Okay, it's time. I've lurked and read, and lurked and read, registered, and lurked and read, and I'm ready to out "mybadself." I had looked at trailers for the past 4-5 years. Looked at used; new was too expensive. Over the past year, I looked seriously. I liked the Jayco product, and decided they would be the manufacturer of choice. My wife and I made the decision that we would buy new, if we found what we wanted... as long as it was "reasonable." In my research, I really liked the 2011 25RKS, but it's 2012, and the only one we both could agree on was the 26RKS. We found one at a local dealer, an upgraded (loaded) 2012 26RKS, and really liked the layout... but, the asking price was almost $30K... Nope. But thanks! Started looking online, and in the last week of May, found a new 2012 26RKS for more than $10K less - at Camping World in Albuquerque, NM. Did the deal over the phone, and left Wednesday (5/30) after work to pick up our new trailer!
We made it as far Gallup, NM and slept for about 4 hours and headed into Albuquerque to make our 9:00 a.m. appointment. Good service, got what we wanted, and were out in 2 hours. Visited with friends before leaving, and headed west. We picked up some food and supplies and decided to stop, once again, in Gallup. Nice little RV park. Had our first meal and got familiar with the trailer. We're owners!! Yay!!
We pulled out of Gallup and headed west and, since it was the weekend, decided we go to the Grand Canyon. It is on the way home... (I hadn't been; the wife had). Headed up through Flagstaff and around the south rim. Beautiful. Came out of the park on the west entrance and pulled in to the RV park there. Spent two days there, before heading home. Pulled the trailer ~700 miles before bringing it home!
Since then, we've camped at: Pine Valley, UT; Zion N.P.; and, Pahrump, NV. I need to camp more to bring that $ per night down... hehehehe... Here's a pic from our Pine Valley trip.