After much discussion and deliberation, Joe and I finally decided to take the plunge and buy a 2010 R-Pod 173! We're buying it from 3-Way Campers in Marietta, GA, and we're picking it up on Wednesday. We initially put a down payment on it, got cold feet and got our down payment back, then decided a couple weeks later that we really wanted it. Throughout the whole thing, our salesman has been so nice! Since we're buying a 2010, we're getting a good deal, which includes the hitch, Prodigy brake controller, sway bar, and the replacement of the Chinese made Marathon tires (including the spare), plus the usual water and sewer hoses.
After looking at the 173 several times, we decided on this model b/c we'll still have a couch even though it doesn't have a slide (our tow vehicle, a Ford Escape, severely limited our choices). We're going to make the dinette into a permanent bed, using it as a dinette only if we have company. We also decided against the R-Dome - the work involved in setting it up isn't worth it to us. We're just going to use our Easy-Up.
We've already got 3 camping reservations made! This weekend to FDR State Park in Pine Mountain, GA for our shakedown trip, then Victoria Federal Campground near Atlanta for Labor Day weekend, then Bahia Honda State Park in the keys the August 2011 for 10 days!! We're excited, to say the least!
I was so glad to find this forum. I've already been reading the mods section, especially for interior ideas. I know they'll be necessary to help make this tiny space more liveable. Some of you are so talented and have such great ideas!
Happy Podding!