The Flagstaff Classic 826KBS absolutely fits the mold of a couples’ camper. But the overriding feeling of this travel trailer is how plush it is. Which is interesting. Perhaps, it’s just me, but lots of travel trailers just give you a feeling of being closer in nature. The Flagstaff Classic 826KBS feel different. It feels more like this posh space that you can transport with you wherever you go.
That’s not by accident. The Flagstaff Classic series is a premium offering in the company’s line-up, which ranges from pop-up and tent trailers to fifth wheels. In Flagstaff Classic 826KBS, there are a lot of features that really distinguish it within the realm of travel trailers — both inside and out. So, let’s talk about both.
At a Glance: Flagstaff Classic 826KBS
I gave the Flagstaff Classic 826KBS travel trailer a rating of four and a half out of five stars. These trailers have a torsion axle suspension which contributes to better handling and a smoother ride, which translates into less harshness reaching the cabin and promotes a longer life for the trailer. The company also does their own lamination in-house with top-notch components and there are so many features in these that will play-out well over time. It’s tough to beat these trailers for the combination of features and build quality.
Check the Specs
- Sleeping capacity: 2
- Hitch weight: 1,100 pounds
- UVW: 7,649 pounds
- CCC: 2,161 pounds.
- Exterior length: 29 feet 11 inches
- Exterior height 11 feet 7 inches
- Exterior width: 8 feet
- Fresh/Gray/Black: 54/78/39 gallons
- Awning: 22 feet
Benefits
- Posh interior design and premium cabin features
- Upscale suspension and tires for smoother towing
Challenges
- Underbelly enclosed, but gate valves are exposed
- Smaller sleeping capacity
Best For
- Couples who want a deluxe but cozy living space
- Buyers looking for an upgrade in build quality
The RV Trader Process
RV Trader asked RV shoppers what was most important to them in their RV buying process. Potential buyers — like you — helped us to identify a list of six key areas that camping and travel enthusiasts always look at when they’re searching for the perfect RV: sleeping space, bathroom, living area, four-season capabilities, and storage space.
The RV Trader team then got to work providing you with an honest and unbiased evaluations. And that’s where I come in. I’m Tony Barthel, RV expert and enthusiast. I provide an honest look at RVs from RV industry insider perspective. That way, you can learn the good, the bad, and the intriguing about any RVs I review. I inspect each RV with the buyer’s perspective at the forefront. And I always evaluate those six key areas that buyers have told us that they have in mind.
So, that said, let’s take a closer look at the 2024 Forest River Flagstaff Classic 826KBS.
Sleeping Space
At to the front of the Flagstaff Classic 826KBS, you’ll find the bedroom. And this is where you might almost laugh at how many drawers there are. Drawers and cabinets quite literally span the width of the front of the trailer. But it’s not over. They then make a turn and occupy the camp-side wall as well.
There are also counters above the drawers as well as a large hanging wardrobe. More storage is above the king-size bed, which is in a slide room on the road side. If you’re looking for an RV where there are a tremendous number of drawers and cabinets in the bedroom, you just may have found your ideal rig.
Bathroom
The bathroom in this travel trailer spans the width of the back of the trailer. That space translates into a bathroom vanity with a decent amount of counter space for an RV. There’s also a medicine cabinet and a couple of cupboards. Above the porcelain foot flush toilet is a very large cabinet that can be used for hanging storage or bathroom supplies or whatever you need. It’s quite a large, deep space.
The real surprise in this bathroom is the shower. Frankly, it is something you might expect to find in a fifth wheel. It has that sort of feel to it. As such, there is even a seat-step in here.
Something the Flagstaff team also does, even in travel trailers, is include a device called a Shower Miser. If you’re not familiar, it directs water back into the water system while you’re waiting for it to get hot. Which translates into less wasted water while you’re camping off the grid.
Living Area
Walking into the Flagstaff Classic 826KBS, it was funny: I almost instantly felt pampered. What made me feel that way was an effect of the overall feel of the interior design. There’s a cabinet adjacent to the entry door that sports hooks for coats or what not. You could also leave the shelves in place if you’d rather keep shoes or anything else in here.
On entry, you face the theater seats, which really felt very luxurious to my back side when I tested them. (I made sure to do proper research and spent a prolonged period of time doing a thorough comfort test — wink!) Conveniently, there’s also an induction smart phone charger between the two seats and a flip-up armrest that could house your electronic gadgets or remotes or whatever.
Kitchen
To the left of the entrance are two bar-height chairs and a breakfast bar. (Which I could see being used with a blender to serve-up some margaritas while Jimmy Buffett’s music fills the cabin.) That breakfast bar is part of an L-shaped kitchen counter that offers plentiful counter space. There’s a two-well, under-mount sink in here plus a three-burner propane stove with a proper 22-inch (vertical) oven. I have this same oven in my trailer, and we cooked a prime rib in it not long ago.
