Hi Jerry and Nadene! A belated "Welcome" to the forum!
Congratulations on the successful maiden voyage over I-10----I just traversed much the same route three days ago on my return from Florida back to Oklahoma. Saw the same construction and rain, too! Let us know how the tow dolly works out on your Adirondacks trip. I am a new RV'r as well, and considered using a dolly but decided I didn't want the extra "baggage", so got a vehicle I could flat tow and have been happy with that arrangement. Of course you'll have the same access issues flat towing--since you really can't back up more than a few feet (in a straight line) with that setup either.
Search the forum on your slide slide out question; I don't think that issue is a "common" problem, but I have seen a couple of references to that in older forum posts.
As you go forward, don't hesitate to post any questions that someone might help with--the folks on the forum are pretty willing to jump in with ideas and answers when they can.
All the best, and again---Welcome! Mike