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06-06-2018, 01:05 AM
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#1
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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New Toad
Ok instead of trolling other threads I'll just put some info here: We picked up a new toad (well ok it will be my daily driver, but since its dolly towable we'll probably take it camping as well).
A few months ago, on vacation, we rented one to check it out (more info here: https://spareelectrons.wordpress.com...k-with-a-bolt/ ). I liked it so much I picked one up.
I haven't taken it to the scales (yet) but GM's specs says it weighs in at 3583 lbs (our Escape is about 3500lbs and the C-Max is 3800lbs) which should be easily towable by the Axis (especially since it tows the C-Max like nothing is there).
Some more thoughts on it from my blog: https://spareelectrons.wordpress.com...ugin-a-bowtie/
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06-06-2018, 02:59 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Fleetwood Flair 31E
State: New York
Posts: 323
THOR #2025
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The front end has some nice aggressive lines. Overall, they did a nice job with the design. I do see some European design elements...reminds me of the VW Gti.
Congrats. Looks sweeeet!
__________________
Always Tinker
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06-06-2018, 11:02 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
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Congrats big time on buying Made in America by an American owned company!!!
__________________
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
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06-06-2018, 11:13 AM
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#4
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton
Congrats big time on buying Made in America by an American owned company!!!
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Well considering I've been purchasing Ford for quite some time...I've always bought made in America--especially since the last two Ford's I drove where built about 3 miles down the road from our house, and this Chevy was assembled about 30 miles from our house (The battery and motor assembly, however, do come from South Korea).
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06-06-2018, 11:18 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
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Have a very close friend that works for GM...Every vehicle I buy is ordered and delivered through Al Serra. Now I drive a Ford 550 chassis but we're still friends...I think.
__________________
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
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06-06-2018, 11:21 AM
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#6
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton
Have a very close friend that works for GM...Every vehicle I buy is ordered and delivered through Al Serra. Now I drive a Ford 550 chassis but we're still friends...I think.
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I have family who works for Ford--they refused to go to the Chevy dealer with me (Jokingly I think )
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06-06-2018, 11:23 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
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The battle will go on forever but all survives. While Chrysler is still assembled here, they are no longer an American owned company...down to the Big Two.
__________________
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
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06-06-2018, 12:14 PM
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#8
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Well that sure is a pretty Toad!
Congratulations, and the best of luck with it!
http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1528287247
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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06-07-2018, 12:29 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: 2023 Jayco Precept 31UL
State: Florida
Posts: 2,916
THOR #1589
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Sweet ride, looking good! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to a longer term review.
__________________
Life is better when you cry a little, laugh a lot, and are thankful for everything you've got!
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06-07-2018, 01:28 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 31W
State: Michigan
Posts: 542
THOR #9522
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton
Have a very close friend that works for GM...Every vehicle I buy is ordered and delivered through Al Serra. Now I drive a Ford 550 chassis but we're still friends...I think.
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As an active GM employee when I bought my 31W last fall, it's weird to drive a Ford!
__________________
Pete and Carolynn Foss from Oxford, MI
2018 Four Winds 31W
1999 Aero Cub F-21 trailer
1977 Tioga 24 foot RV
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06-07-2018, 01:50 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: THOR Chateua 35SF
State: Florida
Posts: 5,850
THOR #11130
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Do you know Hugo Leonardi with GM? And yes, my wife reminds me every time we get in the coach..."in 1993 you said you would never own another Ford". At this age, I've developed quite an appetite for Crow!
__________________
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
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06-07-2018, 02:14 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Chatea 31E
State: Maryland
Posts: 455
THOR #5837
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I recall that the goal to make an EV practical was for it to go 200+ miles on a charge and cost less than $30K, and have some decent cargo capacity. Most people thought that Tesla would get there first, so it's pretty cool that Chevy was the first to achieve this.
(The Bolt costs over $30K, but after rebates/incentives can get under $30K.)
__________________
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06-07-2018, 03:34 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 31W
State: Michigan
Posts: 542
THOR #9522
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My issue with an EV for a toad is the extra tow weight. Since most of the time you are towing it vs driving it, I would rather have a similar sized conventional vehicle.
