RPod With Rear Garage Guide (Models, Pros, Cons, Review)
Once you enter the RV and travel trailer industry, you will find that there are many different models to choose from. There is something for everyone as these RVs come in different shapes and sizes. They all have the same purpose- they give you a home away from home.
Rear garage may not be the ideal term to use. There is a lift-up doorway and once it is opened you will see a kitchen not a place to park your vehicle or toy. There are some unique floor plans that may interest you. One negative is they are not the best floor plans you can get.
To learn more about the R-Pod, just continue to read our article. It has the information you need to know about so you can make a great decision. It is a good trailer for two or a great hunting trailer for you and your friends.
What is An R-Pod
This is a rounded corner trailer that has a length between 19 and 25 feet. It is a smaller unit that is very basic in features and design. This model series is made by Forest River and has been made by them for about 10 years approx.
Forest River is a mainstream RV maker with lots of models you can look at. It is owned by Berkshire Hathaway which gives you an idea of its management style.
Right now there are 11 models for the 2021 and 2022 series and they range in price from $22,000 to $31,500 approx. These little trailers are affordable and there is a nice community of R-Pod owners that like to talk about their little trailers.
You can find them in the Forest River discussion forum under R-pods. Despite the title of this article, the ‘garage’ is nothing more than an outside kitchen area. The door lifts up and if you do not need a kitchen, it makes for a great storage spot.
In looking at some of the floor plans, there are models where you have to walk through the bathroom to get to the rest of the trailer.
R-Pod Details/Specs
While this travel trailer model ranges in size and weight, the lightest is a 19’ trailer and its total weight comes in at 2714 pounds. The heaviest is a 25’ model that weighs 4574 pounds.
All but 3 trailers come with a slide-out and they all should have 30-gallon fresh, gray, & black water tanks. You can special order the 176T, 177, and 182G models with a 36-gallon freshwater tank.
The hitch weight runs between 245 to 460 pounds depending on the size of your trailer. The allowable cargo weight is about 900 pounds. Unfortunately, you would need more than an SUV to tow this trailer to your campsite and home again.
You get a 1-year warranty on these trailers and their sleeping capacity is between 2 and 4 people. A 20,000 BTU heater will keep you and your family warm and a 20-pound propane tank will make sure your 6-gallon water heater provides enough hot water for everyone.
RPod With Rear Garage
It seems that if you want to get an R-Pod with a rear garage, you need to look for the model numbers ending n G. The 182G is one example of this. Keep in mind that the term garage is not used to indicate a real garage.
It is just called that as many people use their real garages for storage and not parking cars. Inside the R-Pod’s garage, you will find a flexible area. You can use it as a tailgate area, or storage area and some people use it to erect their R-Dome tent
There is not a lot of space inside square foot wise but cubic foot wise, you get a large area to store whatever you want there. Then you just close the door to keep all those items secure.
The garage is very versatile and you have a lot of flexibility in how to use it. When it comes to slide-outs, those are flexible as well. Some models have their dinette inside of their slide-out while other models have a kitchen area.
To find the ones that you want, you may have to look at different floor plans to see which option will fit your lifestyle.
Does The Forest River R Pod Have a Bathroom?
Yes, every model of the R-Pod has a bathroom. However, you may or may not like their locations. Some floor plans have that bathroom in the middle of the trailer and to get to the kitchen from your queen size bed you have to walk through that room.
Up until 2021, all R-Pods came with a wet bath and if you don’t know that term, it means everything gets wet in the room. Depending on the size of the trailer, you can have an 8-foot wide bathroom or one that is just big enough to squeeze a toilet and a shower inside.
The 30-gallon gray tank should provide enough space for the two of you to have nice showers and you should not have to empty the tank too soon. The headroom inside these trailers reaches roughly 6 feet 6 inches except around the curved portions of the trailer.
The black water tank is also 30 gallons in size. This should afford you some breathing room so you do not have to hitch up and go to the dump station for a few days. This may be perfect for a couple or a husband who likes to hunt and fish with his friends.
What To Look For In An R-Pod
If you want to go small, this is an ideal trailer to accomplish that desire. It is compact, comfortable and the right size for many camping needs. To find the right one for you, here are a few tips to guide you.
1. Price- all of these trailers are very affordable. You should not break the bank when you buy one. The smaller the trailer the lower the price so pick one that will be long enough for your camping needs. The price should fit any pocketbook no matter its size.
2. Size- you can get an R-pod between 19 and 25 feet long, over 6 feet high inside, and 8 feet wide. They all sleep 2 to 4 people so make sure it accommodates the size of your family
3. Sleeping capacity- there are different designs. Some floor plans come with a dinette that folds into a bed, a set of bunk beds along with a queen-size bed. You just need to pick the different bed options for your family size and camping purpose. You get 2 of the three bed options in each model.
4. Garage or not- this extra space gives you more flexibility in your camping time. It is a useful space and makes camping more fun. Not all models come with this feature and it is up to you if you want to have it or not.
5. Floor plan- there are different floor plan options to choose from. The best thing to do here is to find the one that you like the most and go with it. If you need more space, then go for a longer trailer
R Pods Pros And Cons
This style of the trailer is not for everyone and before you buy, you should be aware of its strengths and weaknesses:
Pros:
- can be towed by a variety of vehicles
- compact, easy to tow and maneuver into smaller campsites
- should be able to go to all campgrounds and national parks, etc.
- price fits most budgets
- good sized holding tanks
- contains basic amenities including a good bathroom
- perfect for small families or hunting parties
Cons:
- maybe too small for some families
- can’t be towed by SUVs
- bathrooms can be on the tiny side
- not good if you do not like wet baths
- little storage space
- the garage is not included in all models
- holding tanks could be better positioned
You may find other positives and negatives when you use one of these trailers. One of the best things to do before you buy is to rent one for the weekend. Try it out to see if it is the right trailer for your camping and family needs.
That way you will know for sure.
Some Final Words
Small trailers like the R-Pod are not bad. You do not need to bring the whole world with you when you go camping. When you buy a larger trailer with everything inside, it kind of defeats the purpose of camping
With the R-Pod models, camping is within reach of a lot more people who cannot afford those large trailers or 5th wheels. Check out the R-Pod and see which model would be ideal for you and your camping or hunting plans.
