Introduction - R-pod Owners Forum

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sgjunge

Newbie

Joined: 01 Jun 2016
Location: Southern CA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2

Topic: Introduction
Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 10:35am

Thanks techntrek, I think I will research some options.

Scott & Gina in California

techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

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

Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 9:23pm

Welcome. Adding a tranny cooler is never a bad call. You can't cool a transmission enough for towing (although in very cold climates you may need to cover the cooler in winter to get the temperature up in the tranny before moving).

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

sgjunge

Newbie

Joined: 01 Jun 2016
Location: Southern CA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2

Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 8:29pm

Hello R-Pod Nation, My wife and I just picked up our new RP179. We live in Southern California and plant to camp mostly along the Central and Southern Coast. We are taking our maiden trip this week and are excited to be at the beach. We are interested in finding other R- Pod owners in SoCA to plan some annual events. I also would like some advice on my tow vehicle. I have a 2013 Ford Edge SEL with 3.5 Liter engine. Should I consider adding a transmission cooler? I have a 6 speed transmission and we had no problem brining our R-Pod home from the dealer (85 miles). Thanks, Scott, Gina, and the 3 fur children.

Scott & Gina in California

techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

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

Posted: 07 Jun 2016 at 12:32pm

bluecatjudy- welcome.

DaveC3 - are you disconnecting the battery from the pod between trips? The converter can't 'drain' the battery if the pod isn't unplugged from your house, but the fridge circuitry and the LP detector will (in about 2 weeks). If the converter was plugged in and is only reaching 11.6 volts, then I could see an issue since that is extremely low and would allow the battery to discharge.

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

DaveC3

Groupie

Joined: 17 Feb 2016
Location: Georgetown, TX
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 48

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 at 3:00pm

Danny Boy

We have a 2016 180 and have lost two converters and one battery (and maybe the second). It is in the shop now. No fuses or breakers blew, the converter just drained the battery. I pulled the two fuses and tripped the breaker and after that the battery drain was minimal. I kept the second battery charged with a battery charger. But I think the converter may have hurt it because it will not charge past 11.6V.

This seems to be an isolated problem. I was at a Pod rally last month and no one else had an issue with the electrical system.

Dave

2016 R-Pod 180
2015 Ford Explorer Limited

Leo B

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4518

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 at 12:15pm

Hi Welcome to the group!! the 179 is a really nice floor plan. We really like ours!

Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171

bluecatjudy View Drop Down

Newbie

Joined: 27 Jan 2016
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 15

Posted: 06 Jun 2016 at 10:56am

Hi, everyone. I jut picked up my 1 year old HRE179 in south Floria last week. I have been reading and learning a lot about FR and the Rpod. We are so happy to get a trailer vs owning a motorhome. It hurt to see that diesel motor sitting in the driveway. We have a few more weeks and we plan to take off to the Grand Canyon and beyond for 2 months. Again, thanks to everyone that has contributed to the forums.

sailorman

CharlieM

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1797

Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 7:24pm

The converter contains two 30 or 40 Amp fuses that protect against reverse battery connection. They are located slightly removed from the main set of 12V fuses. They will be blown if the battery was ever connected backwards, even for a second. If blown, the converter will not charge or run the 12V circuits.

Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

Danny boy

Newbie

Joined: 04 Jun 2016
Location: Pioneer CA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 7

Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 7:07pm

I don't know if my last post went through but thank you for the reply, yes we checked out all breakers and fuses, no problem there. we could charge the battery with the truck hookup but the 110 hookup at the RV park would do nothing. We also found out that if the refer board as left on the truck would not charge the battery so I'm thinking there may be a problem with the fridge. The 180 is going in to the shop to get checked out tomorrow so hopefully the problem will get solved. Thanks again, Dan

techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

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

Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 6:25pm

Welcome. If the pod was plugged in at the RV park, the converter (not inverter) would run everything even if there wasn't a battery. Did you check all of the circuit breakers on the converter?

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

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sgjunge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Jun 2016 Location: Southern CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Topic: Introduction Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 10:35am
	Thanks techntrek, I think I will research some options.
	Scott & Gina in California

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: 10 Jun 2016 at 9:23pm
	Welcome. Adding a tranny cooler is never a bad call. You can't cool a transmission enough for towing (although in very cold climates you may need to cover the cooler in winter to get the temperature up in the tranny before moving).
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

sgjunge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Jun 2016 Location: Southern CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 8:29pm
	Hello R-Pod Nation, My wife and I just picked up our new RP179. We live in Southern California and plant to camp mostly along the Central and Southern Coast. We are taking our maiden trip this week and are excited to be at the beach. We are interested in finding other R- Pod owners in SoCA to plan some annual events. I also would like some advice on my tow vehicle. I have a 2013 Ford Edge SEL with 3.5 Liter engine. Should I consider adding a transmission cooler? I have a 6 speed transmission and we had no problem brining our R-Pod home from the dealer (85 miles). Thanks, Scott, Gina, and the 3 fur children.
	Scott & Gina in California

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: 07 Jun 2016 at 12:32pm
	bluecatjudy- welcome. DaveC3 - are you disconnecting the battery from the pod between trips? The converter can't 'drain' the battery if the pod isn't unplugged from your house, but the fridge circuitry and the LP detector will (in about 2 weeks). If the converter was plugged in and is only reaching 11.6 volts, then I could see an issue since that is extremely low and would allow the battery to discharge.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

DaveC3 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 17 Feb 2016 Location: Georgetown, TX Online Status: Offline Posts: 48	Posted: 06 Jun 2016 at 3:00pm
	Danny Boy We have a 2016 180 and have lost two converters and one battery (and maybe the second). It is in the shop now. No fuses or breakers blew, the converter just drained the battery. I pulled the two fuses and tripped the breaker and after that the battery drain was minimal. I kept the second battery charged with a battery charger. But I think the converter may have hurt it because it will not charge past 11.6V. This seems to be an isolated problem. I was at a Pod rally last month and no one else had an issue with the electrical system. Dave
	2016 R-Pod 180 2015 Ford Explorer Limited

Leo B Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4518	Posted: 06 Jun 2016 at 12:15pm
	Hi Welcome to the group!! the 179 is a really nice floor plan. We really like ours!
	Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171

bluecatjudy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 27 Jan 2016 Location: Florida Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 06 Jun 2016 at 10:56am
	Hi, everyone. I jut picked up my 1 year old HRE179 in south Floria last week. I have been reading and learning a lot about FR and the Rpod. We are so happy to get a trailer vs owning a motorhome. It hurt to see that diesel motor sitting in the driveway. We have a few more weeks and we plan to take off to the Grand Canyon and beyond for 2 months. Again, thanks to everyone that has contributed to the forums.
	sailorman

CharlieM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797	Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 7:24pm
	The converter contains two 30 or 40 Amp fuses that protect against reverse battery connection. They are located slightly removed from the main set of 12V fuses. They will be blown if the battery was ever connected backwards, even for a second. If blown, the converter will not charge or run the 12V circuits.
	Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

Danny boy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 04 Jun 2016 Location: Pioneer CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 7:07pm
	I don't know if my last post went through but thank you for the reply, yes we checked out all breakers and fuses, no problem there. we could charge the battery with the truck hookup but the 110 hookup at the RV park would do nothing. We also found out that if the refer board as left on the truck would not charge the battery so I'm thinking there may be a problem with the fridge. The 180 is going in to the shop to get checked out tomorrow so hopefully the problem will get solved. Thanks again, Dan

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: 05 Jun 2016 at 6:25pm
	Welcome. If the pod was plugged in at the RV park, the converter (not inverter) would run everything even if there wasn't a battery. Did you check all of the circuit breakers on the converter?
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual