Guest Post By Tony Barthel
Podcaster, Content Creator, StressLess Camper
To continue RV Trader’s exciting series of new releases showcased at the RV Open House event, we’re taking a look at the Rockwood GeoPro G15FD. This trailer is the perfect solution for those who want a small, lightweight trailer with a dry bath.
You might think this is similar to a pickup camper with a set of wheels under the camper and a trailer hitch. In many ways, the layout of this trailer is just like that idea. Essentially, there’s a dinette/bed at the front, a toilet and shower on the roadside, and kitchen on the campside.
While this model’s specifications have yet to be determined, the similarly-sized Rockwood GeoPro G15FBS comes in at about 3,450 pounds (with a 498 pound tongue weight), making it very towable by midsize pickups and some SUVs.
Think Differently
Typically, RV life comes with a few realities. There are the higher-end RVs that have luxurious features, and there are the more affordable ones that give RVers an eventual desire to upgrade. Typically, the less expensive offerings are the ones that utilize lower-quality materials.
When Rockwood introduced the GeoPro line, their research showed a market for a smaller trailer that still retained the signature quality features that Rockwood is known for. So, that means that these are smaller and more affordable units than larger members of the Rockwood family, but they’re not cheap. They’re also not cheaply built.
For example, they still incorporate walls that use aluminum framing and a vacuum construction that features an Azdel substrate on both the interior and exterior. Azdel is a man-made material that is produced in the United States and is not damaged by water. It also offers great insulation and soundproof properties.
Wherever there’s a structural element inside these trailers, Rockwood also favors a welded aluminum cage structure to make them more durable – but also lighter. Typically, most RVs (even higher-end models) feature a less-expensive wood structure.
These trailers also incorporate torsion axle suspension and high-quality tires with tire pressure monitoring systems. The torsion axle suspension means less jarring, which means less shaking on the road.
There are also frameless windows, as well as a vacuum bonded roof structure. In other words, many of the build features are as good, and in some cases, better than some larger trailers – which is why the company had to expand their operation when the GeoPro line took off.
What’s Inside
In a trailer this size, a few things took me by surprise. The first of those was the dry bath. Small trailers typically have a wet bath, where the toilet is essentially in the shower. For those who want to maximize space and time, this might not be an issue. But some RVers don’t like the idea of a wet bath.
Rockwood pulled off a dry bath by making the shower a separate space from the toilet. That means the shower is basically in the body of the trailer rather than in the bathroom. The shower also has a hanging storage bag, which you can use for additional storage space.
The toilet is in its own room, which it shares with a flip-up sink. I like this idea because many smaller trailers don’t have sinks in the bathroom, so this was a good compromise.
The Kitchen
I mentioned two surprises. The second is the kitchen, where you’ll find a respectable amount of kitchen counter space. In fact, this model has more kitchen cabinet and drawer storage than my first travel trailer – which was notably larger than this one.
Another thing I didn’t expect is a three-burner propane cooktop with a 22” oven. This is something you only expect in larger RVs, so the fact that it’s in here means you could actually use it to bake real meals and desserts.
Sit And Sleep
When you’ve got something of this size, you’ll have to make compromises – and that might be the bed area.
By day, there’s a two-person dinette in the front of the trailer. At night, a platform drops down so the space becomes a 54” X 74” Murphy bed. This would be a nice space for a single camper and a cozy one for two campers.
Boondocking, Travel Access, and Seasonal Camping
The GeoPro line has been popular with those who like to get off the grid. With more aggressive tires (and the tire pressure monitoring system), this model can reach remote places.
Part of the appeal is the standard 200-watt solar panel (with a second panel as an option). For 2024, these come with an 1800-watt inverter, so should you choose to use a lithium battery or two, you could actually run some pretty sizable devices. Perhaps a coffee maker, for example.
The TVs that Rockwood includes with these are 12-volt models, so you won’t need the inverter to catch your favorite shows.
This trailer also incorporates a Shower Miser which routes the water coming to the shower back into the system so you don’t waste water waiting for it to get hot. This saves water when boondocking.
With no slide room in this trailer, it’s fully accessible – even for a mid-journey snack or bathroom break. Lastly, these incorporate 12-volt holding tank heaters, but to be cautious, I’d say this is a three-season camper.
Things to Consider
I mentioned that this is similar to a pickup camper on wheels with a tow hitch. This is best exemplified by the entry door, which is at the rear of the trailer. Essentially, that makes the whole thing sort of a hallway with the bathroom and shower roadside, the kitchen on the campside, and the bedroom at the front.
But for people who want a very small camper with a dry bath, this is one of the most well-designed examples of that.
Like many RV brands, Forest River’s Rockwood GeoPro has a sister brand in the Flagstaff ePro line that is identical except for the name. So if your local dealership doesn’t carry Rockwood but carries Flagstaff, it’s the same product with a different label.
This review is based on a pre-production prototype I saw at the RV Open House event. Final details might be different. Pricing and specifications weren’t available when this article was written.
This is an honest look at RVs from RV industry insider Tony Barthel, where you learn the good, the bad, and the intriguing about travel trailers, fifth wheels, Class A RVs, Class C RVs, and Class B RVs, as well as some interesting class-breaking RVs. Tony also writes for StressLessCamping.com.
