Hello and Thanks!

Thanks, Dave...we really appreciate your input.  Sounds like we'd also end up wanting the extra space.  

Welcome! 

To your first question about 172 vs. 176, the slide-out does make a difference.  We were set on getting a 171 (no bunks) until we got inside a 177 and a 178, which both have the slide-outs.  Big difference.  I'd suggest seeing both in person and make your decision based on what you feel.  Be sure to bring the whole family so you can get a real taste of being inside both with four people.

To question B, the Hood River Edition (HRE for short) is only available to dealers in the West (basically, Rocky Mountains to the Pacific).  They are manufactured in Oregon, as opposed to Indiana.  Eastern dealers can't get them, at least not new ones.  There are very few differences between the HRE and non-HRE models.  The biggest one is that HRE's have larger (15") wheels with knobby, off-road(ish) tires.  Non HRE models in the past could get axle risers which raised the POD up several (4"?) inches, so that they were virtually the same height as the HREs, making it less likely to scrape on driveways, etc.  New R-pods all come standard with axle risers, so you don't need to worry about that. 

So, long story short, you can't get a new HRE in the East, and there's really not much reason to get one, anyway.  If you like the 15" rims and knobby tires, you could always do an after-market swap.