Today’s RV review is of the new-for-2025 Forest River r-pod RP-150. This is a new floor plan for the r-pod family that is smaller, lighter, and much simpler. It could fit the lifestyles of a lot of people very well.
What you have is a single-axle, no slide, very compact trailer that’s surprisingly spacious feeling. I’m seeing the RV industry come up with more and different floor plans and ideas. This is definitely different and, as mentioned, will serve some people really well.
This is a couple’s camper or, even more, a great camper for a solo traveler.
From the road up with the r-pod RP-150
Something to note on this rig is that it was designed with today’s realities in mind. In the recent past, r-pod offered the Beast Mode suspension, which is CURT’s independent coil spring setup. It is really a great suspension and something that was introduced on the Ember RV Overland series.
For whatever reason the take rate on this was very low, supposedly. So this goes back to the simple antique leaf spring suspension with import-brand tires. Bummer, dude.
What I suspect happened is that dealers saw the upcharge for the “Beast Mode” package and just weren’t interested. I think many, many RV dealers are just not very well-educated about RVs and don’t understand the advantages of these new features. I feel the same about RV dealers and solar, quite honestly.
In fact, most RV dealers are still only offering flooded batteries without even offering lithium batteries, which is really what you need to make the trend toward 12-volt compressor fridges work. Yes, there are times I almost want to open my own RV dealership and do things very differently. But who knows how that would go.
The construction on this is a laminated build with Azdel substrates on the walls. Azdel is a waterproof, man-made product, so water intrusion is less an issue.
What’s inside the r-pod RP-150
This floor plan works well for some campers. Know that the only place to sleep in here is a jackknife sofa, though. I know that will turn a lot of prospects off. But it works so well in this floor plan.
That jackknife sofa has a table that slots into each of the armrests on the sides so you can sit and eat. Those tables also incorporate cupholders in them. Neat.
The front of this trailer is where you’ll find the kitchen. There’s a really good-sized kitchen countertop with two pop-up towers of power—one on either side. This is a trailer where the windshield makes sense. That’s even more the case since this one can be opened.
This is one of those dual-pane polycarbonate windshields that integrate the shade and screen. I really like this implementation.
Cooking in the r-pod RP-150
Cooking is done with a two-burner propane cooktop and a convection microwave. There are a couple of drawers under the cooktop and cabinets over the jackknife sofa, but this isn’t a monster of inside storage. Not that you’d expect it to be at about 19 feet in length.
There’s another of those polycarbonate windows over on the camp side with a small dining bar underneath it with two bar stools. That window also integrates shades and a screen and can be opened almost 90°. In some ways, this is a very small version of the r-pod RP-197 that we looked at recently.
Something I really like in here is the open feeling brought about by the large number of windows all around. This rig has as much window coverage as some much larger trailers. It really helps with the feel of the interior.
The bathroom in here is another highlight, to me, with it taking up the rear of the trailer. Yeah, I meant that as a bit of a play on words, but it’s also an apt description.
So, even though this is a small rig, you get a proper shower, a sink, and a toilet—although that toilet is plastic.
Boondocking and travel access in the r-pod RP-150
Since there are no slides in this camper, it’s fully usable all the time. It seems that the folks at r-pod have eliminated the SHOWERMI$ER, which I really liked as a water-saving feature for those who like to boondock.
There is a 200-watt solar panel with a 30-amp charge controller. The fridge in this is pretty small, being a bar-sized fridge under the counter.
My thoughts on the r-pod RP-150
I actually know a good number of solo campers and, for them, this would really be a nifty choice. It’s small and light but has a very open feel to it—not something you expect in a trailer this size.
This might even work for some couples.
Overall, I’m seeing more and more floor plans that break old molds with no proper dinette or bed—and I like it. What remains to be seen is if people who bring their checkbooks feel the same way as I do.
More about these RV reviews
These RV reviews are written based on information provided by the manufacturers along with our writer’s own research. They are based on information from a single unit and may not reflect your actual experience. Shop your RV and dealership carefully before making a buying decision. We receive no money or other financial benefits from these reviews. They are intended only as a brief overview of the vehicle, not a comprehensive critique, which would require a thorough inspection and/or test drive.
Tony comes to RVtravel.com having worked at an RV dealership and been a life long RV enthusiast. He also has written the syndicated Curbside column about cars. He also works closely with a number of RV manufacturers to get an inside look at how things are done and is a brand ambassador for Rockwood Mini Lite with his wife, Peggy.
You can also check out his RV podcast with his wife, Peggy.
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Here’s my take on this trailer—–no way do I want to a) sleep on the jackknife sofa each and every night and b) have to make up my bed each and every night. And secondly, those showers are great for bodies that are 150lbs or less but try getting into one of them if your body is larger than that and woohoo! it gives showering a whole new meaning. Cannot pick up the soap if you drop it and cannot wash your feet because the solid door makes it impossible to friggin’ bend over!
When we 1st started looking for a 2nd TT – small for easy towing with a SUV, the R-pods looked good. But the more I looked and mentally travelled and used one, the less thrilled I became. Not saying they are bad, but they came up short for our use. Topping the list was no rear bumper or other comes-standard means to carry a slinky outside the camper. I think one dealer listed the external spare tire carrier as optional!
Re. Beast Mode suspension…
I believe the reason it hasn’t been picked up in spite of its capability is simple… weight.
It adds quite a few hundred pounds to gross, and in a realm where almost every ounce counts, that can be a deal breaker.
Source… I drag a NoBo 19.2 with the same undercarriage.
The floorplan shows a trifold sofa, not a jackknife. But it still looks like a kitchen-dry bath design, with “living-dining” area as an afterthought. I would hate to spend two solid days of rain or snow in that living room even as a solo camper.
Thank you, Tony! 🙂 Cute and functional RV. Seems that as small as the tank sizes are that it would benefit from making the toilet composting or cassette and allocating more size to the fresh water and gray tanks. Adding the shower miser component also would be helpful, as would making your desired suspension and tire changes. Thanks again, have a great week, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