Lots of people have hit the road this year in newly purchased trailers or motorhomes. This vacation style provides a great way to see the country and bring both your transportation and housing with you. A lightweight travel trailer is one good option for buyers looking for a camper, and the Forest River r-pod was just selected as one of the best.

What is a travel trailer?

Like a motorhome, a travel trailer provides a home on wheels. According to The Balance, a travel trailer doesn’t have an engine or a drivetrain, making it less expensive than a motorhome. However, a vehicle is needed to tow the travel trailer. They also retain their value longer than motorhomes do. Towing a travel trailer reduces the vehicle’s fuel efficiency, but once a location is reached, the towing vehicle can be unhitched and used for regular driving.

Forest River r-pod: Best lightweight travel trailer

Camper Report selected the Forest River‘s r-pod as one of the 11 best small travel trailers on the market right now. The trailer line has been around for about 10 years and has a distinctive rounded shape.

This line of trailers provides luxury at an affordable price. It also has the lowest tow weight in its class and is easy to tow. There are 11 floorplans to choose from.

Construction

The different r-pod options range between 18’4″ and 22’2″. According to Camper Report, all the options are 8 feet wide and have a height of 9’6″ or 9’7″. They’re durable trailers designed to resist corrosion and need little maintenance. They’re also taller inside than some competitors, providing 6’6″ of interior height.

All of the r-pods are constructed using a powder-coated steel frame. The r-pod line uses Azdel, a composite material, for its exterior. This strong, environmentally friendly material offers good insulation and is great at absorbing sound too. The trailer’s exterior walls are made of layers of fiberglass, Azdel, insulation, and an interior panel. All openings have aluminum framing, providing great structural integrity. The trailer’s roof is a single piece of seamless fiberglass.

Features

All r-pod options include a dry bath, and some also have a wet bath. They all have an outside shower with both hot and cold running water. The r-pods include a six-gallon gas/electric DSI hot-water heater, hardwood drawers, residential-style cabinets, a 3.7-cubic-foot three-way refrigerator, a two-burner recessed cooktop, and a four-speed MaxxAir fan.

Optional features include a convection microwave oven, air conditioner, 24″ LED flat-screen TV, and R-Dome awning with a screen room. An optional solar package provides a 110-watt panel, digital controller, and 1000-watt inverter. An outside kitchen can be added with a two-burner cooktop and a spray port with a dry sink.

Layouts

With 11 layout options to choose from, buyers can select which areas of the trailer should have maximum space. Some models come without slides; others have bunks or twin beds. There are layouts with a rear kitchen, a rear bedroom, or a rear bathroom. One layout replaces the dinette with a sofa and removable table. One is expandable and has a pop-up tent room that can fit a queen bed. The r-pod generally is designed to sleep two people or possibly a family with small children.

If the Forest River r-pod sounds like your kind of travel trailer, you can also join the Forest River Owners’ Group (FROG), a free community of North American RV owners. The group holds rallies and tours and offers decals, clothing accessories, and a newsletter.