Love our Challenger

[Hoosier 26]

My 2017 37TB has black tank flush systems on both black tanks. I may upgrade to a larger DP someday but I would skip the Palazzo for now. The Challenger wins hands down for under coach storage alone. The floor plans are better too but the baggage doors on the Palazzo are not up to par with the Challenger.

[wayneroe]

Originally Posted by Hoosier 26

My 2017 37TB has black tank flush systems on both black tanks. I may upgrade to a larger DP someday but I would skip the Palazzo for now. The Challenger wins hands down for under coach storage alone. The floor plans are better too but the baggage doors on the Palazzo are not up to par with the Challenger.

Thanks, Hoosier. That's the kind of info I'm looking for. I went through the Challenger 37TB at the Indy RV show a couple of weeks ago and liked it a lot. I found out my Thor dealer doesn't sell Challengers, just the ACE, Windsport and Vegas. I asked why they didn't sell the Challenger and they told me it was because they just had too many problems with them. I talked with a Thor factory rep and he told me the Challengers had a big problem with the full wall slide. They went to the slide manufacturer and had the slides upgraded and that problem was in the past. I am encouraged to hear your positive comments about your 37TB.

[BradnKaren]

Both tanks on our 2017 37LX have the flush system. Just passed one year of ownership, and we still love our Challenger! We are also very happy with Thor. We have good friends RV shopping right now and have convinced them that they won't regret buying a Thor.

[wayneroe]

Originally Posted by BradnKaren

Both tanks on our 2017 37LX have the flush system. Just passed one year of ownership, and we still love our Challenger! We are also very happy with Thor. We have good friends RV shopping right now and have convinced them that they won't regret buying a Thor.

Thanks for that feedback.

[Mike in AZ]

Same here, our 2017 Challenger 37LX has the connection for a hose to clean out the black tanks, both mid and aft. We bought our rig last June, still love our Challenger.

[mash557]

Our 2017 Challenger 37TB has the flush on both black tanks. No slide issues other than a slide controller that had an issue and was quickly provided a replacement by Thor. We like our coach.

[kdub]

I have the same problem. Driving it home from the dealer mine kept coming out. I will have it fixed once I take it in for de--winterization.

[Mike in AZ]

I’m happy to say our tow bar install was completed today, and I can’t wait to take it out on a test run (early next week).

Our setup is a Blue Ox Avail towbar, Blue Ox Base plates, and coiled electric cables.

Invisibrake braking system.

I had my favorite RV mobile service guy do the install. He and his helper walked me through everything upon completion.

He wired up a charging cable that runs through the 6-pin to 7-pin cable that also controls the Invisibrake, and the lights on my truck. The dash light on the RV dash tells me when the TOAD brake is activated.

Total cost to me, for parts, labor, and tax, was $3,850.

[bigben]

Sounds GREAT Mike

[Mike in AZ]

Originally Posted by bigben

Sounds GREAT Mike

Thanks Ben. I hooked up for the first time today. Drove 14 miles to a Pilot Travel Center and used their CAT scales, then 20 miles on the highway to bring it home. You guys were right, if I didn’t keep looking at my F150 in the rear camera, or saw the mirrors barely in view on reach side in my RV mirrors, I wouldn’t have known I was towing. And the F150 tracked beautifully in my Challenger’s trail.

Looks like I’m good on weight. My coach specs say 24,000 pounds GVW and 30k GCVW, and towing is rated to 8k.

My front axle is 7700 pounds with me and my daughter (playing the role of her mom for weighing purposes, lol), and 13,600 pounds rear axle with a full tank of gas. Empty fresh water and waste tanks.

My TOAD weighs 5,560 with about 1/3rd full gas tank.

26,860 total combined weight. So I have about 3,000 pounds leeway, to a comodate grandkids, fresh water, my Solar Suitcase which I didn’t bring, and assorted other camping stuff.

I am thinking when we are going north on I-17 to Flagstaff (long, steep climbs) that it might be wise to disconnect and have DW drive my truck up separately.

Hope this isn’t boring you all, I just wanted to share the experience with all of you who gave me such useful advice!

Mike

[Mike in AZ]

Originally Posted by dstankov

Before you make any modifications to the suspension load the coach for travel, have it weighed, preferably 4 corner weighted but if not then axle weighed, set the tire pressures to the recommended PSI for the weight, and have the alignment checked. After that is done then take it for a short trip and determine what, if anything you don't like about the handling and then mod the suspension to suit your needs or desires.

Dave, I got my coach and TOAD weighed today. Where can I find the recommended tire pressures by weight for my Challenger? I do not have corner weights, just by each axle.

Mike

[bigben]

Originally Posted by Mike in AZ

Dave, I got my coach and TOAD weighed today. Where can I find the recommended tire pressures by weight for my Challenger? I do not have corner weights, just by each axle.

Mike

Here is an inflation chart https://www.michelinrvtires.com/refe...flation-tables

[bigben]

Originally Posted by Mike in AZ

Dave, I got my coach and TOAD weighed today. Where can I find the recommended tire pressures by weight for my Challenger? I do not have corner weights, just by each axle.

Mike

Here isz an inflation chart https://www.michelinrvtires.com/refe...flation-tables

[Mike in AZ]

Originally Posted by bigben

Here is an inflation chart https://www.michelinrvtires.com/refe...flation-tables

Thanks Ben!

[Mike in AZ]

I haven’t ever dealt in variable psi for tires before. Always drove passenger vehicles and just ensured the tires were at the rated psi. So this is new to me, and I hope you guys will help me out some more.

Reading the attached tire pressure chart for my Michelin XRV 255/80R 22.5G tires on my Challenger, and given my recent weight certification on CAT scales, here’s what I see.

Front axle, 7,700 lbs.
Rear (dual) axle, 13,600 lbs.

So I divide in half, to get the weight for each end of each axle, correct?

So front axle, 3850, rear axle, 6,800 pounds.

That seems to indicate on the chart that my psi should run around 70 to 75 pounds. Which is much lighter than the ~90 lbs they came at from the dealer and that I’ve run with for about 1,000 miles or so.

So, first, did I figure this correctly or did I misunderstand something?

Second, is there a consequence to operating at higher psi’s than called for by weight, but still under the maximum for the tires?

Thanks in advance! Mike

[Mothertype55]

Well, I gave it my best shot, but I have not been able to get my husband to try RVing and my arthritis has progressed to the point that I just cannot do it by myself. My beautiful 2018 37TB has only 1465 miles on it and is actually “like new”. Sad to give up the dream, but must face reality☹️.

[RonMonica]

Mike,
I don't know how I missed this post, but if you haven't resolved this to your satisfaction yet, I had the same issue and installed the latch below (purchased from Amazon) and it solved the problem.

Southco C3-810 Series Passivated Plastic Grabber Catch Side Mount Concealed Push-To-Close Latch with Black Spring, 44N Pullup, Black

[bigben]

Originally Posted by Mothertype55

Well, I gave it my best shot, but I have not been able to get my husband to try RVing and my arthritis has progressed to the point that I just cannot do it by myself. My beautiful 2018 37TB has only 1465 miles on it and is actually “like new”. Sad to give up the dream, but must face reality[emoji852]️.

Sorry to lose you on the road with us. Blessings in your choice.

[Mothertype55]

Thanks Ben. It’s disappointing, but also a relief. It was just too much for me.

[bigben]

May the road continue to rise up to meet you always - luck and blessings to you Mothertype55.