Moving past your first trailer - R-pod Owners Forum

Kudos to Honda for giving it a go. They are smart people there and maybe they will land on something but it is a tough nut to crack; how to make a camper that has the comforts people want, in a package that is convenient, durable and light weight and you don't have to take a mortgage out to buy it. The closest I have seen to solving the problem are Cricket campers, but they are pricey, small and I have yet to see one on the road.

https://taxaoutdoors.com/products/cricket?srsltid=AfmBOoqcqhvc-3Gw7AqBqIsm81Ft_3aP2I4h9RBWjvI-dIx-iRTWxeq3

Gpokluda
2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023)
2022 Escape 5.0TA
2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB
Honda SCL500

Saw this thread randomly and noticed all of the long-timers, so I had to drop in to say "hey". And to add my 2 cents (as I used to do so often lol).

I went from a pop-up, to pod, to 27 foot hard-side with standard hitch, and about 2 years ago my fiance and I bought a 27 foot 5th wheel (half-ton towable) and F150 to match. Quite a change from where I was 16 years ago when I got the pod. But we intend to take long trips - and have already - so I still wanted the room, and the 5th wheel for ease of towing. I took my fiance camping soon after we started dating and she was all-in. She did some tent camping trips in the past so she wasn't completely new to it all.

I've never owned a Ford before, but when I started looking at tow vehicle options 3 years ago almost nothing else on the market came close to the specs. We got the 3.5 eco boost with max tow package, and with 400 hp and 500 ft/lbs, I barely know the 10,000 lb camper is even back there even on hills. And added bonus, I barely notice large wind gusts in the F150, towing or not. We were able to take my prior 27 foot camper on one long camping trip after we got the Ford and I could feel a definite difference between it and the Suburban that I used to tow for 11 years. And that with the WDH not dialed in for the Ford, since I knew that was going to be the only trip. I'm completely sold on the F150 as an A+ towing platform. One downside, after we got the truck we realized just how much tech it has and got scared about future repairs, so we found a dealership out west that sells extended warranties with a discount and we bought one. I'm the type that never buys the extended warranties, but I was fine with this one. Sure enough we have a camera that is acting flaky...

I'm also sold on the 5th wheel. It allowed me to feel comfortable fairly quickly with my fiance getting behind the wheel even though she's never towed any type of trailer before. I don't have to do all of the driving anymore, yay! No worries about sway, no more dealing with a WDH. Downside, the huge hitch in the bed of the truck all the time. Too heavy for one person to lift. But I'm working on clearing out my garage and that may allow me to attach a hoist to the rafters.

A note about my camper, it has the 4-season package, and for several reasons I don't like it. The sealed belly prevents me from inspecting everything, I can't trace the plumbing to verify that this sink goes to X and that sink to Y, and if I ever need to replace one of the dump valves I'm going to have to make a mess of it just getting in. Oh, and the only normal way to heat the underbelly is with the propane furnace. I hate using the furnace. Loud, and gulps propane. Sitting still I can throw a space heater under there but going down the road I don't have a choice. I did multiple winter trips with my pod, down to single digits; I just dry camped and used the bath house. I would be fine doing that again.

I'll post a quick catch-up elsewhere.

Doug ~ '98 Coleman ('05-'09) ~ '10 171 ('09-'15) ~ 2008 Salem ('14-'23) ~ 2019 Keystone ('23-now) ~

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poohbill Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Aug 2019 Location: Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 140	Post Options Post Reply Quote poohbill Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Moving past your first trailer Posted: 14 Jan 2026 at 3:04pm
	Agreed.
	2016 179 Gastropod 2017 Ridgeline

gpokluda Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Nov 2018 Location: East Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 486	Post Options Post Reply Quote gpokluda Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jan 2026 at 7:37am
	Kudos to Honda for giving it a go. They are smart people there and maybe they will land on something but it is a tough nut to crack; how to make a camper that has the comforts people want, in a package that is convenient, durable and light weight and you don't have to take a mortgage out to buy it. The closest I have seen to solving the problem are Cricket campers, but they are pricey, small and I have yet to see one on the road. https://taxaoutdoors.com/products/cricket?srsltid=AfmBOoqcqhvc-3Gw7AqBqIsm81Ft_3aP2I4h9RBWjvI-dIx-iRTWxeq3
	Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Honda SCL500

