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Topic ClosedShopping for a tow vehicle
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Ninjamini View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 Jan 2015
Location: Fort Lauderdale
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Posts: 30 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Shopping for a tow vehicle
    Posted: 28 Jan 2015 at 10:47am
Since my Acura RDX wont tow the R-Pod 179 I am going to get for summer I need to find a new TV. Which is ok as my wife's Accord is 8 years old with 175,000 miles. I want something that can handle the R-Pod without issue in the mountains and up and down grades. There is a 12% grade in my favorite spot in the smoky mountains. This is where i plan to go for the summer trip.

So the question is what to get. I like my RDX and like the car like ride. I do not like trucks but have resolved to the fact that I may need to go big. Wife does not want a pickup. Well its her car.

So here is what I am thinking:
Honda Odyssey
Ford Explorer
Ford Flex
Ford F150
Subaru??? Dont know the miles.
I liked the Honda Ridgeline but they dont make it.

Any suggestions.
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RescapePod View Drop Down
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Joined: 14 Sep 2014
Location: Charleston WV
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Posts: 45 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2015 at 11:03am
I own a 179. TV is a Check k1500 PU. I would IMO not pull with anything less. On your list the best is the Ford F150. There are Odyssey and Explorer owners on her so they can input. Buy the biggest TV that meets your overall needs and exceeds the pods towing need. Be safe first.

2015 R-Pod 179
2013 Chevy K1500
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2015 at 12:22pm
Originally posted by Ninjamini

Since my Acura RDX wont tow the R-Pod 179 I am going to get for summer I need to find a new TV. Which is ok as my wife's Accord is 8 years old with 175,000 miles. I want something that can handle the R-Pod without issue in the mountains and up and down grades. There is a 12% grade in my favorite spot in the smoky mountains. This is where i plan to go for the summer trip.

So the question is what to get. I like my RDX and like the car like ride. I do not like trucks but have resolved to the fact that I may need to go big. Wife does not want a pickup. Well its her car.

So here is what I am thinking:
Honda Odyssey
Ford Explorer
Ford Flex
Ford F150
Subaru??? Dont know the miles.
I liked the Honda Ridgeline but they dont make it.

Any suggestions.




Based on my experience towing a 172 with a Honda 4WD Pilot and a Camplite 21RBS with a Toyota Tacoma:

Odyssey and Subarus probably too small.

Explorer or Flex OK - stick with the AWD, not FWD.

F-150 adequate, but overkill.

My 4WD Pilot did fine on low elevation flat ground, but was straining climbing Rocky Mountains and your 179 starts out 500# heavier.

Look for something rated at least 5000# tow rating with at least a 4.0 L engine. Stick with 4WD or AWD as opposed to FWD. Consider the Toyota Sequoia, Tacoma, or Nissan Frontier. The mid-sized pickups are a nice compromise between SUV and full sized PU.


Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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JStrube View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Aug 2014
Location: Atwater, CA
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Posts: 90 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2015 at 12:28pm
F150 is a great tow vehicle.  Totally over rated, which makes it great.  Especially mountains.  Won't stress it, super comfortable if you get upgraded model.  I love the new explorers, not sure if it would be good to tow with.
2012 181G
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MoPod View Drop Down
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Joined: 10 Oct 2013
Location: Pittsville, MO
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Posts: 106 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2015 at 12:57pm
We have towed our 176 with both our 2000 F150 4x4 (5.7 V8) super cab and our 2014 Explorer Sport AWD (3.5 V6 Ecoboost) depending on where we are going and what we plan to do.  Both do a great job, no big issues with either.  I'll try to compare and contrast since we use both.

Explorer provides greater creature comforts, rides better, gets slightly better gas mileage, more gears so less engine shifting, and runs like a wild animal.  We haven't found the top end yet with or without rpod.  My husband swears it would pull the rpod 100 mph (we haven't tried!)

I like the F150 because you can haul more stuff, dirty stuff (firewood, bikes, paddleboat and such) and I use the tailgate as an outdoor kitchen.  Its a little more cumbersome because of it's length, so parking lots can be a pain to navigate with the rpod.

Although the 179 is somewhat heavier, I think either vehicle would do fine for you.  It's all what suits you better in your towing and non-towing life.
Bill & Nancy
2015 RPod 179
Previously 2010 RPod 176
2014 Explorer Sport
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Podster View Drop Down
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Joined: 16 Sep 2014
Location: San Antonio
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Posts: 1108 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2015 at 12:59pm
A 12% grade? I didn't think that was even legal. Check out the specs on this sweet machine!  TV 


Oh my, the 2016 model will offer a 2.8L Duramax Turbo-Diesel. Yes, thank you! Big smile
Cliff & Raelynn
Ranger 4.0/178
(1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity)
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furpod View Drop Down
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2015 at 1:45pm
For pulling steep grades at altitude, a turbocharger is nice.. and the F150 EcoBoost has a wicked good reputation among podders, and owners of other brands of TT, as a tow vehicle that needs to make no apologies about anything in the gas engine world.
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Joined: 17 Aug 2014
Location: central Florida
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Posts: 90 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2015 at 2:15pm
I already had my TV (f150 5.4 v8) to tow my previous 5000 lb TT. The difference to me is you can haul extra camp stuff in p up bed and towing capacity. If you get a smaller TV then you absolutely need weight distribution and sway bar setup. I uses these with my big TT,but find them unnecessary when towing the 171 pod. My f150 has towing package and is rated to tow 10,000 lbs. If l would replace my current TV ,it would be a p-up with a standard v6 & tow package to tow at least 5000 lbs.I don't think I would need the 3.73 differential that current TV has. I tow the pod and previous TT at posted speed limits with no problems.
J. - 2011 rpod 171
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David and Danette View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 Nov 2009
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Posts: 1223 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2015 at 3:42pm
   My choice would be the  F150 or the Explorer. The Ridgeline is nice but as has been said the engine needs a little more power, for one of the smaller 18 foot r-pods it would have enough power not the 20 foot. I have friends with a Explorer and they love it with three young children there is plenty of room. If you drive in the city a lot the truck may be a little more difficult when in a lot of traffic. When I lived in Miami with the traffic I preferred a smaller vehicle but a truck to has advantages you can see further ahead.
2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-              
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab


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Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down
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Joined: 03 Apr 2011
Location: Mayville, WI
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2015 at 5:53pm
I like my F150
Keith-N-Dar
Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers)
2011 R-Pod 177
2010 Ford F-150
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