In this post, we’ll review why we picked the Thor Gemini 23TW AWD, also known as the Compass in some markets, as the RV for us.
Why We Picked the Thor Gemini 23 TW
Our search for the perfect RV started several years ago when we realized an RV might be the perfect complement to our life of spontaneous travel. With relatives up and down the East Coast, and a desire to enjoy New England in the summer, and the Southern US in the winter, we casually started looking at RVs in 2015, but didn’t commit to purchasing anything.
Then a combination of early retirement, working from home, a desire to visit family members who are aging and had a few health issues, and a lack of easy travel options during COVID, plus the release of the Ford Transit ECO Boost chassis were a few things that moved us along and made 2021 the year to purchase our RV. We ended up with the Thor Gemini 23TW AWD. Here are some of the reasons we picked this powerful little RV.
Class B+ is For Us!
We knew we wanted a small, easy-to-drive, easy to park – go -anywhere motor home. We didn’t have a wish to tow, or the desire to purchase a new towing vehicle. We wanted something that would be like a B Class but would have the space of a C. We looked at a few used C-class RVs and although we liked the space we quickly, realized that even 27 feet would be too large to fit our easy-to-park requirements. Thanks to YouTube we were able to watch walkthroughs of other RVs like the Winnebago Ekko, Navion, and finally the Gemini/ Compass models from Thor. We also soon learned about the drivability, safety, and fuel-efficient benefits of the new 2020 Ford Transit Chassis, which helped us narrow our search even more to Class B+/C RVs built on that chassis. We also wanted a modern, bright interior, and were pleased to see that a few brands were offering this for 2020 models and beyond.
Researching Our Options
Since we have many RV dealers near us we were able to see a few in person. We loved the Leisure Vans Wonder Rear Lounge model, but with a 2-year wait time until delivery, it didn’t fit in our plans to start to travel by RV in the Spring of 2021. Through the detailed views on YouTube from both Matt’s RV reviews for General RV Dealerships and the Thor Manufacturer, we were able to get a pretty good sense of the layout of the TW23 as well as the space. A light, bright interior option. We loved the Estate Gray package, which featured soft pale cream gray cabinetry and black hardware, neutral gray floors, and countertops – a perfect combination of modern farmhouse and classic white kitchen we wanted in our own home.
We were able to see these finishes in person at a local dealer who had taken delivery of a Compass, which is exactly the same as the Gemini, it’s just a brand name change they make to allow sales in different dealer markets. Even though it was the alternate floor plan — the Compass TE — we were able to get a good sense of the general space and finish. Pleased with our in-person walk-through, we felt like the TW was for us!
Finding the Right RV Dealer
Unfortunately, we had terrible customer service at that dealer which was only 45 minutes from our house in Pennsylvania. We couldn’t get the most basic questions answered about finish choices and they seemed disinterested in taking our order. It’s certainly not the experience you want when you’re planning to make an investment like this.
This site is not sponsored by them, but our conversations with General RV were vastly more helpful and informative, and we felt much more confident placing our order with them because of their knowledge. Also because of their inventory, we lucked out and were able to place an order in February 2021 for March 2021 delivery. Even though our nearest General RV was over 5 hours away, the fact they have national locations, and that they were opening a new location in 2022 only 30 minutes from our house, made General RV the dealer for us.
Taking Delivery of the RV
We waited a few short weeks and purchased and prepared some of our RV must-haves and then prepared to drive to Ohio to pick up our new RV. We’ll detail the pre-purchase check and walkthrough in a post soon since we know how important it is to have a checklist of items you’ll want to review before taking delivery!
Through the pre-purchase check and walkthrough, we found that the Gemini was immediately what we expected in terms of interior details, storage, and amenities. There were a few minor things like finding a home for some of our belongings and figuring out the best place to store things.
What We Love About the Gemini TW
We will be sharing more detailed reviews of each aspect but here are a few of the highlights and things we love!
The Ford Transit Chassis
The Ford Transit Chassis is one of our favorite things about the RV. It’s easy to drive and does handle like a car. The seats are extremely comfortable, it has amazing visibility and the cab storage compartments, cup holders, and caddies are very well thought out. We haven’t had a chance to really use the limits of the AWD, but it’s so nice to know we have it as we travel through different weather conditions.
The Bed
Many people choose to buy a new mattress, but we actually found the mattress that came with the RV has been fine for now. We added a thin topper and it had been comfortable. One of the things we love is that the bed folds up with all of the bedding intact so it is just a matter of releasing it from the storage position and the bed is ready to go. One of the storage tricks we learned is that items like sheets and towels can also be stored within the spaces between the slats.
The Closet and Storage Space
We have spent as long as a month at a time in different weather conditions in the RV and have found that the closet provides more than ample storage for all of our clothing. Some Gemini owners have made modifications, but we simply use thin hangers and some cloth-covered boxes for bulky items like sweaters and jeans. We’ll share with you which bins we like for this space and how we organized our closet in a later post.
The Fridge
We are also impressed by the storage space in the fridge and freezer. We tend to pack it dully, even when we don’t require tons of food storage, because we find it helps to reduce movement while we travel, and a stuffed fridge helps to keep things insulated and cold! It has been great to be able to have plenty of room for fresh food, storing leftovers, and having some space for frozen food as well.
Separate Shower
Having a dedicated shower (as opposed to a wet-/dry bathroom) was one of the requirements! We did switch out the shower head and had to learn a few tricks for using the on-demand water heater, but once we did, it has been great to be able to shower on the go!
Our Travels
So far we have visited Ohio, Lums Pond in Delaware, Codorus State Park in Pennsylvania, Huntington Beach in Myrtle Beach, Seacoast New Hampshire, and Boothbay Harbor and Portland, Maine, with travels to Hilton Head, Destin, The Florida Keys, and Jekyll Island planned for 2022! Stay tuned for more details and reviews of campgrounds as we go.
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These are some of the camping equipment and must have products we use in our Thor Gemini for storage, decor, cleaning, and maintenance.
