Howdy Folks

[Camperman83]

My wife and I just purchased our first ever Trailer, 2024 Forest River Campsite Reserve 26CJ. We're both retired military living in Colorado. I work, but we plan on doing a fair bit of traveling and camping in the coming years.

Neither one of us know much about our RV, so I'm sure we'll be asking lots of questions and making rookie mistakes, etc. Right now I have it in storage. We welcome any positive feedback and advice.

[Reverse_snowbird]

Congratulations on your new Campsite Reserve.
If you can make your first camping experience 'driveway camping' or camping at a nearby rv park so that you have easy access to stuff you 'forgot'. Also, make certain that your batteries are charged because they control the brakes on your trailer.

Welcome to the forum!

[Oaklevel]

Welcome from Virginia !!!

[MillMitch]

Welcome to the forum from MN.

[Camperman83]

Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird

Congratulations on your new Campsite Reserve.
If you can make your first camping experience 'driveway camping' or camping at a nearby rv park so that you have easy access to stuff you 'forgot'. Also, make certain that your batteries are charged because they control the brakes on your trailer.

Welcome to the forum!

When i use a voltmeter to check the voltage, what measurement should i be looking for to take it safely down the road? Also, since I currently have it in storage, I turned the battery disconnect to off, will my solar panels still keep the batteries charged? Thanks!

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by Camperman83

My wife and I just purchased our first ever Trailer, 2024 Forest River Campsite Reserve 26CJ. We're both retired military living in Colorado. I work, but we plan on doing a fair bit of traveling and camping in the coming years.

Neither one of us know much about our RV, so I'm sure we'll be asking lots of questions and making rookie mistakes, etc. Right now I have it in storage. We welcome any positive feedback and advice.

Hi and Welcome to FRF.
You apparently are the very first member to own one of this very new FR brand/line.

[fipntdot]

Originally Posted by Camperman83

When i use a voltmeter to check the voltage, what measurement should i be looking for to take it safely down the road? Also, since I currently have it in storage, I turned the battery disconnect to off, will my solar panels still keep the batteries charged? Thanks!

The solar on ours keeps the battery charged even when the battery disconnect switch is off. It keeps our battery in good shape in storage. Not every unit is set up that way.

[Camperman83]

Originally Posted by bikendan

Hi and Welcome to FRF.
You apparently are the very first member to own one of this very new FR brand/line.

Thanks! I can't wait til we can use it. Most of the sites that offer hookups here are already booked every weekend, so most likely we'll be boondocking it for our first go.

[HangDiver]

Welcome from Montrose, CO.

[aceinspp]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on your purchase of a 2024 Forest River Campsite Reserve 26CJ. Enjoy and Later RJD

[KateE]

We also purchased a Campsite Reserve! Ours is the 25 MW edition. Lots of new things to learn. Can't wait for the shakedown cruise. We've had a few issues while setting up, but only one that I couldn't resolve on my own. So far I have replaced a fuse (slide out), reset the Main Circuit breaker twice to get the 110 plugs working and had to disconnect from shore power and turn the battery disconnect to the off position to reset the furnace. The only thing I can't get working is the OTA antennae. No amount of trouble shooting on my part has resolved it so Camping World is sending someone to pick it up on Monday. The embarrassing part of that is that I'm usually the one getting other campers TVs up and running for them.

After we've been out a time or two I will start building shelves in there. Lots of cavernous spaces in this camper. Hope this camper treats us both well.

Welcome from the southern shore of Lake Ontario!

[DogMan635]

Welcome to Forest River Forums!

Camperman83

We are from the Sunshine State, on Florida's west coast.
We are H.L. and Jan, our campervan is Greta.

Check both upper and lower MENU this is a large forum. On the second lower MENU click on "USER CP" and fill in as much RV information as you can. This will be helpful to other members trying to help you fix an issue, as they will check your "USER CP" to give you a quicker response to your question(s) for help. Most needed help questions come back needing basic RV information to know how to help you best. Please. do this for yourself be safe.

