Love our Challenger

[Joe-FL]

Originally Posted by Techn0

Okay, I just completed the CHF for the front and back.............. I am glad I finally did it and now all I need is a Safe-T-Plus stabilizer for the front and I will be a happy camper.........

Congrats on completing. I am at about the same point in resolving these handling issues. Either the Safe-T or RoadMaster on the front and then I am hoping all will be well. No matter what stabilizer I end up going with I plan on installing it myself.

[oldgold]

So.. we are about to leave for Thanksgiving. I'm interested to see how the Challenger handles a trailer on skinny South Georgia backroads. Hoping the deer go to bed early!!

[Hoosier 26]

Less than a month to go. Should be picking up my 2017 Challenger the week of Dec 20. The Camping World store in Syracuse, NY has agreed to provide and install the Safety Steer Stabilizer at delivery. I am excited to have this important safety feature on the coach from the first day. This forum has been a fantastic source of information to help me make this first RV experience a good one for my family. I can't wait to let you all know how the delivery process goes and my thoughts after the first trip in the new coach. Thanks for all your help.

[ctpres]

Originally Posted by Hoosier 26

Less than a month to go. Should be picking up my 2017 Challenger the week of Dec 20. The Camping World store in Syracuse, NY has agreed to provide and install the Safety Steer Stabilizer at delivery. I am excited to have this important safety feature on the coach from the first day. This forum has been a fantastic source of information to help me make this first RV experience a good one for my family. I can't wait to let you all know how the delivery process goes and my thoughts after the first trip in the new coach. Thanks for all your help.

Welcome to "Challenger Owners Club" No dues, no rules - only membership requirement is owning a Thor Challenger. Check map at RVillage - Group Profile - Thor Challenger Owners Unite Maybe a current owner is nearby. Most of us would be willing to help with Pre or Post delivery inspection and system demo.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by Hoosier 26

Less than a month to go. Should be picking up my 2017 Challenger the week of Dec 20. The Camping World store in Syracuse, NY has agreed to provide and install the Safety Steer Stabilizer at delivery. I am excited to have this important safety feature on the coach from the first day. This forum has been a fantastic source of information to help me make this first RV experience a good one for my family. I can't wait to let you all know how the delivery process goes and my thoughts after the first trip in the new coach. Thanks for all your help.

I would recommend that you load the coach and have the alignment checked before making any type of steering or suspension mods. If the toe on the alignment is out and the stabilizer is installed the installation will have to be re-done or at least readjusted after the alignment. Could result in a waste of money and Camping World, more than likely, did not mention that tid bit of info because they would like to do it again, at a cost naturally.

Enjoy.

[Hoosier 26]

Spoke with a Service Manager from a Ford heavy Truck dealership in Harrisburg, Pa today. He says that Thor is supposed to align the unit after it is built. If they do this correctly then there should not be an issue. If there is a steering wheel alignment problem or the unit pulls left or right while driving then the Ford dealership will perform an alignment adjustment and Thor will pay for it. I thought I had read in several places that Ford was paying for this service. Just to be certain I asked him to repeat it back to me that Thor would pay to fix the alignment. He was positive and stated he had just done one within the past week and Thor paid for it. His only hedge was that there had to be an obvious deficiency like pulling while on the highway or the steering wheel being off center when the vehicle was running straight. Has this been the experience of the group?

[Joe-FL]

I can't really comment on Thor paying for an alignment since the coach part of my warranty was expired when I purchased it, even though the Ford warranty is still good.


However, last month when I had my alignment done I went to a big truck alignment/frame shop in Ft. Myers. The mechanic told me when he was done that he had to make several adjustments. He wasn't sure if Thor would have aligned it prior to leaving the factory or not, but he said that after loading all your personal stuff and fluids on a large coach it would be a good time to do an alignment. I know from weighing my past 5th wheels that we carry between 1,200 and 1,500 pounds of personal add on gear.


Anyway, my coach did not pull to one side nor was the steering wheel off center but it did need the alignment. After leaving the shop it did steer better.

[RVCampingNut]

Originally Posted by Hoosier 26

Spoke with a Service Manager from a Ford heavy Truck dealership in Harrisburg, Pa today. He says that Thor is supposed to align the unit after it is built. If they do this correctly then there should not be an issue. If there is a steering wheel alignment problem or the unit pulls left or right while driving then the Ford dealership will perform an alignment adjustment and Thor will pay for it. I thought I had read in several places that Ford was paying for this service. Just to be certain I asked him to repeat it back to me that Thor would pay to fix the alignment. He was positive and stated he had just done one within the past week and Thor paid for it. His only hedge was that there had to be an obvious deficiency like pulling while on the highway or the steering wheel being off center when the vehicle was running straight. Has this been the experience of the group?

I can tell you right now that Thor does NOT align the coach after it is built. I called and spoke to several Thor VPs, execs, etc in the process of getting mine built. I was really into the whole production of things and had weekly calls to make sure things were on track. What I was told by Thor was that the wheels are aligned from Ford before the coach is assembled. They said the reason they do not do alignments was because it would need rot be re-aligned after the customer loaded it up. I got the same story from my last coach manufacturer (Coachmen). I had already planned on taking it for an alignment within a week of taking delivery. The dealer does not do it, but they send it to someone they know (probably with some kickbacks). I chose to go to a big rig/RV specialist and have them do the alignment and also install the steering stabilizer while aligning it. It really wasn't that much money, but I feel much better being able to pick who I want and have it done. I am extremely with the results but not from how much they told me it was off. However, all is well now and it drives so easily.

[Hoosier 26]

Originally Posted by RVCampingNut

I can tell you right now that Thor does NOT align the coach after it is built. I called and spoke to several Thor VPs, execs, etc in the process of getting mine built. I was really into the whole production of things and had weekly calls to make sure things were on track. What I was told by Thor was that the wheels are aligned from Ford before the coach is assembled. They said the reason they do not do alignments was because it would need rot be re-aligned after the customer loaded it up. I got the same story from my last coach manufacturer (Coachmen). I had already planned on taking it for an alignment within a week of taking delivery. The dealer does not do it, but they send it to someone they know (probably with some kickbacks). I chose to go to a big rig/RV specialist and have them do the alignment and also install the steering stabilizer while aligning it. It really wasn't that much money, but I feel much better being able to pick who I want and have it done. I am extremely with the results but not from how much they told me it was off. However, all is well now and it drives so easily.

Camping nut,

Great post. I appreciate your input. I'll consider it my responsibility to make sure of the alignment. You are right that the cost of the alignment is not worth taking a chance that it is not right. My plan at this point is to get the coach , drive it a bit and thenhave the alignment done within the first month. This area has many good heavy truck shops so I know I can get it done right and at a reasonable cost.

[Troutkiller]

Great thread!

We're taking delivery on our new '17 37YT next week and the information on this thread is almost priceless. We look forward to providing info in the future.

I'm not very mechanically inclined, is CW a reliable place for service discussed herein? In particular the steering and stabilization issues? I can handle the sink fix.

D2

[gmc]

Originally Posted by Troutkiller

...
I'm not very mechanically inclined, is CW a reliable place for service discussed herein? In particular the steering and stabilization issues? I can handle the sink fix.

Experiences at CW seem to vary GREATLY based on the particular store... If you have a particular store or area in TX - someone near there might be able to give some input.

[EA37TS]

Troutkiller,

First load the coach and then have the alignment checked. If after the alignment you believe it needs a stabilizer have the shop doing the alignment installed the stabilizer.

Don't do anything to the steering until it is aligned or the alignment is verified good. CW does not do alignments and I haven't found one yet that is any good at all on anything related to the chassis.

[Hoosier 26]

Originally Posted by Troutkiller

Great thread!

We're taking delivery on our new '17 37YT next week and the information on this thread is almost priceless. We look forward to providing info in the future.

I'm not very mechanically inclined, is CW a reliable place for service discussed herein? In particular the steering and stabilization issues? I can handle the sink fix.

D2

Troutkiller,

I am scheduled to take delivery of my 37TB on Thursday and then spend the night on the CW lot with a final check before we leave the dealership on the 23rd. Wish I could trade you weather patterns as the Syracuse, NY delivery will be a bit colder than what you willl have in TX. Good luck this week. I hope everything goes smoothly for you. This has bean an amazing logistical challenge to get everything together for the big reveal Christmas morning. Still multiple pieces to come together so I will hold my breath until I see my kids faces and this is still a suprize on Christmas morning.

Merry Christmas/Happy holidays to all. I hope that all will enjoy time with loved ones this week. That is what this grand adventure is all about anyway. Peace.

[Joe-FL]

Troutkiller and Housier26, when I read on here about alignment issues I set out to find a big truck shop in my area that could handle it. A large independent RV dealer made a couple suggestions and I did some online searches. I actually drove to a couple of the businesses to look them over and ask for prices.


The one I ended up using, Gene's Auto & Frame, Ft. Myers, had some wrecked county squad cars there being fixed and some school buses being worked on. They looked like they were getting tons of work and they quoted me a cheaper price than a couple of the other places.


They completed my alignment as scheduled while I waited and charged me less than $100.00. I am glad I looked to a truck repair/frame shop instead of some type of RV facility for the alignment.

[Troutkiller]

Best of luck Hoosier. I've had to pull that off with new barrel horses 15 years ago. Left at 11pm on Christmas Eve so we could pull off a morning surprise

It's well worth it.

Joe: appreciate your insight as well. Luckily we have every major semi-truck dealer within 10 miles.....from Volvo to Freightliner....and several have assured us that they will give us drive up one hour service. We'll definitely take advantage of that offer and the information proffered here.

D2

[bigben]

Troutkiller - congrats on the new 37YT - it is a great floor plan added. Find a good truck shop to do the front end alignment near you. Normally Thor will reimburse for this on a new coach. There is a great deal of discussion about needing but IME it is needed. Also, I have found the Ford QuickLane the best solution to oil changes and scheduled services on the chassis. Do your own generator service at every 150 hours and plugs at every 500 hours. Generator oil change at CW is about $70 and way more for the plugs.

Unless you know specifically a CW that someone else in your area has a good experience dealing with - I recommend another service center. Recommend also that you be your own best advocate. Talk with Thor about the problem and then get recommendation on where to service. Then follow up with both the repair shop and Thor.

Merry Christmas and again - nice coach.

[mash557]

We've been looking for a bit and originally started looking at the Hurricane Bunkhouse. After actually looking at them and then also checking the Miramar and Challenger, we decided on the Challenger 37TB. Got a GREAT price for the coach. Will get it in mid January. Watching the posts for issues to watch for. Looks like a pretty good unit and just a few little tweaks and all should be good. Looking forward to getting some camping in.

[SuperD]

Mash, Congratulations on your new coach and welcome to the forum! If you have questions this is the place to ask them, great people with lots of experience.

Please search and read posts on predelivery inspection, absolutely a must before taking delivery. Be sure to check the roof too.

[j37genie]

Besides the aformentioned windshield wipers, make sure they run the generator continuously for at least an hour, with load. After dealing with what appears to be an overheating problem, I have found, through this and other forums, it seems to be a common problem. I'm still troubleshooting mine.

[mash557]

Originally Posted by SuperD

Mash, Congratulations on your new coach and welcome to the forum! If you have questions this is the place to ask them, great people with lots of experience.

Please search and read posts on predelivery inspection, absolutely a must before taking delivery. Be sure to check the roof too.

I've been reading a lot of posts, found a checklist for pre delivery also. Trying to make sure I don't miss anything. We will be staying on-site at the dealer to make sure everything works.