Newbie...

Hello and welcome. It will be exciting to travel with your first caravan (I've been to Germany and they are also called caravans there). We picked our 179 up in December and our first big trip was from North Carolina to Nevada and Arizona to see our daughters and their families (Grandchildren!).

I have seen where some have fitted retractable awnings on R-Pods. We saw such a setup at an RV show we went to last Friday in Raleigh, NC. I am sure each option has its advantages and disadvantages. The R-Dome is great if you would be looking to add the equivalent of a tent for additional room since it can be closed off. The Visor looks to be easy to provide just shade, but lacks the ability to turn it into an extra room. A retractable awning would be convenient, but would add weight. If one wanted a power awning, then there is the problem of how to wire it in. Research the options and make the choice that makes the most sense for you.

For your second question, check out the Pod Mods section. You will get plenty of ideas. From them, choose the ones that make the best sense for you. As for safety, a weight distribution hitch with sway control is the one item to strongly consider. We have an Equal-i-zer 4-way sway control hitch. Others use Andersen hitches. Still others use other brands. Again, investigate the options and choose the one that best fits your situation.

I hope you have many years of enjoyment from your R-Pod.

Hi, We are new to r-Pod ownership and the world of travel trailers. We are from the UK where 'travel trailers' are called 'caravans'. We live close to Chicago and have been in the US for the past 15 years or so. We pick our 179 up on 28 March and are super excited to hit the road with it.