A while back I posted here asking for guidance as a first time RVer before our trip to Yellowstone. Thought I'd report back with how it went. We traveled from Phoenix , Arizona to Yellowstone, rested at dispersed camping spots at Bryce Canyon (Utah) & Caribou-Targhee National Forest (Idaho) along the way. Drove through Grand Teton NP on the way home. Saw some great sights at both parks & stopped for lots of pics. My daughter got to see (from a distance) about 3 dozen bison for her first time. Overall, Yellowstone was underwhelming given the common hype. Visually, Grand Teton was much nicer, albeit significantly smaller.

So about the RV Nightmare. We don't own one yet & I thought renting one would give us a good idea on how well we liked it before we committed money to purchasing one. In a sense, I was right. When we got on site at our campground, we discovered they changed our reservation of one 40 foot lot to two 20 foot lots side-by-side. I'm out of practice backing up trailers & had a bit of a meltdown trying to back the RV into the spot we got. A kind camper helped & reminded me that everyone was new at trailering at one point. I felt more embarrassed than anything. I've hauled plenty of trainers but it's been about 10 years ago I was definitely very rusty. The RV we rented had so many problems: pull handle on the black water dump valve was missing, Grey water dump pipes were cracked (so it just leaked on the ground under the RV), both sinks leaked on the floor inside, fridge wouldn't run without the generator running (tongue battery was toast), roof sprung a leak one night during a rainstorm (right on my wife's head while we were sleeping.

On to lessons learned. Unfortunately, the site we camped at was a dry site & had generator quiet hours. As this was a first time doing more than tent camping, I didn't know generator quiet hours were a thing. We've been eyeballing solar generators for a while & this experience put another tally in the pro column for solar vs gas powered. We definitely overpacked both food & clothes. Ended up just getting in the way. Had way more than we needed. Not the worst problem. My propane camp stove came in handy & I was able to make a few really tasty camp dinners. Our best time I think was at the dispersed campsite in Idaho. We had a nice secluded spot with lots of space to setup a nice base camp & for my daughter & my dog to run around safely.

All things considered we really did enjoy our first time RVing. Just not fact that we got a lemon of an RV from the place we rented from. I made the point to my wife that when we buy our own, I'll learn the systems & be managing it's maintenence (as I do with our truck) so we won't have a many things breakdown & when they do, I'll be in charge of their repairs (or contracting repairs for things outside of my skill sets). This also gave us a good chance to see which features we did & didn't like in the RV.

Obviously not trying to blow up any spots so no specific location sharing. Just want to see some campers in beautiful places outside of campgrounds.

Here I am in a national forest just below 10K feet with panoramic views and no one around!

I mean that thing must have been struggling! It was on a regular ball hitch too lol

Looking for advice on places to take my 2019 Jayco Greyhawk for chassis service. I have a vibration when driving at highway speeds and having the tires rebalanced didn’t take care of it. Thanks.

I just sold my 92 Coleman pup to a young man and it seems he ran into some issues on his first run with opening and closing it. I feel bad and would like to help him but I’m at a loss. He cranked so hard that he sheared off the pin. Any options?

What made you realize you preferred RVing when vacationing over staying at hotels ? Wife and I want to start traveling the country next year and we like the idea of pulling an RV (I like the airstreams) but neither of us have ever actually traveled with one so we are unsure of how much it we would actually like it or how well we would actually fit into that lifestyle. we have stayed in an RV once on vacation it was nice but it was already setup and onsite

Hey everyone, 1st time posting here. I was wondering if people had egg crate suggestions or mattress toping suggestions for the weird shaped queen size bed in the Coleman 13B

I have a 30’ TT and want to get a toy hauler but damn! Most of these things are 40-45’ long! I was hoping to stay in the 35’ range thinking maybe the part of the unit overhanging the truck bed buys me some length.

Thinking back to the state parks we mostly stay in, I don’t know if we can get something that size parked. So, I’m curious, where do all the big rig owners like to stay?

Has anyone had to replace the toilet in one of these Coleman’s? If so, what did you find that worked?

Just trying to figure out if I can tow this. I have. a F150 w/ 1799 payload. 2 adults at 400 lbs and 2 little kids. 60 lbs now at 4yr/6 months but lets say 230 total for average 12/16 year olds.

Im not finding reliable information on the Rockwood Mini Light 2509S GVWR. Anything from 6900-7500. 7500 would be 1125 which puts me at 44 lbs under payload in 10 years assuming average weight kids. And about 214 under now. Looks like I may need WDH + sway control so that eats up another 100.

So if its 7500 it definitely feels too close (maybe ok now but not for long with kids) and if 6900 that buys me an extra 125 lbs (339 now and 169 in 12 years) which makes it feel more debatable. Would definitely still need to be conscious of weight.