__________________
Pete and Carolynn Foss from Oxford, MI
2018 Four Winds 31W
1999 Aero Cub F-21 trailer
1977 Tioga 24 foot RV
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06-07-2018, 03:38 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Four Winds 31W
State: Michigan
Posts: 542
THOR #9522
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FYI on the 7500 tax credit on EV, do your homework. We had quite a few Volt owners who got bit by the AMT and couldn't take the tax credit. If you lease an EV, the credit is added to the residual value so you get the benefit regardless of your tax situation. On my wife's Gen 1 Volt, that took the lease from 500 to 300/month.
__________________
Pete and Carolynn Foss from Oxford, MI
2018 Four Winds 31W
1999 Aero Cub F-21 trailer
1977 Tioga 24 foot RV
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06-07-2018, 04:33 PM
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#15
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by petefoss
My issue with an EV for a toad is the extra tow weight. Since most of the time you are towing it vs driving it, I would rather have a similar sized conventional vehicle.
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Weight doesn't really change the mpg of the RV as does wind resistance. In this case the Bolt is narrower than either our C-Max or Escape so it may actually yield better mpg. In any case its close enough to the weight of our Escape to not make that much of a difference.
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06-07-2018, 07:45 PM
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#16
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Member
State: California
Posts: 33
THOR #5999
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Nice Bolt! Do you have to do anything special to tow it? For example, disconnect battery?
__________________
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06-07-2018, 09:36 PM
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#17
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cvflowe
Nice Bolt! Do you have to do anything special to tow it? For example, disconnect battery?
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When towing with a dolly you have to disconnect the - terminal of the 12V battery (according to the owner's manual):
Quote:
Tow the vehicle with the two rear wheels on the ground and the front wheels on a dolly.
To tow the vehicle from the front with the rear wheels on the ground:
1. Put the front wheels on the dolly.
2. Shift the transmission to P (Park). See Shifting Into Park P 206.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Secure the vehicle to the dolly
5. Follow the dolly manufacturer's instructions for preparing the vehicle and dolly for towing.
6. Release the parking brake.
7. Turn the vehicle off.
8. Open the hood.
9. Wait two minutes.
10. Disconnect the negative (-) terminal connector from the 12-volt battery.
11. Close and latch the hood.
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Might have to install a knife disconnect on the - terminal of the Bolt!
The interesting bit in there is the "wait two minutes" must have to wait for some module to time out and power down automatically.
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06-07-2018, 09:58 PM
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#18
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I Think We're Lost!
Brand: Still Looking
Model: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
State: New York
Posts: 22,195
THOR #8860
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JamieGeek
Weight doesn't really change the mpg of the RV as does wind resistance. In this case the Bolt is narrower than either our C-Max or Escape so it may actually yield better mpg. In any case its close enough to the weight of our Escape to not make that much of a difference.
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With a little bit of a "tail" out back to smooth the airflow: it might even improve your aerodynamics a little bit.
(Versus driving your rig, without having it in tow.)
__________________
"What: me worry?"
Good Sam Member 843599689
Current coach: Tiffin Wayfarer 24 BW
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06-07-2018, 11:48 PM
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#19
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Denman
With a little bit of a "tail" out back to smooth the airflow: it might even improve your aerodynamics a little bit.
(Versus driving your rig, without having it in tow.)
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Oh yeah the Axis does drive a bit better with a car back there--have pulled a toad for at least 5k miles now.
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06-16-2018, 05:03 PM
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#20
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Axis/Vegas Enthusiast
Brand: Thor Motor Coach
Model: Axis 24.4
State: Michigan
Posts: 9,837
THOR #1150
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Test tow
Decide to take a little spin in the RV trying to see how much gas I can burn with an EV!? (I know--what??)
Waiting the required 2 minutes before disconnecting the 12V battery's negative power cable.
Yes an EV still has a 12V battery, and here is what it looks like under the hood (you can see I've added a knife disconnect switch on the battery at middle right).
All disconnected, on the dolly ready to go.
Lets go for a drive.
Taking it for a good 5 mile spin which included about 2 miles on the highway. All was well--it rode and tracked back there just as good as our other cars.
That is until about a mile away from the storage lot....BANG...bang bang bang... sigh. Turns out it wasn't the car--our newly replaced valve extension on the driver's side decided to let go. When I got back to the storage yard I discovered it flopping around in-between the two wheels with the end crushed (ok I'm now down one TPMS sensor...sigh). Fortunately the office at the storage lot was open. This will be taken care of on Monday (by which time the driver's side inner tire will be flat).
The other funny thing: Once the battery is disconnected and the car all locked up--there is only one way to get back in: You have to dig the key out of the fob and open the door the old fashioned way LOL.
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