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Old 06-17-2015, 07:31 PM   #1
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Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Vegas
State: Oregon
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THOR #1838
Happy with Vegas

I've had my 2015 24.1 Vegas for about 2 months now and I've been able to get things working pretty well. Here are the things I've done so far:

Added TrackVision A-9 low profile satellite dish system.
Added HWH hydraulic jacks.
Installed front TV DVD.
Installed track bar, Safe-T-Plus, and beefy rear sway bar.
Replaced kitchen faucet with residential model (the first two from Thor leaked).
Installed Kenwood touch screen radio w/SiriusXM.
Added PressurePro TPMS on Vegas and Subaru Forester tow car.
Lots of little "tweets"

Glad to share and glad to fine this forum.

Brad

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Old 06-17-2015, 08:25 PM   #2
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Glad you are enjoying your Vegas. Could you report on handling improvements with your suspension additions? Did you do them one at the time or all at once. Handling, i.e. seems to be a popular topic for the Axis-Vegas. I know that mine does a little wandering on the hwy., but I have more or less gotten used to it.
Happy trails.
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Old 06-17-2015, 08:44 PM   #3
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Model: Vegas
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Vegas handling mods

I took my 2015 Vegas to Henderson's Line Up in Grants Pass, Oregon. They have a great reputation and have been around for many years. (Oregon is a great place to vacation too!).

After a test drive, they recommended lots of modifications. I worked with them to narrow down the choices that would have the most benefit. 1. Safe-T-Plus, 2. rear track bar (Steer Safe), and 3. massive rear sway bar (Roadmaster). I had them all installed in one day and the change was dramatic. I don't feel like I'm constantly correcting the steering to keep straight. Rutted roads are not an issue and side winds not as bad. The 3 mods ended up costing about $2100.

I would definitely recommend the changes... it's really a joy to drive now.
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Old 06-17-2015, 09:53 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bthode@gmail.com View Post
I've had my 2015 24.1 Vegas for about 2 months now and I've been able to get things working pretty well. Here are the things I've done so far:

Added TrackVision A-9 low profile satellite dish system.
Added HWH hydraulic jacks.
Installed front TV DVD.
Installed track bar, Safe-T-Plus, and beefy rear sway bar.
Replaced kitchen faucet with residential model (the first two from Thor leaked).
Installed Kenwood touch screen radio w/SiriusXM.
Added PressurePro TPMS on Vegas and Subaru Forester tow car.
Lots of little "tweets"

Glad to share and glad to fine this forum.

Brad
Brad, can you give some details on the Trackvision A-9 system? Cost ect. I've heard you shouldn't put a sat dish on the roof because when you're parking under trees it won't work. And doesn't want shade right? What's you thought.
I'm thinking about buying one. Can you travel in that without a tow car? Everyone tells me you need one, but i don't like the idea o f it. And if you're a veteran of motorhomes, how does this one compare to the rest of the pack. I'm a newbie who wants to just travel during the winter month in the south. Thanks. Dave
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Old 06-17-2015, 11:04 PM   #5
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[QUOTE=. Can you travel in that without a tow car? Everyone tells me you need one, but i don't like the idea o f it. And if you're a veteran of motorhomes, how does this one compare to the rest of the pack. I'm a newbie who wants to just travel during the winter month in the south. Thanks. Dave[/QUOTE]

I don't tow a car, mainly cause I don't have a car that I could tow. Not sure what the cost (mpg) towing vs not towing is, but some that tow could jump in on cost difference if any.
This is our second coach of this size and find that we don't really need a toad most of the time. For our type of traveling, we find that it is easy to hookup and unhook in a campground to go sightseeing etc. OTOH, when we are in an area to stay for a week or more, we may rent a car to do our visiting and sightseeing.
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Old 06-18-2015, 02:52 AM   #6
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Originally Posted by Teeitup26 View Post
Brad, can you give some details on the Trackvision A-9 system? Cost ect. I've heard you shouldn't put a sat dish on the roof because when you're parking under trees it won't work. And doesn't want shade right? What's you thought.
I'm thinking about buying one. Can you travel in that without a tow car? Everyone tells me you need one, but i don't like the idea o f it. And if you're a veteran of motorhomes, how does this one compare to the rest of the pack. I'm a newbie who wants to just travel during the winter month in the south. Thanks. Dave
Dave-

I picked the TrackVision A-9 because of it's low profile (only 5"). They are pricy at around $4000. In addition to the roof-mounted dish, we installed an external dish connection that lets us put a dish in a clear space. I suggest you invest in a satellite sighting device to take the frustration out of dish pointing. (Check out Align-A-Sight)

We like to tow a car because:
- It's very easy to tow...you hardly know it's there.
- Simple trips from the campground don't require unhooking utilities, packing chairs/bbq...
- Traveling around places like Yellowstone are much easier in a smaller vehicle.
- The tow acts like a lifeboat in case the RV has problems.
- At 30 MPG in the tow compared to 10 mpg in the Vegas it's economical.