I guess my intuition is that this is too much and I should look for something lighter but this trailer really caught my eye and the actual GVWR is a bit fuzzy. I have read elsewhere that this trailer is particularly tongue heavy. Maybe I can find a similar length/layout/features in a lighter package.

Some other discussion on this trailer:

• https://www.reddit.com/r/GoRVing/comments/1nto8lk/12_towable_under_7500_gvwr_1_slide_out_with_wide/
• https://www.forestriverforums.com/threads/reducing-tongue-weight-on-2025-rockwood-2509s-owner-solutions-and-tips.1111644/

Hello Everyone,

TLDR: Comfortably towing a 30ft travel trailer with my daily driver half ton pickup truck. F-150 Powerboost provides WiFi, and full power to the trailer (including 2 A/C units).

I (28M) and my girlfriend (26F) just spent our first night in our new travel trailer (Delta Alliance 241BH). I am making this post to share my experience, and to share the answers to a lot of questions I had when we were searching for a truck / trailer. When I first started researching I found a lot disinformation, and lot of generalities being thrown around as far as what can tow what and it became somewhat confusing when trying to visualize the feasibility of certain setups.

My girlfriend and I went to Montana for under canvas (glamping) earlier this year in June. We saw a lot of travel trailers and decided that was something we really wanted to do. With no towing, or travel trailer experience whatsoever, we got to researching.

The plan was my girlfriend would buy the trailer, and I would buy the truck. The truck would have to double as my daily driver, and this came with constraints. A ¾ ton truck was out of the question for me. They are too big, and more importantly too expensive, cost, fuel, maintenance and all. We won’t be living in the trailer / towing full time, so I really needed something that could tow safely, not necessarily perfectly.

The mission:

Find a half ton truck that is a good and affordable daily driver, whilst also being capable of towing safely. Doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does have to be safe.

My girlfriend wanted a larger trailer, but we decided after some research that we wanted to stay under 30ft, for greater access to more camp sites, and due to weight / wind / sway with a 30ft trailer can often or even most times be too much for a half ton pickup.

I quickly became very interested in the Ford F-150 Powerboost. It’s more efficient on fuel as a daily driver, is a beast when you need it to be (430hp / 576lb ft) and can be spec’d with a 7.2KW generator. Reliability was definitely something I scrutinized, but the truck has been out since 2019, and was refreshed in 2024 reportedly fixing a lot of early model issues - something I wasn’t very worried about as I’d be buying new and would have mechanical breakdown insurance through Geico.

The greatest issue I immediately encountered when theorizing this truck with potential trailers was payload capacity. While the towing capacity is plenty enough, the power boost loses a chunk of its payload capacity due to the extra weight from the hybrid components, so I had to spec the truck out very specifically to get the features I needed, while conserving the limited payload I had to work with.

For example, a heavily spec’d powerboost can have a payload capacity as little as about 1200 pounds. With even the lighter trailers near the 30ft range, hitch weights when dry are 600-800lbs+. Add propane, batteries, weight distribution hitch, and everything else that’s going to instantly jump up to 800-1100lbs+. For those unfamiliar, payload is all the weight being put on the truck. So if if you have a trailer with a 900lb hitch, and a payload of 1200, you’re left with 300lbs for passengers and anything else in the truck. That simply would not work at all for us.

After lots of configuring on Ford’s website, I spec’d what I found out was a somewhat unusual configuration to get exactly what I wanted and needed while preserving as much payload capacity as possible. Essentially, I had to cherry-pick certain premium options individually rather than simply stepping up to a higher trim or equipment package like most buyers probably would. That allowed me to get the features that mattered to me without unnecessarily sacrificing payload capacity. One example is that I wanted 4x4, but not FX4 as this added unnecessary weight (skid plates etc..). Another was having the towing package, and 3.73 axle, but not the max tow axle as it is heavier and actually drops the payload further.

This is what I ended up with:

2026 Ford F-150 XLT PowerBoost

• Engine: 3.5L PowerBoost Full Hybrid V6
• Output: 430 hp / 576 lb-ft
• Transmission: 10-speed hybrid automatic
• Drivetrain: 4x4
• Cab: SuperCrew
• Bed: 5.5 ft
• Wheelbase: 145.4 in
• Rear Axle: 3.73 electronic-locking
• Tow Package: Tow/Haul – but not max tow
• Max Conventional Towing: 10,800
• GCWR: 17,100 lb
• Actual Payload: ~1,635–1,638 lb (door-sticker rating)
• Pro Power Onboard: 7.2 kW
• BlueCruise: Equipped
• Black appearance package (not BAP+ which is heavier) – Unnecessary but I wanted the aesthetic.
• FX4: No — intentionally omitted to avoid unnecessary option weight
• Antimatter blue metallic (midnight blue)

