Today’s RV review is of the 2025 Flagstaff Classic F301RKS fifth wheel. I recently got to see one of these in person and there were a number of changes that were significant enough that I thought we should all look at this model again.
From the road up—big changes for 2025
There are two big changes to this model for 2025. The first of those starts down where the rubber meets the road. Well, close to there.
In a huge shift for a Flagstaff product, the company moved away from the torsion axles on their fifth wheel products to a new setup called slipper roller spring.
Essentially, this is a leaf spring setup where the leading edge of the leaf spring is attached, as most of them are, to the structure of the RV. But the magic happens where the opposite end of the spring is suspended on a roller so that the spring doesn’t transmit as much of the road’s harshness to the interior of the RV.
Further, there are bushings built into the system that further help dampen vibration.
I was told by a decision maker at Flagstaff that this suspension is also better for larger and heavier RVs where there can be significant changes between the unladen and loaded weight. This has better suspension performance and reduced interior harshness over a wider range of weight.
But the other aspect of this is that this system also works with an anti-lock braking system that is now standard in these trailers. I think that anti-lock trailer brakes are one of the best safety improvements that have come on the scene and can be a major enhancement.
Here’s an article about this. I actually got to ride in a truck towing a fifth wheel with anti-lock brakes recently to see how it improved handling. Yes, it was an incredible experience.
Other than that, you’ll find that the slide mechanism on this is a rack-and-pinion slide, which I like. This also has four-point automatic leveling.
They also include a tire pressure monitoring system and utilize Goodyear Endurance tires.
Flagstaff does their own wall lamination in-house, including a laminated wall under the nose cap, which is highly unusual.
What’s inside the Flagstaff Classic F301RKS
This is a floor plan that will either be a big hit or a swing and a miss, depending on your priorities.
What’s really great about this floor plan is that it’s a dream come true for entertainers. If you love to cook and have people over, this could be one of the best fifth wheels out there.
The kitchen spans the width of the back of this rig and stretches down the camp side all the way to the door.
Further, there is a big, almost-residential-sized stove and oven along with a big microwave. Cabinet space abounds, with the cabinets and drawers both above and below all that counter space.
But the seating is where this might be polarizing.
The standard seating is a large U-shaped dinette with a free-standing table. There is also a two-butt couch on the bulkhead of the rig. But neither of these is going to be ideal if you’re a movie watcher.
However, if you have a ton of folks over to watch sports, this might serve you well.
There are also choices here. You could swap out the dinette and go with a couch, and that two-person couch could also be theater seats. Or, there are also theater seats for the dinette.
This would serve me very well as I don’t watch TV and it would be fun for entertaining. But since it’s not the only floor plan Flagstaff has, there are plenty of choices.
Upstairs changes
Another big area of change in this RV is upstairs, where Flagstaff has eliminated the slide. That means there’s now a north-south facing bed. The standard bed is a proper queen, but you can also choose a 72” X 80” bed if you’re feeling higher up the royalty food chain.
There is only a larger closet with a couple of bigger drawers underneath for hanging storage.
The bathroom hasn’t changed significantly but it really didn’t need to, either.
Eliminating the upstairs slide room did simplify things. That also means the price is lower than in previous years, even though the anti-lock braking and the new suspension are standard. Nice.
Boondocking and travel access in the Flagstaff Classic F301RKS
Surprisingly, you can pretty much access this whole RV with the slide closed, which is really unusual in a fifth wheel. Of course, RV companies don’t recommend occupying the slide when it’s in. However, you can also access the upper deck. Since there’s no slide up there, you could stealth camp overnight.
Helping facilitate that is the optional Power Package in this RV. There are two variants on this package: one with 460 amp hours of battery and one with 920 amp hours of battery. These are all Mastervolt systems and include an A/C with a soft start and a 3,000-watt CombiMaster inverter. So, yes, you can run the A/C with this system.
This is the same system I’ve had in my past two RVs and it’s been absolutely fantastic.
Conclusions about the Flagstaff Classic F301RKS
More and more I’m seeing RV manufacturers really step up with improvements to the core aspects of their RVs. At the same time, they are dropping the price and eliminating some features that hadn’t been important to buyers.
The anti-lock braking and more flexible suspension on this are examples of that—more important features that will really matter over time.
My thanks to Josh from Bish’s RV for the video and photos in this article.
More about these RV reviews
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. They are based on information from a single unit and may not reflect your actual experience. Shop your RV and dealership carefully before making a buying decision. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.
Tony comes to RVtravel.com having worked at an RV dealership and been a life long RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. He also works closely with a number of RV manufacturers to get an inside look at how things are done and is a brand ambassador for Rockwood Mini Lite with his wife, Peggy.
You can also check out his RV podcast with Peggy.
##RVDT2501
A Forest River product…thank you ..NO.
Exactly !
Why?
Thank you, Tony! Sounds like a good choice. Have a great week and safe travels!