Soon to be 2018 Axis 25.2 owner checking in!

[keefd]

Howdy y'all!


So we *FINALLY* managed to find a 2018-2019 era Thor Axis/Vegas 25.2 motorhome. Here's the link to the dealer page:


https://www.arrowheadcampers.com/inv...r-axis-252.php






Floorplan for those who are curious.


Seems to be in pretty decent shape, and the dealer has been excellent, MUCH better than the big box chain dealers. I have been looking for an Axis/Vegas for more than 6 months now but we finally sold our rental house. We have a travel trailer, but SWMBO and I really hate backing up a trailer so we decided that a small-ish motorhome better suits our needs.


We originally settled on a 24.1, but those get snapped up very quickly if the price is good, so we started looking at the 25.2 and 25.3. The 25.2 for us turned out to be the best as it's got a longer couch than the 24.1 and if we pull into a rest area the slideout extends to the rear preventing intruding into another parking space. Storage space is worse and we wanted a twin bed, but to quote the Rolling Stones - you can't always get what you want. There's no "perfect" RV, but this one seems good enough for us.


Once everything is set up I have a 10+ hour drive to get her home.


Already planning suspension and doghouse insulation mods, but not until I get to driver her for a bit first.

[DavidEM]

Get an alignment done and make sure the caster is at least +5 degrees before you jump in to other suspension mods. That might solve most handling issues.

David

[Bob Denman]

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on finding the perfect rig!

[keefd]

Originally Posted by DavidEM

Get an alignment done and make sure the caster is at least +5 degrees before you jump in to other suspension mods. That might solve most handling issues.

David

There are a few big rig tire/alignment shops around here so hopefully getting one done with the specs I ask for (+5.1 driver, +5.3 passenger if I remember correctly) should not be too hard to get done.


I don't think the Firestone tire on base can handle an RV. Too bad, they have been good to me so far.

[keefd]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on finding the perfect rig!

Thank you!



The Thor build issues are a known thing, but with the forum's help I think we can get most things ironed out.

[coachray]

Welcome to the forum

[Mr Sunshine]

Welcome! We've had our 25.2 for five years after downsizing from a 33 foot Class A. For the two of us and the way we travel, the Vegas is our Goldilocks coach, not to big and not too small. Just right.

It has enough storage, in and out, enough room for us inside and a reasonable footprint overall. We like the walk around queen bed and a shower just a scooch bigger. We like no power steps and the small and light slide. We especially like the panoramic front view.

Hope you find your coach fits you like ours fits us!

[Hugh.vines@att.net]

Originally Posted by Mr Sunshine

Welcome! We've had our 25.2 for five years after downsizing from a 33 foot Class A. For the two of us and the way we travel, the Vegas is our Goldilocks coach, not to big and not too small. Just right.

It has enough storage, in and out, enough room for us inside and a reasonable footprint overall. We like the walk around queen bed and a shower just a scooch bigger. We like no power steps and the small and light slide. We especially like the panoramic front view.

Hope you find your coach fits you like ours fits us!

We’ve got the same coach love the bed especially pretty much trouble free since 2016 after everyone told me how everything works.

[keefd]

Mr Sunshine,

I tried replying to your PM, but the forum doesn't let me message through PM just yet. I'll contact you sometime in the future.


Right now I'm just going through what all I'll need for the trip back home. I will probably leave the dealer in the early afternoon so that means a stay at a rest area or the like. Already planning on bringing the following:

• Bedding
• extendable ladder
• cordless tools including impact wrench
• hand tools
• plenty of flashlights including emergency lights
• USB cables, battery bank, and cell phone mount
• Multimeter
• Plenty of $$$ for gas, it's about 600 miles to home

Probably won't need electrical cables or the stinky slinky I figure as I won't be at a campground. The tools will hopefully be un-needed as the dealer's doing a thorough go-through and I'll do one myself on the dealer's lot, but it's a mechanical device and you never know.

[vegas25.5]

Congrats on the Axis. We love our 2019 25.5. As far as $$$ for gas, you may be surprised. We get generally around 11-12 mpg loaded with people and stuff. Suspect could get a tad better if we stuck to 55 mph. Our Vegas gets the same fuel economy or slightly better than our V10 Ford Excursion. Enjoy.

[paulwadley]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the purchase. If you need any help or have questions this is the place to go.

Paul

[JamieGeek]

Congrats and welcome.

[RVwife]

Welcome and congratulations on the great find! We have a 2018 Axis 25.3 with the side slide for the bedroom. I actually would love to have the rear slide (not that ours is a problem) that you have.

Overall we are very happy with the layout and the size is just right for the 2 (or occasionally 3, when one of our grown kids comes along) of us.

We especially like the adequate kitchen counter space that is so hard to find in most MHs, the great expansive view from the windshield, and the ample leg room in the cab. We used the sofa once in a pinch when we didn't want to deploy the slide. It works for 2, but would be better of just one. We'd like a bit more basement storage, but the interior storage is more than enough for us. Oh yes, and the gas mileage is decent, 10+ MPG, all things considered.

Happy trails!

[ducksface]

Adding more storage is very easy and semi inexpensive.
The space between frame rails where many people keep a spare is now a 12x24x30(+-) steel storage space for us.
All of the rotomold bins are smaller than can be applied and are easily replaced with larger.
There is room under the passenger front seat for sizable storage.

I don't need to, but a roof pod would bolt nicely, vertically, onto the back of the rv. Add internal shelving and you have a LOAD more space.

Too many storage solutions....

[keefd]

One thing I just thought of, a CDL of any sort isn't required for an Axis 25.2, right?


I don't think the GVWR is high enough, but I know some Class As and some 5th wheel combos are above the weight limit (even if folks don't get a CDL).

Nebraska doesn't require a CDL for RVs of any size, but some states do. I saw a video from Big Truck Big RV and he talked about some states require one even if your home state doesn't. But I'm really unfamiliar with CDLs.


Here's the link from the NE DMV: https://dmv.nebraska.gov/cdl/vehicle...pt-needing-cdl

[ducksface]

A very very very basic line of thought;
If it doesn't have air brakes a cdl isn't needed.

This isnt EXACTLY true, but it's all someone without a cdl needs to know at your stage of learning about rv life.

I could get into
Livery
Hire
Passenger
Length
Weight
Obscure width laws no one knows or enforce
Commerce type

Those specifics aren't of value to you with your rv choice.

[ducksface]

Rvchecklist is a phone app with 278 things on a checklist to look for during pre delivery inspection.
It then goes on to have a preflight and a storage list that is just as valuable.

Do not fail to use it.
Do not fail to run that slide in and out so many times you feel foolish, then do it that many times again.
The place and time for it to fail is at the dealer before purchase.
If they balk at your trying that slide until you're tired, weigh the cost of physically slapping their face.

[keefd]

Just installed RV Checklist.

Thank goodness it has the ability to increase text size and allow white on black background - now I can read it!

[AndynSuzy V]

welcome

[TerryJames]

Welcome and congratulations. We love our Axis 25.2. Happy to help any way.
One “big one” … do not drive home with the tables in the OEM wardrobe clips! We had our main table break loose under mild braking and knocked a wardroom mirror door off the hinges to the floor … totally destroyed the door … but got fixed under warranty eventually. The OEM wardrobe table clips can easily fail ... particularly if the main table is on the rear wardrobe wall. Now our main table stays in place or in the rear. And cab table in the shower floor if not in place.
(The rear bed does fold all the way down and makes a great ”day bed.”)
Welcome again!