I have not experienced the drenching in the front, but have not camped in temps under 45 deg...... I have noticed quite the dripping from the front. So how about this..... Remove a few of the top marker lights..... That should gain access into the front beam. Grap a can or two of hard ware store grade expandable foam on a can..... Empty the cans through the light access ports....... I will investigate this as I get home on the next few days
2012 Thor ACE 29.2
- Thread starter Jan Stiskala
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
ebrabaek said:
The condensation has to go somewhere. If you modify anything in the RV, I would worry about where the condensation would start to go. We had this same problem when the temps were in the 20's for a few days in a row. I think this is one of the hazards to camping in the colder temps. Also, the ACE isn't a high end RV. While all RV's are going to have some sort of condensation issues (houses do as well), I'm sure the more expensive models have different provisions for these issues.
Lesh said:
NO.....The trick is to stop the beam from getting so cold..... thus insulating it, thus minimizing the condensation. I am aware that the ace is put together fast....smacking the shelves together perhaps with less nails that post 100k units, But I would like to think of it, as an opportunity. 18 months ago we bought a brand new 29.2 for US$59000. There is no way anyone could come even close to offer anything a coach with the ACE features for that. We love it, and I dont mind to fix what Thor arguable should have fixed in the first place.
k9pal said:
I do not find the sink to be too small for the type of cooking we do in the RV. While it isn't the easiest to clean larger pots, there is no mess involved. It's just a matter of not piling everything in the sink at once. We stack things on the stove and then wash in the sink and lay to dry on the counter.
My biggest concern was having a white sink, that things would stain it. I would have preferred stainless steel. We haven't had any issues yet though.
Got a call from my dealer this morning. They knew that I had a fix for the creaking slide, and they got another in...... from Thor, but not an ACE, with a schwintec slide....with a mega Creaking noise. Was asked if I could show them the fix, and such I will swing by the dealer tomorrow. I am honored, and will do just that, but kudos to my dealer, for stepping up, and help the owner of a Thor coach, when Thor did not oblige. I am proud of them. On another note. I do not think the sink is too small in the 29.2, but a bit cheap plastic..... But has held up fine for us.
Erling
Erling
Just my 2 cents on the Ace 29.2 condensation issue where the insulation over the cab gets sopping wet and then drips down the front of the cab...
I have been recently spending most weekends working in the coach with temps near freezing, with some cooking and making plenty of coffee via a Keurig, and so I removed the cabinet side panels to make sure I didn't have any moisture building up from the steam and then soaking the insulation. To my surprise, I didn't see any insulation at all nor was I able to feel any when I reached deep behind the cabinets. Also, it was dry as a bone too.
I'd be interested in hearing if others have looked and have no insulation behind the cabinets over the cab as well.
Fred C.
I have been recently spending most weekends working in the coach with temps near freezing, with some cooking and making plenty of coffee via a Keurig, and so I removed the cabinet side panels to make sure I didn't have any moisture building up from the steam and then soaking the insulation. To my surprise, I didn't see any insulation at all nor was I able to feel any when I reached deep behind the cabinets. Also, it was dry as a bone too.
I'd be interested in hearing if others have looked and have no insulation behind the cabinets over the cab as well.
Fred C.
Thanks for the answers. It is realy apreaciated.
Si vous poss?dez un Thor ACE 29.2 et que vous demeurez au Quebec, laissez le moi savoir. Encore plus si vous l'avez achet? du c?t? am?ricain.
I hope buy a Thor 29.2 somewhere in June.
Bye
Yvan Chouinard
Si vous poss?dez un Thor ACE 29.2 et que vous demeurez au Quebec, laissez le moi savoir. Encore plus si vous l'avez achet? du c?t? am?ricain.
I hope buy a Thor 29.2 somewhere in June.
Bye
Yvan Chouinard
Hi again!
We're back from our 2500 mile roadtrip to Atlanta and Orlando. If you want to read about it...see our blog link in my signature. I'm currently adding pictures, but hope to be finished by the end of the day.
We've put about 7,000 miles on our ACE now in the short time we've had it. Everything went well with this trip. We only really camped in it for a week this time out of the 2 week trip. We stopped at hotels on the way there and back. My husband slept in the RV though even while we were at the hotels so we didn't have to get 2 rooms. Then he just came in and used the hotel shower in the morning.
We've got a small list of picky things to fix (mostly trim that needs to be nailed down better, etc.) before our 1 year warranty is up. We also have to find a place willing to install additional seatbelts at the dinette before we can travel with our new baby (due late Spring.) We only have 2 seatbelts on the couch and 2 in the dinette. We'll keep using the couch belts for securing the littlest kids in carseats and move the 4 year old to the dinette seatbelts with her older brothers.
I don't think we'll have any big/long RV trips this summer with the new baby, but hopefully we'll get out for some short ones. Afterall, I've got 3 months off! If anyone wants to recommend good campgrounds in IL, WI, IA, MI or IN please do!
