Thank you for having a look at my first post since joining the R-pod Owners Forum.

With retirement approaching, my significant other and I are making tentative plans to buy a small travel trailer around the spring to summer timeframe next year. We'd be using it to see more of the country, visit children (as well as the one grandchild on the way) who live out of state, and possibly do some snowbirding to escape the New England winter for a couple of months each year.

Some friends of ours own an R-pod and love not only the trailer, but the community. We have done plenty of our own research, too, and after doing walk-throughs at four RV dealerships and watching plenty of helpful YouTube videos, we feel Forest River packs a lot of bang for the buck into R-pods and are leaning toward the 195. 

But first, we need to settle on a tow vehicle. This would replace my current everyday Honda CR-V. I don't envision myself driving a pickup, so I am hoping to stick with an SUV. I've seen people posting here that they use vehicles with 5,000-pound towing capacities - such as the Honda Pilot and the Subaru Ascent - to tow their 195s, but even though there will only be two of us and we know how to travel light, 5,000 pounds just doesn't seem to me like it would allow enough of a margin for safety.

There aren't a lot of alternatives in my target budget that can handle more, but the Nissan Pathfinder, with a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds, would appear to be a good match for the 195, not to mention a solid choice for everyday comfort, features, and safety. Having previously owned an Xterra, I know Nissan builds for performance.

Does anyone here use a Pathfinder for towing, or have thoughts on something else that might be a better choice and not break the bank? I obviously want to be able to afford both the TV and the R-pod payments! 

Thank you ahead of time for whatever advice you can offer up.

...NewEnglandah

P.S. I assume that should we want to go bigger (an R-pod 202), we'd be looking at a situation similar to towing a 195 with a 5,000 pound-rated SUV; namely, a narrow margin for safety.

I think you are being wise and careful.  Many times we have seen new podders try to use a tow vehicle that was not quite capable of the job. Personally, we originally had a Chevy Astro van and it was very marginal.  Ultimately, the transmission failed. 

Save a little longer and spend a little more to get the right vehicle, set it up properly with a wdh and you will be happier and safer.

Best of luck

Vann