I found a dealer a little over an hour away that has this model so we will probably go up there this weekend to see it in person before making a final decision.  Their price is $2000 higher than the lowest I've found and they won't budge so I'm not planning on buying, just looking.  Unfortunately the lowest price is 10 hours away and has a 6-week order lead time, but I don't mind the trip.  If there are any delays it would mean I don't get to use it this season...

furpod - lol, yeah I thought about that for a few minutes.  Maybe keep the pod so I can sell the new camper once the kids are gone.  But the pod is paid-for and still has decent value.  Fiscally it would make more sense to roll the equity forward instead of keeping it tied up for the next 8 years.  I'm glad you can be a two-camper family, my wife would envy your situation.  She's wanted a shiny Airstream in the driveway for years. 

 

I considered the Visa 19ERD.  I like the look of the Visa, it is similar to the pod with the fiberglass and curved front.  Its layout solves my biggest complaints that I've had with our pod - it has a dry bath and a walk-around queen even though it is only 19 feet long.  The bath is interesting because the shower isn't walled off along with the toilet and sink like most campers - shower and toilet can be used separately which is a bonus in the chaos of getting ready in the morning.  But it isn't cheap and for two more feet I can get a lot more elbow room and better sleeping arrangements for my kids.

 

Which brings me to this Crossroads model.  It isn't pretty, but it is functional - and even new it is cheap.  No bunks, no slides, no wet bath, just enough extra room, and I can get out of bed normally.  I weighed the benefits of various floorplans and I like this one partially because it puts the bathroom near the door.  You can get right in and out without travelling the length of the camper or squeezing past anyone sitting at the couch or dinette.  Most bathrooms are stuck on the rear wall and put the couch and dinette in the way, and right where they'll get blasted with warm or cold air every time the door is opened.  Oh, and it has a self-supporting awning.

 

Ok, blast me for deserting the ranks of the pod-faithful.  Be gentle.

 

And in case you are wondering, I'm not planning on going anywhere.

 

The 177 solves the problem of negotiating multiple people around the tight space, and makes it easier for the person at the back of the bed to get in and out in the middle of the night.  I've wanted one since they were announced (the week we picked up our 171)!  However, getting a slightly longer trailer and a walk-around queen solves those two problems.  With the potential for a slide to malfunction or leak and the extra 300-400 pounds it adds, I don't think I want one.  A very "nice-to-have" on the Pods, though.

Has anyone seen one of these in person?  One downside is they are much heavier, dry weight is a little over 4000, but they are also several feet longer.