Hello All...

[Ozark Traveler]

We don't have the A.C.E. but we do have a Freedom Traveler A30 which is very close to the A.C.E. 30.2. Our A30 does not have bunk beds but a second closet and a little more counter space in the kitchen. We have done the CHF and also had the front wheels aligned, also installed dynamat sound deadener. We flat tow a 4-WD 2019 ranger p/u. We are just changing from a 5-W to a motor coach...so far, so good.

The Ford f-53 chassis is not even close to the comforts of our F-350 KR but we needed to down size and so far this combo seems to be working fine.

[richguess]

I came from first a Chinook (21’) and then a 24’ class C. I wanted a class A with more room and a couch, but on the smaller side. I bought a used (2018) ACE 27.2. Total length is 28’9”. You save around $15k that way, and it only had 5k miles. It has a king bed and the electric fold down cab bed as well as the couch. My 2 complaints(aside from the general crap they build them with, but we all know that) are: Front R seat will not rotate past the couch (driver’s seat no problem) and there is an outside TV (which I’ll probably never use) behind the couch, making it impossible to replace it with a RecPro type double recliner. Those aren’t deal breakers, and I think the layout is otherwise great. It also has a GVW of 16k lbs, which I like, and can tow 5000lbs (My Tracker is 2800 lbs). Combined, it’s a nice, fairly economical setup. The 29.2 has the couch in the slide, and hence you can replace it with recliners. However, it’s longer, the main TV isn’t positioned as well, and weighs more. It’s really personal choice.

[justjohn57]

Originally Posted by IDguy

How did they handle stuck slide?

We had to call an RV mobile repair man and we found the problem together, which amounted to a misalignment of one of the guide rails. He fixed the problem on the spot and we've never had an issue with the slide since. Thor reimbursed us for the service call, although I had to dog them about it after they "lost" the invoice.

[tgford72]

We bought a new 2018 Thor A.C.E. 27.2 in January 2018.
The headlights were so badly aimed it was not driveable at night.
The steering wheel was 60 degrees off center.
The furnace did not work.
The door was out of adjustment (it will be for life).
Took it back to the dealer. They had it for 10 days. Fixed NOTHING.
I had to take it to a different location of the same dealer and finally got the furnace to work. Took a YEAR. I took it to my local mechanic to get the headlight and steering issue resolved (out of MY pocket).
Had to put Bilsteins and Hellwig sway bars on it to make it driveable in the wind.
Now, with 13,000 miles on it the kitchen counter top is separating from the slide and I'm told that the very pricy "Bumper to Bumper" extended warranty won't cover it.
My advice is if it is from Thor, run for your life.

[IDguy]

Originally Posted by tgford72

We bought a new 2018 Thor A.C.E. 27.2 in January 2018.
The headlights were so badly aimed it was not driveable at night.
The steering wheel was 60 degrees off center.
The furnace did not work.
The door was out of adjustment (it will be for life).
Took it back to the dealer. They had it for 10 days. Fixed NOTHING.
I had to take it to a different location of the same dealer and finally got the furnace to work. Took a YEAR. I took it to my local mechanic to get the headlight and steering issue resolved (out of MY pocket).
Had to put Bilsteins and Hellwig sway bars on it to make it driveable in the wind.
Now, with 13,000 miles on it the kitchen counter top is separating from the slide and I'm told that the very pricy "Bumper to Bumper" extended warranty won't cover it.
My advice is if it is from Thor, run for your life.

I’d say stay away from that dealer.

You didn’t notice steering wheel on test drive? Once you drive off the lot chassis issues are Ford’s problem.

[ducksface]

I hope you were
Reminded instead of told, about what the warranty covers.

My cw was closed due to the gander restructure.
When I went there I was greeted in the parking lot with smiles and handshakes and introductions to new folk.



My smile, a couple of pizzas, a good attitude.

[RadioRanger]

Hi,

I think you will have an easy time towing about anything. We have a 2017 29.3 and this last year I added a 2019 GMC Acadia as our toad. It pulls it with no problem (flat towing). I think you will find the RV has plenty of power. No real change in our gas mileage either. I was getting 7-9 MPG on average and am still getting the same numbers towing. I kinda expected that.

