2012 Thor Motor Coach Chateau 23U
2012 Thor Motor Coach Chateau 23U pictures, prices, information, and specifications.
Year
2012
Parent Company
Thor Industries, Inc.
Generic Type (Primary)
Class C
Make
Thor Motor Coach
Display Name
Chateau 23U
Manufacturer Country
USA
Introduction Year
2011
Regional Availability
All Regions
Price
Standard
MSRP
$77,490
Basic Warranty (Miles/Months)
15000 / 12
Structure Warranty (Months/Miles)
24 / 24000
Chassis Warranty (Months/Miles)
36 / 36000
Powertrain Warranty (Months/Miles)
60 / 60000
Engine
Standard
Engine Brand Name
Triton®
Chassis Brand
Ford
Engine Type
V10
Chassis Model
E350
Cylinders
10
Horsepower RPM
4250
Torque RPM
3250
Turbocharged
No
Supercharged
No
Fuel Type
Gas
Fuel Requirements
Regular
Carburetion
Standard
Carburetion Type
Fuel Injected
Horsepower (bhp)
305
Torque (Nm)
569.4
Displacement (l)
6.8
Transmission
Standard
Transmission Brand
TorqShift
Transmission Type
Automatic
Number Of Speeds
5
Overdrive
Yes
Driveline Type
4X2
Dimensions
Standard
Weight
Standard
Capacities
Standard
Holding Tanks
Standard
Number Of Fresh Water Holding Tanks
1
Number Of Gray Water Holding Tanks
1
Number Of Black Water Holding Tanks
1
Number Of Propane Tanks
1
Length (in/mm/ft/m)
298 / 7600 / 24.83 / 7.6
Width (in/mm)
99 / 2514.6
Height (in/mm)
130 / 3302
Interior Height (in/mm)
82 / 2082.8
Wheelbase (in/mm)
158 / 4013.2
Towing Capacity (lbs/kgs)
5000 / 2268
GVWR (lbs)
12500
Fuel Capacity (gal/l)
55 / 208.2
Total Fresh Water Tank Capacity (gal/l)
40 / 151.4
Total Gray Water Tank Capacity (gal/l)
38.5 / 145.7
Total Black Water Tank Capacity (gal/l)
24.5 / 92.7
Propane Tank (s)
Standard
Total Propane Tank Capacity (gal/lbs)
9.6 / 40.9
Construction
Standard
Body Material
Aluminum
Sidewall Construction
Fiberglass
Number of Doors
1
Sliding Glass Door
No
Awning
Standard
Number of Awnings
1
Screened Room
No
Leveling Jacks
Standard
Sky Light
Standard
Roof Vents
Standard
Exterior Ladder
Standard
Exterior Shower
Optional
Awning Length (ft/m)
15 / 4.6
Kitchen / Living Area
Standard
Kitchen / Living Area Flooring Type
Vinyl
Kitchen Table Configuration
U-shaped Dinette
Kitchen Location
Center
Living Area Location
Front
Layout
Stove
Number Of Oven Burners
3
Overhead Fan
Yes
Microwave Oven
Standard
Refrigerator
Standard
Refrigerator Size
Mid-Size
Refrigerator Power Mode
Electric / Propane
Sink / Faucet
Standard
Recliners / Rockers
Standard
Number Of Recliner / Rockers
1
Material
Cloth
Beds
Standard
Max Sleeping Count
6
Number Of Double Beds
1
Number Of Queen Size Beds
1
Number Of Convertible / Sofa Beds
1
Bunkhouse
No
Bed Spreads
Standard
Bathroom
Standard
Number Of Bathrooms
1
Bathroom Flooring Type
Vinyl
Bathroom Location
Rear
Toilet
Standard
Toilet Type
Porcelain
Shower
Standard
Door Type
Curtain
Bathtub
Standard
Bathroom Sink
Standard
Bathroom Medicine Cabinet
Standard
Bathroom Mirror
Standard
Bathroom Vent / Fan System
Standard
Power Vent Fan
Optional
Wheels
Standard
Wheels Composition
Steel
Number Of Axles
1
Tires
Standard
Front Tire Width
225
Front Tire Aspect Ratio
75
Front Tire Speed Rating
E
Front Wheel Diameter
16
Rear Tire Width
225
Rear Tire Aspect Ratio
75
Rear Tire Speed Rating
E
Rear Wheel Diameter
16
Spare Tire
Standard
Spare Tire Location
Exterior Mounted
Front Tire (Full Spec)
LT225/75R 16E
Rear Tire (Full Spec)
LT225/75R 16E
Brakes
Standard
Front Brake Type
Hydraulic Disc
Rear Brake Type
Hydraulic Disc
Anti-Lock Brakes
Standard
Rear Hitch
Standard
Rear Hitch Type
Receiver
Seat Type
Bucket
Seat Material
Cloth
Power Adjustable Seat
No
Reclining Seats
Yes
Swivel Seats
No
Seat Armrests
Yes
Seat Specifications
Standard
Number Of Seats
2
Number Of Rows
1
Propane Tank Gauge
Standard
Fresh Water Holding Tank Gauge
Standard
Gray Water Holding Tank Gauge
Standard
Black Water Holding Tank Gauge
Standard
Water Pump Power Display
Standard
Voltage Meter
Standard
Exterior Flood Lights
Standard
Battery
Standard
Battery Power Converter
Yes
Prewiring
Standard
Air Conditioning Prewiring
Yes
Cable Prewiring
Yes
Phone Prewiring
Yes
Heat Prewiring
Yes
TV Antenna Prewiring
Yes
Satellite Prewiring
Yes
Washer / Dryer Prewiring
