When the road beckons, this gas-powered “RUV” is ready to go.
By Robbin Gould, Editor
April 2020
A new floor plan joined the Axis motorhome family for 2020. This past January, Thor Motor Coach debuted the 25.6 at the Florida RV SuperShow. For starters, the 25.6 includes a full-wall slideout on the street side and a flip-up queen bed with a reversible mattress and cushioned seating underneath. In addition, the show unit featured Thor’s new Home Collection interior décor.
Inside, the Home Collection décor creates a light, bright environment. The curbside galley includes a two-burner propane cooktop, a microwave-convection oven, and a propane-electric refrigerator.
Thor calls this Type A motorhome an “RUV,” which stands for “recreational utility vehicle” — a cross between a sport-utility vehicle, or SUV, and an RV. The Axis is smaller than many other Type As, which is said to make it easy to drive. Yet, it is still full of the amenities desired for RV living.
The three Axis floor plans range from 25 feet 6 inches to 28 feet 6 inches in length. The 25.6 highlighted in this article is 26 feet 6 inches long.
The Axis is based on the Ford E-350 chassis. It’s propelled by a 6.8-liter Triton V-10 engine that produces 305 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque. This combination provides pulling power for the 8,000-pound-rated tow hitch. The coach includes an independent front suspension and 16-inch tires with stainless-steel wheel liners. An electric stabilizing system is standard on the 25.6.
A Dream Dinette is across the aisle from the galley.
The Ford foundation is outfitted with horizontal steel trusses. Steel tubing runs around the perimeter and throughout the floor structure. Oriented strand board (OSB) decking is secured to it. The sidewalls and roof are constructed of welded tubular aluminum, insulated with low-density polystyrene foam, and vacuum-laminated. (To ensure that the slideout wall fits tightly, it is installed back into the same piece of fiberglass from which it was cut.) The one-piece thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) roof is dome-shaped to repel water and debris. The front cap is fashioned from a single piece of fiberglass.
The Axis’ exterior is finished with Thor’s patented HD-MAX, a full-color gel-coat fiberglass and vinyl graphics package; two color choices are offered. Frameless windows are used.
The rotocast exterior storage compartments are lighted and secured with flush-mount radiused doors. A lateral power patio awning with integrated LED lighting, a slideout topper awning, and an exterior 32-inch TV with Bluetooth sound bar and radio come standard.
A queen-size bed with a 60-inch-by-74-inch Euro-style Comfort Flex reversible mattress comes standard in the Axis 25.6, with a king-size bed available as an option.
Inside the Axis, more LED lighting and a 6-foot-10-inch ceiling height visually open up the space. Thor’s new Home Collection décor also makes the interior feel much bigger than in many larger motorhomes. Light-colored, residential materials and fabrics reflect current design trends. Two additional European-inspired decor palettes and cabinetry choices are offered. Modern-style cabinet doors are handcrafted from solid wood and include nickel-finish hardware. The residential vinyl flooring is child- and pet-friendly — durable and easy to clean. Premium roller shades on the windows provide privacy.
In the cockpit, the Ford automotive-style dashboard likely will put new RV drivers at ease. A single-piece windshield enhances the view; it comes with a power privacy shade. The touchscreen dash radio offers navigation, a backup monitor, and an integrated camera. Side-view cameras are built into the heated, remote-controlled exterior mirrors. On the copilot side, a dash workstation is outfitted with handy 120-volt-AC and 12-volt-DC electrical outlets.
The cockpit chairs come with three-point seatbelts, and, like other seating throughout the motorhome, are covered in leatherette material. These two seats also recline and swivel to the rear. A coffee table can be installed between them when it’s time to relax after a day of travel.
The bed in the Axis flips up to reveal a cushioned area that becomes an additional spot for sitting, relaxing, etc.
A sleeping berth stows out of the way against the cockpit ceiling. When its power switch is activated, down drops a 38-inch-by-73-inch Cotton Cloud mattress. A bunk ladder is provided for easier access.
