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dbrownalive View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Mar 2016
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Posts: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Full-timing
    Posted: 24 Mar 2016 at 6:55am
Hello rPod owners,

My wife is retiring this summer, and we plan on a full-time traveling adventure.

We have spent months comparing rv/motorhome options, and we keep coming back to the rPod as the home with maximum flexibility.  We have determined that the mobility and the agility of the rPod outweighs the lack of storage space.

Here is our rationale:  If we are going to go sleek and small, the first year is the time to do it.  After that time, we will have met many friends, and toured many units.  At that point, we might want to upgrade to a larger unit. 

We'd love to hear positive stories from other rPod full-timers.  We've heard many stories from those that would not full-time in anything less than a 30' Class A, but are curious to hear from others that have adopted the tiny-trailer life style.

Are there such stories?

Thanks for the help.  

Dan and Leeann Brown
Stevensville, MI
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2016 at 8:51am
Welcome to the group! Congrats on your upcoming retirement! We are not full-timers but do spend 5 weeks in our 179, on our yearly trip to Cape Hatteras. We find the pod easy to tow, and comfortable during our stay.
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2016 at 9:18am
Originally posted by Leo B

Welcome to the group! Congrats on your upcoming retirement!



X2 - Welcome!

I am retired, but do not full time. I sometimes go out for a week or so at a time. I travel alone with my dog. Storage is an issue, even at that. Clothes storage and the fridge space gets maxed out. You have to get and stayed organized or things get out of hand in a hurry. (no leaving dirty dishes in the sink, etc.)

The interior space can start getting kind of small - if you are stuck inside all day, due to the weather.

I would suggest upgrading the mattress and doing something with the seating. The OEM seating gets uncomfortable quickly.

Nothing in this class of camper is designed for full time living. Everything is lightweight and not really heavy duty. Expect wear and maintenance.

Good luck and, again, welcome.
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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: 24 Mar 2016 at 11:16am
At this point, there are only 3 TTs in this size range I would try to full time in. We love our Pod, have done +10 days with two adults and two large dogs. Bad weather gets old fast if the dome isn't up, and gets old slow if it is. But my main worry is that a Pod just isn't built to be, or meant to be, a full time rig. That said, I know several who do, or have, full timed, or at least been "out" for 6-9 months at a time in a Pod.. But I think it's asking a lot of the Pod, and most here, as much as we love our pods, want to see people happy in a rig that works for their uses, rather than unhappy with a Pod.

Our personal list of TT's in the size of the pod, but full-time-able is..

Camplite 16DBS

Lance 1685 or 1985

Airstream Sport 16


We have done a ton of research, and have been looking for as perfect for us, of a TT, for "near full timing".. we are getting ready to order a Lance 2285.

In the interest of full disclosure, I don't work for any of the companies listed, and have no vested interest of any kind. Also, we own a vintage 31 foot Airstream, and found it to large and ungainly for the COE, NP, and SP CG's we tend to frequent.

Oh, and Welcome to the group!!
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dbrownalive View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Mar 2016
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Posts: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2016 at 4:59pm
Thanks for the welcome.  My wife, Leeann, will retire after 30 years of teaching elementary school.  I'm a professional painter (of the house variety), so I will look for opportunities to workkamp, a bit.

So you find the Grand Caravan tows fine?  

Dan and Leeann Brown
Stevensville, Mi
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dbrownalive View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Mar 2016
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Posts: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Mar 2016 at 5:03pm
Thank you, Furpod.

I'll check out the suggested TTs right now.

I appreciate the input.

Dan and Leeann Brown
Stevensville, MI
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sailor323 View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Jun 2015
Location: S Central KY
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Posts: 281 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2016 at 3:08pm
The size of trailer is completely dependent on your personal needs.  We routinely spend 5 months of the year on a small sailboat with living space comparable to the 179 pod.  We have been on an extended trip in the pod this year.  We began in November 2015.  It's now late March 2016.  We will probably get back home around the middle of April.  So that means 5  months in the pod.  We find that it is quite comfortable for the 2 of us and a small dog.  That said, our need for personal space might be different from that of other folks.  Also, having the dome or similar space outside the pod is really important.
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dbrownalive View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Mar 2016
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Posts: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2016 at 4:48pm
Thanks, Sailor.

We are pretty confident the small quarters won't be an issue.  We plan on getting the dome, and spending a little to make that very livable.  We are in our mid-fifties, relatively fit and healthy (knock on wood) and don't want to be limited by the size of our unit.  

Have you found some unique spots to set-up?  Have you had to adapt anything for cold weather?  What do tow your rPod with?

Thanks for the help.

Dan and Leeann Brown
Stevensville, MI
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sailor323 View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Jun 2015
Location: S Central KY
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Posts: 281 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2016 at 5:13pm
We tow with a 2000 Toyota Tacoma 3.44WD  with 5 speed manual transmission.  While we have camped in relatively cold weather--brief periods of night-time temps in upper 20s and 30s, our camping and boating goal is to escape winter, so we head south.  We haven't had to winterize while camping.  We like boondocking but have found few places where we could do that.  We find that State parks and COE campgrounds are usually better than privately owned ones.
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Mar 2016 at 5:34pm
dbrownalive,

We find that the Grand Caravan tows pretty well. The engine puts out 283  horse.
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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