Thule Box Awning Retrofit

I have personally done one better by going to LRD tires and equivalent 2500 lb rated 15 inch wheels, and  have also reinforced my axle tube. I take my rpod on dirt and gravel roads all the time, but I drive verrry slooowly on the back roads to avoid shaking the trailer to pieces or bending an axle. So yes for sure you can (carefully) take your rpod off of paved roads. 

"Actually, no.. The HRE package is just an appearance deal. At no place in it's brochure, on it's web page, or advertising, does FR say it's any kind of off road capable". 

Once again, by off road I meant off paved road. Just checked the R-Pod factory website and the factory video shows an R-Pod being towed at fairly high speed ON A DIRT ROAD. Also, our authorized dealer extolled the virtues of the Hood River Edition for that kind of use and we have seen many fellow podders in places only reachable by dirt roads. Many state and federal RV campgrounds in the western part of the country can only be reached via dirt roads. When I first researched R-Pod trailers in 2016 the Forest River website stated that the HRE edition was specifically developed for the western region to accommodate the facts just described. 

Don't understand the comment about HRE being an appearance package only since increasing the ground clearance is clearly a functional upgrade and using taller wheels and tires and axle risers doesn't do anything for appearance but does increase ground clearance, which is of no value for paved road use. 

Also, just talked to our factory authorized dealer who said HRE edition can be used on dirt roads and they get pictures and comments from R-Pod owners who use them that way regularly. I left a voice message with R-Pod customer service about this but it will take some time to get an answer from them.

If what you are saying is true then the marketing of the HRE edition is inherently deceptive and misleading and there is no justification for it at all. That doesn't make sense.

Originally posted by JimBinOC By off road I meant off paved roads. The Hood River Edition is intended for that, hence the larger wheels and tires and extra ground clearance. We mostly dry camp and have driven many miles on dirt tracks with our Pod. That does involve more stress and strain on the trailer than full hook-ups and smoothly paved roads. Heck, the California deserts are full of paved roads that are worse than graded dirt. Just sayin.

Actually, no.. The HRE package is just an appearance deal. At no place in it's brochure, on it's web page, or advertising, does FR say it's any kind of off road capable. There is nothing "beefier" or "off road capable" difference between a east coast or west coast Pod, other then the tires.

Have owners done some of it? undoubtedly. And none of them have lost a sidewall. At least not in the manner you are worried about. I have seen a couple literally shaken apart, or beat to death.