2024 Thor Scope 18G RV
As befitting my impending retirement, and Senior Citizen status, Winnie and I knew we wanted to do a lot of traveling. We’d already tried tent camping a couple of times and knew we were not cut out for life in a tent, even temporary. So, we spent nearly two years looking at RVs and camping trailers as retirement loomed ever closer in my sights. After lots of discussions, lots of looking and talking with salespeople, we decided what we really wanted was a small Class “B” (van-chassis) RV.
Read The History
Thor Scope 18G Specifications
| Purchased: | – January 2024 from a local dealer, through an RV show, 834 miles on the odometer. |
| Features | Construction & Exterior – RAM Promaster Gas Tall Chassis – 1500 XT (17 foot 11 Inches) – Exterior Height 9 ft 5 in – Exterior Width 6 ft 9 in – 3.6L Pentastar V6 Engine – GVWR 8550 lbs. – Horsepower 276 hp – Front-wheel Drive – 9-Speed Automatic Transmission – Towing Capacity 3500 lbs. with 4 pin connectors. – Driver and passenger access doors, side sliding cargo door, double rear loading doors. – Screen Door for Entryway – Side Steps for Cab and Entry Doors – 10′ Electric Awning – Sewer Hose with Under Chassis Storage – ABS and driveline Traction control – Electronic Stability control with anti-roll – Aluminum Wheels Automotive & Cockpit – Touchscreen Dash Radio with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ – Blue Tooth option for cellphone calls, text messages, and media hookup – Deluxe Heated/Remote Exterior Mirrors, Blind Spot Turn Signal Indicators – Power Windows and Door Locks – Adaptive Cruise Control – Front fog lights – Telescoping Leather Steering Wheel with Audio Buttons to Control Dash Stereo – Map Light – Sun Visors – 3-piece Windshield Privacy Shades – Back-up Camera with warning signal – Three-point Seat Belts for Driver and Passenger – Driver and Passenger Air Bags – Keyless Entry System, All Doors – Emergency Engine Start Switch – Leatherette, Swivel, Captain’s Chairs – Front fog lights RV Interior – Residential Vinyl Flooring – Smoke, LPG and Carbon Monoxide Detectors – Fire Extinguisher – Soft-touch Vinyl Ceiling – “Welformed” Interior Wall Panels – Euro-Style Upper Cabinet Doors – LED Lighting – Premium Window Privacy Roller Shades – Large Opening Side Windows – Seating with Lap Seat Belts for Two Passengers – Ball Bearing Drawer Guides Kitchen – Single Door 12V Electric Refrigerator – Two Burner Gas Cooktop with Glass Cover – Pressed Countertops with Undermount – Microwave Oven in Overhead – Glass Protective Cover and Task Lighting above Cooktop – Stainless Steel Single Bowl Sink with Cover and Single Handle Kitchen Faucet – Ceiling Vent Kitchen 12v Powered with Switch – Removable Table in Living Area (18G) Bedroom & Bathroom – Pull-out Sleeping Area – Fully Enclosed Shower – Rear Shower – Cassette Toilet – Rear Screen Door (18A) Entertainment – TV Prep – Electronics Cabinet with HDMI Cable and USB Charging Ports throughout – HD/DDS Satellite Ready Electrical & Plumbing – 1000-watt Inverter – 30-amp Detachable Shoreline Power Cord – Automatic Shoreline-to-Generator Transfer Switch – Onan® RV QG 2800 Gas Generator – 11,000 BTU Roof Air Conditioner – Battery Disconnect Switch – Solar Charge Controller with 190W Solar Panel – Fresh Water Capacity 20 gals – Grey Water Capacity 20 gals – Black Water Capacity 4.75 gals (cassette-style toilet) – 2.64-gal Truma Combi Eco Hydronic Furnace and Water Heating System – 360 Siphon RV Holding Tank Vent Cap – Rear Water Sprayer – Fresh Water Tank Drain – Exterior LP Connection – Gravity Water Fill – Holding Tank with Heat Pad – (2) Group 31 AGM House Batteries |
| Major Repairs | – Several minor warranty issues, mostly resulting from being displayed in a RV show – Warranty replacement of Onan generator fuel pump |
| Comments | The smallest size Class “B” RV made at the time, but fully loaded with all essential equipment. A perfect size for the two of us to take weekend or weeks-long road trips. Adequate towing capacity to pull our boat or a trailer with kayaks. |
| External Reference | https://www.thormotorcoach.com/scope |
Photo Collection
Winnie showing off our new toy. Photo taken the second weekend we owned our RV, at Leesylvania State Park, nearby our home. We combined our photo session with an RV picnic, followed by a short cold weather hike.
