R-pod vs. Winnie Drop

Originally posted by julieboyles Thanks. There must be advantages to being in Oregon and buying a Forest River trailer--yes? Doesn't that mean easier service, etc? I want to make the right decision and thought some on here may have compared the two prior to buying the r-pod. I also can't decide between 2-4 years old and a new 2016. Obviously depreciation is a factor for new, but I also value the ready service, warranty, etc. when buying new especially for someone completely inexperienced at this. Decisions, decisions.

Service is ALL about the dealership. Some dealerships are really good.. some not so much. The factory, and or it's location has nothing to do with it.

If a 2-4 year old pod has been well cared for, it shouldn't have any issues. Anything "wrong" with it should have been sorted out by then. Stuff does break of course, and if you are not handy, paying someone else to fix it can be expensive. There is nothing on the pod harder to repair then the stuff around the house, do you do your own repairs and maintenance at home? If so, then you should have no issue. Do you have plumbers, electricians, and handy men on speed dial.. Then new is a better bet. 

The drop is a copy. Literally part for part and even the letters in the name. That is why FR is suing Winnie, not supposedly. An earlier copy called the Heartland MPG was also a copy right down to the model numbers.. FR sued and won that case also.

As far as if they are any good? only time will tell. I know no one who owns one, and have never seen one in the wild. I actually understood them to be out of production already. I know of no one on the board who has had one, they have only been out a year or so.

FR does have a plant in Dallas OR that builds the west coast version of the Pod, called a Hood River Edition, or "HRE", eastern Pods are built in Goshen IN. 

Good luck in your search.