Thor Motor Coach batteries: house, chassis and lithium

Thor Motor Coach is the motorhome division of Thor Industries, based in Elkhart, Indiana. It was formed in 2010 from two older motorhome builders, Four Winds and Damon. Its lineup includes Class A, Class B and Class C motorhomes. Names like Four Winds and Chateau (Class C) are some of the most common rental and first-time-owner motorhomes on the road.

Thor Industries, briefly

Thor Industries is a large RV company that owns many brands, including Airstream, Jayco, Keystone, Heartland, Dutchmen, Entegra and Tiffin. Thor Motor Coach is a separate brand from those.

Battery setups

Thor Motor Coach Class C models are typically built on Ford E-Series, Ford Transit or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. The chassis battery is where the chassis maker puts it, usually under the hood. House batteries are often in an exterior compartment or step area. Class A gas models usually have the chassis and house batteries in separate compartments. Diesel models often use multiple chassis batteries.

What we see in Florida

Rental motorhomes. Many Class C rentals are Thor-built. Renters sometimes run the house batteries flat overnight without realizing the RV needs shore power or the generator. If you have a rental, check with the rental company first. Many will direct you to a mobile service like ours.

Boost switch confusion. Many Thor motorhomes have an auxiliary start switch on the dash that links the house batteries to help start the engine. If both systems are drained, it won't help. See motorhome won't start.

Factory lead-acid that didn't last. Heat shortens battery life. See how long RV batteries last in Florida.

Upgrades

Lithium is popular in Class C motorhomes because the weight savings and usable capacity are noticeable. We check the converter and alternator charging before installing.

Fitment note: Battery locations, tray sizes and electrical packages vary by model, floor plan and model year. Treat this as a general guide, not a fitment guarantee. We confirm what your RV has before anything is installed.