Heartland RV: the Pod Copy Cat
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=925
Printed Date: 09 May 2025 at 6:54pm
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Topic: Heartland RV: the Pod Copy Cat
Posted By: TerryM
Subject: Heartland RV: the Pod Copy Cat
Date Posted: 04 Dec 2009 at 11:21pm
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I just received this from Heartland RV. Followed by my original e-mail to them: Thank you for your interest in the MPG, and to ensure that you have
all your information correct, I will provide you with a list of improvements /
feature that the MPG has over all
competitors
1) Gel-coat fiberglass
2) 15" tires not 14"
3) 2 20lb LP tanks not 1
4) Night shade not blinds
5) shower surround----not just a shower pan with
unprotected bathroom walls
6) a sink in the bath room to wash your hands versus
no sink in the bath room
7) black tank flush versus
N/A
8) Matching aluminum spare tire versus plain steel
wheel
9) ABS molded fender skirts versus raw
metal
10) larger Refer
11) a larger sewer hose holder vs. a very small sewer
hose holder
I hope this helps you in the
future
Mike Creech
From:Email addy removed by Terry for security Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 10:46 PM To: Info Subject: New Heartland RV Contact Message
------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Replies:
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2009 at 3:04pm
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The MPG sounds good would like to see it at a local dealer or RV show. The bath sounds like it is a improvement over the RPod. I am curious what the specifications are, the height, width, weight, tongue weight, etc. The finders I think I would rather have the metal as on the RPod. David ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2009 at 6:02pm
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Am I missing something, or has the MPG thread been DELETED from the other forum?!?
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 05 Dec 2009 at 7:17pm
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It would appear that it is gone. I posted a statement about it. I wonder how long that will last. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: yizit
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2009 at 12:41am
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So it begins. Wonder how many other posts were deleted.
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Former owner of 2009 172 Darlene & Jim, Ewok our Lhasa Roada our 2004 Roadtrek C190Popular |
Posted By: Retired Roxy
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2009 at 11:46am
I think the compitition has been reading about all of the mods or at least looking at the r-pod and thinking 'what can we do better? and 'what do the people want?' Many of the 'improvements' are what we have been doing to our pods! How much do you wanna bet that forest river will doing many of these options real soon????  ------------- Retired Roxy and Cody (4 legged friend) travelin' in a 172 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2009 at 11:49am
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Looks like its back, but now under the Maintenance section. It originally was under the Misc. section. So the question now is - did it disappear for a while, or was it just moved from the start and we missed it?
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2009 at 2:39pm
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I can't tell if it was just moved either. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: Butterfly_Lee
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2009 at 5:08pm
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TerryM So did they just go down our wishlist and pick the mods we wanted? Did you tell them you had an R-pod? I agree RF is probably going to have to step up. That's what America is about building the better mouse trap (with rv'ers as the mice). It would be kind kool, as they made improvements to offer UPGRADES to existing owners. With owner loyalty discounts, i.e. hand sink upgrade kit. Lee  |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2009 at 6:10pm
It is possible they read the forum and see what the comments were. Good and bad. Actually, that isn't a bad idea at all. Below is what I sent them. So no I didn't tell them I have a R-Pod. From: @earthlink.net
[mailto:@earthlink.net]
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 10:46 PM To: Info Subject: New Heartland RV Contact Message
------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2009 at 7:50pm
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Ouch. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Tusten Traveler
Date Posted: 06 Dec 2009 at 8:08pm
Yeah, Terry...a person knows where they stand with you, eh?? 
The only thing on that list that really interests me are the shades instead of the dang blinds. Other than that, no WOWs. And where are the interior pictures, Hearland?? ------------- John and Linda One 14 lb Cockapoo 2010 RPod 174 |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2009 at 12:38am
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I did notice that he didn't have anything to say about stealing the design. They are a company with a good reputation for quality products. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: rpodadmin
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2009 at 4:04pm
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I was in one last weekend at the Lousiville RV show... it is very nice, they made many improvments over the r-pod (granted they copied it verbatium) but in the RV world manufacturers are always copying 'floorplans' - that is nothing new there. The overall quality of the interior appliances, sink, floor covering etc is very high. Forest River would do well to up their quality as well and make a great product even better.
Of even more interest to me was the Gulf Stream VISA .. that was impressive. Under 2700lbs, 20ft, great exterior 'retro' styling and at least twice the interior space of the MPG and r-pod... and a real awning included
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Posted By: rpodadmin
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2009 at 4:15pm
Some Photos:
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Posted By: rpodadmin
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2009 at 4:58pm
MPG Interior Photos:
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Posted By: yizit
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2009 at 6:03pm
Only one thing I see that I like better in the MPG is the vinyl flooring. I love the look of wood. I have it in my own house. We tried to get it in the R-Pod but couldn't get it with the dark cabinets Otherwise, I think it does look very similar to the R-Pod. The lighter cabinets are nice, but not as rich looking as in the R-Pod. The cabinets in the MPG looks just like all the other TT we looked at. It does look like the ends are not as curved as in the R-Pod. I like the looks of the R-Pod better. The Visa at 20' is bigger then what we wanted. We wanted something that we could push around by hand. At 20' there are "others" sold out there in that size that have the dual axles. I definitely like the fiberglass walls in the shower. I often thought the shower walls in the Pod wouldn't hold up as well, until I visited my Aunt & Uncle in MI and looked at their TT with the same type of walls and they still look good. There TT is at least 20 yrs old. -------------
Former owner of 2009 172 Darlene & Jim, Ewok our Lhasa Roada our 2004 Roadtrek C190Popular |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2009 at 6:06pm
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Wow, I like 'em both. With add-ons I wouldn't want to pull the Visa with a 3500 pound tow-rated vehicle, but you might get away with it if you were really careful not to load it with junk. And I still like the 'pod better than the mpg. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 07 Dec 2009 at 9:51pm
| I noticed on the MPG that they have white cabinets kind of like the kind Forest River stopped making. I'm not a big fan of that model as I did not want Bunks but was looking for a Queen bed. |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2009 at 3:42pm
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I was searching the web for some information on the MPG. The best I could find was from Trailer Hitch RV Center , they have a good discription and pictures. Looks like a good trailer, I think the price will be higher than the RPod. David ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: rpodadmin
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2009 at 4:04pm
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Price will be very close .. http://www.wholesalervclub.com - www.wholesalervclub.com has them on pre-order... It should be a good 'war' between the two companies to continue to improve their products...
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Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 23 Dec 2009 at 4:50pm
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I like the layout of the 182 Heartland. It has the Queen Bed in it and also no slide. Wonder if they take trades? List price for the camper is about $18,150 and selling for $11,410 not bad at all. I would want to see it in person to see how much head room is there as I'm 6'4" |
Posted By: rpodadmin
Date Posted: 24 Dec 2009 at 2:20pm
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The MPG des not have as pronounced a round shape - it is 'flatter' on top 'longer' ... giving for more head room between 90% of the interior area. |