Radio
Middle of Georgia
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Joined: 01/12/2003
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Well, as total newbies we towed the thing about 700 miles through all sort of (summer) weather conditions on just about every kind of road surface and traffic conditions. From experience, I can recommend camping in the driveway is a whole lot less stressful way to get to know your first RV. But we jumped in the hard way, had some fun, minor screwups, and got home from RVW to Georgia just fine.
We stayed in a KOA and 2 state parks, for a total of 7 nights.
Here's our first impressions of the new camper:
Stuff we like:
NO LEAKS! ANYWHERE!!
Has very good towing manners, no problem for the F-150 to pull. Very well behaved on uneven, bumpy roads and on the freeway with big trucks passing.
I will improve transmission cooling (yes, I have the tow package) before next summer.
The kitchen! Huge counter space and more cabinet space than I think we'll ever need. Massive pantry.
The way the faucet head is also a spray nozzle on a hose and looks and works great at the same time.
The lift tubes on the overhead cabinets keep the doors firmy open OR shut.
The refrigerator worked great in 90 degree heat, and so did the A/C. In fact all the major systems we used on the trip were flawless. Did not use water pump or furnace. Even the Concertone XZ600 worked great!
The matress is a full (real) queen and slept very well.
The lights in the basement! And by the steps.
All the chairs are comfy, we saw no problems with interior fit and finish. Like the hidden storage in the dining room chair seats. (Shhh! It's a secret)
We like all the storage in the bedroom, three wardrobes and some drawers.
The toilet room has a window! Like the open bath layout. Like the tiny tub in the bottom of the shower.
Improvements Forest River made:
The water pump relocated to make more cabinet space. And is on the opposite end of the trailer from the bedroom.
The slide out motor relocated to somewhere besides between the street side wheels under the slide...now protected and out of the way...somewhere.
The "accordion" style bedroom door replaced by pocket door. Nice.
First mods I will make:
We have the table and chairs. The strap to hold the chairs in place lets them fall over, as there are no rugs on the legs for the strap to catch on. (You sort of have to see it to understand) I'm going to put small hooks on the chairs to hold the strap in place to see if that helps.
The water filter is behind a cabinet door that is screwed shut. (WHY?) That will get a knob and catch to make servicing the filter easy. Also will "shock mount" the water pump. Everybody does that.
Don't like:
The kitchen drawers are under the optional counter extention. I saw that one coming and bought the trailer anyway. The way the sink is arranged it's difficult to place a dish drainer on the counter to drain into the sink. No big deal. Pretty sort list, huh?
Boo-boos:
The kitchen table was mounted too close to the wall and the day/night shade will not come all the way down. Cordless screwdriver to the rescue. The laundry basket, when placed on the basement deck, doesn't like up with the laundry chute (hole?) I think that's a design issue. Prop up the end of the basket with something and move it closer to the compartment door and it works OK.
This is the only RV we will ever own (unless we manage to wear it out...not likely) and I think we really hit the ball out of the park on this one.
* This post was
edited 07/18/08 09:46pm by Radio *
Wade & Kathy
 2007 F-150 XLT - 2008 Rockwood 8280SS
It's not the rig, it's where you go and who you go there with.
www.openroadsradio.net - For those who like amateur radio & RVing served up on the same plate!
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Bluhorn
North Carolina
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Joined: 03/02/2004
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Congratulations!! You really picked a great unit.I almost bought the same floor plan but found a used Wildcat and saved some green and purchased that one.The Rockwoods are very nice trailers.May you have many miles of safe happy times!!
2007 Dodge Ram 2500 Quad Cab 4X4 Auto 5.9 CTD
2006 Wildcat 28RK Fifth Wheel
16K Husky Slider
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traveln_circus
Wa.state
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Joined: 07/08/2008
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Nice floor plan! I have a forest river cardinal and I have been very pleased.
2004 cardinal 33 LX 2000 Ford F350 crew cab PSD.
Smith & Wesson M&P .40 and a Rottweiler.