No
Exterior Plugs
Standard
Ground Fault Plugs
Standard
Generator
Standard
Air Conditioning
Standard
Air Conditioning Type
Automatic
Heater
Standard
Heater Type
Automatic
Water Heater Tank
Standard
Water Heater Pump Power Mode
Propane
Water Heater Tank Bypass
Yes
Freeze Proof Insulation
Optional
Water Heater Tank Capacity (g/l)
6 / 22.7
Power Windows
Standard
Rear Video Backup Camera
Optional
Smoke Detector
Standard
Carbon Monoxide Detector
Standard
Propane Alarm
Standard
Emergency Exit (s)
Standard
Radio
Standard
Number Of Radios
1
Satellite
No
Speakers
Standard
Surround Sound
No
CD Player
Standard
Number Of Discs
1
Television
Optional
Retractable Roof Antenna
Standard
Speaker Location (s)
Interior
Paint
Standard
Interior Decor
Standard
Wallpaper
Yes
Interior Wood Finish
Yes
Curtains / Shades
Standard
User Reviews
3 reviews
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Functional / Family friendly/ Easy to park and place
By Jon Erickson (I am an Owner) on Oct 06, 2012I have been using my 2012 23U for approximately six months and have traveled up and down the East Coast. The best MPG I've seen is 8.6 and the worst was 6.7. As the engine breaks in the mileage continues to improve. Some have complained about fit and finish but the only issue I have see is a trim ... piece coming loose and needing to be re-glued after a particularly rough ride. The dealer delivered the coach with the maximum air pressure in the tires which provided a buck board ride and made the coach louder and more unstable when big rigs passed it. I did the math and determined that under full load the tire pressures could be safely lowered to 70 psi instead of the as delivered 85 psi. This made a huge difference in the ride and cabin noise. The RV still gets pushed around by high winds and large trucks but so does any other stock RV that lacks a panhard bar. The dealer also delivered the coach with mismatched warning labels (the water and gas warning stickers were switched) and the rear driver side light cluster was not hooked up. Hand tools and time fixed the issue but wow, what a miss on their part. There is a lack of insulation under the cab flooring which makes driving a loud and hot experience. This may be due to my coach having vinyl in the drivers cab instead of the carpet that most have but a weekend and a few hundred bucks will fix that. I'll keep the vinyl. It makes clean out a snap. The beds are all comfortable. If I didn't know better I would swear that the cab over bunk uses memory foam. At the very least it is extremely dense. Both the cab over and back beds are extremely comfortable. The wrap around dinette bed would be fine except our center cushion sits up about a quarter of an inch. The fix is to remove and renail the inside trim board to level things out. Again, easy fix but a quick eyeball of the supports tells you they aren't lined up. Should have been an easy catch. My coach was missing a spare. If you can get it at time of purchase I would. The Ford dealer charges 250.00 more for the same wheel / tire / sensor package. Although, if I had gotten the spare it wouldn't matter. There is no roadside kit for tire changing included from Ford. I checked other coaches and found the same thing missing. We were told to use the dinette back as a step up to the cab over bunk. My 10 year old daughter did once and never again. We heard a not so nice cracking sound coming from the dinette back when she put her weight on it. I'm glad it wasn't me that did it or we might be replacing the dinette seat back ;-) A 50.00 ladder will fit nicely behind the driver, behind the chair, or up on the bunk when traveling. Well worth the $$$. We have gone through monsoons, wind storms, rough roads, high heat etc. The only thing this camper didn't see this year was snow and all I had to do to the exterior was clean off the bugs, wash, and wax. Everything held up wonderfully. I flat tow a Ford escape and the V10 doesn't even know it's back there. Contrary to what I've heard, with the toad steering wheel locked it doesn't affect on road stability. Driving manners are the