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jornvango's avatar
jornvango
Explorer II
Sep 25, 2017

R-Pod offroad?

While trying to determine what's the best solution for our needs, I heard someone say good things about the R-Pod trailers.

It's small, relatively light and especially the "hood river" edition has some modifications for taking it on dirt roads.

Does someone have more info on the build quality and how they behave offroad (forest dirt roads, washboard... nothing major like river crossings or rock crawling off course). Build quality is my main concern as our old Airstream had the fridge and cabinets come loose on a washboard road.

Thanks,

Jorn

8 Replies

  • Gotta look to Australia for REAL off road campers, 4 tires all on independant suspension with H2O proof storage doors and access panels
    http://www.kimberleykampers.com/

    -Repo
  • http://newatlas.com/adak-camping-trailer/33280/
    http://www.fourwheeler.com/features/1309-trail-trailers-8-off-road-ready-campers/
  • I take an "ordinary" trailer off-pavement all the time, on some very rough roads. But first, I modified it for additional clearance and added shocks and heavy springs. And second, I go very, very slow -- around ten miles an hour. So I am limited to places that are within about ten miles from pavement.

    Nash and Arctic Fox have much heavier structural members than my trailer or an R-Pod does. If I tried to go 30 mph on a very rocky road, my trailer would probably come apart.
  • You might want to look at popups if that is going to be the majority of your camping places. While I don't think they are built any better at all they just have a whole lot less to go wrong. You don't have any cabinets hanging on the walls, or walls for that matter. Everything folds down nice and compact, relatively lite weight, unless you get a big one they are typically shorter. You get in a tough spot you can unhook it, turn it around by hand if needed I know I did that more than once in our old one. Yes it was a chore but it beat the heck out of trying to back up in the dark a couple miles on some curvey narrow fire road to narrow to turnaround on. Easy enough to add ground clearance if you don't have it. I have seen some in some places I never would have thought about taking a trailer but after reflecting if you go slow enough and have the clearance what the heck why not.
    Of course you give up some luxury, amenities etc but we used one for over 10 years and never had a real problem with ours and had a great time without the extras. It still beat the heck out of a tent by a long shot especially with kids and vagaries of weather.
  • I took a serious look at the r-pods, but they really aren't built to go off pavement. Take a look at the Nash / Arctic Fox and Grand Design trailers. They're built on heavier duty frames. I went with a Nash, and it's holding up well so far.
  • None of them are going to hold up well for frequent off-pavement use. Airstream tends to be a heavier and more quality oriented build, but these are just not designed for off-pavement use.