Almost 15 year anniversary

I'm now in a long-term relationship, and I introduced her to travel trailer camping.  She tent car camped in the past.  We bought a 30-foot 5th wheel camper and F150 pickup in September.  In anticipation of a 3-week road trip we then took in April to Texas to see the eclipse.  Life is good.

I have moments when I miss my old 171.  We were scoping out remote campsites at a state park on Sunday and our site options will be very constrained with our 5th wheel.  We would have more options with something like the 171.  But I was happy to get more room including a slide-out with my prior 26-foot camper for big 4-week family trips we were taking 10 years ago.  And our new camper is still fairly small as 5th wheel campers go, but also has plenty of room for the long road trips my girlfriend and I are planning on.  Life is definitely good.

I hope everyone is still enjoying their pods and podmods.  

Happy to hear that you are still RV'ing-even without the pod

I gained a lot of knowledge and info from you when we first joined in 2011. thanks for your time and continuing efforts with the forum.

It's still a great forum--with old and new members/posters

Vann

Thanks for an update from the #1 ADMIN. on this forum for many years.  Great to hear updates on what is going on in your life.  Recently saw the advertising of the 2025 171.  I guess it will be good news for many yet I found 4 major "dealbreakers" IMHO. 

#1  front window,  I have heard of many complaints of this breaking, even when sitting still.  Has this now been remedied?  My parents had a 1966 Shasta with a front window; at least that company did its homework and placed a protective panel in front that would protect the glass from breakage while in travel mode.

#2  central vacuum Really?  For a 171 that has minimal floor space (like my 177) it would be quicker just to sweep up and throw it out the door.  I would prefer the extra storage space instead of a vacuum that isn't necessary.

#3  No slide - enough said on that one, ours has been flawless for 13+ years.

#4  120v only fridge.  I NEED PROPANE  I realize for most this will work nicely but for those of us that boondock for a couple weeks at a time where there may be no sun for the majority of the time, it won't.  My only option would be to purchase lithium batteries ($$$), yes, I know solar panel is included on the roof, a generator ($$$$) and then carry a can of gas for the generator ($).  Not a really good option for someone in my shoes.  I hope the 177 that has been so good to me since March 2011 will continue to be dependable as it has been.

Add me to the list of folks that don't want slides. Even if they work flawlessly (our failed on our second trip and took two months to fix under warranty) you still have seals and maintenance. Personally, I'd rather not.

The 120v fridge is also a deal breaker for us, but unfortunately they are getting harder and harder to find. As a data point from the Escape forum where absorption fridges are no longer available, you need at the very least 200watts of solar and 200ah of lithium battery (400ah lead acid) to effectively run a compressor fridge and still have capacity and headroom for other electrical needs.