Compact comfort on wheels, Thor Motor Coach A.C.E. 29D turns family trips into rolling living rooms

Reviewed: ad hoc news Lifestyle & Consumer desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-18, 18:55. Details in the imprint.

With the Thor Motor Coach A.C.E. 29D, you step into a living room that just happens to wear a giant windshield and a Ford badge out front. Cabinets close with a solid click, the slide-out opens, and suddenly a compact Class A feels surprisingly generous.

How the 29D is laid out

On paper the A.C.E. 29D sits just under 30 feet, but the floorplan works hard for every inch. You get a front drop-down bunk above the cab, a mid-coach sofa and dinette, and a rear bedroom that can be closed off with a door for quiet nights.

The slide-out runs along the driver side, pushing the dinette and sofa out so the central walkway opens up. That extra elbow room makes a difference on rainy days, when kids, pets and bags all land inside at once instead of under the awning.

Everyday comfort and driving feel

Because the A.C.E. 29D sits on a Ford gas chassis with a relatively short wheelbase for a Class A, it feels less intimidating on narrow campground roads. The big one-piece windshield and high seating position give bus-like visibility, which helps when threading between trees.

Inside, finishes land in the practical rather than the ultra-luxury camp. Vinyl flooring is easy to sweep, the upholstery feels durable more than plush, and storage cabinets run almost everywhere your eyes land, from overhead cubbies to under-dinette compartments.

Family tricks and small surprises

The 29D leans into family weekends with several small but convincing tricks. The powered overhead bunk can disappear into the ceiling by day, leaving the cab open, then lower at night to swallow an extra sleeper without reshuffling the lounge.

Outside, many 29D layouts are offered with an exterior TV and speakers tucked under the awning. That turns the campsite into a side-porch cinema on warm evenings, while the main interior TV faces the sofa so you are not craning your neck from the dinette.

Where compromises show up

The compact length has a price. Kitchen counter space is tight once a coffee maker and toaster move in, and the bathroom is very much step-in-and-shut-the-door rather than spa-like. Taller travelers may notice limited headroom in the shower.

Storage bays outside are useful but not cavernous. Large folding chairs, grills and sports gear fit, but anyone coming from a bigger Class A will feel the difference. This rig clearly targets long weekends and a few weeks on the road, not full-time living.

Price point and positioning

In Thor Motor Coach's own lineup, the A.C.E. series traditionally tracks as an entry-to-mid Class A, positioned under more upscale gas and diesel coaches. That keeps the 29D accessible for buyers trading up from a travel trailer or smaller Class C.

Depending on dealer and options like upgraded paint schemes or larger TVs, the 29D typically lands in a mid five-figure to low six-figure US dollar range before discounts. For many families that makes it a stretch purchase, but still within reach compared with premium diesel pushers.

Company context and the stock

Thor Motor Coach is one of the central brands inside Thor Industries Inc, which combines multiple RV makers under one umbrella to cover everything from compact towables to big diesel motorhomes. The A.C.E. 29D sits in the high-volume sweet spot where many first-time Class A buyers start.

Shares of Thor Industries Inc (US8851601018) trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker THO in US dollars.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.