to slideout or not to,.. that is the question

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   Slideouts? I don't need no stinkin' slideouts!
Well, I intend this subject to be 'eye catching'.

The special value of an r-pod is the ability to tow it with a
reasonably light tow vehicle. Roominess isn't in it. In fact, I believe that
once your primary interest becomes 'roominess', none of the r-pods is the best
travel trailer choice for you, which is why so many people here have opted for
Lances (a name just randomly picked out of the blue) and other, bigger, trailers. 

Now, I will come right out and say that we have a 171 and love it.
However, I do have to admit that the limited room in front of the stove
requires a 'mealtime waltz' when we have to go back and forth to get stuff.
However, accepting this compromise, what we have gained is a lighter travel
trailer without the fears of bent frames, or water leakage, or trees in the
wrong place for extending the slideout, or jammed slideouts, or the other problems that seem to come
with slideouts. 

A 'side tent' like the cheaply constructed but usable r-dome or
the better quality Pahaque, cures most of the space problem, anyway. 

So,
if you are considering an r-pod, at least give a close look at a 171 or 172
,with a side tent, before being tempted by a bigger (and more problematic)
model.

There, I feel better.

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Happy Tripping Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 473	Topic: to slideout or not to,.. that is the question Posted: 25 Jun 2018 at 11:21am
	Slideouts? I don't need no stinkin' slideouts! Well, I intend this subject to be 'eye catching'. The special value of an r-pod is the ability to tow it with a reasonably light tow vehicle. Roominess isn't in it. In fact, I believe that once your primary interest becomes 'roominess', none of the r-pods is the best travel trailer choice for you, which is why so many people here have opted for Lances (a name just randomly picked out of the blue) and other, bigger, trailers. Now, I will come right out and say that we have a 171 and love it. However, I do have to admit that the limited room in front of the stove requires a 'mealtime waltz' when we have to go back and forth to get stuff. However, accepting this compromise, what we have gained is a lighter travel trailer without the fears of bent frames, or water leakage, or trees in the wrong place for extending the slideout, or jammed slideouts, or the other problems that seem to come with slideouts. A 'side tent' like the cheaply constructed but usable r-dome or the better quality Pahaque, cures most of the space problem, anyway. So, if you are considering an r-pod, at least give a close look at a 171 or 172 ,with a side tent, before being tempted by a bigger (and more problematic) model. There, I feel better.

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 25 Jun 2018 at 12:12pm
	Just an off hand guess, maybe this is one reason for 11 different models of R-Pods. "You can have it your way."
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Keith-N-Dar Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 03 Apr 2011 Location: Mayville, WI Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447	Posted: 25 Jun 2018 at 1:24pm
	This is about as useful as never ending posts about other pod related topics that are more a metter of personal choice than data. I wouldn't have a Pod without a slide, We enjoy the extra room, and there are very few slide problems compared to the number of RVs with them. Like every thing else with an RV the problems you list can be avoided with minimal care and maintenance. If an owner is unable to take care of these then perhaps a trailer is not ideal for them.
	Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150

furpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128	Posted: 25 Jun 2018 at 1:25pm
	To each their own.. slideouts are an ancient and proven technology.. can they have problems? yes. Is it any kind of regular thing? no. The slideout in a 177 vs no slide in a 171, only gives about 8 sqft of space extra, BUT that's just about 40% MORE space.. and while 8 sqft isn't even a nice linen closet, 40% more floor space when you have 2 adults and 2 dogs inside.. is pretty darn nice. While we fall in the category of the "group who went to something bigger.." we came to R-pods from something even bigger then what we have now.. LOL.. But, it wasn't because the Pod made us unhappy, it was because our needs and usage changed. Week before last we went to the ERU, spent 9 days there, and my wife was able to work from her onboard office space with no issues, while me and the dog did our own thing throughout the day.. So we got to camp and socialize for the whole week, while only burning up 2 days of her vacation time. Works for us. I suspect, in a few more years, when she retires, a 178 is our next TT.. though.. we have a strong desire for a truck camper, now that we again, own a pick-up.

TheBum Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Feb 2016 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 1407	Posted: 25 Jun 2018 at 1:42pm
	I'm not sure what you mean by "bigger (and more problematic) model". Our 179 has been very reliable.
	Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Posted: 25 Jun 2018 at 1:48pm
	Well, if the OP is soliciting opinions on the matter...... I suppose I fall into the "to each his own" camp. I agree wholeheartedly that just inches can make a big difference in these things - both in a practical manner and "feel". My (present) Coleman CT187QB, no slide, at 19'2", falls between the old and the new Pods, length wise. It is a bit wider at 84". I removed the OEM dinette/seating and made a smaller version, in order to gain a few inches of floor space. Dixie appreciates the extra room! My reasoning in not getting a slide is that I am outside most of the time and the slide would be "just one more thing to fool with". That said, IMHO TTs with slides "feel" much bigger. My 2010 Coleman is in it's 9th season of camping and the thought of something new has crossed my mind. A part of me finds something smaller attractive. However, I don't know that I could give up the toilet and shower.

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 25 Jun 2018 at 2:51pm
	When we looked at R-Pods - we saw the 171 and 172. My wifes comment " we already have a teardrop." Personally think fine for some folks, not our cup of tea.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

TheBum Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Feb 2016 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 1407	Posted: 25 Jun 2018 at 4:38pm
	It's funny that my wife was sold on both our house and our 179 due to the kitchen. She does a lot of baking and has become a pretty good wiz at the convection microwave.
	Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067	Posted: 25 Jun 2018 at 5:38pm
	We owned a 173 (no slide) for 6 years. We loved it and used it extensively, including several 4 week cross country trips. We put a lot of time and effort into mods to make it fit our needs. We thought it was perfect. Until we saw the 179. We talked about them, looked at them, looked at all of the clones and tried to be happy with our 173. Didn’t work. We bought a used 179 and now we love it more than the 173. it is MUCH better because of the extra length, the better floor plan and the slide out. To us, the 179 is luxuriously large, spacious and has lots of storage space. We feel like we have moved up in many ways. I will probably never own another travel trailer unless it has a slide out. Vann
	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067	Posted: 25 Jun 2018 at 5:56pm
	We owned a 173 (no slide) for 6 years. We loved it and used it extensively, including several 4 week cross country trips. We put a lot of time and effort into mods to make it fit our needs. We thought it was perfect. Until we saw the 179. We talked about them, looked at them, looked at all of the clones and tried to be happy with our 173. Didn’t work. We bought a used 179 and now we love it more than the 173. it is MUCH better because of the extra length, the better floor plan and the slide out. To us, the 179 is luxuriously large, spacious and has lots of storage space. We feel like we have moved up in many ways. I will probably never own another travel trailer unless it has a slide out. Vann
	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179