We're back from our 2500 mile roadtrip to Atlanta and Orlando. If you want to read about it...see our blog link in my signature. I'm currently adding pictures, but hope to be finished by the end of the day.
We've put about 7,000 miles on our ACE now in the short time we've had it. Everything went well with this trip. We only really camped in it for a week this time out of the 2 week trip. We stopped at hotels on the way there and back. My husband slept in the RV though even while we were at the hotels so we didn't have to get 2 rooms. Then he just came in and used the hotel shower in the morning.
We've got a small list of picky things to fix (mostly trim that needs to be nailed down better, etc.) before our 1 year warranty is up. We also have to find a place willing to install additional seatbelts at the dinette before we can travel with our new baby (due late Spring.) We only have 2 seatbelts on the couch and 2 in the dinette. We'll keep using the couch belts for securing the littlest kids in carseats and move the 4 year old to the dinette seatbelts with her older brothers.
I don't think we'll have any big/long RV trips this summer with the new baby, but hopefully we'll get out for some short ones. Afterall, I've got 3 months off! If anyone wants to recommend good campgrounds in IL, WI, IA, MI or IN please do!
FREDC1 said:
Once we found out there were access panels beside the bunk actuator arms, we checked and my coach has NO insulation either. It is my understanding that at least 2 owners have no gotten Thor to cover this problem under warranty. It seems that once adequate insulation is place in this void, it fixes the condensation problem. I've got my repair facility checking back with Thor (again) to try to get them to cover the fix.
Gunny69
Well-known member
We bought a Thor ACE 30.1 in January 2013 and so far absolutely love it. It is very easy to drive, and is very "liveable". The separate shower from the toilet area is very friendly to use. The living room/kitchen area is very usable even with the slide-out retracted. This makes it very easy to stop at a "Texas" picnic area and still heat up a quick lunch using the generator.
The dealer we bought from was Motor Home Specialist in Alvarado, TX just south of Ft. Worth on I-35W. We felt they gave us a great deal and so far have been extremely helpful with any questions that we've had. I don't usually recommend places, but these guys were more than fair with us on our trade-in and even after 2 months we still feel very satisfied with our buying experience.
The dealer we bought from was Motor Home Specialist in Alvarado, TX just south of Ft. Worth on I-35W. We felt they gave us a great deal and so far have been extremely helpful with any questions that we've had. I don't usually recommend places, but these guys were more than fair with us on our trade-in and even after 2 months we still feel very satisfied with our buying experience.
Our trip to Atlanta and Orlando in our ACE went pretty well. We blogged about it if you're interested...the link is in my signature.
We camped at Fort Wilderness at Disneyworld. That was fun! Two of my favorite things, camping and Disney! I'm not sure we'll do that again though. Not unless we have more time to stop and do things along the way there and back. I hate long drives without fun stops! The kids are much better travelers than I am!
That reminds me, does anyone else's passenger seat turn all the way around?
Ours only turns 90 degrees (basically facing the driver's seat.) I suppose I'm not supposed to turn it around while where driving, but I was soooo bored we started renting videos at a redbox and watching them on the way home. I still had my seatbelt on, but it wasn't in optimal position. (All the other seats are taken by the kids.)
We need to add 2 more seatbelts to the dinette booth before our next baby is born. (Ours only has one on each side.) We keep the littlest kids in their carseats on the couch.
We camped at Fort Wilderness at Disneyworld. That was fun! Two of my favorite things, camping and Disney! I'm not sure we'll do that again though. Not unless we have more time to stop and do things along the way there and back. I hate long drives without fun stops! The kids are much better travelers than I am!
That reminds me, does anyone else's passenger seat turn all the way around?
Ours only turns 90 degrees (basically facing the driver's seat.) I suppose I'm not supposed to turn it around while where driving, but I was soooo bored we started renting videos at a redbox and watching them on the way home. I still had my seatbelt on, but it wasn't in optimal position. (All the other seats are taken by the kids.)
We need to add 2 more seatbelts to the dinette booth before our next baby is born. (Ours only has one on each side.) We keep the littlest kids in their carseats on the couch.
Gunny69 said:
I also purchased from MHSRV.com in January 2013. Got the 2013 29.2.
Salesman was Mitch, treated me great, flew me in from CA, picked me up at the airport and beat the local dealers prices by 12 grand! Even threw is a PS3 for the kids, gift card to pay for the gas on the way home and a bunch of other items.
This forum is great, I just came across it while trying to solve a few issues. The issue that got me here was the noise from the slide. I have the full paint, so don't think the mod on here would work well without touch up.
We do not plan a fun trip until June, but have driven from TX to CA to NC to CA and heading back to NC next week. She will stay there until our trip to the Grand Canyon in June.
The drive ability has been great. I have towed a Ford Explorer on a trailer from CA to NC, took 4 days. Learned a lot about truckers, once outside CA they are pretty nice. They drive fast though, sometimes I felt I was in the way. And dang highway 40 has some rough patches. Those rough patches might be the culprit for some of my issues, but some look to be ongoing from what I'm reading.
