new to rv life

Well gosh Jason, that sounds like a good plan if you are well prepared.

Please tell us what you purchased, what kind of tow gear you have, and what you are hauling with just to make it more interesting.

http://freecampsites.net/

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=113489473531870469999.0004785d9133690c0112f&ll=32.175612,-99.404297&spn=9.755861,11.052246&z=6

Yes Artum, we are very excited and trying to get as prepared as possible. Since this will be home for awhile, we wanted to be as comfortable as possible. Went to a local RV show and spent a couple days looking, asking questions, etc...In the end we bought the flagstaff v-lite 30WRLIKS, 3 slides, dry weight 7200lbs. Towing vehicle is a 1/2ton 2011 Ford FX4 with tow package, eco boost engine and transmission cooler. Max towing weight is 10,500lbs.

Jason, you're gonna love your Flagstaff V-hull. We've got the sister brand Rockwood Windjammer and love it. The v-hulls tow like a dream.

Welcome to the forum. There is a lot of information available. Use the search block or just ask. Someone will have an answer for you.

In addition to Free Campsites, there is:

Free Campgrounds

Casino Camper

and a few others, just do a little searching.

They're not really campgrounds, just places for an overnight stop.
But, they come in handy when you're traveling and just need a rest or resupply your RV.

Enjoy your new lifestyle.

Jason, Welcome to the forum and to RVing. There is LOTS to learn and there are many knowledgeable folks on these fora, who are willing and able to assist in a positive way. You may also find more direct input on the Flagstaff Travel Trailer forum.

Your new Flagstaff 30WRLIKS is surely a beautiful trailer and you will be very comfortable full timing in that florplan. But then I am biased since my RV is a cousin of your RV's. ;)

AllStays Camp and RV has a great app for either iOS or Android and Microsoft Streets & Trips works well for routing. These are what I use. RV Park Reviews website can be useful also.

My only concern, though, is the payload capacity of your truck in light of the likely tongue weight of your fully loaded trailer, especially where you will be full-timing. The likely GVWR of his trailer is 8850# (which could be achieved if full-timing) which would mean a desired hitch load of 1062#. Don't know if your truck can handle that when freely loaded and camping-ready.

l don't mean to dampen your spirits at this time but would be interested to hear how this would be addressed.

Thank you all for the welcomes, advice and links. I should clarify the towing situation, I researched this issue and tried to be careful in my selection...my job forces me to be at a single job site for a long period of time, anywhere from 4 months to 12 months...considering, we plan to tow as light as possible to each location, once we get settled we will load up with water, food, etc... It is nice to hear the positive compliments on the flagstaffs!

-cheers

As hard core canoe and tent campers, my wife and I can say that the RV life is completely different. With stove, microwave, hot and cold water, beds and full bath, heater and AC available with little setup or packing; It is like having a small version of your house with you.

My nephew is a Glazer and with his kids on their own he did the same with a fifth wheel for many jobs away from his home.

Good Luck sounds like fun.

I spent most of my working life in an RV of some sort. I loved it and still do. Your truck will do just fine on that unit, by the way, that's on my short list for a new travel trailer.

Modern 1/2 tons are very capable tow vehicles..... As you can see by the 2011 HD 2500 listed below although that is just one configuration of it butttttttt.:B

Silverado 2500 HD, crew cab, long box, 4WD (6.0 and 3.73:1 axle) 9,300 (9,300)*

jadams04 wrote:
Thank you all for the welcomes, advice and links. I should clarify the towing situation, I researched this issue and tried to be careful in my selection...my job forces me to be at a single job site for a long period of time, anywhere from 4 months to 12 months...considering, we plan to tow as light as possible to each location, once we get settled we will load up with water, food, etc... It is nice to hear the positive compliments on the flagstaffs!

-cheers

Good plan Jason. Do yourself a favour, though. Load up the trailer in your 'light' condition then head to the scales. Paper weights are just guidelines at best and are in many instances very 'ballpark'. Once you' baseline' the rig on the scales you will have a much better picture of where you stand and if / how weights need to be shifted.

You want to shoot for a tongue weight that is 12% or thereabouts of the total trailer weight, which itself should be (prudently) list than 80% of the truck's capacity.That way you have some margin for non-flat terrain and heavy head winds, etc.

As for fuel economy - this is far removed from pulling a popup (more frontal projected area) and 10 mpg seems to be an often-quoted number. The V-front does not significantly alter that despite what the marketing departments say.

Good luck, have fun, and stay safe. :)