No customer support from Thor

[tom999z]

Hi all, Newbie here. I was considering buying an older Four Winds class C motorhome. So I'd contacted Thor and asked them if they service/support/or at least supply parts for their older vehicles. They said no, they only service and support their vehicles 2020 or newer... So isn't that a punch in the teeth for any Thor owners with vehicles older than 2020? After paying $50,000 for one of their vehicles, at a minimum I'd like to have peace of mind knowing that I could just contact the manufacturer for any boken part repair or replacement; but it looks like I'm left out in the cold doing a forum search looking for one-off replacement parts like so many people in this forum (I did a search in this forum, and Thor owners are posting threads looking for wheel parts, slider parts, furniture parts, etc...).. This predicament reminds me of the Chinese atv's that are flooding the American market: one time use, dispose of when broken, zero costumer support or parts after the company gets their money....This just doesn't seem right, I'd better hope that my Four Winds never breaks or else it's useless junk.

 

[Jim]

Hi all, Newbie here. I was considering buying an older Four Winds class C motorhome. So I'd contacted Thor and asked them if they service/support/or at least supply parts for their older vehicles. They said no, they only service and support their vehicles 2020 or newer... So isn't that a punch in the teeth for any Thor owners with vehicles older than 2020?

It seems that many Thor owners feel your pain and have the same complaints, Tom. I looked at new Thor's several years ago and was pretty amazed at the poor fit-n-finish that I saw on the dealer's lot. That's not to say that this is exclusive to Thor, because I'm sure it's not. But after visiting a few forums dedicated to RV'ing, I began to realize that Thor seems to have made an art form out of forgetting who you are once the check clears the bank.

Seems short sighted to me, but what do I know, right?

 

[sanda]

This seems to be a common theme across all brands of RV's. Thankfully most of our appliances use common parts but anything specific to a particular model you are just SOL.

 

[Knobs]

Doesn't Thor now own Airstream? I'd bet the Airstream division doesn't act like that.

 

[tom999z]

Well I'm not rich and could never afford a new $250k Thor RV, but I just hope that the people who do buy them perform their own research first and realize that once the RV is two years old, that there is no longer any support from the company...

 

[Jim]

but I just hope that the people who do buy them perform their own research first and realize that once the RV is two years old, that there is no longer any support from the company...

Yep, there is a big problem in the after sales service market for just about All RV's. (My opinion) But if people continue to buy crap, the manufacture will continue to sell crap. We saw it in the 80's with GM, and you'll see it now with RV's. But that can change if the RV industry starts to feel it financially.

Probably coming any day now . . .

 

[tom999z]

I agree totally. Like Jim said above, once they get paid they're out of here. The costumer service representative at Thor wasnt even ashamed of saying that they don't support any vehicles older than 2020. But as long as people keep buying Thor's garbage then they'll always be in business.
On a lighter note, my father has a 1968 Scamper camper that has always been stored outside, and the roof has NEVER leaked yet... Some Thor's start leaking after the third year...

 

[Harry b]

Hi all, Newbie here. I was considering buying an older Four Winds class C motorhome. So I'd contacted Thor and asked them if they service/support/or at least supply parts for their older vehicles. They said no, they only service and support their vehicles 2020 or newer... So isn't that a punch in the teeth for any Thor owners with vehicles older than 2020? After paying $50,000 for one of their vehicles, at a minimum I'd like to have peace of mind knowing that I could just contact the manufacturer for any boken part repair or replacement; but it looks like I'm left out in the cold doing a forum search looking for one-off replacement parts like so many people in this forum (I did a search in this forum, and Thor owners are posting threads looking for wheel parts, slider parts, furniture parts, etc...).. This predicament reminds me of the Chinese atv's that are flooding the American market: one time use, dispose of when broken, zero costumer support or parts after the company gets their money....This just doesn't seem right, I'd better hope that my Four Winds never breaks or else it's useless junk.

You might check on that again. I have a 2015 Thor and have had no problem getting support from them.

 

[Neemer]

How is support defined by the thread starter? It’s meaning can vary.

 

[Scotttkd2]

I think in general the entire RV industry is struggling with customer service in some if not all service aspects, lack of parts, lack of experienced employees, 5 plus years of consecutive record sales, etc. It is unfortunately a buyer beware industry with good and bad vendors.

 

[HDRider1960]

I have been following RVs for almost two years now. I want to buy one, but,,,,

This seems to be the story line.

1. Buy new RV
2. Spend two years fighting with the dealer
3. Find a good RV tech
4. Fix the problems

Not sure what happens 5 or 7 years down the road.

 

[Jim]

I have been following RVs for almost two years now. I want to buy one, but,,,,

This seems to be the story line.

1. Buy new RV
2. Spend two years fighting with the dealer
3. Find a good RV tech
4. Fix the problems

Not sure what happens 5 or 7 years down the road.

You can buy a late model rig for a bunch less than a new one. Properly chosen, the previous owner will have already taken care of the issues, or the majority of them anyway.

 

[HDRider1960]

You can buy a late model rig for a bunch less than a new one. Properly chosen, the previous owner will have already taken care of the issues, or the majority of them anyway.

True. I hope Thor is being somewhat misleading regarding getting parts as spoken to in the OP

 

[R&GOTR]

The big issue with the RV is knowing who made the systems that Thor used. Schwintech slide mech, Lippert Jacks etc so I just bypass Thor when buying parts. I do my own work so these have not been big problems to overcome.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I am sure the same can be said for RV owners as boat owners.

The best two days in the owners life is when they buy and when they find another sucker.
Truth is the owner settles in and looks at the toy as a labor of love, they find most days, days to rejoice.

Neither boat or RV carries with it the romance the salesmen sells.

 

[frschof]

I have to say I am very pleased with the support from Thor customer support. I have a 2013 Four Winds 23U and they have be helpful each time I have called. Ordered several parts, electrical systems, and today had questions on reupholstering. Check the website and customer service no.

 

[offroader09]

I am so grateful that I can do all my own work. With that being said I think looking for a independent shop would be a good route to take. Seems like most dealers do not hire good quality technicians or can't pay for good technicians. Also most RV's owners also would not pay what a good technician would cost. To make matters worse the trades can not replace the aging work force, the younger work force is not interested in manual labor. I am in the aviation industry and just a few years from retirement, this industry has a severe shortage of qualified techs. To the point where I question if I will continue to fly on commercial aircraft.