Axis anyone?????

GarySmo

Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2024
Messages
10
Location
Bellevue
We are pondering the purchase of 2023 Thor Axis 23.3. We love the storage and size of this coach. Our family is only 3 of us with an 11 yr old boy. We travel a lot following our son around the NW for golf tournaments. We would love to drive the southern United States in late Jan early Feb. and would love advice and input on this coach and our potential travel. We have found the price for this model has dropped considerably and are concerned of its quality for our first go Raving. All input is welcome both positive and negative as all conversations can help in our decision to purchase or not..,, Thank you. Gary
 
I don't know the model but if it has some sort of wonky hateful compromise of a fold up bed or you can't use the rv without opening the slide...

Pass


Rv checklist is an app.
Use it prepurchase.
 
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24.3... or 23.3? New or used? First... if you have never bought a motorhome before, PLEASE! HIRE AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR! This is even on a NEW unit that's never been titled. YOU hire the inspector, NOT the dealer. If the dealer refuses to let a private inspection... WALK AWAY!

I cannot stress the inspection enough. Buying an RV is not like buying a car or house. There are many horror stories of folks buying BRAND NEW RVs which have water leaks and multiple defects. Once you sign on the line, IT'S YOURS... and don't expect expedited service getting things fixed "under warranty". Get things fixed... EVERYTHING FIXED FIRST before signing anything. If the dealer refuses, again WALK.

Don't fall in love with one particular unit. There are HUNDREDS more just like it... it's a buyer's market.

Yes it's a little pricey to hire an inspector, but a LOT cheaper than the alternative of the nightmare of trying to get things fixed. Do some extensive reading on this forum before you sign.
 
You will undoubtably find a few serious issues and a few more trivial issues with any new Thor Axis.

If you are handy and a DIYer, you can probably fix them all yourself during the first few months. I did on mine. You can also use a mobile RV mechanic to help you with the tougher ones.

Otherwise you will probably spend the first 3-4 months in the dealers shop waiting for them to fix the problems.

This is a fact of life for a new RV owner, born out of dozens, maybe hundreds of posts on this topic.

David
 
24.3... or 23.3? New or used? First... if you have never bought a motorhome before, PLEASE! HIRE AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR! This is even on a NEW unit that's never been titled. YOU hire the inspector, NOT the dealer. If the dealer refuses to let a private inspection... WALK AWAY!

I cannot stress the inspection enough. Buying an RV is not like buying a car or house. There are many horror stories of folks buying BRAND NEW RVs which have water leaks and multiple defects. Once you sign on the line, IT'S YOURS... and don't expect expedited service getting things fixed "under warranty". Get things fixed... EVERYTHING FIXED FIRST before signing anything. If the dealer refuses, again WALK.

Don't fall in love with one particular unit. There are HUNDREDS more just like it... it's a buyer's market.

Yes it's a little pricey to hire an inspector, but a LOT cheaper than the alternative of the nightmare of trying to get things fixed. Do some extensive reading on this forum before you sign.

As a recent buyer, I cannot emphasize more how important the independent RV inspector is!
 
Axis anyone???

Hello everyone, we are pondering a Thor Axis 24.3. We are a family of three and following our 11 yr old boy around the NW in his golf tournaments. How is the quality and the drive in this model. We would like to become a part of this community but want to be sure we are making the right choice. The size of this model feels right for three and storage seems plentiful. We are also pondering a trip across the southern United States in late January and early February. What is the Thor family option on such a trip as our first go in an Rv.
 
I would suggest another manufacturer if you want the coach to be able to follow the would be tour pro.
 
I have been waiting 5 years for one thread, one story or one post where someone that hired an Independent Inspector that said to NOT buy the RV? I am sure it has happened, but I doubt with any frequency that has relevancy

Yes they can tell you 20 things, give you 100 pages of print outs of things that could be done or checked but not a showstopper to buy.

I am not saying don't hire an Inspector... for each his own, just like one that feels the need or sees value in buying an extended warranty.

