Thor's New Rize and Scope

Mr Sunshine · 05-08-2021, 01:37 AM

The newest horses in the Thor stable are the Rize and the Storm. Built on a short Ram Promaster chassis. All the comforts of home? Here's a video describing:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EvbLAtRxudA

Bob Denman · 05-08-2021, 02:23 AM

. They are cuter than a smiling puppy!

atreis · 05-08-2021, 11:23 AM

The amount of storage, for the length, in the model without a wet bath is pretty amazing.

Bob Denman · 05-08-2021, 12:11 PM

The pricing (if I read it correctly); is pretty attractive.

Chance · 05-08-2021, 05:08 PM

Incredible pricing starting near half the cost of high-end van campers also built on ProMaster van chassis.

With MSRP starting at $76K (much lower than Winnebago Solis — one of cheapest available), it starts competing with DIY options. Granted, the base unit is pretty plain and doesn’t have a bathroom or hot water, but for rustic camping, it’s not that different than old VW campers or even more recent custom-designed and -built Sportsmobile from years ago. At least it has a place for a Porta Potty.

I really like that they are offering an affordable camper by sticking to basics, while including generator, rooftop A/C, dual batteries, inverter, solar, etc.

I also like the simple floorplans based on the old “gaucho-style” sofa/bed that frees up so much room. These are too small for us, but a similar floorplan on the longest ProMaster van (37 inches longer) would get our attention if they included a dry bath.

Bob Denman · 05-08-2021, 06:11 PM

How do the longer (21') models compare in price?

Chance · 05-08-2021, 07:30 PM

MSRP for otherwise similar floorplans appears to be around $10,000 more for extra 3-feet of length ($84K vs $94K). I haven’t compared all features, so there may be more than the 18- versus 21-foot difference. Closest floorplan comparison seems to be 18M versus 20K.

Another great feature of these smaller vans is their Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity which were mentioned in video as approximately 1500 ~ 1600 pounds; not bad for a half-ton chassis depending on floorplan and options. That’s as good as some Thor toy haulers built on E-450 chassis.

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Bob Denman · 05-08-2021, 07:45 PM

I like that they already come with solar panels on the roof, and AGM size 31 batteries.
Not sure about that cassette toilet though...

Mr Sunshine · 05-09-2021, 01:17 AM

You gotta give Thor credit for planning and executing these minis at an attractive price point. If I was in the market, I would have them on my list. But for a little more, I would lean towards the Sequence 20L.

Had wondered what Chance would think of this. I totally agree with his assessment. Guess its going to have to be a custom build for him!

Bob Denman · 05-09-2021, 01:26 AM

Yup!

I wonder if he has picked out a builder yet?

atreis · 05-09-2021, 12:33 PM

As far as custom (affordable) builders of B vans, I've heard good things about Sportsmobile for many years.

paulwadley · 05-09-2021, 01:16 PM

I watched the video and they are an interesting segment of the class B vans. The prices seem to make them attractive.

Paul

gnach · 05-09-2021, 02:17 PM

For $8,000 Cascade Campers will build out your Promaster City cargo van with the barest of bones. They have certainly found a niche (solo women, but not a requirement) to market to, but Lordy, is that small.
https://www.cascadecampers.com/

Chance · 05-10-2021, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Sunshine

You gotta give Thor credit for planning and executing these minis at an attractive price point. If I was in the market, I would have them on my list. But for a little more, I would lean towards the Sequence 20L.

Had wondered what Chance would think of this. I totally agree with his assessment. Guess its going to have to be a custom build for him!

Yes, custom works for me, and is sometimes the only way to get what you really want.

The shorter 18-foot ProMaster van would be of value to us if it could be parked in a residential house garage with 8-foot door. However, if we can’t park the shorter van in our garage anyway because of height, it might as well be as large/long as practical (within reason). Drive-thru capability would also be a plus if under 8-feet tall.

The shorter Rize/Scope is an interesting design choice (compromise) that may be perfect for some, but for our needs gives up too much space for what it gains. The cost savings isn’t enough for me to want to buy the smaller motorhome.

An extra 37 inches of length is enough to add a 24X30 shower on one side and a toilet with sink on the other, which would meet our needs (wants) a lot better. The common floor plan with wet bath across rear of van that essentially prevents rear doors from being used during camping is a deal breaker for us. We’re also not crazy about wet baths in general.

I’d also like to see a slightly larger inverter so that it can power microwave or coffee maker for a few minutes at a time without having to start generator. If building a custom van, I would never limit inverter to 1,000 Watts.

Lastly, tiny under-counter refrigerators are also a deal breaker. We want a much larger fridge and freezer, and at an elevation where we can see what’s in fridge without having to get down on floor.

Bob Denman · 05-10-2021, 04:50 PM

It sounds as if you want a Prevost...
...with the footprint of a MINI!

I've got Sonny-Boy turned onto this design.
(His Missus lovers it!)
But she's also looking at the tiniest Scamp trailers too!

Chance · 05-10-2021, 09:09 PM

Nope. Basic dimensions show that when opposing sofas or beds are replaced with a one-side-only “pull-out bed”, the motorhome gains approximately 6 feet of wall space along one side. That extra space can be used for extra storage, or extra large bath, or with a little rearrangement of interior, make the van about 3 feet shorter. The last option is what Thor did to create the Rize/Scope.

Using a single pull-out bed/couch in combination with largest ProMaster van makes for a very roomy van camper. Just depends on what’s most important — large bed, large bath, or large seating/lounge area, etc.

Bob Denman · 05-10-2021, 10:08 PM

Large... or just large enough?

Chance · 05-11-2021, 03:07 PM

For anyone who may want to rent before buying:

https://outdoorsy.com/rv-rental/temp...listing/photos

Interesting pictures of interior, particularly the bed.

Another interesting feature on the pop-top model is use of a portable air conditioner. Since there is no room on roof, they appear to use an Artic King portable unit in a closet right next to fridge. Portable A/C are common with DIY builds, but this is first I recall seeing from a major manufacturer — not that there is anything wrong with that.

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Bob Denman · 05-11-2021, 03:18 PM

I'll bet that finding fitted sheets for that bed will be... interesting.

Is that a 54" bed?

atreis · 05-11-2021, 04:35 PM

The short right side of that bed is also too short for most adults. An adult could sleep on one side, and another in the pop-top, but fitting two adults in either location would be a challenge. IMO, it's mainly viable for an individual person who might occasionally have a grandchild come along or something like that.

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