Guest Post By Tony Barthel
Podcaster, Content Creator, StressLess Camper
Welcome to RV Trader’s exciting new series, where we review the newest and most innovative RV models showcased at the RV Open House event. Today’s RV review is of a forthcoming Rockwood Signature Ultra model, the 8338DB. This is a member of Rockwood’s Signature series, which are the larger travel trailer offerings. The signature feature of this RV is that it actually has two bedrooms, which can be great for couples traveling together or for those with older children.
Rockwood Signature / Flagstaff Classic
Rockwood has developed an enviable reputation as a manufacturer of quality trailers. Even during the pandemic, they maintained the same team that has worked for them for years. In fact, some of the team members are second-generation. This is not typical in the RV space and is a point of differentiation with Rockwood and Flagstaff.
Other things they do include fully laminating the walls, including the slide box walls, in a vacuum lamination process that includes Azdel, a man-made component that doesn’t deteriorate when wet. It also offers better sound and thermal insulation than the Luan that has been used in RVs for years.
Rockwood is also known for their torsion axle suspensions, Goodyear Endurance tires with tire pressure monitoring systems, frameless windows, laminated roof structure, high-quality cabinet shop, and much more. The brand has earned high marks for typically choosing better quality components when given the option.
Like many RV brands, Forest River’s Rockwood has a sister brand in the Flagstaff line that is identical except for the name. So if your local dealership doesn’t carry Rockwood but carries Flagstaff, it’s the same product with a different label.
Two Bedrooms
As with all Rockwood Signature models, the front bedroom in this one starts with a proper queen-sized bed. You can opt for a king-sized bed, if you prefer.
If closet and drawer space are important to you, this is a worthy contender. There are six drawers in the front bedroom along with four larger cabinets, more cabinets over the bed, and a hanging closet. The bed is lifted for additional storage and the under-bed storage is accessible through a compartment door on the outside, too.
I like the small shelves on either side of the bed, which is in a slide room, along with the reading lights. It’s a nice space.
The second bedroom is one of the more unusual set-ups that I’ve seen, as it would work as either a bedroom, an office, or a space to lounge and watch a movie.
Rockwood does a very good job with their Murphy bed designs – the bed itself doesn’t have a bend in the middle, unlike most of these types of beds. This bedroom features a Murphy bed on the camp side of the rig which means there’s a couch there by day and a bed by night. The particular couch that Rockwood uses also incorporates flip-up foot rests so, while not a theater seat, it does offer more than just a typical couch. If you’re the occupant of this bedroom, you’ll have four drawers, hanging closet space, and cabinet space – as well as additional storage above the bed.
Both the main bedroom and the second bedroom incorporate a TV, and Rockwood uses 12-volt TVs with integrated sound systems. So for those who like off-grid camping, you can operate the TVs without an inverter. Nice.
There’s actually a third TV in the main living space which sits opposite the theater seats, making it a good place to watch a movie on rainy days. That TV sits above an electric fireplace.
Rockwood has done an interesting job in regards to meal time seating with a table that incorporates two free-standing chairs and an ottoman with a padded back. You can move the ottoman around, and it also sports more storage – so you can bring it over and create a conversation area with the theater seat occupants.
When it’s meal time, there’s a backrest that attaches to the wall with “hook and loop” (more commonly known as Velcro) fasteners.
The chef in the family might appreciate the counter space that includes a large island in the middle of the main living space. You’ll find a single-bowl stainless steel sink here, too. I like that Rockwood utilizes a larger oven that’s actually able to be used to prepare meals – we’ve done so frequently in our own trailer with the same size oven. Many RV companies use the smaller oven, which has significant hot spots and isn’t really useful. There are also high-performance vent fans overhead, as well as a vaulted ceiling.
Toilet Talk
The bathroom facilities in this rig are certainly friendly for those of us who need more space. I found the room around the porcelain toilet, which was angled away from the wall, to be more than sufficient for all restroom activities.
The radius shower is also large enough that we larger campers have sufficient space. There’s some storage in the bathroom, and a door both from the main bedroom and from the main living area.
Boondocking, Travel Access, and Seasonal Camping
If boondocking is your thing, Rockwood trailers incorporate a device called the ShowerMiser which routes the water coming to the shower back into the system so you don’t waste water waiting for it to get hot. I love this feature. While we’re on the shower topic, I think the shower head might actually be good enough to keep in lieu of replacing. That was a pleasant surprise.
When it comes to travel access with the slides in, you can get to the bathroom. But as for the rest of the trailer, as they say in the mafia movies, fuggedaboudit. When the slides are in, the trailer is effectively inaccessible – except for the bathroom.
Like all Rockwood Signature models, this one has an underbelly that’s enclosed and heated. Plus, there are 12-volt heating pads on the holding tanks, too. Rockwood doesn’t rate their trailers specifically for cold weather camping, but these Signature series would go at least three seasons, maybe four.
Rockwood trailers come with 200-watts of solar on the roof and an 1800-watt inverter, along with a 30-amp charge controller (which should be okay for those who like to camp with full hook-ups). This model is also available with the Power Package, which features 400-amp hours of lithium power, along with 1,000-watts of solar. The entire system is sourced from MasterVolt, which makes these systems for yachts. Having one source means no finger pointing if there’s an issue. That’s a big deal with advanced solar power systems. I have this in my own trailer and it is a game changer for planning our adventures.
Things To Consider
Here are a few things worth noting. There are windows in the slide room, which houses the theater seats and dining table, but the bedrooms don’t have camp-side windows – and even off-camp-side window coverage is sparse.
These models are not small nor light, but they are nicely equipped and are well made. However, don’t even think about towing this with anything other than at least a ¾ ton truck. You may even require something more capable.
Another challenge is outside storage. There is storage in the slide room under the bed, and more in the slide room under the rear bed, but this is not the trailer for you if you need a lot of outside storage.
This would be a great choice for people who might want to bring along another couple, or children or grandchildren. With the second bedroom that also incorporates a couch and multiple TVs, this would be a good choice for entertaining people with widely varying preferences on those rainy days at camp. But the way Rockwood trailers are built, and the solid feel of the interiors, only mother nature would be raining on your parade – as these trailers are a solid choice.
This review is based on a pre-production prototype I saw at the RV Open House event. Final details might be different. Pricing and specifications weren’t available when this article was written.
This is an honest look at RVs from RV industry insider Tony Barthel, where you learn the good, the bad, and the intriguing about travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class A RVs, Class C RVs, and Class B RVs, as well as some interesting class-breaking RVs. Tony also writes for StressLessCamping.com.
