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08-10-2013, 02:06 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 14
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new aframe owner!
Hi everyone. After 4 years of tent camping, finally took the plunge and purchased a Flagstaff T12Bh, similar to a Rockwood A122 from our local dealer. Will pick up next week.
We are retired, and camp with two Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.
I am a tow virgin, and feel a little self conscious and nervous about towing. Fortunately, we have some very nice campgrounds just a few minutes away. I am sure help is available from the cg host, who knows us well from tent camping.
We will be storing our new unit remotely. Thinking of a cover and tire booties during long times not in use.Are they necessary or recommended?
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08-10-2013, 05:09 PM
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#2
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Medicine Hat Alberta
Posts: 10
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Welcome!!! I too am a new owner of a Rockwood a128 s and love it. They tow great. And they set up way faster than a tent trailer! Enjoy! And way faster than a tent too
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08-10-2013, 07:44 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 389
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Next year you should attend the Forest River Owners Group (frog) rally in Goshen, Indiana next year from August 3 - 9. Forest River provides free tech service, food, camping, seminars and a whole lot more.
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08-10-2013, 08:25 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Washington state
Posts: 1,258
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Congratulations Silver.Smith! What part of the country do you live in? A breathable cover is nice, protect the bubble windows with soft covering to prevent them from scratching while undercover. I have an Adco cover but rarely use it as my trailer is kept in our shop.
Ask a zillion questions on your walk thru when you pick it up, dont be embarassed by bringing along a small notebook and taking notes.
We like photos here, so feel welcome to share your adventures!
__________________
2012 FR Flagstaff T12SDTH
1996 Shadowcruiser Pop Up Truck Camper
1967 Newell Motorcoach
2003 Ford F150 5.4 V8 Triton Super Cab
2004 Nissan Titan LE 5.6 V8 4x4 Crew Cab
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08-10-2013, 08:58 PM
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#5
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Mostly Harmless
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 835
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Welcome! To add to the other answers, tire covers are a good idea to keep the sun from accelerating your tires' aging. If it will be stored for a long time between uses it's worth it cover the tires. Here's how mine gets buttoned up for winter, with an ADCO cover and tire covers too:
__________________
It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Lee, WU0V, and Courtenay, N0ZDT
2011 Rockwood A128
2000 Silverado 1500 pickup
60W solar system
2000W inverter generator
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08-11-2013, 04:09 PM
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#6
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by handbuilder
Congratulations Silver.Smith! What part of the country do you live in? A breathable cover is nice, protect the bubble windows with soft covering to prevent them from scratching while undercover. I have an Adco cover but rarely use it as my trailer is kept in our shop.
Ask a zillion questions on your walk thru when you pick it up, dont be embarassed by bringing along a small notebook and taking notes.
We like photos here, so feel welcome to share your adventures!
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We are from Des Moines.We love love love camping! We also enjoy the sociability of fellow campers. And camping is a good way to visit our kids and not be in the way. Being over 62, we look for half price deals, and usually can camp for 9 dollars per nt. Sunday thru Thurs.
Thanks for the advice re cover. What do you think of tire booties in winter?
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08-11-2013, 04:12 PM
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#7
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 14
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Thanks! Great looking cover and booties!
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08-11-2013, 10:24 PM
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#8
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Mostly Harmless
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 835
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You're in Johnston!?!? I'm in Urbandale, not far SE of 86th and Douglas. We'll have to compare notes. You have a 2014 I assume; I have a 2011. You're the first other Des Moinesian I've run into on this forum. There used to be someone from Pella but they traded up to something larger. The Sunday thru Thursday Special camping rate is at Jester Park, no? Just about my favorite place, though Lake Anita State Park is a close second.
__________________
It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Lee, WU0V, and Courtenay, N0ZDT
2011 Rockwood A128
2000 Silverado 1500 pickup
60W solar system
2000W inverter generator
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08-12-2013, 03:34 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Ottawa Ontario Canada
Posts: 930
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Wow ... a special seniors rate for 9 bucks a night ... wholy moly ..
im 57 and still paying full price to help support our lovely Ontario Canada government.
Thats close to 35 bucks a night ..
this is why we travel to United States for our major travel themes ..
cheers . d-mo
__________________
2008 Nissan Frontier 4x4
2011 Rockwood A122
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08-12-2013, 03:53 PM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 10,446
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Experience will come with time. You can get some towing practice in driving around town in an area you are familiar with while going at a speed you are comfortable at. Of course the more you camp the more practice you will have.
__________________
Great choice for "Living within my means" and camping for one...
Formerly owned 2011 Salem Cruise Lite 20RBXL & 2011 Toyota Tundra Dbl Cab
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08-12-2013, 05:03 PM
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#11
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thehamguy1
You're in Johnston!?!? I'm in Urbandale, not far SE of 86th and Douglas. We'll have to compare notes. You have a 2014 I assume; I have a 2011. You're the first other Des Moinesian I've run into on this forum. There used to be someone from Pella but they traded up to something larger. The Sunday thru Thursday Special camping rate is at Jester Park, no? Just about my favorite place, though Lake Anita State Park is a close second.
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Hi neighbor. We're actually in Johnston, near 54th and 86th, even closer to you. We own a new to us townhome.
That seniors rate is at Jester, which I call the Hilton of Campgrounds. Another place is all the camphrounds at Saylorville. We have an America the Beautiful card which gets us in at half price.