RVers enter the Axis 25.6 directly behind the copilot seat, ascending the rubber-tread-covered steps in the lighted stepwell. The galley is to the left; opposite it, the living-dining area occupies the front half of the full-wall slideout. The 76-inch Dream Dinette provides conventional dinette seating and readily converts to a bed when the table is lowered. The bench seats have storage underneath. (Tri-fold and jackknife sofas are offered in the other Axis floor plans.) A 40-inch TV hangs on a wall just aft of the dinette.
The galley includes a two-burner propane cooktop with electric start and a glass cover, a microwave-convection oven, and a double-door propane-electric refrigerator with stainless-steel door inserts. A large single-bowl stainless-steel sink is mounted into the pressed-laminate countertop, which has a flip-up extension. A pantry stands just aft of the fridge.
Outside on the curb side, the Axis includes a lateral power patio awning with integrated LED lighting, a 32-inch TV, a Bluetooth sound bar, and a radio.
The head of a 60-inch-by-74-inch queen bed nestles in the rear half of the slideout. The Euro-style Comfort Flex mattress is reversible (firm on one side; soft on the other). As mentioned earlier, the bed flips up to provide access to cushioned seating underneath. (The 24.1 floor plan contains twin beds that convert to a king-size bed.)
A 32-inch bedroom TV comes standard. A USB power charging center for electronics and a 12-volt outlet for CPAP machines also are included.
The curbside bath has a foot-flush porcelain toilet and a stainless-steel sink. The 32-inch-by-32-inch shower is accompanied by a skylight and a curved curtain rod. A power bath vent with a wall switch comes standard. The shower shares the rear wall of the motorhome with a storage area that contains closet space with mirrored sliding doors and drawers below.
Another key feature in this coach is Rapid Camp+, an all-in-one control center that enables occupants to set the automatic generator start; check tank levels; control lights, shades, awnings, etc.; and activate the electric stabilizers. The Axis also features an Onan 4,000-watt gasoline-powered generator; a black-tank flush system; a Winegard ConnecT 2.0 Wi-Fi hot spot; and a 360-Siphon vent cap to prevent holding tank odors.
The suggested retail price of the 2020 Thor Axis 25.6 is $124,500.
SPECS | THOR AXIS
MANUFACTURER
Thor Motor Coach, P.O. Box 1486, Elkhart, IN 46515; (800) 860-5658; www.thormotorcoach.com/axis
MODEL
2020 Axis RUV
FLOOR PLAN
25.6
CHASSIS
Ford E-350
ENGINE
6.8-liter Triton V-10; 305 horsepower at 4,250 rpm; 420 pound-feet torque at 3,250 rpm
TRANSMISSION
Torqshift 6-speed automatic with overdrive
AXLE RATIO
4:10 to 1
TIRES
16-inch with stainless-steel wheel liners
WHEELBASE
188 inches
BRAKES
power four-wheel antilock disc
SUSPENSION
twin I-beam front suspension
SHOCK ABSORBERS
gas-type, 35MM
STEERING
Ford
BATTERIES
chassis — (1);
house — (2)
ELECTRICAL SERVICE
30 amps
EXTERIOR LENGTH
26 feet 6 inches (without ladder)
EXTERIOR WIDTH
94 inches (without mirrors)
EXTERIOR HEIGHT
11 feet (with A/C)
INTERIOR HEIGHT
6 feet 10 inches
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR)
14,500 pounds
GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATING (GCWR)
22,000 pounds
GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATINGS
front — 5,000 pounds;
rear — 9,600 pounds
OCCUPANT AND CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY (OCCC)
2,650 pounds
INSULATION
polystyrene foam
FRESH WATER CAPACITY
39 gallons
HOLDING TANK CAPACITIES
gray water — 41 gallons;
black water — 30 gallons
FUEL CAPACITY
55 gallons
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
gasoline
WATER HEATER
tankless
WATER SYSTEM
demand
HEATING SYSTEM
30,000-Btu furnace
AIR CONDITIONING
15,000 Btu, roof-mounted
REFRIGERATOR
6 cubic feet; double-door propane/electric with stainless-steel door inserts
TOILET
porcelain with foot flush
WARRANTY
house — 1 year/15,000 miles limited;
chassis — 3 years/36,000 miles limited;
powertrain — 5 years/60,000 miles limited
MANUFACTURER’S SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE
$124,500