Thor Chateau vs Jayco Redhawk comes down to range and list price. The 2027 Chateau comes in 11 floor plans from 20'5" to 32'8", with list prices from $127,960. The 2027 Redhawk has three floor plans from 26'8" to 30'7", starting at $158,543. In the three size pairs below, the Redhawk lists higher each time.
| Size | Jayco Redhawk (length, sleeps, MSRP) | Thor Chateau (length, sleeps, MSRP) | MSRP gap |
|---|
| About 26 ft | 24B: 26'8", up to 5, $158,543 | 25Z: 26'5", 4, $145,460 | Redhawk $13,083 higher |
| About 29 ft | 26M: 28'8", up to 5, $161,918 | 28G: 29'9", 5, $146,580 | Redhawk $15,338 higher |
| About 30 ft | 27G: 30'7", up to 7, $161,918 | 28Z: 30', 5, $159,040 | Redhawk $2,878 higher |
All figures are for 2027 models and were read from jayco.com and thormotorcoach.com on 21 October 2026. Prices are manufacturer's suggested retail prices in US dollars. Jayco says its MSRP does not include freight and dealer prep charges; Thor's Chateau page lists MSRPs without stating what they exclude. Ask dealers what taxes, registration and fees add. Jayco gives overall length, while Thor gives length without the ladder, so differences of a few inches are approximate.
Browse Thor Chateau, Jayco Redhawk and other Class C motorhomes for sale on Searchshop.
Each Redhawk floor plan was paired with a Chateau floor plan within about 15 inches of its length and with a similar purpose, using only figures that Jayco and Thor publish on their own websites. Every price and specification was read on 21 October 2026 and then checked a second time by a separate review. Nothing here comes from test drives or time spent in either motorhome, and neither brand is called better overall.
Some figures were left out because the two builders do not state them on the same basis. Both brands give exterior storage in cubic feet, but neither page says how it is measured, so storage is not compared. This review also could not confirm which equipment is standard on each Chateau floor plan, so equipment comparisons below are limited to what each page states clearly.
The Chateau covers a much wider size range than the Redhawk, from short couples' coaches to 32-foot family layouts. Thor's 2027 Chateau page lists 11 floor plans from the 20'5" 19Z to the 32'8" 31E, sleeping 3 to 7 people. Five of them (19Z, 19X, 21Z, 22Z and 25Z) are shorter than the shortest Redhawk, and four (29K, 30W, 31E and 31H) are longer than the longest.
The Redhawk is a narrower range of three floor plans: the 24B, the 26M and the new 27G, from 26'8" to 30'7". Jayco covers shorter and longer lengths with a separate line, the 2027 Redhawk SE, which it lists from $123,818 in lengths of 21'11" to 32'7".
- Thor Chateau: 11 floor plans, 20'5" to 32'8", MSRP from $127,960 (19Z) to $173,040 (31E).
- Jayco Redhawk: 3 floor plans, 26'8" to 30'7", MSRP from $158,543 (24B) to $161,918 (26M and 27G).
The Chateau lists for less in each of the three size pairs in the table above. The gap is largest between the Redhawk 26M at $161,918 and the Chateau 28G at $146,580, a difference of $15,338. It is smallest between the Redhawk 27G at $161,918 and the Chateau 28Z at $159,040, a difference of $2,878.
The two brands package equipment differently. Jayco's 24B and 26M build pages list a Customer Value Package marked "Mandatory," which includes the JRide handling package, the one-piece fiberglass front cap, heated holding tanks, backup and side-view cameras and the Sony infotainment center. Thor's Chateau page gives one MSRP per floor plan. Compare written out-the-door quotes that list every option, freight, prep, tax and fee for the exact coaches you are considering.
Both coaches compared here use a Ford E-Series chassis with the same 7.3-liter V8 rated at 325 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque. Jayco names the Ford E-450 chassis for the Redhawk. Thor's 25Z, 28G, 28Z and 31E pages list a Ford E-Series chassis with that engine and a 55-gallon fuel tank, the same fuel capacity Jayco lists.
Every Redhawk floor plan has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 14,500 lb and a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 22,000 lb. The Chateau 28G, 28Z and 31E carry the same 14,500 lb GVWR and 22,000 lb GCWR. The shorter Chateau 25Z is rated lower, at 12,500 lb GVWR and 18,500 lb GCWR.
Jayco lists a 7,500 lb hitch with 750 lb tongue capacity on the Redhawk, while Thor lists an 8,000 lb hitch weight rating on the Chateau floor plans compared here. The hitch rating is not the whole answer. GCWR is the most the loaded motorhome and trailer may weigh together, so subtract the motorhome's actual loaded weight from its GCWR to find the trailer weight left over. A coach loaded to its full 14,500 lb GVWR leaves 7,500 lb under a 22,000 lb GCWR; on the Chateau 25Z, a full 12,500 lb leaves 6,000 lb under its 18,500 lb GCWR. Weigh the loaded coach at a scale before you hitch up a car or trailer.
