Is the Thor Talavera Camper Van the Ultimate Ford Transit Trail RV?
Mainstream RV manufacturer makes ruggedly luxurious Class B van out of Ford's red-hot off-road Transit.
There's a new Class B adventure van from RV-giant Thor Motor Coach that you may spot traversing to and fro during your Christmas travels. It's called the Talavera, or there's a sister, the Palladium, which are quite regal names once you remember where all the letters go. Unlike the Thor Ford Transit Sanctuary/Tranquility, this camp-ready rig is built upon the newish Ford Transit Trail van, giving it an automatic boost when it comes to off-grid adventuring.
The all-wheel drive Ford Transit Trail—powered by the twin-turbo gasoline 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 that makes 310 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque, backed by a 10-speed automatic transmission—comes straight from Ford with a 3.5-inch lift, 30.5-inch Goodyear Wrangler Workhorse all-terrain tires (245/75R16) wrapped around 16-inch blacked-out wheels, a 2.75-inch wider track, slider-bar side steps, five selectable drive modes, chunky fender flare cladding, and more aggressive front-end styling. Built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant, Ford introduced the Transit Trail for model-year 2023.
Thor Motor Coach, a "luxury van company with a pop of ruggedness," points out that the Talavera has good ground clearance since everything underneath—including the heated 22-gallon (fresh) and 20-gallon (gray) water tanks—are nicely tucked up. Thor says the sub-20-foot Talavera has a hitch weight rating of 3,500 pounds, perfect for a badass off-road camper trailer. It has Ford's optional 31-gallon gas tank, a step-up from the standard 25-gallon unit; More fuel is always better. Thor says its GVWR comes in at 9,500 pounds, and the GCWR is 11,200 pounds. As with all rigs, it's easy to overload these adventure vans.
Of the Thor Talavera's two floor plans—the 1910 ($178,500) and 1920 ($182,700)—the former catches our attention thanks to the uniquely large rear wet bath that replaces the fold-up rear sleeping area of the 1920. Don't worry, it still has a 47-inch by 75-inch expanding sleeper sofa that can transport two lap-belted passengers. We appreciate a good-sized area to take care of business, and technically, you could open the rear doors to left any, um, stink, out. The 4.75-gallon cassette toilet is easily accessible with the rear doors open. The sewer hose is stored in a storage cylinder located on the driver-side side step in order to remove it from inside the cabin.
The kitchen features a portable single-burner electric induction cooktop, microwave oven, solid surface countertops, stainless steel single bowl sink with a cover, single-door 12-volt electric refrigerator, and a fold-out exterior table where the induction cooktop can be used. There's a JBL speaker packed behind the fold-out table. A 11,000-btu low-profile air conditioner keeps everyone cool, and on the flipside, a Truma Combi Eco furnace and water heating system brings the heat when needed.
A Re(Li)able Power Pack Electrical System consists of four heated 1,260Wh lithium batteries (5,120-watt total) and a 3,000-watt inverter. A dedicated 170-amp charging alternator with an auto-start function allows the engine to automatically turn on when voltage gets too low. Charging is also achieved through a 200-watt rooftop solar charging system, regular driving, and shore power. A Victron control module reports the state of charge.
There's no denying that the Talavera is a fine lookin' machine draped in Avalanche Gray (our pick), Carbonized Gray, or Oxford White exterior colors. The Talavera seems like a no-brainer, slam dunk of a Class B adventure van, so it'll be interesting to see how customers react to the Transit Trail platform versus the more-popular Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. It's not too late to add the Talavera to your Christmas list, assuming you've been good this year.
