RPod 179 dropped?
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14165
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Topic: RPod 179 dropped?
Posted By: StephenH
Subject: RPod 179 dropped?
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2020 at 10:08am
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I was just on the Forest River RPod site looking at floor plans and there was a conspicuous lack of a floor plan for the RPod 179. The plans went direct from 171 to 180 with no models between. Has FR dropped the 179 from the line-up? It certainly looks like it. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Replies:
Posted By: PilotPodder
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2020 at 10:18am
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Seeing the same thing. 191 was removed last month and the 179 now. Hopefully someone who has factory connections can confirm. ------------- Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — https://johnmarucci.com/r-pod-video-list/ - My RPod YouTube Videos |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2020 at 11:15am
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I heard it on one of the facebook sites also. Not the one run by the bully. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2020 at 11:44am
You're not the first one to mention the bully. I don't do facebook, but it's interesting how that opinion gets around. Back to the OP, I am surprised that they would drop the 179, as many people have commented that it was the most popular model. Maybe they (FR) is in the midst of a retooling their web site, and somehow the 179 got lost in the shuffle? I guess we will see. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2020 at 7:28pm
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Possibly they are reengineering it to address some of the issues people have had. I hope that is the case and not that it is being dropped. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2020 at 5:55pm
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I think they are gone, same as the 178. The 171 is the lightest, no slide version, so has some appeal. The 180s, 190s, and 200s cover the 170s floor plans and are in some cases larger. Their was some flaws with the 179s, think FR has moved on. IMHO. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 5:52am
What design flaws? All the narrow rPods have the same structural flaw with respect to the axle attachments, so I assume that's not what you are referring to. As far as layout is concerned, for myself and many others, a larger kitchen and a smaller bathroom is a much better tradeoff than the opposite in the 180-190 range. Count the time spent in each area over the course of a day. Above that and you are into a much heavier trailer which limits the choices of tow vehicles. Another bad move on FR's part, IMHO. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 12:23pm
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Nope, the axle flaws are universal, however I still thinki Dexter is more reliable than Lippert, just an opinion. Specifically I was referring to floor supports in the kitchen area and outriggers for the oversize slide. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 3:33pm
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I don't at all disagree with your opinion on Dexter vs. Lippert. I'd just say that there isn't enough data one way or another since most of the trailers seem to use Lippert axles, so those have had the failures, which in reality has only been a small percentage. That;s a "narrow rPod" issue not a 179 issue anyhow. As for the slide supports, looks like that has already been fixed by FR, as they seem to be adding reinforcing brackets to some of the models already. None of that seems like a good reason for them to drop a very popular floor plan. I think it is more likely that FR's marketing dept has decided that its easier to sell a trailer with a dry bath rather than a larger kitchen. That is probably true because it checks more boxes. But for those of us who have had RVs before we know that its not as practical. No way I would trade the nice big kitchen counter in the 179 for a dry bath. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 4:07pm
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Only if I had to would I trade for one of the newer models. My wife and I like the larger kitchen. With the refrigerator being moved, even the newer rear-kitchen 195 has less room for working. I can live with the wet bath. The only thing that would be desirable is the walk-around bed. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 4:18pm
Yep but that puts the trailer in another weight class, so a larger TV. Not worth it to me. I sure hope the reductions in the lighter rpod lineup doesn't result in people trying to tow the bigger ones with 5000 lb rated tow vehicles. That is a scary thought. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 4:56pm
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Wholeheartedly agree with the opinion it was a marketing decision. The 179 was certainly popular. For those who like cooking inside it was a great option to floor plans. I bought a 178, because I didn't care about cooking inside. I think the market has changed at least for the marketing people at FR. They seem to want to go bigger and I also would be concerned for folks that have a 5000 tow capacity vehicle because Pods gave them an option. Which was nice. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Dirt Sifter
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2020 at 1:39pm
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I preferred the 179 for towing and it served my purposes when camping alone. We're old, DW did not like the wet bath and chose to trade the kitchen space for a dry bath, bigger fridge, and island bed. Towing the 179 was a pleasure with the Tacoma, except for one time in a very strong head wind. I'd go back if I had the final say, but I don't (thankfully, yes dear.) Sad to think FR would do away with the 179. ------------- Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE '07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages 1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2020 at 6:43pm
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The small bath was a very easy sell for my wife. We used to have a bigger RV with a nice big bathroom but we both prefer boondocking, which of course greatly limits water use. We found there was no point in a big bathroom when you only have enough water for 2 minute showers anyway. If we spend 10 minutes a day in the bathroom total I’d be surprised.