My advice is get a checklist like listed above, and go spend a day or two personally to eyeball everything so it passes your eyeball test. If you don't feel like you have the abilities to check items on the Checklist, you might get better value by doing more research, rent a RV for few trips, or take a RV course.

In my view if it is a 2023, and it passes every cosmetic test, and you have personally checked the boxes for every item on the list ( Disclaimer I checked every item but the roof, because I was not going up there. If my roof on a brand new RV had leaked within 90 days; so be it I would have had it fix.)

Now having said the above...

Can you elaborate on why you say you are concerned about the quality? What are you seeing....
 
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I would suggest another manufacturer if you want the coach to be able to follow the would be tour pro.

If you check your posts, you may see, or remember almost exactly 5 years ago today you told me to buy a WBGO, a month later I did. I was so frustrated in trying to find a RVI that would pass my PDI list, and when I did; I was so excited I had to buy just to ease my mind and rest has been history.
 
Having owned both an Axis and Vegas, I love the size. Mostly concerned that it is probably on an E350 chassis. If you can find one on an E450 that will give you significantly more capacity. Also we got tired of putting the bed up and down each time we moved. Good luck.
 
The unit is new and is the 24.3. I’m asking on the quality because as we walk through most Rv models of this size I see weak drawers and hinges. The under carriage/frame has already started to rust and they are new!!! It does seem that this is just something we need to accept if staying under 100k for any model. The murphy bed isn’t very comfortable and I’m hoping I could upgrade the mattress to fix this, but if the bed can’t be used at all unless the slide is open that could be a problem. I am pretty diy but don’t want to be fixing leaks and issues on my first roll. Thank you everyone, and please keep the comments coming on this model on other comparable models. And any advice on traveling in Jan. We love the drive setting with the passenger work station in the Axis
 
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Surface oxidation is a protectant.
It is on all things always.
What you are seeing is likely to be the only rust you'll ever see short of living on a heavily salted road and using the rv as a daily driver

You'll never like that bed.
You'll be fixing things in your first trip.
DIY is nice, but you'll be entrenched in a new hobby.
Your hobby is critical not enjoyable...until you accept the new duties and learn the new skills.
Then it's not fun, but it won't whip you so easily.

DIY of
I know a Phillips from a frearson and from that Japanese one I don't remember the name of and then that odd Canadian one;
Is not the DIY of
I can fabricate a mount from a soup can so my slide doesn't fall off until I can buy the new part.

You're in for an education...whether you want one or not
Or
You're in for months of down time while the dealer fixes that stripped screw in your windshield shade(true post from this site).

Many of us have 100's of hours and thousands and thousands of dollars of upgrades and fixes.

It's a kit.
They lend you junk until you decide what you can live with as junk and that the $2599 microwave is important to you.
 
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The unit is new and is the 24.3.

I prefer buying brand new, although many don't. The process to evaluate should be the exact same. Having 1 year of a Mfg warranty is everything to me. Having an extended warranty is nothing for me.


I’m asking on the quality because as we walk through most Rv models of this size I see weak drawers and hinges.

The drawers / hinges will only be weak of you exceed the weight loads. If you exceed the weight load you will know if drawer does not hold, buy a $5 part to get allow for twice the weight. Don't worry about this. I repaired not replaced one drawer catch that I use to keep some minor tools inside the RV. I went with a wood filter that was actually stronger than the drawer wood material. 5 years later no issue


The under carriage/frame has already started to rust and they are new!!! It does seem that this is just something we need to accept if staying under 100k for any model.

My brand new RV had rust all over the underbelly. Most RV Chassis sit out in the elements for a year or so before being sold to the RV Mfg. They build them on rusted chassis. If you find one that is with minimum rust that is nice to have, but in a year or two you will have rust like everyone else. Price should not matter. A million RV will have rust underneath. Use case, I took my brand new 2019 with F53 Chassis to a Rush Commercial Truck Center to have a Safe T Plus Steering stabilizer installed. They could not remove the U bolts to mount the mounting bracket due to rust to without fear the Ford U bolts would break and is was not a stocked Ford part. They wanted $800 to fabricate part & install. I took the RV to a Spring shop who did all this in 30 minutes for $75.