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weekendrvers
Iowa
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Joined: 03/02/2008
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Hi Congrats on your new coach and may you have many happy trails ~~~Sandy
------
Steve, Sandy, Katie and Our Cocker DJ
Loving our Everest sweeeeett!~~
2007 345S
2008 Ford F350 King Ranch Diesel CrewCab 4x4
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Radio
Middle of Georgia
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Joined: 01/12/2003
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This is the trailer that was ordered in the "This morning in Elkhart" thread, for those that followed that.
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almo5
Manassas, VA
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Joined: 10/14/2003
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Congratulations! Enjoy your new RV!
Happy RVing!
Almo5
2000 Ford F-450 XLT 4X2 CC 7.3 PSD DRW
2005 Montana 3400RL 
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amxpress
Clayton, NC
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Joined: 04/14/2007
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Radio,
Congratulations on your new Rockwood.....and you pull it with a 1/2 Ton!!! Awesome! I knew it could be done.
I liked this model when looking and wanted to get it, but the boss, I mean DW had other ideas.
Now, get out there and have a great time!!
2007 Dodge RAM 2500 Quad Cab w/6.7 Cummins
2008 Palamino Sabre 31RKTS
Reese 15K Pro Series manual slide
Prodigy
Firestone Air Bags
Travel in peace...leave the M-I-L at home.
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NHCampers
Merrimack, NH
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Joined: 12/23/2004
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Congrats, we just looked at the Rockwoods 2 weeks ago. We are partial to the 8280WS, same rear kitchen but different front bedroom/bath layout. How is access to the fridge with the slide pulled in? That is the 1 thing we are concerned about and the dealer didn't have a rear kitchen to look at. Enjoy the new camper, welcome to the party.
'06 2500HD CC DMax-LBZ / Allison 6-Speed
'05 Laredo 29 BH
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Radio
Middle of Georgia
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NHCampers wrote:Congrats, we just looked at the Rockwoods 2 weeks ago. We are partial to the 8280WS, same rear kitchen but different front bedroom/bath layout. How is access to the fridge with the slide pulled in? That is the 1 thing we are concerned about and the dealer didn't have a rear kitchen to look at. Enjoy the new camper, welcome to the party.
You can just barely get the frige door open. Plan ahead and put what you want in the door or on shelves near the front on the latch side.
Forget getting in the pantry. You might make snacks ahead of time and put them in the frige where you can reach them.
We kept a small cooler in the cab of the truck on our journey. We'd pull out of the way after fueling at a truck stop and wolf something down and then back on the road again.
For the overall roominess, value, quality (thus far!) and weight I just don't think the frige thing is a deal breaker.
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fivecodys
Central California
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Joined: 07/05/2005
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Radio wrote:NHCampers wrote:Congrats, we just looked at the Rockwoods 2 weeks ago. We are partial to the 8280WS, same rear kitchen but different front bedroom/bath layout. How is access to the fridge with the slide pulled in? That is the 1 thing we are concerned about and the dealer didn't have a rear kitchen to look at. Enjoy the new camper, welcome to the party.
You can just barely get the frige door open. Plan ahead and put what you want in the door or on shelves near the front on the latch side.
Forget getting in the pantry. You might make snacks ahead of time and put them in the frige where you can reach them.
We kept a small cooler in the cab of the truck on our journey. We'd pull out of the way after fueling at a truck stop and wolf something down and then back on the road again.
For the overall roominess, value, quality (thus far!) and weight I just don't think the frige thing is a deal breaker.
Didn't I just see you on the other forum?
I agree. We keep a few bottled waters in the fridge door and have our youngest use those skinny arms to fetch food for us.
Did you use the slide locks on your trip?
I find that I am too darn short...even on the step stool I can't see where I'm going.
Did you get the bedroom tv? I need to remount ours to the wall at a better viewing angle. The only way you can see it clearly is sitting on the edge of the bed.
Bill
2007 Tundra DC
SuperGlide 14K
Prodigy Brake Controller
2009 Flagstaff 8528RKSS
Air Lift 5000
"So is Congress the opposite of Progress?" 
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