I found all but 6 trucks nationwide that had the exact build that I had configured, to include alternative colors. I wanted to buy at a dealership so I would have the chance to negotiate, something I wouldn’t get if I just ordered my truck from ford. I live in southern California, and one of the closer trucks was at Landmark Ford in Tigard, OR – just outside of Portland. I went to my local ford dealership, and found one that was just like it, but with the FX4 package which dropped the payload capacity a few hundred pounds, and I test drove it to get a feel for how the truck would drive.  I loved it. I reached out to the dealership in Oregon and negotiated heavily over the course of a week or so through phone calls and email – for a dealership, they were surprisingly willing to negotiate even though I hadn’t come in. Ultimately, I negotiated a price 13% below MSRP.

My girlfriend flew us to Portland on a Friday night, we picked up the truck Saturday morning, and drove it through all the national and state parks on the way home. Probably the best way to buy a new Truck that you’re excited about.

The next step was to pick the trailer.

We did a lot of shopping, and a ton of research on trailers. One piece of advice; never rely on sales associates to tell you if your truck can tow a trailer. I was warned of this when I started shopping but truly was impressed with how uneducated / misleading sales associates can be. I asked one once if there was someone who could help me go over numbers to see if my truck could tow the trailer we were looking at, and she was like “Of course, I know all about this stuff”. I asked her about payload capacity, and she initially confused it for towing capacity, and finally proceeded to tell me that I didn’t have to worry about payload, as that was only applicable to gooseneck trailers (which is false). After weeks of shopping online, and in person we ultimately decided the 2026 Alliance Delta BH241was the trailer for us. 2026 was the last year for these, due to being a largely unpopular floor plan, but for us it checked every box. (Under 30ft, light, fireplace, outside grill, luxury, bunk beds, private bedroom.)

·  Dry weight: 5,893 lb

·  Dry hitch weight: 619 lb

·  GVWR: 7,450 lb

·  Max cargo capacity: ~1,557 lb

·  Length: 29' 11"

·  Fresh water: 45 gal

·  Gray water: 74 gal

·  Black water: 45 gal

We found one in Waco Texas, but since I’ve never towed anything in my life, and have no experience with campers I was a bit intimidated to take off work, drive there from SoCal, and then tow it back. We decided we would have it shipped, and since we had already looked at a handful of similar floor plans from Alliance, we knew what it would look, and figured we could save ourselves the trip there to look at it in person.

What we did do, is hire Blue Atlas RV Inspections for just under $1000 to do an indepth inspection of the trailer prior to wiring funds.

Negotiated price -> Had inspection done -> had repairs completed before wiring money. Nothing  major was wrong with the trailer, just some seals on the roof, locks being loose, and other little stuff but the peace of mind was worth it especially since it was being purchased sight unseen.

After delivery, our first trip was just a few miles down the road to my gf’s moms house, where we had more room to install the weight distribution hitch (blue ox sway pro). We live in a condo / townhome that has an RV storage, but there’s not a lot of space to work on it. After getting the WDH setup correctly, we made our second trip to the DMV for a VIN inspection.

We finally took it camping, and using a tongue weight scale, I measured it at 895lbs to include a full camping loadout. (Propane, lithium batteries, camping stuff, full water tank). That leaves us with 740lbs of payload for people and luggage in the truck, which is completely workable.

The towing experience is surprisingly composed. The power delivery is very smooth – more then sufficient, and stability / breaking feels safe / confidence inspiring. Make no mistake, you absolutely are aware there is a 30ft trailer behind you, but in no way does it feel unsafe, or “white knucke”.

So that’s it, we did it. I’ve got a great daily driver, it tows the trailer well, powers everything, provides Wi-Fi, and the trailer couldn’t be a better fit for us. Literally a dream come true.

I was at Assateague a couple years ago in the middle of summer the heat and probably more importantly, the bugs were awful. Research leads me to believe that the best time to camp there is in the fall. I'm looking to plan a late October trip and looking for any feedback from people who have camped there during that time frame.

Unsure of cause but the plumbing system is what ignited somehow while driving on the highway

I somewhat recently purchased a new-to-me 2020 F150 XLT as my daily driver and for towing a 5500lb holiday trailer from time to time. It checked all the boxes for me and had very low engine hours. I was humming and hawing over a 3/4 ton but the extra cost didn't make sense for the majority of my usage and I thought I'd get a lot more truck for my money in a half ton. I've been having a bit of the buyers remorse because lately a fifth wheel is sounding more and more attractive but the cost to upgrade the truck and the trailer is prohibitive.