Here are a list of things I have come across thus far:
1) Door was mounted too low. We didn't notice when we left the dealer, but our step had not retracted. When noticed the next day called thor and they couldn't figure out what was wrong. The awning is on the same fuse and it still worked. They couldn't tell me how to retract it manually either. Stopped at Camping World on my way home to CA and they pulled one pin and zip tied the step back. Dealer couple hours from home worked on it for a few hours and couldn't figure it out. Put a new step in and it still didn't work. Then they tested the magnet on the screen door. They raised the magnet by 1/4 inch and now step works.
2) Step now works, but door is hard to open from inside, and needs to be slammed shut sometimes. We have to set the deadbolt to make sure it doesn't open when going over bumps on the road. Looking at where the latch is located I can see the alignment is off. The door should be 1/4 inch higher. So it wasn't the magnet being too low, but the whole door. Dealer in NC said he couldn't find anything wrong. But it is so hard to unlock from the outside with the keys that I feel the key will break in the lock unless I push in hard on the door.
3) The slide....yes, that has been addressed many times here. Dealer adjusted to specs, but after a couple hours driving cross country the sounds came back.
4) Squeaking sound from AC on roof. I think all the bumps in the road have caused a screw to loosen, taking it in next week before I head out again.
5) I too have the condensation drip at the front window. At first I thought I was seeing something outside, but then saw a wet spot on the dash in both corners. Mine was only a few drips as it was just me in the 20 degrees weather that trip.
6) The drivers side windshield wiper doesn't stay on the glass. When you get up to speed in the rain, as the wiper starts its swipe it is fine for about 2/3 of the swipe, and then it no longer touches the glass, so your view is blocked by the rain. When driving at slow speeds this isn't an issue, only when traveling above 55 mph. So I think the spring just isn't strong enough to keep the pressure on the glass in the strong wind of the road. Dealer in NC found no problem with wipers on and hose spraying...hmm, did I mention you need to be going 55 plus?
7) Table legs squeak! If the AC noise and Slide noise weren't enough, the table won't stop. Had to remove table for most of my travel, so I eat at the sofa. I did try rubbing soap on the ends, and that did work for most of that day, but it did start up again. I will try wax or a felt spacer on the next trip.
8 Self leveling jacks raise the wrong side most of the time. Back right is the low spot and it lowers the back and the the left, then the right and the the front...I do it manually cause I can do it faster and would like a few wheels on the ground. Will try the tip I read earlier and reset the level.
9) This is one I haven't seen elsewhere. But after driving for 5 to 6 hours with the drivers heater on, it stops pumping heat. It gets cold. The fan still works. Just blows cold air. I had to turn on the house heater and turn it up, put on a jacket, in order to keep driving when it was snowing out. The back half was 80 and the front half was probably 65 degrees. Last week when I used the heater and parked, water dripped in the front right corner. Something was unthawing I assume. Maybe my heater is freezing something? When I only turned the heater on to warm up and then back off, it worked great.
But for those that are thinking of purchasing this model, would I do it again. YES! Like I said, its a great ride. I did get the extended warranty, to 5 years. Got every option available. And I hope all the issues will be worked out over then next few trips. But am looking forward to our first actual trip in June. Yes I will have already put 12k miles on it by then, but they are all by myself. I retire in June and moving from CA to NC. Wife and kids want to explore the east coast, but our break in trip will be with my dad. He has a Lazy Daze class C. He's been RVing for many years, on his third Lazy Daze. I think once I let him test drive the ACE I can convert him.
Never really been out of CA, so having an RV and moving 3000 miles is gong to be a shock for the whole family, but exploring the east coast should open our eyes and hopefully acclimate us better.
Oh yeah, and those worried about the TV, go to camping world and buy a new mount, why spend 20 grand more for an RV with a swivel mount when you can buy a new mount for under $100.
The sink is fine as long as you wash dishes and don't let them build up. My brothers RV, a fleetwood class A has a double sink, stainless, but I have never seen the bottom! A smaller sink might have you washing dishes and putting them away faster.
One last note...as a newby, I had never emptied my tanks or refilled them before my trip home, and since I purchased after hours at Motor Home Specialists, they didn't go over everything with me. I couldn't figure out how to empty the tanks for a bit. Sat at the gas station scratching my head. I was used to seeing my brother with his 4" hose and pulling a lever and that was it. I pulled out that 2" hose and didn't know what from their. Make sure they show you how to empty the tanks. It was just one compartment over where the outside shower is, but I felt like a fool not knowing how.
Look forward to seeing more posts by you veterans of the road, this forum has been a great help. Thanks to Jan for starting it.
Mike...driver of what the kids have nicknamed the "Twinky"
OP
OP
Jan Stiskala
Well-known member
He he. When I bought the rv in US, I have no idea at all how to empty gray and black tanks. I have previously only cassette toilet. I can understand how you feel then.
