R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Introduce Yourself
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Newbies
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedNewbies
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
MikenGinger View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 11 Oct 2014
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Newbies
    Posted: 21 Oct 2014 at 6:59am
Craig

Thanks! Very helpful. One more question; where is the fuse box?
Back to Top
Luv2Q View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 30 Aug 2014
Location: Central TX
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 309 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2014 at 10:16pm
Originally posted by Outbound

Congratulations and Welcome!  I hope you end up loving your r-pod as much as I love mine.  My suggestions:
  • If you bought new, and you didn't buy/haven't heard of Forest Rivers' second year of warranty coverage, have a look for it in the documentation that came with your trailer.  ...
  • / .. Rest snipped ../

Good info!  I found no such form in the docs that came with our trailer.  Thankfully, the sales rep at Couch's emailed me a copy.  Just hope I got it sent in to FR in time (was outside the 10 day limit).

Thanks for the reminder!  Big smile
John & Teri
Tundra 5.7L V8 / RP 180
E2 WDH / Integrated controller (POS) replaced by Tekonsha P3
Back to Top
Outbound View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2014 at 9:23pm
Originally posted by MikenGinger

I am a little bewildered by the water heater.  The toggle switch under the panel on the outside; Which position is for gas and which for electric?

Well, let me confuse you a bit more...

The white switch inside the trailer is for propane operation of the water heater.  The breaker-style switch, accessed from outside and located on the water heater itself, is for electric operation of the water heater (It reads "On" when flipped to the on position).

Technically, both electric and propane may be turned on at the same time, if you'd like.

Many people tend to leave the outside electric in the on position and use the breaker on the fusebox (located inside the trailer) to turn on/off electric the water heater.

Personally, I just use propane.  It heats up quickly, is easy to turn on/off, and it uses very little propane.  Of course, I can fill a propane tank at the Costco down the street from my house for $12, so I tend not to be miserly with the gas.

One caution: before turning on electricity, make sure you've filled the water heater tank with water.  Its very easy to forget and burn out the electric element.  Run the hot tap inside until the air/sputtering has stopped and you get a steady flow of water.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
Back to Top
MikenGinger View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 11 Oct 2014
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2014 at 5:28pm
I am a little bewildered by the water heater.  The toggle switch under the panel on the outside; Which position is for gas and which for electric?  Thanks a lot.  Mike
Back to Top
MikenGinger View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 11 Oct 2014
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2014 at 5:24pm
Many thanks!  This is really helpful
Back to Top
MikenGinger View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 11 Oct 2014
Location: Pennsylvania
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2014 at 5:23pm
We live between Wilkes Barre & Lewisburg, along I-80.  
Back to Top
techntrek View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
Admin Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2014 at 11:11am
+1 on everything Outbound said.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
Back to Top
Outbound View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2014 at 9:29pm
Congratulations and Welcome!  I hope you end up loving your r-pod as much as I love mine.  My suggestions:
  • If you bought new, and you didn't buy/haven't heard of Forest Rivers' second year of warranty coverage, have a look for it in the documentation that came with your trailer.  Its very inexpensive and you may find it to be worthwhile.  You only have 10 days from the date of purchase to buy the extended warranty (although Forest River have been known to make exceptions), so have a look now.
  • Winterize your trailer before the first hard freeze.  Don't assume that its been done, nor think that you can get away without doing it.
  • Check your lug bolts and tire pressures regularly (as often as before every trip).  Seriously.  Trailer lug bolts mysteriously loosen far more often than a car tire's.  And use a proper torque wrench (you'll need one capable of 100 ft-lbs).
  • During the first month of camping (which I assume will be in the spring), bring a notebook with you to mark down any fit & finish issues you have with the trailer.  You'll likely have some - it may be sticky windows, a misaligned drawer, a few loose/missing screws and some missing trim.  Please don't let this little stuff frustrate you; it happens with all travel trailers.  Just expect to find it, and expect to return to your dealer to have them fix it under warranty.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
Back to Top
Old Dingo&Mrs.Dingo View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 07 Jul 2012
Location: Tarentum, PA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2014 at 8:16pm
Welcome

We too are from PA - about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh.  What part of PA are you from?

Hope you enjoy your new R-pod and have many safe camping trips in the future.

Bob and Sylvia
Old Dingo and/or Mrs. Dingo
181G
2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Back to Top
techntrek View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
Admin Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2014 at 7:20pm
Welcome.  Go to the link in my signature for a good start.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  12>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz