Introduction
Like many of us, camping is something we grow to love as children, and for the lucky few, that feeling intensifies as we get older. However, it can also be said that over time we become less resilient against the harsh realities of a camping adventure.
Most of us camping enthusiasts have experienced the typical camping blues when we spend a cold, wet and uncomfortable night wishing that we had a real bed to sleep in. Or, in a perfect world, a conveniently located toilet.
The movement has led to a generation of motor camping or recreational vehicle (RV) enthusiasts. These people are comprised of camping aficionados who have a passion for the outdoors.
However, they are at a time in their life where they have begun to really value home comforts.
The RV phenomenon is booming. This old-school camping style has had a new lease of life in recent years, and for a good reason. Technological and engineering advancements have innovative vehicles to provide every possible home comfort.
They are equipped with sufficient electricity, water capacity, refrigeration, and even cloth-washing facilities. As a result, their potential has indeed skyrocketed.
Forest River R-Pod Trailer
With soaring interest in RVs, some trailblazing brands like the Forest River have emerged. They have created a range of highly customizable living spaces which are incredibly compact and practical.
Specifically, their R-Pod range has taken the market by storm. It is a consolidated trailer designed for supreme luxury, offering cutting-edge RV-orientated technology
These bespoke designed trailers focus on maneuverability too. They utilize ultra-lightweight materials combined with a teardrop body shape, allowing even small-engined cars to tow effortlessly.
It is also aided by using a single axel which reduces build cost and tire-to-road surface area, ultimately lowering the drag coefficient.
The variation among R-pods is remarkable. At first, a buyer must choose between at least 15 internal configurations regarding the placement of appliances, bed, seating area, toilet, etc.
Then there are 100 other upgrades and features ranging from cooking equipment to solar panels and wastewater storage. Forest River is truly a remarkably versatile product that can be designed and catered to every need.
R Pod Hood River Edition Difference
Within the versatility of the R-pod, Forest River recently introduced the Hood edition to their trailblazing R-pod series. Although there are a variety of internal specifications that can be selected, the Hood series makes adaptions to the overall construction of the trailer.
One of the critical upgrades is greater ground clearance. Ground clearance is the distance between the vehicle’s chassis and the ground. Expanding it is a great advantage for those who want to do more off-grid camping.
In addition, increased ground clearance will afford the trailer improved maneuverability on rocky and uneven ground without running the risk of damaging the trailer’s body.
In addition to the improved ground clearance as standard, the R-pod Hood edition comes with larger, more durable 15” X-treme Off Road Tires.
These will vastly improve the trailer’s performance over any gnarly trails or poorly maintained roads. It is another significant improvement that further extends the trailer’s versatility.
Combined with the clearance in tires, it would be silly not to improve the rims too. The Hood edition has standard cast aluminum rims, which are far more stylish and robust than the standard stock ones. These rims will last longer, perform better and be less susceptible to damage.
Moreover, there is some good news for taller potential customers. The Hood edition has several inches of additional internal head space in the cabin. These few crucial inches make it far more comfortable for taller campers and make the area feel larger.
This remarkable improvement is primarily due to the trailer maintaining its insulation rating. It is overall an excellent improvement.
The new edition also focuses on all-weather functionality. As standard, there is an improved vent cover on the Maxxair fan on the trailer’s roof. The purpose is to aid in all-year ventilation to prevent common dampness and mold build-up trailers often experience.
It is critical to ventilate the trailer’s interior all year round, which can cause weather damage when using standard Maxxair fans. The improved vent cover is designed to be more rigorous and eliminate the opportunity for water to use as an access point.
The final difference between the standard and Hood editions of the R-pod is the additional insulation and reinforcements to the bodywork.
The floor, in particular, has received some extra reinforcements, accommodating the added weight of extra features and options. In addition, it will afford the buyer to add more utilities and extend water and gas storage.
Additional insulation has been allocated to the Hood addition also. Again this will add to the all-weather, all-condition versatility of the standard R-pod package.
They use the contemporary and innovative Azdel-Onboard panel which is an integrated lightweight composite purpose-built for RV efficiency.
The additional insulation power will not only retain heat more effectively in the winter but al prevents the trailer from heating as rapidly in the summer.
Conclusion
Upon review, it is clear that Forest River offers an incredibly versatile R-pod which is ideal for an economical buyer to purchase a high-end uber functional compact trailer. Although the R-pod is still a revered model the Hood edition is a more robust and adaptable version.
It is a more off-grid and off-trail adaptation to the already influential design. Ultimately, both models are excellent choices but for a more serious buyer, it may be a good idea to invest a little more in the Hood edition.