Or what about a smaller tent trailer for the adults, which also makes a nice gathering place in the cold or the rain, and putting the kids outside in a tent so they get that experience? REI sells a tent that goes up in a minute and is a thing of wonder, IMO. The Caddis Rapid 6 Tent for $269. I stumbled across it last year when I was thinking of maybe going back to tent camping instead of getting an R-Pod.  (It’s the tent I wish I’d had when I was camping my way cross-country and back in 1977. Instead, what we had in those days was a pup tent with 14 stakes - took forever to set up.)

And, now is a good to look.  When the camping season starts to end (cooler weather) the salesmen start to get hungry.

If you FB, there is a strong, for it's age, owners group over there..

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NoBoOwners/

Thanks for all of the input, folks.  I think if we had taken my truck to look at the NoBo, we would have driven home with it.  I'll probably pull the trigger in the next couple of weeks.

Then I just need to find a forum for the NoBo, unless a sub-section on this forum can be created since they are built in the same factory with many of the same features and designs.

On the frame I did one time do a quick structural analysis on it (I'm not a structural engineer but I know enough to be dangerous ). It looked like on a fully loaded larger rPod we have about a 2.5-3g factor before we hit yield strength in bending. That's apparently roughly in the range that vehicle designers use as a minimum safety factor for bump loading. Any actual structural engineers out there feel free to correct me. 

Since you have a seriously robust tow vehicle and should be able to get by without using a weight distribution hitch, that would reduce the max frame load significantly since it occurs pretty close to the point where wd hitch bars would be tensioned.   

And as mcarter says, there haven't been any reported frame failures so we're probably ok there unless you want to run the rubicon or something. 

+1 to mcarter's comment that the construction techniques and fastenings will likely be your weak link in any of these built-to-a-price-point travel trailers. 

Originally posted by StephenH About that axle, at the Kentucky MiniMini/10th Anniversary Rally, the question about the axle rating came up. Yes, it is the same basic hardware as a 4400 lb axle except that because the mounts are so far inboard from the wheels, the axle is derated to 3500 lbs. If the mounts were next to the arms, the rating would be higher. It makes sense because the longer distance means the tire can exert more force on the axle.

I'll have to check again, but at least on the NoBo 19.5, I seem to recall the mount being fairly close to the trailing arm.

I can only base my frame report on an estimate since the bottom of the NoBo is enclosed.  The tubing I could see at the front with the jack and propane cylinder looked identical to the R Pod that was sitting next to it.

I could see the label on the axle, but they were washing the nearby trailers and the runoff was puddling under the rig I wanted to crawl under, so I couldn't get close enough to read the info.  It is a 6 lug hub on the axle.

Having the R Pod and the NoBo parked right next to each other was nice to make direct comparisons.  You can tell they are made in the same assembly plant as floor plans and certain materials are almost identical.  The fit, finish, and overall materials quality seemed just slightly better on the NoBo.  If the NoBo 19.5 didn't have the panoramic window in the front over the queen bed, I think my wife would have been sold on the RP190.  I think either product would do well enough off road in the areas I plan on taking them.  I'm limited on where I can drive my land yacht of a tow rig anyway.

I have a Lippert 3500 lb rated axle in my 2015 179 (FR has used both Dexter and Lippert axles in the product line over the years). When I called up Lippert to see about an axle upgrade they asked for my "variant" number. When I gave them that they said they could sell me a bolt up replacement 4400 lb axle but it was identical to my 3500 lb one except for the label. Needless to say I didn't buy it . The next higher weight range axles from Lippert starts at 5200 lbs and take 6 lug wheels. 

Ensure your brakes are in good working order.  Not so much for the grades, although there are a few, but for the wildlife on the road.  Buffalo, Antelope, goats and moose etc.

Nicest thing about this trip, no one is in a hurry and are very courteous on one another.........Fantastic trip,  take it if you can!!!!

For the issue of the R Pod or No Bo being cramped for six people during inclement weather, it would still be a step up from my current setup which is just a 6 person dome tent.  I'm mostly wanting a trailer for the full bathroom and shower, and a cozy place for the wife and I to sleep.  At one point I had looked at either buying or building a rugged utility style trailer with built in tent, but having a dry bath is a requirement of the wife, which limits me to one of the mainstream models.

From what I'm hearing, the biggest issue with taking a Pod off-road is that the frame and axle aren't built to take any kind of abuse so they tend to twist apart?  I'm going to go look at a couple of NoBo's today to see what the fit/finish is like and if they would be towable to the places I'm thinking of going.

I would have no issue sleeping older kids in the dome.

The Pods are not any kind of off road rig, and truthfully, the NoBo's are having some pretty serious teething problems right now.. give them another year..

If off grid and off ground is your goal, I might suggest a ruggedized cargo trailer of some sort, to haul a larger heavier multi room family tent, and cots. Portable shower gear, extra H2O supplies, and a composting toilet. Heck you can even get cot bunk beds for the younger ones..

R-Pods are nice 2 person trailers for campground and light boondocking use. Going to seem crowded with a couple kids in them, it's hard for me to imagine 6 people in one at for any length of time, say on a cold rainy day when no one wants to be stuck out in the tent. 

They are built light for towing using mid sized vehicles. Axles and frames for example don't have a lot of excess margin built into them, if any. And the HRE version has the same axle and frame as all the other R-Pods.  I take ours on graded forest service roads and through some occasional small to moderate potholes, very slowly. 

Looking at the No Boundaries trailers, while being marketed for off road usage, I would suspect similar design and construction standards, so if rough road usage is a key part of your mission I would do some careful research.