Thor ACE Factory Tour

Suem62 · 10-28-2016, 01:09 PM

Hi,

I'm interested to know how many folks have taken the factor tour and found it helpful, interesting or any other reason it may be worthwhile or not!

I thought we'd make a day trip of it when they are assembling the ACE on a Thursday. Also visit the RV/MH Hall of Fame Museum. Which I'd also be curious if anyone has comments about this tour.

Thanks,
Sue

SuperD · 10-28-2016, 02:33 PM

When we had a Tuscany I made the factory tour and then the museum tour. I found both tours interesting!!! Would actually like to go again!!!

schreinertms · 10-28-2016, 04:36 PM

My wife and I took the factory tour after we bought our unit cause we were passing thru Indiana during a business trip. Whether you take the tour before or after, worth the time. Was also able to talk with a service manager about issues and he providing some recommendations for getting service which was helpful.
Also did the RV/MH tour twice and pretty cool if you like seeing the various generations of RV's and into its history.

Joe-FL · 10-30-2016, 02:43 PM

A few months ago we were camping about 200 miles from the northern Indiana factory that makes the Thor Challengers. We drove up there and did the tour. It was very interesting and helped me to understand where some of my systems were located and installed.

Mr Sunshine · 10-30-2016, 11:45 PM

We did a tour of the Vegas/Axis plant in Elkhart a day after we picked up our new 2016 Vegas 25.2. It was very informative and answered a lot of questions we had.

If you can tour the factory for the model you have or are considering, you'll be glad you did it. Check the Thor website for the days and times of the tour you want.

We haven't done the RV museum yet, but did stop by the flea market at Shipshewana when we passed through there last summer. It was interesting, if you like that sort of thing.

RadioRanger · 10-31-2016, 07:52 PM

We were in the process of ordering our ACE 29.3 earlier this year and as we were in the process the model year flipped and the stain color we liked was no longer available. It was hard to trust the brochure color for the new one and we were concerned that it was too dark.

We met with Ryan at the factory and he took us thru and we were able to see several units at the end and we were glad we did. If we would have gone with the darker stain we would not have been happy campers.

I could see going again sometime. It is interesting to see how the units go thru from chassis to complete.

You do need to make arrangements ahead of time for the tour. Be sure you contact someone before you go.

John

**EA37TS** · 12-02-2016, 06:45 PM

For those of you that did the factory tour, did anyone see an alignment machine or ask to see where the coaches are aligned after assembly?

Just curious because of the statement in the owner's manual that says the coach was aligned prior to delivery to the dealership.

SuperD · 12-02-2016, 06:48 PM

I didn't see an alignment machine but that doesn't mean there wasn't one, several areas I saw in passing but didn't get to go in to.

Mr Sunshine · 12-03-2016, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dstankov

For those of you that did the factory tour, did anyone see an alignment machine or ask to see where the coaches are aligned after assembly? Just curious because of the statement in the owner's manual that says the coach was aligned prior to delivery to the dealership.

You won't see alignment equipment because that is not performed at the factory. My understanding is that the chassis is built properly aligned as a stripped chassis. That is all the manual comment means. All that weight that Thor adds, plus then the weight that you add, makes for misalignment until you get it aligned.

Most dealers are not equipped to do alignment, and those that align new coaches are rare. It is recommended that you load your coach as you would for travel before getting it aligned. I thought ours drove OK from on delivery, but it was much improved after I had it aligned by the pros.

Joe-FL · 12-03-2016, 03:47 PM

The Challenger factory really wasn't that big. We were led from the area where they had brought in bare F53's through all the different stations. There could have been alignments done toward the beginning or end but I sure didn't notice anything that would indicate that.

It would be interesting if anyone takes that tour in the next month or so to ask that question.

SuperD · 12-03-2016, 05:56 PM

I called a friend of mine who has been to the factory a couple of times, he says the alignment is done by the company that prepares the chassis. I would think alignment would be better after coach is built and chassis has a load on it.

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