RV Purchase Pending: 2009 Thor Chateau Citation 24SA

Update -- we're no longer buying a Citation 24SA. Read "RV Deal Falls Through, Lessons Learned"

Selling everything and quitting my job to travel full time in an RV was supposed to be relaxing. Not yet. Think of the stress of buying a house. Layer on the headache of buying a car. Top that with the uncertainty of diving into a career change. Roll all that into one and it comes close to the anxiety we've been feeling this week.

Through it all, we've reminded ourselves of the moves we've made around the country, how we've achieved many big goals, and most importantly, how we make a great team. Meet our soon-to-be new RV, a 2009 Thor Chateau Citation 24SA (pending inspection).

The pending inspection part is a big deal, and it's causing me the most anxiety. Being an 8-year-old RV, it has some wear and tear. We've never owned an RV and we didn't grow up in an RV family, so it's all very new and a bit overwhelming for us. We went around the rig, kicked the tires, oooed and ahhed at all the cool features, but we're really in over our heads when it comes to making sure everything is in good condition.

That's why we hired a third-party inspector. It could be the best money I spend this week.

I did a search for an inspector on the National Recreational Vehicle Inspectors Association website and found several in the area where we'll buy our RV. Elisa Norman of A+ RV Inspections, Inc. will be doing a 4-hour inspection of all systems so we can be sure we know we're not buying a lemon. She'll let us tag along and talk us through what's what. It's not a done deal until we're satisfied with the results of this inspection. That means there's a chance our deal could fall through.

Barring that, we're scheduled to pick up our RV on Tue. March 21, which is the same day as the inspection. We're then scheduled to send the night at the dealership after attending their RV 101 class, so we can be sure to get some practice and have all our questions answered before we hit the open road.

If all goes well, we'll leave Austin on Friday March 24. Another bit of anxiety comes from all that could set us back and delay our departure. Unexpected RV repairs found during inspection. Not having all the equipment or furnishings we want.

We're just taking it one day at a time. Once we're in the RV, we'll have reached a major milestone, and the journey will begin.

 2009 Thor Chateau Citation 24SA

We've been following RV sales online for months and know the most desirable ones sell in less than a week. There were several similar RVs we missed, but we lucked out when I asked a sales person if they had any other similar units. One had been traded in just the day before and wasn't yet in the inventory.

This 2009 Thor Chateau Citation 24SA is built on a Freightliner badged Sprinter chassis made in Germany. It's a Sprinter 3500, meaning it's a heavy duty Mercedes Benz van with dually rear tires. It's known for its reliability, low maintenance, and ability to get an average of 16 mpg. Its 3-liter V6 turbo-charged diesel engine means we'll have the power to accelerate onto busy highways and get over any incline -- even if we're hauling a car behind us. Gasoline RV engines struggle to get more than 8 mpg, require more maintenance, and don't last as long.

Safety has been a concern during our RV searches, especially since we'll be living in it full time. The Citation 24SA comes with air bags, ABS brakes, and such features as turn signals mounted on the heated mirrors.

The Citation 24SA has loads of storage, with overhead cabinets throughout the coach as well as spacious cargo holds along both sides of the exterior. The outside bays are insulated and feature side opening doors, like a car door, which makes it easier to access everything. There's also a rear ladder offering roof access for additional storage.

Inside, the rounded Euro-styled cabinets make efficient use of our limited space and they look great. A full sized over-cab bunk, a dinette that turns into a bed, and a rear queen bed mean we'll have space to host the occasional guest. The U-shaped dinette includes 3 seat belts, and provides a lot of space for eating, working, or entertaining. The bathroom is tight, but features a standing shower, commode, and tiny sink. A mirrored slide door offers privacy. One of the slickest features inside is the sunroof, which offers a view of the heavens.

We're so excited to make this RV our home for the foreseeable future!