same with or without the toad. The transmission is really well tuned. It kicks down one gear with a light throttle tap and two when you give the pedal a good pop. Then it holds the gear until you ease off the pedal or get off of the grade. This is probably the best behaved transmission I've driven in a medium duty chassis. Tow haul mode is great as well. It holds the gear longer and lets me stay out of the gas. It's a real brake and gas saver when going through steep terrain. My only wishes are for a diesel engine and an outdoor shower. The shower is an easy fix. The engine... well I don't think a diesel would live in that tight space and I couldn't buy a Sprinter since their towing capacity is only 3500lbs. So I'm stuck with the gas bill until I figure out if I'm willing to not park in my families driveway when visiting with a Class A Diesel (That is a LONG way off though. Talk about EXPENSIVE!)Rating breakdown
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Functionally ideal. Thor missed some opportunities
By Jon (I am an Owner) on Aug 21, 2012We bought a 23U this past year as our first personal RV. We rented in the past to figure out what we wanted. The layout works well. We wanted a vehicle that could park almost anywhere including a driveway should we decide to visit family. The missing slide out isn't a real problem and in our area ... it's a plus since it can be difficult to get an RV spot on level in many places we enjoy going. The lower weight that skipping the slide provides gives us plenty of power when pulling grades in the mountains with our Ford Escape in tow. When we're parked and using the house side of things everything functions exactly as expected. The layout is logical, efficient, and I have yet to find a fault with it beyond the standard more space wish when everyone is inside and the missing extra bed that a larger unit would provide. The unit functions better than many larger 28 foot units on a day to day basis. Fit and finish is good however a trim piece did come loose going down the road. Looking at it there wasn't enough glue on it. An easy fix but a careless oversight. The transmission is setup to downshift when needed with just a pop of the pedal and then it only drops one gear which is much appreciated. Flooring the pedal past the 50% point will make it drop two gears. I know some tuners recommend retuning the transmission to shift earlier and hold higher gears longer but IMO the stock setup is exactly what I would choose to keep the transmission happy. I've spent too much money in the past replacing burnt or broken transmissions that held higher gears too long. We opted for the wrap around dinette and it has worked out wonderfully. It still seats four comfortably, five with limited elbow room and six for cards. I will have this option in our next unit. Best MPG to date is 7.8 mpg and worst is 6.7 when holding to a max speed of 65 mph. 7.8 was seen without the escape in tow. I expect mileage to improve with engine break in. Driving the unit is similar to a loaded box truck. Take a midsized Uhaul out on the road and drive through some tight spots to get an idea of how this thing handles. They're structurally identical. This is also a problem because the RV has a higher center of gravity than the box truck. This means that it likes to tilt on turns more so than the box truck. The E350 chassis is lighter with more spring flex than the 450 and I have found that driving on the highway requires constant steering correction when large vehicles pass me or they will pull me into their lane. Crosswinds will cause the same movement as well. To improve the tilt issue I will be installing air suspension in the back (200.00) To improve the instability when dealing with large passing vehicles and crosswinds I will be installing a panhard bar to positively locate the rear differential in relation to the frame. (650.00) These suspension oversights cost Thor a great rating from me with regards to on road performance. A backup camera was not offered as an option and this vehicle has a 100 ft blind spot behind it. An