The kitchen OTOH gets constant use and it’s such a pleasure that the counter is big enough not to have to use the table as a work surface. For that reason I think the 179 is probably more appealing to a couple who is downsizing and likes to dry camp, which the marketing folks at FR probably figure is not a market segment big enough to focus on. oh well... ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2020 at 2:04pm
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Actually, I feel the 195 / 196 are the 179 taken to it's next logical step. It's only 2 feet longer, so it's not like a HUGE difference. The slide out is larger so it adds space, you really do feel like you have some elbow room. They got the bed going north and south, a big improvement. Although the counter is smaller, the big fridge and large storage pantry are more than a reasonable trade off. Not to mention the fridge keeps stuff cold in 100+ temps with ease. Although some say the wet bath is fine, once I got used to the dry bath, there's no going back. It's nice to be able to use the toilet even if someone is in the shower. The worst part is the weight trade off, but it's only about 550 - 650 pounds heavier. Not really that much considering the things you gain. It does make it pretty tough on the 5000 pound max vehicles, but you can buy a nice pathfinder for as much or less than the highlander, and have a higher tow capacity. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2020 at 2:45pm
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Yup, you can move up to a 195/6 size trailer and get a walk around bed, at which point there are numerous other options besides rPods. They are also wider as well as longer, which to me is a big drawback. There are only a couple of SUV tow vehicles in the 6000 lb range, the Pathfinder being one, the Durango being the other. If you don't either have or want to own one of those two brands then you have to move up to heavier vehicles where there is more choice. OTOH pretty much every make, Acura, Buick, Chevy, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Kia, Subaru, VW, Volvo, even Tesla, as well as Toyota all have 5000 lb rated TV's. Some makes offer more than one choice. Its a standard category. Or you can still get a Dodge or Nissan. My point is just that if you want a trailer slotted into that 5000 lb category the 179 is a great choice for folks who do a lot of dry camping and choose to prioritize storage and counter space over bathroom size. New RV buyers would tend to pick one with a dry bath because it checks more boxes, so I get why FR would go with those floor plans. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2020 at 3:29pm
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I just spent an hour on the Forest River website. I love our 179 for the kitchen. However, a dry bath would be nice. We talked about it after our last trip a week ago. So, I looked,and looked, and looked..... After looking at EVERY line and every model that was 22' or less, there is not one single model of travel trailer from forest River that has the same amount of kitchen space as the 179. Not even close! that's the main deal for us. I would like a dry bath, but I'm not giving up the kitchen for it. Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2020 at 5:24pm
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Obviously that is a deal breaker for you. To me, I don't care if it had a kitchen at all. I cook 100% outside. I need only enough counter top to fit a coffee maker. My outside kitchen has a griddle, a grill, both on pop up portable kitchen tops with storage. I also add a 2 x 4 foot table for plenty of space for everything. I also have a small electric 2 burner stove top incase I want to have corn on the cob, or make rice, etc. So to me, sleeping comfort (no toes touching the sides, or climb overs) along with a dry bath are much more important. Plus the fridge, with a large freezer, is awesome. I wish they still made the 179 for those of you that love them, but just know, there is life after the 179, and it's pretty fricken sweet. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2020 at 6:43pm
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mjlrpod, glad that all works for you, truly. It doesn't at all for us. I don't have an coffee maker or an electric stove or any other 120Vac appliance in our trailer beyond the microwave as we almost never camp where there is electricity. We like to be off the grid. We go to beautiful remote quiet places where there might be rain, wind, cold, or bugs and cook inside most of the time. We grill outside occasionally, just like at home. My wife likes to cook, and has a nice big space to work in, that's always comfortable, convenient, dry, and bug free. So its not like there is "life after the 179", and suddenly we're going to change the way we camp to match up with what someone else likes. Folks need what they need for what they want to do. It's great folks like different things, if we all wanted things the same what a boring and overcrowded world it would be. We'll just keep what we have, its not a problem. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |