rpod knock-off!!! |
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cowboydan73
Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Posted: 01 Dec 2009 at 5:19pm |
Well I am at the national dealer show in Kentucky tonight. I walked in the front door and glaring right at me is a 100% knock off of the r-pod. This is called MPG by Heartland. It is 100% exactly the same. I could not believe it. They even have the same frog on their logo.
This finish out is nice, but it is missing some of the little things like the fantastic fan, hidden cab hinges, etc. This really surprises me that they can copy a product 100%. Oh well I guess r-pods looked too good to not get into this market.
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Tusten Traveler
Senior Member Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Location: Catskills NY Status: Offline Points: 346 |
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Of course I had to go right over and google it....sure 'nough
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John and Linda
One 14 lb Cockapoo 2010 RPod 174 |
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Tusten Traveler
Senior Member Joined: 21 Jul 2009 Location: Catskills NY Status: Offline Points: 346 |
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Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC enters the lightweight teardrop travel trailer market with the retro-styled MPG line set to debut at the 47th Annual National RV Trade Show Tuesday in Louisville, Ky.
The MPG will initially include four floorplans, available in 18- and 20-foot lengths, featuring two tent-end models and two units equipped with single slideouts. The teardrop line is one of four brands to be introduced in Louisville that will showcase Heartland’s all-new high-gloss platinum fiberglass exterior. “The MPG blends a very contemporary look, created by the platinum exterior, with a distinctly retro design that is one of the draws for teardrop trailers with consumers,” said Brad Whitehead, national director of travel trailer sales for the Elkhart, Ind.-based manufacturer. Typical of teardrop trailers, all MPG models have a dry weight of less than 2,700 pounds, allowing the units to be towed by most crossover vehicles and smaller SUV’s. Heartland achieves the lightweight status without sacrificing structural integrity, employing aluminum-cage-construction and fully laminated sidewalls and floor. Key features for the MPG include a two-tone interior, chestnut maple kitchen cabinetry with a mocha maple accent, along with an AM/FM radio with CD and DVD players. “The teardrop sector is an arena that we have been looking at for some time as consumers continue to become more ‘green’ conscious,” said Whitehead. “Like all our introductions, Heartland is coming into the marketplace with a product that is priced right with features that surpass the competition.” SOURCE: Heartland press release |
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John and Linda
One 14 lb Cockapoo 2010 RPod 174 |
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Butterfly_Lee
Senior Member Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Location: Corpus Christi Status: Offline Points: 1131 |
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OMG
Looks like they are after FR's piece of the PIE. Will be interested to see some Pic from the inside. Lee
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Still a work in progress, lots of pictures.
http://podterfly.blogspot.com/ |
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retired Roxy
Senior Member Joined: 26 Aug 2009 Location: SoCA, Status: Offline Points: 119 |
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check out the OLIVER - its a knock off of the casita molded fiberglass only $$ more.
Maybe Heartland has been reading the forum and learning what improvements to make before mass construction |
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Retired Roxy
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TerryM
Senior Member Joined: 05 Apr 2009 Status: Offline Points: 633 |
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They do make good campers. Too bad they just copied the R-Pod. It would have better better if they came up with their own design though.
Terry |
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Sandpiper
Senior Member Joined: 19 Aug 2009 Location: IL Status: Offline Points: 763 |
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Well, when it is all known who copied who and who had the idea first ?
I don't know but I do know that there were "Tear drop " design campers back when I was still a pup and that was some time ago. Popular Mechanics magazine had plans for these things back in the early 40's, that's 1940's, because I thought about building one. Granted it wasn't aluminum-foam-plywood sandwich but the tear drop design was there. I guess if you live long enough you see things go the full circle with just cosmetic changes to the original idea. Maybe there really "ain't" nothing new under the sun. We just "re discover it".
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Sandpiper
Mrs.'Piper Ford 150-[Mini Lite 2104S] |
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cane2
Groupie Joined: 09 Aug 2009 Status: Offline Points: 89 |
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This day and age it is all SERVICE like it was 25 years ago. If you believe in your product and take care or your consumers and treat them right you will come out on top in the market place. This will be interesting to see what happens,this is the first of the knockoffs.
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duder
Senior Member Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Status: Offline Points: 138 |
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It was bound to happen, anything as kewl as the R-POD would eventually be copied! Just like the Harley Davidson!!
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Chuck and Bev
2010 R-Pod 172 Happy Trails!!!! |
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cowboydan73
Newbie Joined: 30 Jun 2009 Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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The finish out inside is about the same. They are putting in a nice cabinet, laminate wood flooring, Fabrics are 1,0000% better in my opinion, but again Forest River still does a few things differently and hopefully the SERVICE will continue to be better.
I will and take some photo's today.
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