kfx216 wrote:
I need to buy a car by the end of the year, so wonder if anyone has any suggestions. Right now I have a Honda Odyssey - it has close to 200K miles. I like the Odyssey for the space with hauling kids and their friends and the sliding doors (my kids will bang up any regular doors), but would like better gas mileage. I really want to stay under $30K for a new car. I looked at the Honda Pilot when my car was getting serviced, and it's a nice car. Any others?
I also could use some direction on PUPs or even if a PUP will work for me. I am a single woman with two young kids. The PUP I had before, a 2004 Rockwood Forest River HW2516G, was too big both to haul behind my minivan and also to set up myself. I'm looking for something much lighter and easier to set up since it's basically just me doing it and we might take trips where we move every 1-2 days. And I want to have a shower and potty.
I might consider new if the price is under $15K; otherwise, I'd rather buy used for $5k or less.
Any options/suggestions? Thanks!
Even though I don't like Forest River, I don't think any maker can top the
R-Pods for size, functionality, and weight.
I don't think having another Pop Up would suite you being you don't like setup and the 2516G being to much for you. Plus moving every day or 2 with a Pop Up is simply a pain. Not so much for the setup and break down of the camper but all the packing, and unpacking. Then if it's raining, it's a nightmare.
As far as vehicles go, I'm not a fan of Honda so I can't advise about them, but most new vehicles have gone to a crossover platform. These usually offer no payload for numerous passengers, their gear, and on top of that, any hitch weight from a camper. Plus they are usually not recommended to use a weight distribution hitch and usually have weak rear axle ratings. Yes, they can tow, but usually with just the driver, no gear, and usually a flat utility trailer carrying a lawn mower or the such.
I know that Ford's midsize Explorer has a 5000 lbs tow rating and 500 lbs hitch weight rating which would work with the R-Pods. BUT not sure on it's payload and it may be a bit low for you, the kids, and their gear on top of the camper's hitch weight. Chevy's Traverse has good payload, a 600 lbs hitch weight rating, and a good 5200 lbs tow rating. This would be a good tow vehicle.
Hondas are poor tow vehicles not being recommended to use the camper required weight distribution hitch
(page 336), plus with a lower tow rating. And I haven't seen any increased reliability, in fact just the opposite.
So if it were me, I'd start with a Chevy Traverse
(page 14) and a
R-Pod but this is just my opinion. Here's a nice look
inside the bunk model and it looks to be around your $15K price point. This is what I'd probably get if I were downsizing with our 2 kids. There's other light campers with the functionality of the R-Pods and perhaps some other smaller vehicles such as the Traverse and Explorer. Don't go to a compact as their payloads are just good enough for some skinny passengers and that's about it. Plus they have no hitch weight rating, being stuck around 200 lbs to 300 lbs which is not even adequate for bigger Pop Ups.
Good luck.