The down side to towing is:
- Limited models can be towed 4 wheels down. (Our Subaru had to be a manual trans.)
- Tow bar and baseplates can be expensive.
- I think an auxiliary brake system is a must and can be pricy.
- Hooking up in the rain can be a pain.

I've been RVing for over 20 years.. the Vegas is our 7th RV. We have wintered in AZ and CA for two years. I think the Vegas would work, but we also enjoyed the 36' Beaver we had.
Now our camping is usually limited to 2-3 week trips, so the smaller Vegas works for us. In terms of quality- the Vegas is comparable to others in it's price range. The next price/quality level gets you better materials/craftsmanship if you want to spend twice as much.

I think the Vegas is a great choice for those starting the camping experience as well as those looking to downsize.

Good Luck, Brad
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Old 06-18-2015, 11:38 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by bthode@gmail.com View Post
Dave-

I picked the TrackVision A-9 because of it's low profile (only 5"). They are pricy at around $4000. In addition to the roof-mounted dish, we installed an external dish connection that lets us put a dish in a clear space. I suggest you invest in a satellite sighting device to take the frustration out of dish pointing. (Check out Align-A-Sight)

We like to tow a car because:
- It's very easy to tow...you hardly know it's there.
- Simple trips from the campground don't require unhooking utilities, packing chairs/bbq...
- Traveling around places like Yellowstone are much easier in a smaller vehicle.
- The tow acts like a lifeboat in case the RV has problems.
- At 30 MPG in the tow compared to 10 mpg in the Vegas it's economical.

The down side to towing is:
- Limited models can be towed 4 wheels down. (Our Subaru had to be a manual trans.)
- Tow bar and baseplates can be expensive.
- I think an auxiliary brake system is a must and can be pricy.
- Hooking up in the rain can be a pain.

I've been RVing for over 20 years.. the Vegas is our 7th RV. We have wintered in AZ and CA for two years. I think the Vegas would work, but we also enjoyed the 36' Beaver we had.
Now our camping is usually limited to 2-3 week trips, so the smaller Vegas works for us. In terms of quality- the Vegas is comparable to others in it's price range. The next price/quality level gets you better materials/craftsmanship if you want to spend twice as much.

I think the Vegas is a great choice for those starting the camping experience as well as those looking to downsize.

Good Luck, Brad
Thanks for all that Brad. One last question because you have so much experience. When i read all the blogs from RV owners it seems that one needs to almost be a mechanic or very very mechanical at least to own one of these things. Seems like there is always something to fix or upgrade or add. I am not handy with tools and don't have the slightest idea how to fix anything. How would i make it out there in my Axis if i bought one? Thanks. Dave
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Old 06-19-2015, 12:29 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by Teeitup26 View Post
Thanks for all that Brad. One last question because you have so much experience. When i read all the blogs from RV owners it seems that one needs to almost be a mechanic or very very mechanical at least to own one of these things. Seems like there is always something to fix or upgrade or add. I am not handy with tools and don't have the slightest idea how to fix anything. How would i make it out there in my Axis if i bought one? Thanks. Dave
Dave,

I'm not Brad, however, here is my 2 cents. Don't sweat the small stuff.

What you will find is if you are at a campground and in need of assistance someone will be more than willing to help.

During my last outing there were three of us that assisted a relatively new Rv'er fixing a water leak that was the result of poor winterization. All three of us had the knowledge the problem and between us we had the tools and spare parts required to perform all needed repairs.

As long as I've been Rv'ing I still learn from the forums and every now and again a particular discussion causes me to go on a seek and find mission in my coach. Prime example, I was not aware, until recently, that Thor adds an antenna booster on their coaches. My previous Forest River had no such animal installed. Reading the thread caused me to look for the booster in my coach, which I found, and then to ensure that I could receive over the air channels on all three televisions.

One last point, if you own a house there is always something to fix, upgrade or add. The only difference with an RV is that sitting in the drivers seat can take you to places that are absolutely remarkable any time you want. The chair in your house will take you nowhere.

Rv'ing is not a mode of transportation, it is a state of mind.
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Old 06-19-2015, 01:47 AM   #9
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Dave,

I'm not Brad, however, here is my 2 cents. Don't sweat the small stuff.

What you will find is if you are at a campground and in need of assistance someone will be more than willing to help.

During my last outing there were three of us that assisted a relatively new Rv'er fixing a water leak that was the result of poor winterization. All three of us had the knowledge the problem and between us we had the tools and spare parts required to perform all needed repairs.

As long as I've been Rv'ing I still learn from the forums and every now and again a particular discussion causes me to go on a seek and find mission in my coach. Prime example, I was not aware, until recently, that Thor adds an antenna booster on their coaches. My previous Forest River had no such animal installed. Reading the thread caused me to look for the booster in my coach, which I found, and then to ensure that I could receive over the air channels on all three televisions.

One last point, if you own a house there is always something to fix, upgrade or add. The only difference with an RV is that sitting in the drivers seat can take you to places that are absolutely remarkable any time you want. The chair in your house will take you nowhere.

Rv'ing is not a mode of transportation, it is a state of mind.
Boy, you said a mouthful when you said, "The chair in your house will take you nowhere". thanks for the tips. I'm going to get started on this purchase.
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Old 06-19-2015, 02:36 AM   #10
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One last point, if you own a house there is always something to fix, upgrade or add. [/QUOTE]


Heard this one before. I NEVER had to "fix, upgrade or add" to my two houses as much as I do my coach.
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Old 06-19-2015, 04:06 AM   #11
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Teeitup26-

There is a saying that "the only thing that works on and RV is it's owner". Dealing with each problem will lead to a more confident experience RVing. If nothing else, you'll find service providers you can trust. The internet and specifically forums such as this one are a tremendous help. You can also find help with many topics on YouTube.
It's great that so many people are willing to help on this forum... thanks to all.

Brad
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Old 06-19-2015, 12:04 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by brad13 View Post
One last point, if you own a house there is always something to fix, upgrade or add.

Heard this one before. I NEVER had to "fix, upgrade or add" to my two houses as much as I do my coach.[/QUOTE]

Since I never stated which (house or RV) has more items on the list of things to "fix, upgrade, or add", and since I currently own two houses (both of which I had built and are 1 owner), I stand behind my initial statement as written.

In fact, for the house my "To Do" list for the weekend includes cutting grass, washing the deck, changing the HVAC filters and replacing an entry door seal. For the coach it includes securing the icemaker water line, exercising the generator, and caulking around my bathroom escape window. Also, since the dealer's price negotiated advertising period of 3 months has expired I need to remove their sticker from the back of my coach.
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Old 06-19-2015, 02:35 PM   #13
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Sticker removal would be top priority if that was my to do list.
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Old 06-19-2015, 03:56 PM   #14
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Sticker removal would be top priority if that was my to do list.
Since 1983 I have used dealer stickers against them in price negotiations. If handled correctly and sprung on the dealer at the right time, in most cases, that dealer sticker is good for final 100.00 - 500.00 price reduction. On my current coach the tactic worked extremely well due to full body paint and the dealer's risk of their folks blemishing the paint during the sticker removal process if they declined the reduction or the risk of me walking away from the sale due to undisclosed advertising terms and/or conditions. That dealer was not selling many motorhomes in the middle of January.

I treat contractors working on either of my houses the same way. If they want to advertise their business with their signs in my front yard, pay up. If they do an exceptionally good job, complete ahead of schedule and under budget I might let them put their sign in the yard for a day or two.
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Old 06-19-2015, 08:49 PM   #15
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Sticker removal would be top priority if that was my to do list.
Dealer sticker has been removed.
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Old 06-20-2015, 04:11 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by Teeitup26 View Post
Thanks for all that Brad. One last question because you have so much experience. When i read all the blogs from RV owners it seems that one needs to almost be a mechanic or very very mechanical at least to own one of these things. Seems like there is always something to fix or upgrade or add. I am not handy with tools and don't have the slightest idea how to fix anything. How would i make it out there in my Axis if i bought one? Thanks. Dave
Dave- I agree with the comments made here. Just like moving into a new (to you) home, you pick what seems to fit your desires and budget, and then make the improvements you want and can afford. Some things that are a must for me, like jacks, are worthless to somebody else.
Each of my last 4 RVs met my needs for that season, then my needs evolved and something different was a better fit. Travel trailer, 5th wheel, Class A, and now the Vegas 25.2 is nearly perfect for us now and for the foreseeable future. Still, I am open to new gadgets that may enhance or ease our time in it.
Do your homework, soak up the comments from friends and take your time shopping. Enjoy the journey! An RV is a complicated piece of work, with components of both car and home. If you always call the experts for home and car issues, you'll find RV experts to help you for a price. My friends who are new homeowners and new RVers are doing fine, and are finding they can do some things for themselves.
For a primer on what not to do with a motorhome, watch the Robin Williams movie, "RV".
BTW: I, too refuse to advertise for any dealer without compensation.
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Old 06-20-2015, 01:41 PM   #17
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How do you remove dealer stickers? I have both stickers and a large plastic badge.
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Old 06-20-2015, 02:57 PM   #18
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How do you remove dealer stickers? I have both stickers and a large plastic badge.
You can try some of the common solvents; WD40, silicone spray and or paint thinner and a plastic putty knife or scraper.
I have had good results with one or all for removing sticky labels etc. Takes a few minutes sometime for the solvent to work.
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Old 06-20-2015, 03:12 PM   #19
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How do you remove dealer stickers? I have both stickers and a large plastic badge.
I use three methods

1. Very hot water on a rag over the sticker for a minute or two to soften the glue and then gently peal off the sticker.

2. Hair dryer on low heat to soften the glue on the sticker

3. Goof Off for diluting the glue. Test on a non visible area to ensure the Goof off does not affect the paint. Immediately rinse with soap and water.

With patience and sometimes two or three attempts item 1 usually works.
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