eighteen wheeler can hide behind me and I cannot check the tow vehicle without pulling over or sending someone back to look out the window. I installed a backup camera to fix that. Opted for a unit that replaced my head unit because the dash lacks enough space to locate a second screen cleanly. (600.00 - 1800.00 plus install) The vehicle lacks a chase tube for wiring so a custom harness will need to be ordered unless you opt for a wireless camera (150.00). Installing a wired camera will involve getting behind panels inside the vehicle so be ready for a challenge if your a DIYer. The trim piece that fell off and the difficulty of the camera install (no chase tube, deconstruction of cabin required) cost Thor a great rating for build quality. Too bad that rating is also associated with reliability because I haven't experienced a functional issue while others I camp with have. I have not experienced any shake down gremlins others have complained about with other brands of RVs. But wait... There are more RV specific items that need to be purchased for peace of mind. Spare tire, air pressure sensor and ring (get this as an option if you can) : 750.00 12000 lb jack (Even if you get a spare they don't include the tools to change the tire. : 200.00+ Service tools (None are provided and this is a large vehicle so 3/4 drive tools and a break over bar are a must) : 200.00 If they had opted for Ford's roadside kit that includes all the basics they could have avoided costing me an extra 1100.00 and increased customer satisfaction... Bonus: the tire carrier hole already exists and will swallow the tire and all tools easily. It's deeper than others I've seen. +1 for Thor there. Inside there is no ladder to the cab over bunk and stepping on the dinette is a bad idea. My 10 year old did and we heard a cracking sound. (50 - 100) I'm sure that Thor could get all of these parts for less than the 2K I'll need to spend. If they market the fact that they have them and tell the consumer why they need them the consumer will likely accept a higher price for peace of mind and ease of use. Additional issues that have been noted : On smooth asphalt everything is great. Drive on a rough road or a seamed road and you will have to raise your voice to talk. The entire vehicle rattles and shakes much more so than other RVs I have driven. I am obsessive about securing items. The rattles and shakes are structural. Alas, other than swapping to air bags or taking the inside apart and installing rubber gaskets and isolators I don't see a way around this. This is a loud unit rolling down the road and I wonder about the long term reliability of the home section if I don't figure out how to improve this! The engine is between you and your copilot. Get ready for some heat. Our dog used to enjoy riding between us on the floor in other RVs but the floor gets too hot for her in this unit. Barefoot riding is not comfortable. The engine noise also easily enters the cabin. You yell with your copilot. Forget talking at a normal volume. Better isolation would be appreciated from the factory. Ford messed up there. Had Thor opted for a higher trim level from Ford they might have gotten better sound isolation but I doubt it. However, as is I will be installing Dynamat products to cut down the noise and heat in the cab (200 - 425.00). Believe it or not I am pleased with my purchase. It met all of my criteria. However, the added costs that I was ignorant about during this purchase will not escape me should I decide to upgrade down the road. Hopefully this review will inform others so they can plan accordingly...Rating breakdown
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2012 chateau 23 u
By Charlie E Hargrave (I am an Owner) on Jan 15, 2012Picked up the motorhome new at the dealer sat afternoon.Everything seems to be working as advertised. Wife and I find it very comfortable so far. We drove around for a few hours, meandering our way home.Has plenty of power and take off strength, but it is still empty.Will post more after a couple ... weeks of playing with the new toy!Rating breakdown