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Old 01-19-2015, 10:06 PM   #1
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Looking at the 8528IKWS, fifth wheel. Not familiar with the Flagstaff line or fifth wh

Would like input.


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Old 01-19-2015, 11:33 PM   #2
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The 8528 is a sister to the Rockwood 8289, which we have...they are essentially the identical unit, one is a Flagstaff, one is a Rockwood. Tons of people in this forum own them both...however your question is pretty vague...what in particular are you interested in knowing. A simple search on them in the search bar will turn up tons of results for you as well, but ask away and we will pipe up.
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Old 01-20-2015, 09:55 AM   #3
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We bought our 2015 Flagstaff 8528RKWS after camping with friends who have an identical unit which is 2 years older. They have had only a few, very minor, problems with theirs and we anticipate the same. So far, my issues have been with the load range C tires (which I just replaced with Goodyear Marathons LR D) and the unfortunate placement of the water filter (which I plan to remove altogether). We recently moved up from a Flagstaff 21FBRS which we absolutely loved!
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Old 01-20-2015, 10:50 AM   #4
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How much are you planning to use it. Full time? Once or twice a month/season? What are you planning to pull it with? Most 1/2 tons are great for it but if you have a 250/2500 I would opt for 5/8" substructure flooring. We have the 8528BHSS and as full timers and I needed to float a hardwood floor. The center path started to feel spongy. We have about 50k miles on her and she has served us well. One thing I would do different is look for a floor plan that has the bathroom on the passenger side. Our stairs to the mstbrm is on the drivers side. The black water dump valve has a long (soft) metal rod that I had to modify. The mod was simple but the belly cover needed to be cut and modified also. After removing the T-handle I ran a steel tube (drilled it and cotter-keyed it) over the rod for ridged support, it works! We love our 5r and plan to full time it till I can't drive anymore. Side note story: Leaving a CG one morning our pet ran and I chased him on foot, the wife followed pulling the 5r, she drove down a dead end street, and turned it around and caught up to me. Never have pulled a 5r she did a fantastic job of it.
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Old 01-20-2015, 12:24 PM   #5
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Thanks for sharing. I would be pulling with a 2011 Silverado LT Crew Cab with HD Tow pkg. short bed. As near as I can figure out its towing capabilities is 9500 lbs. Also the hitch weight is 20% ? So does that leave me in the safe range ? I've had some issues with my current TT , Surveyor 23 Sport, but nothing common sence didn't solve. So in general Forest River is good for me.
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Old 01-20-2015, 12:52 PM   #6
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Had the 8528 IWKS Flagstaff with the diamond package and loved it. No problems in the year we owned it. Pulled it with a RAM 1500 5.7L Short bed Crew cab and a Reese Revolution hitch. Great set up....
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Old 01-20-2015, 01:39 PM   #7
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Thanks for sharing. I would be pulling with a 2011 Silverado LT Crew Cab with HD Tow pkg. short bed. As near as I can figure out its towing capabilities is 9500 lbs. Also the hitch weight is 20% ? So does that leave me in the safe range ? I've had some issues with my current TT , Surveyor 23 Sport, but nothing common sence didn't solve. So in general Forest River is good for me.
I could not find towing specs on your truck but be aware that "trailer" towing and "5th Wheel" towing specs are usually different. You will also have to check your Payload rating as well.

You *should* be OK but be aware that towing capacity has dramatically changed since 2011 (i.e., the 2015 Ford F150 HD towing package with EcoBoost can tow a whopping 11,700 LBS!)

We have a 2013 F150 and a 8289WS. When we had our rig scaled last year we were slightly overweight (by 300#) but we had really loaded out the RV for a 3+ week trip and we were dropping off a bunch of stuff in MI before we returned.

Be aware also that we had not even begun to max out the storage capacity of our 5er - you will be AMAZED at the amount of stuff you can stow in your camper! GVWR is, in my reconsidered opinion a joke. I am willing to bet if you filled your new 5er's FW tank, and mindlessly packed everything you thought you would possibly need for a 4 week trip, filled the basement up and all the cabinets, I am willing to bet your trailer weight would come close to 11K pounds! They have that much storage capacity.

Just some food for thought...YMMV
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Old 01-20-2015, 02:21 PM   #8
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Thanks for sharing. I would be pulling with a 2011 Silverado LT Crew Cab with HD Tow pkg. short bed. As near as I can figure out its towing capabilities is 9500 lbs. Also the hitch weight is 20% ? So does that leave me in the safe range ? I've had some issues with my current TT , Surveyor 23 Sport, but nothing common sence didn't solve. So in general Forest River is good for me.
Keep in mind with a short bed truck you will either need to have and activate the Reese Revolution hitch or have a slider hitch....my vote would be the Reese Revolution...if you decide to go TT and not 5th, then you can disregard what I just said.
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Old 01-20-2015, 02:57 PM   #9
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Keep in mind with a short bed truck you will either need to have the Reese Revolution hitch or have a slider hitch. <snip>

