newbie question - R-pod Owners Forum

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CasaJack

Newbie

Joined: 19 Feb 2014
Location: San Gabriel, CA
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Posts: 36

Topic: newbie question
Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 2:06pm

The hybrid pod, according to the Forest River Website, weighs about 2700 lbs and has a storage capacity of of 1140 lbs for a total weight of 3840 lbs. You can tow with your Highlander but you will have to keep the storage weight down.

Jackdaddy

GlobeTrotter View Drop Down

Newbie

Joined: 27 Feb 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20

Posted: 18 Apr 2014 at 7:27pm

We pull our 'ScapePod with a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited that is rated for 3500#. Handles very well with an e2 weight distribution hitch. Some rental rpod sites require this WDS for vehicles rated for 5000# or less. We got the 177 because of the lighter weight. Otherwise we probably would have opted for the 179. Thanks to the limited storage space in the 177, it is hard to overload it!

Podding from Montana and loving it!

techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9062

Posted: 18 Apr 2014 at 2:27pm

Ditto. Our Sienna was rated for 3500 pounds, which was fine for more local trips. Even on most hills it wasn't a problem. But a long trip to Florida with an unusually strong head wind convinced me that I needed something more substantial for long distance trips.

Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

P&M

Senior Member

Joined: 13 Aug 2012
Location: Spokane, WA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 454

Posted: 18 Apr 2014 at 12:08pm

OP, our original tow vehicle was a Hyundai Veracruz with a 3500# capacity. We went with the 171 model since it was one of, if not the, lowest weighted Pods available ... that, and we actually like the floor plan layout. We used it for 1 1/2 years with the Veracruz camping around NC, SC, GA and TN. For the area around these parts we had no problems with towing it, as it is mostly flat with some rolling hills. We always packed light, kept speed down, were very cautious and conscious about other vehicles around us, and generally took it easy.

We always said though that if we moved or wanted to take trips into larger mountain areas we would need to get a larger capacity TV, which is exactly what we have done this spring in anticipation of heading west to WA. So, can you tow with a 3500# capacity ... yes, if you are smart about it.

P & M ... and Comet too!
2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod
2018 Ram 2500

Tars Tarkas View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 14 Jan 2013
Location: Near Nashville
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1452

Posted: 18 Apr 2014 at 9:41am

Thread drift. I don't know about a tent pod with the tent closed, but Nova Scotia, especially Cape Breton, is one of the most beautiful places I've been. I think you'll be fine with two people and two well-behaved dogs though.

TT

2010 176
FJ Cruiser

ron_whitt

Senior Member

Joined: 08 Sep 2011
Location: Chesterville On
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 261

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 at 10:56pm

Any pod when loaded with, clothes, food, etc. brings weight very close to 3500lb. I wouldn't pull it with any tv that is rated lower than 5000lb. Its a safety margin thing, not only for yourself but for others that you meet on the road.

Ron & Shirley
2020 Tacoma
2012 177 rpod

outermostpod View Drop Down

Groupie

Joined: 06 Nov 2013
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 43

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 at 9:59pm

I think the OP means hybrid pod not hybrid Highlander. The towing capacity of the hybrid highlander is 3,500 lbs though. Depending on the year, the regular (6 cyl) Higlander is 5,000 lbs.

Boomertype View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 12 Jan 2014
Location: Seattle
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 108

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 at 9:44pm

I don't think the hybrid has the same towing capacity as the 6Cyl.

tcairney

Newbie

Joined: 13 Apr 2014
Location: Statesboro, GA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2

Posted: 17 Apr 2014 at 6:50am

Thank you. I know the capacity is fine, I was just hoping to get an idea of the general handling.

We slept in one day and the hybrid was sold. So we are searching for another!

tcairney

Boomertype View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 12 Jan 2014
Location: Seattle
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 108

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 at 10:45pm

You can look up your tow vehicle here: http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/

Each year they redo it, but the basic info is in the 2014 Guide.