This side of the van has connections for shore power (30 amps), two water connections (one to fill the tank, one to provide water directly into the system and bypassing the tank), cable TV, and a connector for external solar panel. The propane bottle is also located under the chassis, with a fill connection and isolation switch.
Now I had to appear in photos next to our new toy.
The other side of the RV, showing side loading door and awning.
The RV also includes a small Onan generator, located under the rear where the spare tire was designed to go. Since there’s no space for an actual spare, the RV came equipped with a can of “Fix-A-Flat” and battery-powered tire inflator. I made a note that at some point in the future, I’d add a spare tire mounted on the rear loading door.
The RV does come equipped with a towing package suitable for pulling 3500 pounds tow weight. Which just happened to be enough for pulling our boat “Sea Dragon.”
Interior shot, looking forward. The seats are soft leather and very comfortable. With the van layout the seats are positioned pretty high above the road, and with the wide windshield give excellent road viewing. No center console so as there is enough room to stand up and walk into the back of the van.
Interior shot looking back from between the front seats. For a small van, the builders packed in a lot of creature comforts. The two rear seats both have lap seat belts, so we can take two passengers with us. A nice feature, one that Winnie particularly wanted. We quickly discovered that being able to take two passengers was very nice indeed, when we went on day trips.
The dining table comes down and gets stored in an overhead bin above the front seats. Due to the floor stand design, it needs to be taken down while driving, as constant vibrations could damage the floor socket. The left side seat has a slide-out that connects to the right side, creating a base for cushions. This creates an adequate bed, just right for the two of us. Larger people would probably not be comfortable sleeping.
Showing the left interior with kitchen unit (sink, 2-burner gas stove, microwave, refrigerator, and drawers), along with overhead storage bins. The propane hot water heater is located under the seat. The unit does include a propane and CO monitor, something I was especially interested in. There’s also a smoke detector in the overhead a little further back.
The full wet bath all the way at the back. Includes a cassette toilet (the waste tank slides out the back for dumping), drop-down sink, and shower. There’s a shower curtain on overhead track that encloses the shower are when used. The bath can be closed from the van interior with double sliding doors. The RV also came with blackout curtains to cover the rear windows for added privacy.
And the storage “closet” on the opposite side of the shower and toilet. From the rear, under the drawers, there’s a storage space for the RV’s shore power cable, potable water hose, and miscellaneous necessary hardware.
2024 Thor Scope 18G Factory Brochure
Surprisingly enough (for me) there’s almost no printed literature for this RV. I suspect it’s a matter of marching into a paperless future where all information is online.
The Brochure floorplan for the 18G layout. Alternate floorplans have the wet bath immediately behind the driver’s seat. This moves the kitchen unit on the opposite side partially blocking the side entrance. We didn’t care for this layout as the interior feels too crowded, with a very narrow path between the kitchen and wet bath.
The Thor brochure is a simple two-page production. Page one shows the three available floor layout options.
Page two shows the various features available. There’s a handy link on the bottom right-hand corner going to the Thor website for this RV model.
Index
Introduction
1977 Chevrolet LUV (Isuzu Luv Series Six) Pickup Truck
1979 MG Midget 1500
1980 Chevrolet Chevette 4 door Hatchback
1988 Isuzu LS SpaceCab Pickup Truck
1976 Alfa Romeo Alfetta 1.6 Four Door Sedan
1978 Mercedes Benz 200D 4 Door Sedan
1991 Volvo 240 Sedan
2004 Isuzu Rodeo LS SUV
2000 Volkswagen New Beetle GL 2 Door Hatchback
2009 Nissan Versa 1.8S Hatchback
2013 Nissan Versa 1.6SV Sedan
2015 Jeep Cherokee “Latitude”
2024 Thor Scope 18G RV
Final Thoughts and Table of Changes