We'll have to try Sanitary State Park.
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08-12-2013, 05:06 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silver.smith
Hi neighbor. We're actually in Johnston, near 54th and 86th, even closer to you. We own a new to us townhome.
That seniors rate is at Jester, which I call the Hilton of Campgrounds. Another place is all the camphrounds at Saylorville. We have an America the Beautiful card which gets us in at half price.
We'll have to try Sanitary State Park.
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Oops! Spellcheck!We'll try Anita State Park.
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08-12-2013, 07:48 PM
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#13
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Mostly Harmless
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 835
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I agree that Jester Park is a great campground. It's my go-to place when I just want to get out in my camper and don't want to spend a fortune on gas to get there. I can be in the park in 25 minutes.
We go to Lake Anita because it has two great camping areas with new showerhouses (we use the non-electric area, $11/ night) and because it has miles of biking and hiking trails. The little town of Anita is interesting, too. Being far enough from large cities and their light pollution, the park is a good place for stargazing. Fisher folk like it too.
__________________
It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Lee, WU0V, and Courtenay, N0ZDT
2011 Rockwood A128
2000 Silverado 1500 pickup
60W solar system
2000W inverter generator
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08-13-2013, 12:52 PM
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#14
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Mostly Harmless
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 835
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I sent you a Private Message via the forum's PM function. Did you receive it?
__________________
It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Lee, WU0V, and Courtenay, N0ZDT
2011 Rockwood A128
2000 Silverado 1500 pickup
60W solar system
2000W inverter generator
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08-14-2013, 07:35 AM
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#15
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Mostly Harmless
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 835
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Well, here it is midweek; Do you have your new camper yet? From whom did you purchase it, BTW? We got ours in Guthrie Center in January of 2011, and a few months later when we stopped through town they said they'd sold two truckloads of them that spring.
__________________
It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Lee, WU0V, and Courtenay, N0ZDT
2011 Rockwood A128
2000 Silverado 1500 pickup
60W solar system
2000W inverter generator
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08-14-2013, 03:58 PM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by silver.smith
Hi neighbor. We're actually in Johnston, near 54th and 86th, even closer to you. We own a new to us townhome.
That seniors rate is at Jester, which I call the Hilton of Campgrounds. Another place is all the camphrounds at Saylorville. We have an America the Beautiful card which gets us in at half price.
We'll have to try Sanitary State Park.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thehamguy1
Welcome! To add to the other answers, tire covers are a good idea to keep the sun from accelerating your tires' aging. If it will be stored for a long time between uses it's worth it cover the tires. Here's how mine gets buttoned up for winter, with an ADCO cover and tire covers too:
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We bought our 2013 flagstaff a frame at Des Moines RV. It was the last one left. We went in with some low ball prices, which they matched at $10500. We pick it up on Friday. Get a wiring job done on my Toyota Rav4 6 cylinder tow pkg suv at 9 and get a 2 hr demo at 12. We looked at same model last year at Bob and Jo's but price was $2000 more than we paid this year.py
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08-14-2013, 05:14 PM
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#17
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Mostly Harmless
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 835
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You did well. The prices have really gone up in the last couple of years, but what you paid is only a little more than we did, which was supposedly a show price. I've heard of them selling for over $14K at some places. Does yours have an opening window in the door? That's a feature that I've heard can be found on some 2013s. It's one of the newer features I'd really like, but don't suppose is worth what it would cost me. I've been told you have to replace the upper door, rather than just cut out a rectangle and stick in the window.
A 2-hour walkthrough is good. Plenty of time to learn the details of water pump, water heater, fridge, CoolCat, and on and on. There have been some good checklists posted on this forum of things to inspect/ask about during the delivery. Friday will be a fun day for sure! Congrats. Pull it through Colby Woods--and the Maple Drive cul-de-sac--on your way home <grin>.
__________________
It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Lee, WU0V, and Courtenay, N0ZDT
2011 Rockwood A128
2000 Silverado 1500 pickup
60W solar system
2000W inverter generator
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08-18-2013, 09:24 PM
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#18
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Mostly Harmless
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 835
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Did you pick up your new camper? What do you think?
__________________
It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Lee, WU0V, and Courtenay, N0ZDT
2011 Rockwood A128
2000 Silverado 1500 pickup
60W solar system
2000W inverter generator
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08-20-2013, 06:41 PM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Valrico, Florida
Posts: 4
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We have had our 128S for a year and love it! We try and take her out at least once a month. We too were very nervous at first. Ask a lot of questions and go out for a few practice spins. Try the mall after hours to practice backing into spaces. We love the ease of setting up and the ability to have everything pretty much "pre-loaded" into the camper. So much easier than loading up the tent and gear as we used to. We normally bring her home from storage and get the fridge cooled down the night before. If I know we are leaving out after work on Friday I will pre-make the beds so we are ready to pop up, grab grub and hit the hay with little hassle. Enjoy! This is a great little camper
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08-21-2013, 07:40 PM
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#20
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Mostly Harmless
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Central Iowa
Posts: 835
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Greg and Rachel and their spanking new T12BH! It's towed with their 6cyl. Rav4 with tow package.
__________________
It's never too late to have a happy childhood!
Lee, WU0V, and Courtenay, N0ZDT
2011 Rockwood A128
2000 Silverado 1500 pickup
60W solar system
2000W inverter generator
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