Fast forward to last night and I discover, much to my delight, that my truck actually has the HDPP and Max Tow meaning it has a payload of 2491 lbs! I know there are a multitude of 'half ton towable' Fifth wheels, but I wanted to know what size of Fifth wheel any of you are comfortably towing? I've got my eye on some from 28-30 feet with a gvwr of 8500-9000. The math all works on capacity and payload etc.

My question is basically I've confirmed that I can, but I'm wondering if anyone with experience can comment on whether or not I should.

We bought a Forrest river 250 rbce and the website specs say it's 28 feet 11 inches long .Is that the full length including the front hitch area?Trying to plan a concrete pad for trailer plus truck. So please only answer if you know for sure .Thanks!

Always a great time

Hmmm. Methinks somebody has some serious weight distribution issues. The front of that truck looks seriously lifted! Level road.

Question for those towing with a diesel truck. I’ve upgraded my truck and camper a few times over the years. Currently pulling a fifth wheel with a 2022 Silverado 2500 with the 6.6 gas engine. The fifth wheel is within the trucks towing specs, but the truck does struggle going through mountainous areas in the east. I’m considering getting a new F350 diesel. I’ve never owned a diesel, other than higher fuel costs and DEF, what are the other expenses with a diesel? Trying to determine if I should make the change or run the gasser into the ground. I don’t full time, but travel about half the year, long trips often times.

I have a 2021 Rockwood-Forest River GeoPro 20bhs. Today while towing it to my Dad’s property (where it will stay for 6-7 weeks) we broke out the upper bunk window. These are frameless windows, so now that the majority of the glass is gone, it’s nearly impossible to get an exact size of that glass. However the kitchen window and the dirt marks left behind near where the window used to exist are both 36.5” width by 16.5” height. However I can not find this size replacement glass ANYWHERE. Even if it’s the wrong size for the bunk window, it should exist as a replacement for the kitchen. I’m lost. I’ve tried searching on my own for hours then attempted to use AI which was more confused then I was. Anyone got any tips on how to figure this out and where to get a replacement? Our first day owning it in 2020 this window also broke (due to the techs at the RV dealer not securing it) and it was replaced then under warranty, so I’ll be calling them in the morning to see if they can order it, but I know it would be cheaper if I found it myself.

Sometimes, as happens, our camper won't just come up off the tow ball when unlatched. This happens on the flat, in our (slightly) inclined driveway, and at campsites.

Now, my usual first attempt to get the tongue off the ball is the following:

1. Get camper into spot and chocked.

2. Disengage the tongue latch, if that feels stiff, put the tow vehicle in drive and just lightly ease the brake and put back in park.

3. Start raising the tongue. SOMETIMES, it just lifts off the ball and all is good, sometimes the tongue starts raising the rear of the tow vehicle (presumably at this point, either the ball is forward in the tongue and catching on the "lip" at the front, or at the back and catching on the jaw a bit)

4. IF it's raising the rear, get it a couple inches up, then stand on the bumper of the truck and give it a "bounce," typically there's enough play in the transmission and the camper for them to slide past each other, the rear of the truck dropping down and we can finish raising the tongue to get clear.

So what I'm wondering is, would doing this potentially damage the tongue, especially the locking jaw (which is in the open position when doing this)? Or is this a relatively safe way to get unhitched? Again, both sides of the camper chocked, the chains are still attached, the truck is in park.

My family likes to do mountain bike tent camping trips, where we set up camp and then drive to bikes to a trailhead to ride. We carry our bikes on a hitch-mounted vertical rack. We're looking at upgrading to a pop up trailer or small travel trailer, but this will necessitate us getting a new vehicle, since our current vehicle's towing capacity is limited (2000 lbs). The vehicle would need to be able to tow the trailer and 4 bikes, and then transport the bikes once we've set up camp. The obvious solution is to get a pickup and transport the bikes in the bed, but I'd prefer an SUV for regular driving. There seem to be a few possible options for using an SUV as a tow vehicle but they all seem to be somewhat limited or questionable. The bikes combined would likely weigh up to 140 lbs, plus a rack in the 30-50 lb range. We've considered:

- Transporting all 4 bikes on the roof of the vehicle: This would likely exceed the roof capacity of smaller SUVs, and larger SUVs would be difficult to load.

- Hitch mounted bike rack on rear of trailer: Only possible if the trailer frame is strong enough and even then it can be dodgy and result in wobbling.

- Dual hitch receiver: Significantly reduces tongue weight capacity.

- Carrying bikes on the trailer and vehicle rack in the vehicle: Takes up a lot of space.

Am I missing anything? Do I just bite the bullet and go with a pickup?

Hello, I have a Flagstaff E pro with the plastic door plunger thing. However as you can see it blocks the awning.

Need to come up with some kind of solution to hold the exterior door open while the awning is in use, any ideas?

Do they make those plastic plungers in different lengths?