Trying to decide - Ascend or R-Pod (now Surveyor Sport)
My wife and I are looking to buy a small travel trailer soon. We are empty-nesters rapidly approaching retirement, but do not see "full-timing" in our future at this point. I grew up roughing it in the southern Rockies in the 50's and 60's - but I'm over that, now.
Our tow vehicle is a 2005 Tahoe (only 72K miles) in near-perfect condition with the 5.3L V-8, towing package, brake controller, and a 6,700 lb tow rating (5,000 lb for the hitch/rear axle without weight distribution). Having owned a Coleman pop-up, I want the following in a new RV:
1. No tentage
2. An enclosed bathroom with shower.
3. A good sleeping surface (a "real" mattress).
4. Self-contained for a couple of nights if necessary.
5. Light weight and reasonably aerodynamic.
6. A/C and probably some sort of heating.
I’ve spent almost 40 years towing boats of various types and sizes (plus the Coleman camper) and want to stay well below the rated capacities for the Tahoe. With the research we’ve been able to do on-line – and considering the brands and lines available in our area – I think we’ve narrowed it down to the Ascend series by Evergreen or the R-Pod based on features, construction, and price. Among the Ascend 171, Ascend 191, and the various R-Pod models, I would value your thoughts and any experience you have with these RVs – and any experience you may have with either of these manufacturers and their trailers.
Thanks!
Rob
OK - having spent Saturday (yesterday) at the RV dealer up the road, the focus has changed. The r-pods are too small for us (at retirement age, we don't want to crawl over each other to get out of the bed and to the bathroom during the night). The Ascend 191 was OK (walk-around queed bed), but the seating at the dinette was uncomfortable - the backrests are set too far back, completely vertical, and a shelf protrusion at the top of the back cuts into one's back when you lean back. This would could be remedied with the addition of large, wedge-shaped foam blocks behind the backrests, but one shouldn’t have to correct things like that themselves.
At just two feet longer and a few hundred pounds heavier (and at the same price for a new demo model), the salesperson working thought we should look at the Surveyor Sport 220 by Forest River. The construction (fiberglass over aluminum frame) is very similar to the Ascend, but the U-shaped dinette in a shallow slide-out is infinitely more comfortable and the slide-out opens up the living are a lot more. The couple of extra feet and a rear, unified configuration make the bathroom facilities much roomier, too.
The GVW of the trailer is well within the limits of my Tahoe (2005 5.3 with tow package, coolers, and brake controller) and the dealer sets up a weight distribution hitch with anti-sway before you leave the lot.
I see a lot of Surveyor units on the road – fivers and travel trailers. What experience have any of you had with this line and/or the Surveyor Sport models in particular?
Thanks!
Rob
Our tow vehicle is a 2005 Tahoe (only 72K miles) in near-perfect condition with the 5.3L V-8, towing package, brake controller, and a 6,700 lb tow rating (5,000 lb for the hitch/rear axle without weight distribution). Having owned a Coleman pop-up, I want the following in a new RV:
1. No tentage
2. An enclosed bathroom with shower.
3. A good sleeping surface (a "real" mattress).
4. Self-contained for a couple of nights if necessary.
5. Light weight and reasonably aerodynamic.
6. A/C and probably some sort of heating.
I’ve spent almost 40 years towing boats of various types and sizes (plus the Coleman camper) and want to stay well below the rated capacities for the Tahoe. With the research we’ve been able to do on-line – and considering the brands and lines available in our area – I think we’ve narrowed it down to the Ascend series by Evergreen or the R-Pod based on features, construction, and price. Among the Ascend 171, Ascend 191, and the various R-Pod models, I would value your thoughts and any experience you have with these RVs – and any experience you may have with either of these manufacturers and their trailers.
Thanks!
Rob
OK - having spent Saturday (yesterday) at the RV dealer up the road, the focus has changed. The r-pods are too small for us (at retirement age, we don't want to crawl over each other to get out of the bed and to the bathroom during the night). The Ascend 191 was OK (walk-around queed bed), but the seating at the dinette was uncomfortable - the backrests are set too far back, completely vertical, and a shelf protrusion at the top of the back cuts into one's back when you lean back. This would could be remedied with the addition of large, wedge-shaped foam blocks behind the backrests, but one shouldn’t have to correct things like that themselves.
At just two feet longer and a few hundred pounds heavier (and at the same price for a new demo model), the salesperson working thought we should look at the Surveyor Sport 220 by Forest River. The construction (fiberglass over aluminum frame) is very similar to the Ascend, but the U-shaped dinette in a shallow slide-out is infinitely more comfortable and the slide-out opens up the living are a lot more. The couple of extra feet and a rear, unified configuration make the bathroom facilities much roomier, too.
The GVW of the trailer is well within the limits of my Tahoe (2005 5.3 with tow package, coolers, and brake controller) and the dealer sets up a weight distribution hitch with anti-sway before you leave the lot.
I see a lot of Surveyor units on the road – fivers and travel trailers. What experience have any of you had with this line and/or the Surveyor Sport models in particular?
Thanks!
Rob
