Breakdowns are 50% of the reason we downsized. The last two trips ended up at repair shops costing thousands of dollars(and yes I did a ton of preventive maintenance myself). The other 50% was the size. We have run the gamut and over many years evolved from tents, then tents w/cots, a small pop-up, a larger pop-up, a 24' Class C, a 20' Argosy trailer, two truck campers(with the larger Lance being my favorite of all), a Class B van, a 23' Class A and then the 33' Class A.
I just never bonded with the 33'. I am a capable driver and it is something I like to do, but the size of the large motor-homes requires a lot more brain power to get them to their destinations. I found that driving it was just not enjoyable as driving anything else we have owned. Then there is the size when picking out a campsite, having to be alert all the time for overhead threats and the fact that we just don't stay inside much once parked, so all that space gets kinda wasted.
BrandSS, we have a multi purpose use. With three Welsh Terriers(25lb ea) they go with us on most trips. I really don't care for hotel/motels and if you have a dog or three that option becomes expensive and hard to find. We go up to Manitoba once or twice a year, sometimes in a hurry where we just sleep at rest stops. Other times we have time to hit the State County and National parks so we arrive early, then leave after breakfast. Then there are the long trips out West where we will camp off grid or in sites with no power or water.
The wife says that 'camping' needs to be somewhat of compromise on comfort and she really likes the hybrid tent queen bump out. Tent-like comfort/experience without the total tent hassle. Also, our R-Pod came with the 8x13' R-Dome tent which attaches to the T-Pod in the place of an awning. It can be fully zipped up with screen and storm covers, or walls can be zipped off to make it just an attached canopy. When base camping for 3 or more days it will get deployed. Here is a video of the R-Dome configuration/set-up:
https://youtu.be/jIHpckH1RDg
Don't get me wrong, even with the bump-out and the R-Dome, we are still many square feet smaller than the 33'-er with it's 16' awning, so there is going to be an adjustment phase. This week we go through those 8 bins to pick out what we actually need and leave the rest behind. For me it will not be a big deal. Each year I motorcamp, usually riding around 5K miles each trip and sleeping in a hammock 95% of the time. Packing small for me is easy, but the wife will need to "take it down a notch"....
lol
My second choice was the Rockwood Roo Hybrid at 22' long. There is a substantial difference in options, weight, and build materials along with price. While searching for a used one(either R-Pod or Roo) I came across this 176T and we decided to give it a two season run and see if it works for us. The big benefit for me is that I can fix, modify or replace absolutely anything that can go wrong on a trailer. I
think I can mod this R-Pod to make it work for us for a minimal investment.