|
07-17-2018, 10:08 PM
|
#1
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Colorado
Posts: 56
THOR #12345
|
Newbie from Colorado Springs
I am new to the RV world, just purchased a 2017 Thor Chateau 31W. It was in excellent condition and it had 4700 miles!
Right of the bat, the family and I did a big maiden voyage to South Dakota in order to see Mount Rushmore for the second time... over 1000 miles round trip! We stayed at a Passport America campsite for four days.
The coach drove and handled GREAT! And I learned to appreciate how everything worked.
I also learned a lot of dos and don'ts. However, thanks to friends who are experienced RVers, online forums like this one, and YouTube; I avoided any serious errors.
Unfortunately, within 200 miles of beginning our trip the cameras cameras connected to our Axxera radio stopped working.
We were driving through 100 degree heat in Wyoming when the cameras died. The heat that was coming of the engine cover (doghouse) was nearly unbearable at the time.
Took the Chateau to a major camping outlet so they could evaluate it so I could file a claim using the 30 day 1000 mile warranty that came with the coach.
The warranty company would not let me file a claim because the coach had to be at the facility actually doing the repairs BEFORE the 1,000 MILES were over.
I wish they had made this clear before I went and paid the major camping outlet mechanics.
Also, the major camping outlet mechanics told me that I would have to replace the whole radio! They said they checked the video connections and they were all fine.
The major extended warranty I had paid for before the trip would not cover the damage because I was covered by another warranty when the fault occurred!
Fortunately, I was able to fix the damage myself. It was only a bad video cable! A "wire" that was sticking out from the dash when we purchased the Coach was actually a flimsy video cable that had likely developed a short.
I replaced the flimsy male to male RCA "wire" Thor used with a much thicker RCA cord. I also made sure I tied it up properly so it would not work it's way out from under the dash or interfere with the engine cover's removal or installation. .
For some reason, the major camping outlet mechanics, who said they had "checked" all the video connections, were not able to identify this quick and easy solution. I think they just wanted me to keep paying for more hours while they "tried" to fix it. They also pretended like they had never worked on this type of radio before.
In less than one month of living the RV life I have learned to be wary of major camping outlet mechanics and extended service plans!
However, despite these hiccups I am blessed to be living the RV life, and I am looking forward to more adventures with my family.
We are headed to Estes Park Colorado near Rocky Mountain National Park tomorrow... Wahoo!
__________________
|
|
|
07-17-2018, 10:17 PM
|
#2
|
I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
|
Glad to hear that you're enjoying your new adventure!
...And that you managed to lean an important lesson, at a relatively small cost!
Welcome aboard!
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
|
|
|
07-17-2018, 11:45 PM
|
#3
|
Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
|
Congratulations and welcome.
|
|
|
07-18-2018, 12:19 AM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2017 Windsport 29M
State: Indiana
Posts: 3,692
THOR #5196
|
Congratulations on your new coach and welcome to the forum!!!
__________________
|
|
|
07-18-2018, 02:44 AM
|
#5
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Colorado
Posts: 56
THOR #12345
|
I apologize for the rant. This was supposed to be a short intro.
__________________
|
|
|
07-18-2018, 02:54 AM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Windsport 29M
State: Pennsylvania
Posts: 223
THOR #10254
|
Sduff- welcome to the forum.
My wife and I had the opportunity to visit Colorado Springs twice & cannot wait to go back. The whole area...Manitou Springs / Pikes Peak/Garden of the Gods/Olympic Training Center......ahh, can't wait to take the RV there!
Is there any word when and if they will get the cog train running again for Pikes Peak? That was a pretty cool experience, I hate to see it stop for long.
__________________
Bryce, Gracia & Shadow (4 yr old mini-Daschund mix)
US Army vet- 82nd Airborne Div
|
|
|
07-18-2018, 11:08 AM
|
#7
|
Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by sduff
I apologize for the rant. This was supposed to be a short intro.
|
No problem all of us need a good rant now and then...we all own Thor's
|
|
|
07-18-2018, 12:01 PM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,908
THOR #11130
|
The few issues you had were caused by The Thor Love Bugs. They come out right after purchase and chew a few things up so you'll go in deep out front, get to know your Thor a little closer and come to love her. It's a normal occurrence.
__________________
Now an SOB
Traded Thor for Melbourne Prestige 24NP
2018 THOR Chateau 35SF
Two Labs, Bugsie & Blondie
Blondie passed in 2020 at 5 to Leukemia
|
|
|
07-18-2018, 12:26 PM
|
#9
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Palazzo 33.2
State: Colorado
Posts: 48
THOR #12314
|
Good to have another El Paso County RV'er here.
__________________
2016 Thor Palazzo
2009 Ford Edge
U.S.Army Retired
Calhan, CO
|
|
|
07-18-2018, 12:41 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 35C
State: South Dakota
Posts: 1,132
THOR #3761
|
Congrats and welcome to the forum! Yes, there will always seemingly be SOMETHING going on with your rig... but at least you seem handy and willing to tackle those issues yourself!