The three size pairs differ more in layout than in length, so the floor plan usually decides between them.
The Redhawk 24B sleeps up to 5 and has a queen-size bed and swivel driver and passenger seats, according to Jayco. Thor describes the Chateau 25Z as "Twin Beds with King Conversion," sleeping 4. The 25Z is 3 inches shorter and lists $13,083 less, but it also carries the lower 12,500 lb GVWR noted above.
The Redhawk 26M is built around a queen-size power Murphy bed and an electric fireplace, and sleeps up to 5. Thor describes the Chateau 28G as "Rear bedroom, dinette across from sofa," also sleeping 5. The 28G is 13 inches longer and lists $15,338 less.
The Redhawk 27G is the larger-family layout here, sleeping up to 7, and Jayco's 27G page shows the floor plan with a theater sofa option. Thor describes the Chateau 28Z as "Kitchen/Dinette Slide, Opt Theater Seats," sleeping 5. The two list within $2,878 of each other. Thor's 29K is closer in length at 31', sleeps 5 and lists for $172,620, which is $10,702 more than the 27G. If you need seven berths in a Chateau, Thor's 31E sleeps 7 at 32'8" and lists for $173,040, which is $11,122 more than the 27G.
The Redhawk floor plans list larger black tanks than the Chateau plans they are paired with in all three pairs, and larger or equal gray tanks. Gallons below are each builder's published capacities.
| Floor plan | Fresh (gal) | Gray (gal) | Black (gal) |
|---|
| Redhawk 24B | 42 | 40 | 31 |
| Chateau 25Z | 41 | 33 | 30 |
| Redhawk 26M | 43 | 40 | 31 |
| Chateau 28G | 40 | 30 | 30 |
| Redhawk 27G | 47 | 40 | 31 |
| Chateau 28Z | 40 | 40 | 27 |
Height matters for garages, carports and covered storage. Jayco lists an exterior height with air conditioner of 11'6" for all three Redhawk floor plans. Thor lists 11' for the Chateau 25Z, 28G and 28Z, and 11'2" for the 31E. Both brands list an interior height of 7' on these floor plans.
Jayco lists frameless windows and a one-piece seamless fiberglass front cap on the Redhawk, while Thor's Chateau pages list framed windows and a one-piece fiberglass front cap. Jayco calls the Redhawk's front cap "the only one of its kind on the market" and says it is "designed to drastically reduce the risk of leaks"; those are the builder's own claims, and leak resistance was not tested for this article.
For the body, Jayco lists StrongholdVBL roof, floor and sidewalls with bead-foam insulation. Thor's floor-plan pages list Vacu-Bond laminated roof, walls and floor with block foam insulation, and welded tubular aluminum roof and sidewall cage construction. Jayco's standard list also includes a 4,000W generator and a 15,000 BTU ducted air conditioner, with dual 13,500 BTU units as an option. Thor's pages list a 4.0 kW dual gas/LP generator among the equipment for the plans compared here; this review could not confirm which Chateau items are standard on each plan, so check the build sheet on any Chateau you price.
The better choice depends on the length you need, the layout you want and the out-the-door price a dealer will write down.
- Look first at the Chateau if you want a Class C under 26 feet, a twin-bed layout like the 25Z, or the lowest list price at a given length in the pairs compared here.
- Look first at the Redhawk if you want a Murphy-bed layout (26M), seven berths in about 30 feet (27G), larger black tanks in these pairs, or frameless windows.
- Check the weight ratings if you plan to tow: the Chateau 25Z has a lower GCWR than the other coaches compared here.
- Compare written quotes for both coaches with the same options, freight, prep, taxes and fees.
For more Class C choices, see the best Class C motorhomes by size, towing and price, or read Class B vs Class C RVs compared if you are still deciding on the type. The 2026 Thor Chateau review covers the previous model year. When you are ready, shop new and used Class C motorhomes from dealers on Searchshop.
Neither is better for every buyer, because the two lines suit different needs. The 2027 Chateau offers more sizes, from 20'5" to 32'8", and lists for less than the Redhawk in the three size pairs compared here, though the 31' 29K and 32'8" 31E list for more than any Redhawk. The Redhawk offers three floor plans from 26'8" to 30'7", larger black tanks in those pairs, and frameless windows. Compare the floor plan you want and a written out-the-door price for each.
Yes, the floor plans compared here use the same Ford 7.3-liter V8 rated at 325 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque on a Ford E-Series chassis. Jayco names the E-450 chassis for every Redhawk. Both builders list a 55-gallon fuel tank, and the 14,500 lb GVWR Chateau plans share the Redhawk's 22,000 lb GCWR. The shorter Chateau 25Z is rated at 12,500 lb GVWR.
The Redhawk SE is Jayco's lower-priced Class C line, listed from $123,818 for 2027 against $158,543 for the Redhawk. Jayco lists the SE in lengths from 21'11" to 32'7", wider than the Redhawk's 26'8" to 30'7". Jayco says the Redhawk's frameless windows are one of the differences that set it apart from the SE.