I had a Ford dealer do the CHF. I recommend that. Before the CHF I felt that there was a lot of play in the steering. I did not do any of the other mods people do. I have been happy with just the CHF. Also, towing seems to settle things down even more as far as tail wag. I don't notice a lot to start with, but it feels just a bit more solid.


Enjoy! John

[StroggCore]

Originally Posted by WarrenPrice

I am an experienced RV Traveler regretting having sold my last RV. The last few days my wife and I have been shopping. We came across the Thor A.C.E. and I fell in love with it.
Would love to hear more from ACE owners. The one we saw was 2018. We have to tow our Santa Fe Sport on a dolly. Wishing we had given more thought to the car buying when we thought we were out of the RV business.
Please offer any advice ... especially on the ACE.

Right now I'm thinking about buying a new RV. But I'm not too experienced in this stuff. If I have some question about it, I will ask you about it

[MJC62]

2018 ACE 27.2 here. Bought it used it was a rental for the dealer we purchased from. Most of the bugaboos were taken care of in the two seasons that the dealer had it out for rent. Only issue we had is the step motor crapped out and I, on the first trip and not used to the extra 2' height of the class A, wiped out the TV antenna on some low branches.
Did the CHF on front and rear, only suspension mod so far. I do have a front Trac bar to install that I ordered from Roadmaster after our extended trip last fall. I feel that upgrade will make the rig behave a little better on our crappy rut tracked highways. I don't understand why the 16000 lb chassis doesn't have one from factory and the 18000 and up do. Must of saved Thor $200
We have the ACE set up to flat tow our 2019 Cherokee Trailhawk. The V10 has had no problems hauling the 4500 lb SUV at least around the Midwest and through the Smokies in TN and N.C. Next summer the Rockies will put the rig to the test.
I like the coach very much, the wife not so much. For 10 years we camped and traveled in a 22' Gulfstream B+ all controls were down low as were the cabinets, easy for my 4'11" DW to access. On the ACE 27.2 the control panel for kitchen slide, gen start, HWH switch and tank gauges are located high above the entry way above the steps, making accessibility for the wife virtually impossible. No way to put a step stool on the stairs. In addition the overhead bunk controller is on the opposite side also above the steps and darn near impossible for her to reach. Also with the added interior height of the class A lots of the overhead cabinets are difficult for her to access. I guess we should have researched these points closer before we purchased. (I operated all the controls during the PDI)
I am now looking at the AXIS this winter as the controls appear, at least on the vids I have seen online, more user friendly for shorter folks. In fact it is the inaccessibility of the gen start that is the wife's biggest complaint and on the AXIS 24.1 it appears it can be started on the dash as well as in the bedroom.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by AndyT1183

Tom Schaeffer's RV
1236 Pottsville Pike
Shoemakersville, PA 19555

Thanks! Good Dealers should get some "good press".

[MJC62]

Originally Posted by richguess

Front R seat will not rotate past the couch (dc

Rich a question; 1st have you removed the couch arm and then pulled the passenger seat forward toward the dash before rotating. I know the seat will not come all the way around but if you remove the arm you will pick up another 30* in rotation. Enough to make watching the galley TV much easier on the neck

[jbwilli1]

We bought an ACE 32.1 last January. My wife hates it because of all the trouble we've encountered. QC at Thor is beyond horrible, BUT the factory has always taken care of the problems one way or another. Couldn't get the furnace to light, after many phone calls to techs, I finally decided to look for myself. Found the factory never connected the gas line.



CW where I bought it is good if you get the right serviceman, been back numerous times for the same repairs. 12 months later the door fits, doesn't lock us in or out, water leak is supposedly fixed (I bought my own PEX device now), GPS never worked even tho' they said it did (if it came on it worked to them) turns out the antenna was never installed.


Spent lot of $'s on handling, steering stabilizer, front sway bar, did CHF on rear, front end alignment, insulated the dog house (well worth it), just insulated underneath the cab with same stuff as doghouse (can't wait to see results). Bought EZ Tow dolly to pull behind.


Bottom line, it's an entry level unit at a good price, I like it! Only other complaint is lack of storage inside & out, but that's mostly doe to wife & her JUNK!


But wish I had my 5th wheel back, 2008 HR Presidential was absolutely a dream rig.