__________________
John
2016 Thor Hurricane 35C with pups Piper and Annabelle
2013 Ford Fiesta toad
FMCA - F457085
Blog - https://traversity.us
|
|
|
07-19-2018, 12:17 AM
|
#11
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Colorado
Posts: 56
THOR #12345
|
High Plains,
Awesome, didn't realize you were from El Paso County as well!
Currently responding from downtown Estes Park! The RV resort we are staying at is along the free shuttle route.
__________________
|
|
|
07-19-2018, 12:28 AM
|
#12
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Colorado
Posts: 56
THOR #12345
|
jpmihalk,
Yes, I am trying to learn as much as I can.
I actually fixed the cameras after they started working again while I was adding additional insulation to the doghouse. I realized that it must be either a bad connection or a short that I fortunately was able to find.
My Class C's cabin is cooler (and much quieter) now.
__________________
|
|
|
07-19-2018, 11:53 AM
|
#13
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Palazzo 33.2
State: Colorado
Posts: 48
THOR #12314
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by sduff
High Plains,
Awesome, didn't realize you were from El Paso County as well!
Currently responding from downtown Estes Park! The RV resort we are staying at is along the free shuttle route.
|
Sounds like you are in for some fun. We're heading out tomorrow for North Platte, NE. Still deciding on our August destination. Thinking since the Spring Fire is about finished going to La Veta or Alamosa and help put some into their economies. And a weekend up in Monument where we have a membership.
__________________
2016 Thor Palazzo
2009 Ford Edge
U.S.Army Retired
Calhan, CO
|
|
|
07-19-2018, 03:26 PM
|
#14
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Quantum RS26
State: Indiana
Posts: 288
THOR #10823
|
Welcome to the forum!
BandG,
DW and I are planning a trip to the Colorado Springs/Pikes Peak area and being a train buff (kid that never grew up) I checked into the cog train. It is going to be down for the foreseeable future needing major replacement of track which they say is not accessible (they build the thing somehow!!). Their website has updates.
__________________
|
|
|
07-19-2018, 03:46 PM
|
#15
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Palazzo 33.2
State: Colorado
Posts: 48
THOR #12314
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mustang46555
Welcome to the forum!
BandG,
DW and I are planning a trip to the Colorado Springs/Pikes Peak area and being a train buff (kid that never grew up) I checked into the cog train. It is going to be down for the foreseeable future needing major replacement of track which they say is not accessible (they build the thing somehow!!). Their website has updates.
|
If your a big train buff and heading out this way look into Cheyenne, WY. The old Train Depot is open for tours and also has a museum and a nice train layout as well. While we're in North Platte this weekend I'm planning on going to the golden Spike Tower at the train yard there.
As for Pikes Peak, hopefully they get the Cog repaired, now during the busy hours you can drive part way up the highway then you have to take a shuttle the rest of the way up. there's limited parking on top now that they are building a new Summit House.
__________________
2016 Thor Palazzo
2009 Ford Edge
U.S.Army Retired
Calhan, CO
|
|
|
07-19-2018, 09:31 PM
|
#16
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Quantum RS26
State: Indiana
Posts: 288
THOR #10823
|
Thanks for the tip High Plains! I'll make sure we get through Cheyenne on our trip.
__________________
|
|
|
07-19-2018, 09:57 PM
|
#17
|
Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
State: Colorado
Posts: 56
THOR #12345
|
High Plains,
I just met some people from Illinois who stopped at NE Platte on the way to Estes Park!
They said it is a neat place to stop with a lot of restaurants.
__________________
|
|
|
07-19-2018, 10:00 PM
|
#18
|
Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Hurricane 31S
State: Texas
Posts: 4,400
THOR #6411
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by High Plains
If your a big train buff and heading out this way look into Cheyenne, WY. The old Train Depot is open for tours and also has a museum and a nice train layout as well. While we're in North Platte this weekend I'm planning on going to the golden Spike Tower at the train yard there.
As for Pikes Peak, hopefully they get the Cog repaired, now during the busy hours you can drive part way up the highway then you have to take a shuttle the rest of the way up. there's limited parking on top now that they are building a new Summit House.
|
Two wonderful days for a rail fan. Rail Days in North Platte <https://www.northplatteraildays.com/schedule> and the UP steam shop in Cheyenne (it a special tour but the Big Boy is being repaired there). The best rail fan trip ever is the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic RR. Leave from Chama behind double head, coal burning, steam, Mountain Locos with three firemen in each loco shoveling a scoop of coal every 15 seconds into the fire box, up the mountain. The scenery isn't bad either. If you are lucky, the engine will jump the track and you get to see the conductor and brakeman re-rail the Mountain. <https://cumbrestoltec.com/> The folks at Sky Mountain RVP will take you to the depot and pickup on the return as part of their service. We have reservations for the last week in August for my 7th trip.
__________________
Jim & Roy Davis
2016 Hurricane 31S
1961 Rampside in tow
|
|
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
|