David and Danette Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1238	Post Options Post Reply Quote David and Danette Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Jan 2026 at 8:01am
	First thing I think of is quality if Honda can build a quality camping trailer for a reasonable price they will be successful. I haven't bought a camper yet that there wasn't something about it that could have been built better. Our Aliner I think is built well except for one thing the cabinets are built using plywood no MDF in the whole camper. But the cabinets are covered with contact paper for appearance and the paper finish is easily scratched off. I think to myself what were they thinking! The only thing I think of it cost less to cover with a paper finish instead of a varnish of some kind.
	2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-2025) 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) 2023 Aliner Scout Lite Middle Tn

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Online Posts: 9065	Post Options Post Reply Quote techntrek Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 19 Jan 2026 at 2:40am
	Saw this thread randomly and noticed all of the long-timers, so I had to drop in to say "hey". And to add my 2 cents (as I used to do so often lol). I went from a pop-up, to pod, to 27 foot hard-side with standard hitch, and about 2 years ago my fiance and I bought a 27 foot 5th wheel (half-ton towable) and F150 to match. Quite a change from where I was 16 years ago when I got the pod. But we intend to take long trips - and have already - so I still wanted the room, and the 5th wheel for ease of towing. I took my fiance camping soon after we started dating and she was all-in. She did some tent camping trips in the past so she wasn't completely new to it all. I've never owned a Ford before, but when I started looking at tow vehicle options 3 years ago almost nothing else on the market came close to the specs. We got the 3.5 eco boost with max tow package, and with 400 hp and 500 ft/lbs, I barely know the 10,000 lb camper is even back there even on hills. And added bonus, I barely notice large wind gusts in the F150, towing or not. We were able to take my prior 27 foot camper on one long camping trip after we got the Ford and I could feel a definite difference between it and the Suburban that I used to tow for 11 years. And that with the WDH not dialed in for the Ford, since I knew that was going to be the only trip. I'm completely sold on the F150 as an A+ towing platform. One downside, after we got the truck we realized just how much tech it has and got scared about future repairs, so we found a dealership out west that sells extended warranties with a discount and we bought one. I'm the type that never buys the extended warranties, but I was fine with this one. Sure enough we have a camera that is acting flaky... I'm also sold on the 5th wheel. It allowed me to feel comfortable fairly quickly with my fiance getting behind the wheel even though she's never towed any type of trailer before. I don't have to do all of the driving anymore, yay! No worries about sway, no more dealing with a WDH. Downside, the huge hitch in the bed of the truck all the time. Too heavy for one person to lift. But I'm working on clearing out my garage and that may allow me to attach a hoist to the rafters. A note about my camper, it has the 4-season package, and for several reasons I don't like it. The sealed belly prevents me from inspecting everything, I can't trace the plumbing to verify that this sink goes to X and that sink to Y, and if I ever need to replace one of the dump valves I'm going to have to make a mess of it just getting in. Oh, and the only normal way to heat the underbelly is with the propane furnace. I hate using the furnace. Loud, and gulps propane. Sitting still I can throw a space heater under there but going down the road I don't have a choice. I did multiple winter trips with my pod, down to single digits; I just dry camped and used the bath house. I would be fine doing that again. I'll post a quick catch-up elsewhere.
	Doug ~ '98 Coleman ('05-'09) ~ '10 171 ('09-'15) ~ 2008 Salem ('14-'23) ~ 2019 Keystone ('23-now) ~