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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 neAFlUuji4OvRta491F83w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001255017-03-000001.txt : 20031017
<SEC-HEADER>0001255017-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20031017
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031017161923
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001255017-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031017
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031017

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ORTHWEIN PETER BUSCH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001255017

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09235
		FILM NUMBER:		03946372

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE LAGAYETTE PLACE
		CITY:			GREENWICH
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06830

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOR INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000730263
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTOR HOMES [3716]
		IRS NUMBER:				930768752
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0731

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		419 W PIKE ST
		CITY:			JACKSON CENTER
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45334
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9375966849

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		419 W PIKE STREET
		CITY:			JACKSON CENTER
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45334
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-17</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000730263</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>THOR INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>tho</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001255017</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ORTHWEIN PETER BUSCH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE LAFAYETTE PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>vice chairman</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>thor industries, inc.  common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7400</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1349800</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 5,000 shares given to various charities and 400 shares each given to my wife and five children</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes the following shares for which I disclaim beneficial ownership: 62,000 shares held by the Adolphus Orthwein trust for the benefit of my children of which I am one of three trustees; 29,000 shares held by my wife; 73,500 shares held by my wife as custodian for my three youngest children; 15,000 shares held by a trust for my half brother of which I am one of three trustees; 159,184 shares of 160,000 shares of the Orthwein Investment Group D,L.P. of which I have a .51% partnership interest but a 51% general partnership interest. It does not include 49,000 shares held by my two adult children.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter Busch Orthwein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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