricier ones? No excuse for such rubbish. The Winnebago Ekko is cheaper and better designed.
I wouldn't wish Thor on my worst enemy. Terrible quality and even worse support. My 2021 Tellaro had electrical problems for 2 years they never managed to fix. Thor ran out the warranty and left me high and dry with no working electrical system.
Among the many problems they actually switched the stickers on the two water intakes.... how hard is it for the guy doing the stickers to get it right?
We've seen this happen way too frequently. It would've happened to us too with our Entegra Esteem but we traded out of it. You would think that the stickers would be an easy job.... but clearly not for everyone! 🙃
Hit piece
LOL
They are junk for shite ? Why did you buy one? Didn’t read about them we see??
lol what? We didn't buy one... 🤣
Just buy what YOU want
I should have seen this video before I bought mine 😢
what a hatchet job.
First!
😎😂
looks same as the Coachmen Euro 2024
I'm gonna buy one. NOT! Shower tiny.
😂
FJB 2024
🤘🇺🇸
Thor is garbage to begin with....thinking it would be any better is unrealistic
We have always had strong feelings that these are garbage, but when we see them we take a look and maybe we will be proven wrong. So far... we've been right 😂
Why is this garbage?
Thor is trash
Nice content but, hint: resting "b" face not great for videos...
🤦♂️
@christucker7688
0 seconds ago
I will never buy a Thor product in my lifetime. I will go out of my way to bad mouth Thor products the rest of my life!
Thor makes the lowest quality products on this planet!!