Beneath the countertop are plenty of drawers and cabinets, so you can store the aforementioned blender as well as any other cooking gadgets you bring along for the ride. There’s also a single overhead cabinet space and a smaller microwave plus a smart TV which directly faces those theater seats in the slide room on the road side of this trailer.
The slide room also is the home to a 12-volt, 10-cubic foot Magic Chef fridge. I had one of these in a trailer I owned, and, I’ll just say this: I replaced it with another model. The reason? I didn’t like the flimsy latch on the door which allowed the fridge to pop open in transit. I also believe Flagstaff is moving to a different model soon and that’s A-OK with me.
A large pantry sits ready for loading next to the fridge so this pantry, plus the storage in the kitchen itself, means you’ve got plenty of space for whatever you’re bringing.
Cooking Inside Isn’t Your Only Option
Moving outside, another notable feature on this trailer is the outdoor kitchen which features a two-burner propane stove and very large bar-style refrigerator. Since this RV has that inverter, you could run the fridge as you roll down the road on the way to the next camping adventure, and your beverages or food would be chilled and ready when you get to camp.
There’s also a flat-top griddle that slots into a rail on the side of this trailer as well as a metal table so there are plenty of cooking choices outside.
Four-Season Capabilities
The Flagstaff Classic 826KBS does have an enclosed underbelly with heat pads on all the tanks, but the space is not heated, and the gate valves are exposed. This limits you to how cold a temperature you might want to camp in. Frankly, I’ve camped in my own Rockwood in subfreezing overnight temps when the daytime temps are above freezing. But I don’t know if I would camp where winter is harsher than that.
This travel trailer also offers 200 watts of solar on the roof but also includes a 2,000-watt inverter. If you do camp off the grid, that inverter could power things like a CPAP machine or, perhaps, some coffee makers and that sort of thing. (Provided you have sufficient battery reserves, of course.)
Flagstaff operates its own laminating plant and builds the sidewalls of these trailers using a man-made substrate that is impervious to water damage. The walls are also vacuum laminated which is a superior process to the pinch rollers used by some other companies.
While they’re at it the roof and ceiling of these is also vacuum laminated which is completely unique in the industry. Of course they’re fully walkable roofs. Flagstaff also welds their own framing in house and uses these aluminum tube frames in things like dinettes and bed frame structures. Most RV companies use wood in places where you can’t see the build structure.
Storage Space
This is another RV where I have a difficult time finding fault with the features or function. Concerning storage in the Flagstaff Classic 826KBS though, it might depend more on what’s important to you. I’ve already raved about the shocking amount of storage in the bedroom. But perhaps outside storage is the weakest link in the chain. Still, there is outside storage under the bed (in the slide), as well as a very, very tall but somewhat shallow cabinet outside the rig behind the indoor fridge. So, the cabinet is as tall as the fridge and about eight inches deep — a possible candidate for camp chairs.
Closing Notes on the Flagstaff Classic 826KBS
Flagstaff shares a perch within the Forest River family near the top from a quality platform. Having visited the Flagstaff and Rockwood plant (essentially the same trailer with different brand names) quite a few times — and owning a Rockwood myself — there are logical reasons to choose this brand. And their attention to what’s under the cabin give you plenty to consider.
Where the Trailer Meets the Road
For starters, I like that the Flagstaff Classic 826KBS rides on nitrogen-filled Goodyear Endurance tires with banded tire pressure monitors. I often recommend starting at the chassis and working your way up when shopping for your next RV. Banded tire pressure monitors are attached to the wheel on a band inside the tire and transmits to a display. This also enables you to monitor the temperature of the tires as well.
The suspension for these trailers is a torsion-axle design. This is highly unusual in the towable RV space but provides a smoother ride for the trailer. Which means fewer road irregularities are transmitted into the trailer. In other words: less harsh jiggling.
Attention to Detail That Is Attention-Grabbing
Attention to detail is another thing that’s typical of Flagstaff products. A clear example of this is the owner’s manual binder where all the various components of the owners’ manual are put together in a single binder. This also includes a touch-up kit for the various wall surfaces in the trailer should one become nicked or such.
As mentioned, the feel of this rig seems rather plush. This could be a very nice choice for couples who spend a lot of time out on the road. It’s spacious in all the right places, including interior storage. Also know that Flagstaff and Rockwood offer nearly identical products. So if you like this rig but don’t have a Flagstaff dealer nearby, you might find that the Rockwood Signature 8265KBS is a suitable cousin.
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