“I Took My Flagstaff RV Across Arizona — Here’s What Went Right (and What Bugged Me)”

You know what? I didn’t plan to fall for a trailer. But my Flagstaff did win me over… mostly. If you want the blow-by-blow from the road, you can read the full trip report over on Riverhouse Acres. I’ll tell you where it shines, and where it made me mutter under my breath at a gas station in Camp Verde.

Still researching whether this rig is right for you? Check out real-world owner experiences on RV Insider before you make the leap.

I’ve spent the last year with a 2022 Flagstaff Micro Lite 25FKBS travel trailer. If you want the exact factory numbers—length, tank capacities, GVWR—you can scan the official spec sheet on J.D. Power.

Towed it with my 2019 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost and an Equal-i-zer weight-distribution hitch. I camped in Flagstaff (of course), Sedona, and down near Lake Havasu. Me, my husband, our kid, and a sandy, happy dog named Beans.

The Rig, Plain and Simple

  • Floor plan: front kitchen, bedroom slide, mid bath
  • Dry weight on paper: a hair under 6,000 lbs
  • Fresh/gray/black tanks: enough for a long weekend if you keep showers short
  • Outside griddle and power awning (with LEDs that my kid insists on turning purple)
  • Torsion axle and aluminum frame, so it rides smoother than our old stick-and-tin trailer

Nothing fancy, but not cheap-feeling either. The cabinets don’t wobble like a folding card table. Still, a few parts did need a little love. I’ll get there.

Hookup and Haul: White Knuckles or Easy Day?

First trip was Phoenix up I-17 to Flagstaff. That grade is no joke. The truck handled it, and the trailer tracked straight. Crosswinds near the Sunset Point rest area made me grip the wheel, but sway stayed calm with the hitch set right.

  • Climb temps: fine, even pulling in 90-degree heat
  • Braking: good control with the factory brake controller
  • MPG: let’s be real—about 9.5. Headwinds? 8. And I said a few choice words.

Setup at Fort Tuthill County Park took ten minutes. I use Andersen levelers, a cheap bubble level, and those bright orange chocks that look like Lego. The electric tongue jack felt like cheating after years of cranking by hand.

Living Inside: Little House, Big Moods

Here’s the thing. The front kitchen in this Flagstaff makes sense. I’ve got real counter space for once. I set a small pour-over coffee rig by the window and watched elk slide past the tree line at sunrise. That felt like a win.

  • Bed: true queen, slides out smooth; no foot squeeze
  • Sofa: comfy for two, stiff for three. Beans claimed the corner. We’re still debating swapping it for true recliners—after living with several styles on other rigs, here’s what I’ve learned about RV recliners, the good and the bad.
  • Bathroom: radius shower; I fit fine at 5'7". Taller folks might bump a shoulder.

Storage was sneaky good. Under-bed bins swallowed blankets and a pack-and-play. The pantry held a week of food if I stacked cans like Tetris. The 12V fridge got cold fast, even when we boondocked off FR525 near Sedona. That road’s washboard, by the way—bring patience and go slow.

The Outside Bits That Matter

The side griddle got used daily. Pancakes in the morning, fajitas at night. Grease cleanup wasn’t awful—keep a roll of shop towels handy. The awning arms feel sturdy; I still pull it in if gusts kick up. Learned that the hard way with my old trailer.

Solar came wired from the factory roof panel. On a sunny day, we kept phones, lights, and the MaxxAir fan going without touching the generator. Cloudy weekend? We rationed.

When one of those cloudy afternoons trapped us inside the rig near Sedona, we discovered a surprisingly fun way to pass the time—an online version of keno that lets you play with chat-room tokens right from your phone. If the idea of a quick, low-stakes game sounds like a good rainy-day distraction, Token Keno on InstantChat offers a clear rundown of the rules, payout tables, and smart wagering tips so you can keep it entertaining without burning through your data or your budget.

I did add a small Jackery for laptop charging. Not fancy, just practical.

What Broke (and How I Fixed It)

I won’t sugarcoat it. This is RV life. Stuff wiggles loose.

  • Shower door seeped at the bottom on trip two. A thin bead of clear silicone solved it. Five minutes, no drama.
  • One kitchen drawer slide backed out. Two screws and blue Loctite—done.
  • The radio antenna… meh. Static. I put a little stubby antenna on, and it’s better but still not great in the pines.
  • Water pump was louder than I liked. A short section of PEX had a hard bend. I added a small flex line and some foam under the lines. Much quieter.
  • Slide squeaked once after driving through dust near Cottonwood. A careful cleaning and a dry lube on the seals calmed it. (Don’t grease the tracks; just clean.)

Warranty? Forest River covered a loose entry door latch. My dealer in Mesa actually fixed it the same day. Small miracle.

How It Feels Over Time

After six long trips and a bunch of quick weekends, the Flagstaff still feels tight. No soft floors. The roof sealant looks good; I check it every couple months and keep a tube of Dicor in the front pass-through. The finish on the cabinets holds up to sticky kid hands and dog nails. That’s saying something.

Heat and A/C both do their job. In Flagstaff nights at 38°F, the furnace cycled but never woke the kid. In Havasu heat, the ducted A/C kept us at 75°F if I pulled the shades and cooked outside. If you like it chilly, a soft-start on the A/C helps a lot with small generators.

Little Joys That Surprised Me

  • The big front window for the kitchen sink. Morning light is friendly, even before coffee.
  • Magnetic baggage door catches—no more head bumps.
  • The MaxxAir fan actually pulls a breeze. Cracked a back window and the trailer aired out fast after a rain.

Things I Wish Were Different

  • The mattress was fine for a few trips, then “meh.” We added a 3-inch topper. Now it’s a nap trap.
  • The stock shower head felt stingy. I swapped it for an Oxygenics and saved water while it felt better.
  • Fresh tank sensor reads 1/3 when it’s closer to empty. I don’t trust sensors. I trust my fill times and my ears.

Real Camps, Real Notes

  • Fort Tuthill County Park, Flagstaff: Shady, easy pull-throughs. Watch for tree limbs when you park; the awning cleared with inches to spare.
  • Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood: Great trails. Hookups were clean, and water pressure was strong. I kept the pressure regulator on—always.
  • FR525 near Sedona: Dusty, pretty, and popular. I used my LevelMatePRO app to get level on that weird slope by the junipers. Worth it for the sunset.

If you ever find yourself rolling farther east, pencil in a stay at Riverhouse Acres beside North Carolina’s Pigeon River—it’s the kind of peaceful riverside park that shows off exactly why we haul these rigs around.

While you’re dreaming up future routes, imagine steering the rig north along the Mississippi River into Wisconsin. A night or two in historic La Crosse can be a fun detour, especially if you’re curious about what the city’s grown-up nightlife has to offer beyond the campfire. The La Crosse USA sex guide delivers up-to-date intel on bars, clubs, and adult-friendly venues, helping travelers quickly zero in on safe, reputable spots for evening entertainment without wasting precious road-trip time on trial and error.

Quick Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Smooth tow and steady in crosswinds with the right hitch
  • Front kitchen layout feels roomy and useful
  • Solid storage and nice fit/finish for the price
  • Factory solar helps on simple boondock weekends
  • Outdoor griddle is a crowd pleaser

Cons

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