No, you don't.
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Old 01-20-2015, 05:12 PM   #10
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No, you don't.
Well then you have to be very conscientious driver and pay very close attention...
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Old 01-20-2015, 08:06 PM   #11
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Aren't we all conscientious? Awfully big word? I also don't kmow about those bowtie trucks so.... I pull my 5r with the truck capable of towing the space shuttle, don't ya know.... Or 10.5k which ever comes first. I do have full servicing done (tranny/diff) every other year. Many talk about that pin weight thingy and their probably right to refer to it from time to time. I think if your stating 9.5 then it's prob for a 5r. Their is a difference for TT or 5r. The RV dealer will sell at what he thinks you can tow and if your not tackling the rockies, keeping your speed at 55, you should be ok.
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Old 01-21-2015, 01:14 PM   #12
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No, you don't.
Correct

Quote:
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Well then you have to be very conscientious driver and pay very close attention...
Correct

Can't tell you how many dented cabs I have seen over the years...those end caps will sneak up and BITE your TV
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Old 01-21-2015, 01:27 PM   #13
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Aren't we all conscientious? Awfully big word? I also don't kmow about those bowtie trucks so.... I pull my 5r with the truck capable of towing the space shuttle, don't ya know.... Or 10.5k which ever comes first. I do have full servicing done (tranny/diff) every other year. Many talk about that pin weight thingy and their probably right to refer to it from time to time. I think if your stating 9.5 then it's prob for a 5r. Their is a difference for TT or 5r. The RV dealer will sell at what he thinks you can tow and if your not tackling the rockies, keeping your speed at 55, you should be ok.

Excellent points Don & Dona!

That "Rockies" comment and/or tooling around the high mesas in New Mexico has got me to thinking.

How has your Tundra handled these areas? Thinking back to when we lived in NM, I remember seeing RVs struggling to make it over the St Augustine pass outside Las Cruces (for those who don't know this is a long steep grade that crosses the mountains)

Other areas I am thinking about would be crossing the Rockies at Colorado Springs.

Comments and thoughts from those who have been there, done that?
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Old 01-21-2015, 01:39 PM   #14
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Like climbing up out of Phoenix towards Flagstaff. Tows great if you watch the rmps (keep it below 25-3000) that is. I just slide in behind a semi and try to bump draft. (I seldom if never pass) It's no different than 53 on I-80 (53 is best mpg for me). Most everybody is blowing past me anyway. My shuttle tow'r is in tow haul mode and manual shift. Even with 4-wheel disk brakes I gotta watch my speeds downhill. I installed ceramic disk pads for heat reduction. All in all I still ain't go'n into those rockies till I get my diesel.
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Old 01-21-2015, 01:40 PM   #15
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Oh yea, struggling to some is just another lower gear for me.
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Old 01-21-2015, 02:06 PM   #16
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Like climbing up out of Phoenix towards Flagstaff. Tows great if you watch the rmps (keep it below 25-3000) that is. I just slide in behind a semi and try to bump draft. (I seldom if never pass) It's no different than 53 on I-80 (53 is best mpg for me). Most everybody is blowing past me anyway. My shuttle tow'r is in tow haul mode and manual shift. Even with 4-wheel disk brakes I gotta watch my speeds downhill. I installed ceramic disk pads for heat reduction. All in all I still ain't go'n into those rockies till I get my diesel.
Yeah that is what I was thinking too. 2-ish years out to retirement and we will at least be 1/2 timers and DW & I want to travel out west.

I love our EcoBeast and have had no complaints with towing in the "mountains" East of the Mississippi.

But, having lived in NM, I know what a mountain REALLY is (Phoenix-Flagstaff being a good example & driving around the 15k's in CO is a torque-muncher for sure!)

So, yeah, after talking EcoBeast smack for the past couple of years, we are thinking about getting a 3/4 ton diesel.

Maybe we should open up that can of worms and innocently ask which diesel 3/4T pickup is best
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Old 01-21-2015, 06:14 PM   #17
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Oh Boy!!! I Choose First On Race Day! (FORD)
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Old 02-06-2015, 01:00 AM   #18
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We have a '14 8528IKWS (our second Flagstaff 5r) and have had absolutely no problems with it. My wife and I both love the floor plan and all that room. Only problem is the space between the mattress and wall is very narrow. We have vacationed in the Canadian Rockies and plan on becoming snowbirds this fall. I tow it with a '99 F250 Super duty with the 7.3lt diesel no problems even at 65 mph through the mountains and get 13 to 15 mpg. 😃
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Old 02-09-2015, 05:25 PM   #19
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We have a 2103 8528IKWS and yes we love it! The Cat Scale shows loaded weight at about 9500 lbs and pin weight at about 1800 lbs - and I tow with a Ford F350.

You will really appreciate being able to have both parties working around the center kitchen island when preparing dinner.

Also, if you can...get the Diamond Package!

Have fun, Larry
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Old 02-09-2015, 09:41 PM   #20
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Not saying over kill, but plenty of room to grow!
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