2023 Windsport 34R

A family road trip can be comfortable and fun in this roomy Type A from Thor Motor Coach.

By Mark Quasius, F333630
July 2023

The Windsport ranks among the most popular gasoline-powered Type A motorhomes produced by Thor Motor Coach. Although not the company’s entry-level coach in this category, it’s offered at an affordable price and contains a host of desirable features. For 2023, the Windsport comes in six floor plans ranging from 30 to 36 feet in length. This article spotlights the 34R, a 36-foot-long model with dual slideouts that is capable of sleeping six.

 

CHASSIS

The Windsport is built on the Ford F-53 chassis. It is powered by a Ford 7.3-liter V-8 engine that produces 335 horsepower and 468 pound-feet of torque and is coupled with a TorqShift six-speed automatic transmission. The 242-inch-wheelbase chassis has a 22,000-pound gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and a 26,000-pound gross combination weight rating (GCWR). The coach comes with an 8,000-pound-rated class III trailer hitch and a seven-pin round connector. Its 22.5-inch tires on polished aluminum wheels are standard equipment, as are automatic leveling jacks and heated power mirrors.

 

CONSTRUCTION

Construction begins with a tubular steel subframe and floor structure. The sidewall framing and roof trusses are built with welded aluminum structural members. The vacuum-bonded floor, wall, and roof contain block-foam insulation. The rotocast basement storage compartments are designed to prevent leaks. One-piece fiberglass front and rear caps are incorporated.

 

EXTERIOR

The Windsport I inspected was finished in the Ocean Tide II partial paint scheme, one of four available choices. The large power patio awning was equipped with integrated LED lighting, as was the power awning over the entry door. A full-wall slideout on the patio side stretches from the forward-located entry door to the rear of the coach and encompasses the living area, galley, and rear bedroom.

Deep-tinted frameless windows are used throughout. Outside entertainment is provided by a 32-inch LED TV that is located in a patio-side compartment on a swivel arm, along with a sound bar.

 

INTERIOR

The 34R floor plan boasts plenty of room, which makes it a great choice for a young family. While many recreational vehicles technically have the ability to sleep six, the 34R actually does so comfort-ably, and it also provides enough seating space so occupants can relax while on the road as well as when parked. With both slideouts extended, floor space opens up, providing wide access to any part of the motorhome.

Sleeping capacity begins with the 72-inch-by-76-inch king bed in the bedroom, augmented by a 68-inch sofa bed in the main liv-ing area, plus a 54-inch-by-74-inch drop-down overhead bunk above the cockpit seating. If that’s not enough, the Dream Dinette pro-vides even more sleeping space when the table is lowered.

In addition to the cockpit chairs, the sofa bed can seat two people, and the theater seats hold another two when the coach is underway. Add another two at the dinette if you so desire, and this brings the total seating capacity to eight positions, all with seat belts. The dinette incorporates a single child safety seat tether.

The review unit featured an optional interior décor, Luxury Collection Venice Stone, paired with cabinetry and woodwork finished in Coastline Grey. All furniture featured leatherette upholstery, which provides durability, low maintenance, and easy cleanup. Residential-grade vinyl flooring ran throughout the coach. The tinted awning-style windows were fitted with fabric-covered valances and roller privacy shades. LED interior lighting was used.

The driver-side slideout starts just behind the cockpit area. The front part holds the sofa bed; behind it, a 49-inch LED TV is installed on a power lift. Next to the sofa, the Dream Dinette offers booth seating. Directly opposite, theater seats with integrated footrests accommodate two in the full-wall patio-side slideout.

A Rapid Camp+ multiplex wiring system controls the motorhome’s various systems and accessories and is accessible via a centrally mounted 7-inch touch-screen panel. A second living area LED television, a 39-inch model, is mounted on the forward-facing wall near the dinette.

While most of the countertops are laminated, the galley does feature a solid-surface top. Here, a stainless-steel dual-basin sink is flush-mounted beneath the galley top and paired with a tall faucet that has a pull-out sprayer. A three-burner propane-powered cooktop and oven are built into the galley, and a 30-inch-wide microwave oven is installed in the cabinetry above. The 12-cubic-foot residential refrigerator is located adjacent to the stove.

The midship bath contains a 36-inch-by-30-inch fiberglass shower stall accompanied by sliding glass doors and a skylight. An Aqua View Showermiser water reclamation system prevents loss of fresh water while waiting for the shower to warm up. The 360 Siphon RV vent cap helps to exhaust odors from the waste-water holding tanks. A foot-pedal-flush porcelain toilet and a vanity with a stainless-steel sink are also located here, along with a medicine cabinet and a roof vent fan. Opposite the bath, a large closet is prepped for an optional or dealer-installed stackable washer-dryer set.

The king-size bed in the rear bedroom lifts up via hinges for access to storage below. Opposite the bed is the dresser and wardrobe, along with a 32-inch LED TV. The bedroom is equipped with USB receptacles for phone charging as well as a CPAP-ready 120-volt-AC receptacle powered via an inverter.

The Windsport’s entire entertainment system is serviced by an HDMI distribution system that delivers the various sources to each TV. A Blu-ray player comes standard in the living area, and access to cable TV and the over-the-air antenna is included. Should RVers wish to install an aftermarket satellite dish, a mounting backer in the roof is provided. A Winegard ConnecT 2.0 Wi-Fi/4G/TV antenna can provide a wireless network throughout the coach.

The cockpit area features an array of automotive dash controls and instrumentation. The 10-inch touchscreen dash radio comes with Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay, and it is Sirus XM-ready. A pair of dash fans improve airflow around the one-piece windshield, while rear and side cameras keep the driver informed of his or her surroundings. The dash also contains a workstation with 120-volt and 12-volt outlets. The power driver’s seat and manual passenger seat, both with three-point seatbelts, can be rotated to join the living area when the coach is parked. A removable coffee table can be inserted between these chairs.

But the biggest feature in the cockpit is the overhead bunk. This power structure raises to the ceiling when not in use but lowers to become a 54-inch-by-74-inch sleeping area when needed. A short ladder provides access to the bunk.

 

UTILITIES

The Windsport has a 50-amp detachable cord for shore power, as well as an Onan 5,500-watt generator with an automatic generator start module. An optional 1,800-watt inverter is available. Two 6-volt deep-cycle batteries meet the 12-volt-DC needs of the coach; they can be augmented by an optional 100-watt solar panel and charge controller. A 35,000-Btu propane furnace provides heat for the coach interior as well as the holding tank area. Domestic hot water is furnished by a 6-gallon water heater with direct-spark ignition. Two 13,500-Btu rooftop air conditioners keep the coach cool via ducted ceiling vents.

 

FINAL IMPRESSIONS

I found the Windsport 34R to be an attractive floor plan that can comfortably support larger families or groups. When you consider the sleeping accommodations for at least six (perhaps a couple more if traveling with little ones), and the number of seating positions with seatbelts, it can handle up to eight passengers. In addition, the full-wall slideout and second slideout opposite it create a spacious interior when expanded. So, families considering a Type A motorhome will appreciate the room to roam — literally and figuratively — in the 34R.

 

SPECIFICATIONS | WINDSPORT

MANUFACTURER
Thor Motor Coach, 701 County Road 15, Elkhart, IN 46516; (800) 860-5658; www.thormotorcoach.com

MODEL
2023 Windsport

FLOOR PLAN
34R

CHASSIS
Ford F-53

ENGINE
Ford 7.3-liter V-8; 335 horsepower at 3,750 rpm; 468 pound-feet torque

TRANSMISSION
TorqShift 6-speed automatic

AXLE RATIO
5.86 to 1

TIRES
22.5-inch

WHEELS
polished aluminum

WHEELBASE
242 inches

BRAKES
power 4-wheel disc antilock with traction control

SUSPENSION
front — single-stage parabolic leaf springs;
rear — Dana S130

ALTERNATOR
210 amps

BATTERIES
chassis — 78-amp, 750 cca, 12-volt maintenance-free;
house — (2) 6-volt deep-cycle

ELECTRICAL SERVICE
50 amps

AUXILIARY GENERATOR
5,500-watt gasoline-powered Onan with automatic generator start

EXTERIOR LENGTH
36 feet (without ladder)

EXTERIOR WIDTH
99 inches

EXTERIOR HEIGHT
12 feet 4 inches (with A/C)

INTERIOR HEIGHT
7 feet

GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATING (GCWR)
26,000 pounds

GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR)
22,000 pounds

GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR)
front — 8,000 pounds;
rear — 15,000 pounds

FRESH WATER CAPACITY
50 gallons

HOLDING TANK CAPACITIES
gray water — 40 gallons;
black water — 40 gallons

PROPANE CAPACITY
88 pounds

FUEL CAPACITY
80 gallons

FUEL REQUIREMENTS
gasoline

WATER HEATER
6-gallon with direct-spark ignition

HEATING SYSTEM
35,000-Btu propane-powered furnace

AIR CONDITIONING
(2) 13,500-Btu

REFRIGERATOR
12-cubic-foot double-door residential

TOILET
porcelain with foot pedal flush

WARRANTY
chassis — 3 years/36,000 miles bumper to bumper;
powertrain — 5 years/60,000 miles;
coach — 1 year limited, 6 years lamination, 12 years structural

MANUFACTURER’S BASE SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE
$218,850

PRICE AS REVIEWED
$226,134

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Source: https://familyrvingmag.com/2023/07/01/2023-windsport-34r/