The murphy bed isn’t very comfortable and I’m hoping I could upgrade the mattress to fix this, but if the bed can’t be used at all unless the slide is open that could be a problem.

I would NOT buy an RV that could not be adequately used with the slide in. I almost got tempted with a fold up bed due to price, but I saved myself from myself. Listen to yourself /conscience here
.

I am pretty diy but don’t want to be fixing leaks and issues on my first roll.

If you test drive and check / inspect thoroughly and see leaks, don't buy or wait until confirmed fix before considering to buy again. We were at a dealer in a new RV ( Optimum?) and it started to rain very hard so we were kind trapped in the RV about an hour. We found 5 leaks :facepalm: We didn't even both to ask about getting them fixed. We moved on.

Thank you everyone, and please keep the comments coming on this model on other comparable models. And any advice on traveling in Jan. We love the drive setting with the passenger work station in the Axis

IMO if you are looking at Axis, if find something comparable, you gonna have to give up something, or have more of something than you seek. I would 1st get the Axis model I want down clear, find one that has everything confirmed working with your price, and buy it. You will be fine, because you are obviously a person that does his homework.

Don't buy an extended warranty but set aside $1,500/year to repair things or make mods that you want. If you do find a leak that is not covered under the warranty (only 90 days anyway), don't sweat it, just get it fixed and move on. :thumb:
 
Surface oxidation is a protectant.
It is on all things always.
What you are seeing is likely to be the only rust you'll ever see short of living on a heavily salted road and using the rv as a daily driver

:LOL::LOL::LOL:

I am gonna add Surface Oxidation Protectant to my list of things that came with my brand new WBGO that I didn't know I need. I think my Surface Oxidation Protectant additionally came with a Lifetime Guaranty :coolsmiley:
 
Travel wise we liked the
Louisiana Purchase inital survey stake site.
It is now deep in a bayou with an excellent paved road and a slightly(like slightly) elevated walkway into the swamp.
I had read plenty about bayou but seeing one in person was a nice one hour walk side trip.

Other than that we found the south to be green impenetrable walls and blue ceiling. So flat and so vegetated that seeing ANYTHING while on the road is a bit of a challenge.

There's a canyon in Texas that rivals the grand canyon(I'm told).
The
Blue Hole in New Mexico if you're scuba diver or want to be.

We need to know your hobbies and interests to reasonably suggest travel ideas.
But
Go through Moab utah if you get the chance.

And
Look at a 24.1 axis/Vegas.
No slide required but it's there if you insist on using a slide.
Real bed
The dash system you like
More storage than anything else its size(by leaps and bounds).
The new 26.2 or whatever is te same as a 24.1 but with a bigger bathroom.

And
The
Harvest Hosts most expensive package($135per year with discount codes) allows you to stay for free at golf courses and to use some of their country clubs. It includes thousands of other free places to stay. Look it up.
This would be an excellent consideration, considering.

We've stayed at golf courses from leadville Colorado where the club was a shack with a roller hotdog machine to some pretty exclusive places.
(We don't golf)
 
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Thank you, Sounds great…. Our hobbies are golf and beach’s. With my son home schooling and our work life can travel a bit, it feels right to give the RV life a go.
 
I believe the Thor Axis is mostly a suburb design burdened by lousy construction and assembly. Once I worked out all of the construction mistakes, all DIY I might add, the coach is a gem.

David
 
Ducksface is right, you will eventually hate the fold up bed. We tolerated it in the 25.3 and then they came out with the 26.1. The 24.1 is good but was too small for us. Like Ducksface said, look at the 26.2 (or the 26.1). We immediately upgraded the mattress in the brand new 26.1 and added the Safe-T-Plus. Traveled 2,500 miles in just over 5 weeks last summer and could have kept going.
 

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