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CasaJack Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 19 Feb 2014 Location: San Gabriel, CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 36	Topic: newbie question Posted: 23 Apr 2014 at 2:06pm
	The hybrid pod, according to the Forest River Website, weighs about 2700 lbs and has a storage capacity of of 1140 lbs for a total weight of 3840 lbs. You can tow with your Highlander but you will have to keep the storage weight down.
	Jackdaddy

GlobeTrotter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 27 Feb 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Posted: 18 Apr 2014 at 7:27pm
	We pull our 'ScapePod with a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited that is rated for 3500#. Handles very well with an e2 weight distribution hitch. Some rental rpod sites require this WDS for vehicles rated for 5000# or less. We got the 177 because of the lighter weight. Otherwise we probably would have opted for the 179. Thanks to the limited storage space in the 177, it is hard to overload it!
	Podding from Montana and loving it!

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 18 Apr 2014 at 2:27pm
	Ditto. Our Sienna was rated for 3500 pounds, which was fine for more local trips. Even on most hills it wasn't a problem. But a long trip to Florida with an unusually strong head wind convinced me that I needed something more substantial for long distance trips.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

P&M Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 13 Aug 2012 Location: Spokane, WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 454	Posted: 18 Apr 2014 at 12:08pm
	OP, our original tow vehicle was a Hyundai Veracruz with a 3500# capacity. We went with the 171 model since it was one of, if not the, lowest weighted Pods available ... that, and we actually like the floor plan layout. We used it for 1 1/2 years with the Veracruz camping around NC, SC, GA and TN. For the area around these parts we had no problems with towing it, as it is mostly flat with some rolling hills. We always packed light, kept speed down, were very cautious and conscious about other vehicles around us, and generally took it easy. We always said though that if we moved or wanted to take trips into larger mountain areas we would need to get a larger capacity TV, which is exactly what we have done this spring in anticipation of heading west to WA. So, can you tow with a 3500# capacity ... yes, if you are smart about it.
	P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500

Tars Tarkas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1452	Posted: 18 Apr 2014 at 9:41am
	Thread drift. I don't know about a tent pod with the tent closed, but Nova Scotia, especially Cape Breton, is one of the most beautiful places I've been. I think you'll be fine with two people and two well-behaved dogs though. TT
	2010 176 FJ Cruiser

ron_whitt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Location: Chesterville On Online Status: Offline Posts: 261	Posted: 17 Apr 2014 at 10:56pm
	Any pod when loaded with, clothes, food, etc. brings weight very close to 3500lb. I wouldn't pull it with any tv that is rated lower than 5000lb. Its a safety margin thing, not only for yourself but for others that you meet on the road.
	Ron & Shirley 2020 Tacoma 2012 177 rpod

outermostpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 06 Nov 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 43	Posted: 17 Apr 2014 at 9:59pm
	I think the OP means hybrid pod not hybrid Highlander. The towing capacity of the hybrid highlander is 3,500 lbs though. Depending on the year, the regular (6 cyl) Higlander is 5,000 lbs.

Boomertype Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2014 Location: Seattle Online Status: Offline Posts: 108	Posted: 17 Apr 2014 at 9:44pm
	I don't think the hybrid has the same towing capacity as the 6Cyl.

tcairney Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 13 Apr 2014 Location: Statesboro, GA Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Posted: 17 Apr 2014 at 6:50am
	Thank you. I know the capacity is fine, I was just hoping to get an idea of the general handling. We slept in one day and the hybrid was sold. So we are searching for another!
	tcairney

Boomertype Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2014 Location: Seattle Online Status: Offline Posts: 108	Posted: 14 Apr 2014 at 10:45pm
	You can look up your tow vehicle here: http://www.trailerlife.com/trailer-towing-guides/ Each year they redo it, but the basic info is in the 2014 Guide.