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lostagain View Drop Down
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Location: Quaker Hill, CT
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: ‘Nother Newbie
    Posted: 28 Oct 2018 at 9:26am
Trish, congratulations on your purchase of an "older" Pod.  Ours is also a 2009, but a 172.  We have the same idea of stripping out excess  weight and stuff that we don't use.  Ours didn't come with a microwave, so I didn't have to get rid of it.  We eliminated the heavy table top with a child's folding table from Costco (Lifetime brand) and I mounted it on a pedestal so it's easy to remove if we want a couch like sitting area.  We added a fold down cutting board on the sink side of the galley which would be even easier for you to do in the 173.  It substantially increases the counter space area with less than 4 pounds of additional weight.  The fold down hinges allow it to be stowed completely out of the way.

It's a good thing you didn't try US 95 on your way home.  We drove that distance from Dayton, NV (just east of Carson City) to Sedona, AZ in one day [ufff!, too far] and there are some climbs that would have been far more challenging than the little bump through Tehachapi.  You made a very wise decision using highway 99; much flatter and much less costly gas.  

As for a weight distribution hitch, unless you plan on getting a pretty heavy duty pickup, it would be a very wise investment.  There are several good ones on the market and they make driving with the trailer much less fatiguing, especially when it's blowing snot (a sailing term) and you're driving perpendicular to the wind direction.  We use a Fastway E-2, but there are other good ones on the market too.  Just get some help setting it up so it is properly positioned for your tow vehicle and the bolts are torqued to the correct force.  

As for a TV, you should, as was discussed in your earlier thread, probably get something a little sturdier than your Outback.  Quite frankly, you'll cut the service life of the Outback considerably trying to tow the trailer and will struggle with the climbs in the Sierras.  There are a lot of used pickups and SUV's on the market that you can get for a reasonable price.  We did this with our Dakota and it has been ideal for towing our Pod.  

Best of luck to you.  Maybe we'll run into one another in a Sierra campground.  We're the all white Pod, with all the decals removed.
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2707 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Oct 2018 at 10:44am
Originally posted by TrailerTrish

Is it something that stays attached?
We don't use the WDH for short pulls or if we're just moving it around from one parking place to another. We mainly just hook it up when traveling.
Originally posted by TrailerTrish

If so, can we attach it, or would we take it to an RV service place for installation? Or is it something you put on every time? I couldn’t quite tell from the pictures. 
A WDH needs to be set up properly, and the exact setup will vary depending on both the TV and the TT. It's not hard to set up, but it does require a large torque wrench (usually), as well as some measuring. It is quick and easy if you have a dealer set it up for you.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Oct 2018 at 11:12am
Originally posted by GlueGuy

A WDH needs to be set up properly, and the exact setup will vary depending on both the TV and the TT. It's not hard to set up, but it does require a large torque wrench (usually), as well as some measuring. It is quick and easy if you have a dealer set it up for you.


From my experience a WDH should be used on any smaller TV. GlueGuy is absolutely correct that a WDH must be properly set up. An improperly adjusted WDH can be more dangerous than no WDH but I would not trust a dealer to do the job. Again, my experience showed dealers either don't understand WDHs or won't take the time to do it correctly. My advice has always been: read the instructions, re-read the instructions, understand the instructions, take the time to get it right, recheck the setup. Large wrenches and/or torque wrenches can be rented or borrowed. That said, a properly installed WDH makes all the difference in safety, ride and reduced driver fatigue.
Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Oct 2018 at 12:12pm
And regarding torque wrenches, it's worth investing in a good quality torque wrench and the sockets that fit both your lug nuts and the WDH.  You should check the torque on your lug nuts frequently (along with the tire pressure) and periodically check the torque on the WDH.  You can get decent wrenches and sockets at any auto parts store, big box building supply, or regular hardware stores, not to mention Amazon.  Insofar as the hitch ball torque is concerned, get someone to torque it for you, like a place where they put on trailer hitches. 
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Oct 2018 at 2:21pm
Even if you have a dealer install it take the time to set it up yourself. The instructions are not that difficult and there are times when you will need to readjust it. For example, today I readjusted my wd hitch because I put larger tires and wheels on my rpod. It took me an hour or so because there is a bit of trial and error involved. But now i have it exactly how I want it and understand what it’s doing. Running your rig over scales with and without it is helpful too to understand how it is redistributing load from the tow vehicle rear axle to the front axle and the trailer axle.
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
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DavMar View Drop Down
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Posts: 592 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Oct 2018 at 5:11pm
Originally posted by TrailerTrish

 After our trip home from Phoenix, I would agree that the Outback is only marginally up to the job. I’m ready to get a different vehicle for towing. But my husband isn’t quite on board yet. (Doesn’t help that our entire retirement is in mutual funds and the market just plunged this week.) But I think he’ll come around... 


Just tell your guy a good TV (tow vehicle) is an investment for peace of mind and safety, well worth the investment. Big smile
Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the
wonder dog.
2017 Rpod 180
2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4
Lexington, NC
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