RPod Shopper

Greetings from an R-Pod shopper and potential future owner!

I'm considering an RPod as my first RV. Here's my situation... Some of it, I fear, borders on "Too Much Information", but life is what it is.

I'm 56, single, retired, and can comfortably afford to own a small trailer and use it frequently. I'd mostly be using it alone, with maybe now and again a friend or date tagging along. Currently I live in Tennessee, and my potential tow vehicle is a 2015 Dodge Caravan in excellent condition, rated for 3450 pounds and 345 on the hitch. While I'm aware that the RPod 180-- the model I think I'm interested in-- is within these limits, and that at least a few people on the RPod forum tow with this same setup and seem happy with it... A lot of other people here also say it's foolish to even try. Plus, I'm worried about how much it might cost to set up my van with a transmission cooler and a trailer brake controller, as currently it has neither. I'm also planning to sell my home soon and relocate further south. Since I don't know exactly where I want to end up yet, I plan to pretty much sell everything and take a multi-month trip to sort of look places over and try them out. By the nature of things... I'm eventually going to _have_ to cross several mountain ranges to do this effectively, which worries me. Is my van realistically up to this, or not? It should be noted that I tend to travel light, have very cheap tastes, and don't carry a megaton of stuff with me. For example, I used to go touring all over the eastern USA on a 400 cc scooter fairly happily, overnighting at the least expensive lodgings I came across.

Second, I keep hearing (here on the forums) that RPods pull badly due to their height, that you "hit a wall" at 50 MPH. Are there other brands/models/styles that pull better, that I ought to be considering instead? "Slow" doesn't terribly bother me, but potential excessive wear and tear and fuel consumption does. All I really need is a comfortable bed, toilet, ventilation and shower, plus a sink and counter to make sandwiches or set a slow cooker on (when parked). I think I could even be perfectly happy dispensing with a fridge and using an ultra-efficient 12-volt cooler instead. I'd also very much like to be able to boondock at Wal-Mart and take quick naps or prepare quick meals at rest stops. Would a folding hard-side RV suit my needs better? Does Wal-Mart complain about those? Are there any that have showers?

Mostly, to wrap things up, I'm looking for a viable Motel 6 substitute on wheels that doesn't involve an undue amount of hardship. All advice is welcome, and triply so experienced advice!

One final issue, not for the squeamish... As a large man who eats large meals, I'm very concerned about RV toilet setups in general. The hole in the bottom of the ones I've seen, frankly, doesn't look very large. Is this a genuine issue, or am I worried about nothing? Sorry to be gross, but... It worries me, and it's something that I just can't get around asking someone somewhere sometime about.

This looks like a truly wonderful forum, full of truly wonderful people. Thanks in advance for your replies!