When the pandemic shut down schools in 2020, Preethi and her intrepid family of seven decided to safely road trip around the US on a roadschooling adventure. You can read all about the family journey on her blog, Local Passport Family, or watch our exclusive interview with Preethi–streamed on-demand as part of the Ultimate RV Show.
As a first time RVer, Preethi first considered renting an RV to make the drive from coast to coast. But, in an exclusive interview for Camping World’s Ultimate RV Show, Preethi confessed,
“It is expensive to rent an RV, like, way more than 20 bucks a day!”
Compared to the monthly cost of financing an RV, buying is more cost effective than renting. So Preethi’s family decided to purchase and road trip in a Class C RV.
She recently joined Camping World in Portland to virtually walk-through her favorite 2021 RV, the Thor Chateau 31WV. This compact yet powerful coach packs features, elegance, and comfort into every corner.
Find out what Preethi loves so much about this RV in her RV roadshow interview above, or take a peek at the breakdown below.
Specs
The Thor Chateau is 31WV is 32’1″ — an excellent size for squeezing into short National Park campsites. It sleeps up to seven, and features a large slide in the rear.
The coach sits on a Ford E450 chassis and boasts a powerful 7.3 liter V8 engine. At 12 feet tall, the Thor Chateau can sneak under most bridges without a problem.
A rear hitch is equipped to dingy tow up to 8,000 pounds! Bring along an extra vehicle for easy and fuel-efficient commuting. Preethi says, “we do have our bikes we put back there.” With the right hitch mounted bike rack, you can pack all the family bikes without a problem.
Exterior storage is in no short supply with 55.7 cubic feet of bay storage. “We carry an inflatable boat,” said Preethi, so having space for recreation gear is essential on their family travels.
Living
One of the most important areas for a traveling family is the communal living space. In this space, Preethi says, “we eat dinner, we read books.” It’s the “gathering area,” she said, and needs to be able to accommodate the whole family comfortably.
The Thor Chateau 31WV boasts a sofa and spacious dinette. The TV is smartly situated across from the sofa and is even visible from the sleeping area over the cockpit.
Split windows brighten the living space and on cool days let in a welcome cross-breeze. Plush dinette cushions serve as comfy sleeping mattresses for a snap-down dinette-turned-sleeping-space.
Kitchen
The living space blends seamlessly into the kitchen, making it easy for the family to hang out together while meals are prepared. A deep stainless-steel sink undermounted sink stands out against a light countertop situated on a slight L-shaped corner, perfect for engaging in family conversation while cooking. A glass cover cooktop cover adds extra counterspace and keeps crumbs out of the stove.
The Thor Chateau’s brightened up décor is on full-display in the 31WV. Carolina cherry-glazed cabinetry give everything a residential look and makes the space feel like home. Preethi says of a full-time family RV, “it needs to be clean, it needs to be functional.” The Chateau’s interior does just that, thanks to a smart floorplan and design features like a pop-up power-tower–ideally located for plugging in a slow-cooker or blender.
Bathroom
An angled shower with glass circular enclosure adds essential extra elbow room in compact space. A tankless water heater allows the whole family to take a warm shower.
A large storage closet offers a home for everyone’s towels and toiletries. Stock up on extra TP and have a place to put it, out of the way and out of sight.
Bedroom
A cozy rear bedroom with a super wide slide opens up the rear and showcases a walkaround queen bed. Bright windows expand the space and provide great airflow on breezy days. Preethi noted, “I don’t feel claustrophobic back there.”
Bring your entire closet on your next trip thanks to a double-doored wardrobe and a set of drawers at the foot of the bed. Use the extra counterspace above the drawers as a vanity or desk.
Cockpit
A seven-inch touchscreen is a smart addition to the cockpit. Start the onboard generator without ever going outside, all from the helm of the drivers seat. Generators prove essential when boondocking or camping in the Winter.
The driver will feel the comfort of smooth tech suspension by MoRyde, the very same suspension used in ambulances. Curious about drivability on this Class C? Stop in a Camping World and try it for yourself.
Explore the entire line of Thor Chateau floorplans in this interactive video.
Preethi and her family have enjoyed the kinesthetic learning they experienced traveling in an RV. “It’s given us so much flexibility,” she said, “It’s just provided opportunities for our family to connect with each other, and be outside and explore the world.”
Though Preethi and her family don’t live on the road fulltime, they look forward to the next adventure exploring the country in their Class C RV.