Now, should you need a USER MANUAL, both Forest River and Coachmen have them online for almost all their brands. Just go to the MAIN Page for "Forest River Models Click HERE and the other Click Here Find your Brand name RV go to the bottom of the page on your left look for. OWNER'S MANUAL, then look for your brand's YEAR. Be even cooler, and download your complete owner's manual onto an SD card. Here is how to do that for yourself. "Click Attached"

Attachment 299354

Here are some FREE Tips, Tricks, and Checklist, from your new FRF if interested. It's all FREE to our Forest Rivers Forum members: Click HERE

Remember, all Outdoor adventures begin and end with a road trip, drive safely with your family cargo!

[Bill and Gail]

Welcome from New Jersey. Congratulations on your new rig.

[Camperman83]

Originally Posted by KateE

We also purchased a Campsite Reserve! Ours is the 25 MW edition. Lots of new things to learn. Can't wait for the shakedown cruise. We've had a few issues while setting up, but only one that I couldn't resolve on my own. So far I have replaced a fuse (slide out), reset the Main Circuit breaker twice to get the 110 plugs working and had to disconnect from shore power and turn the battery disconnect to the off position to reset the furnace. The only thing I can't get working is the OTA antennae. No amount of trouble shooting on my part has resolved it so Camping World is sending someone to pick it up on Monday. The embarrassing part of that is that I'm usually the one getting other campers TVs up and running for them.

After we've been out a time or two I will start building shelves in there. Lots of cavernous spaces in this camper. Hope this camper treats us both well.

Welcome from the southern shore of Lake Ontario!

Sounds like we have very similar models, nearly the same actually. I've a few questions that maybe you know the answer to. 1.) Did they sell you yours with a spare tire? They did not for mine, and it seems unconscionable to let someone drive away without one, especially a first time RV owner. 2.) Have you came up with any design hacks to prevent items in your pass through storage from being able to crash into your solar control pane? 3.) Our trailer mount for our lippert quick drop stabilizer jacks are less than 16" off the gorund, and the stabilizer jacks have a warning label not to deploy them with less than 16" of ground clearance. Have you figured out a way around that? Our trailer has the same chassis, so I'm certain you have the same problem. I've never been able to those stabilizer jacks the full 90 degrees they recommend.

[NJKris]

Welcome from NJ! Big rig for your first one! Good luck and keep the tool box handy!

[Camperman83]

Originally Posted by NJKris

Welcome from NJ! Big rig for your first one! Good luck and keep the tool box handy!

What tools do you consider "Must haves", and what do you recommend? I have basic tools (drill, sockets, pliers, wrench, screwdriver, duct tape, gloves, wire stripper, multi-meter)

[HangDiver]

.....

[NJKris]

Originally Posted by Camperman83

What tools do you consider "Must haves", and what do you recommend? I have basic tools (drill, sockets, pliers, wrench, screwdriver, duct tape, gloves, wire stripper, multi-meter)

All of the above. Use the search function on the forum, there are tons of thread about recommended tools. Some people go truly overboard. I have limited cargo capacity, so keep it simple on the road. But at home when you are repairing/improving stuff, sky is the limit! That's when I use most my tools. Ratchet sets and wrenches/torque wrench rule the toolbox on the road.

[Camperman83]

Originally Posted by NJKris

All of the above. Use the search function on the forum, there are tons of thread about recommended tools. Some people go truly overboard. I have limited cargo capacity, so keep it simple on the road. But at home when you are repairing/improving stuff, sky is the limit! That's when I use most my tools. Ratchet sets and wrenches/torque wrench rule the toolbox on the road.

Thanks! Question: In what scenario would I need a torque wrench, and what ft/lb should it be rated for?

[NJKris]

Wheel lug nuts, most important. Mine have 100 foot lb spec. Bolts on hitch/WDH have high torque specs as well. I bought a Walmart one for around 30 bucks that goes I think up to 150 lbs. My good one I keep at home (Craftsman) only goes to 75 lbs.