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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Gas Mileage
    Posted: 20 Sep 2010 at 1:25pm
Originally posted by Gone to Pod

I'm also watching this issue closely.  I have not bought yet and this is an issue to me.  I have been to the dealer and we have settled on the 175 but are waiting to see if FR "cares" enough about their current and potentially new customers enough to fix this or even reply here so we know they are trying to fix it.  This could be the deciding factor on the R-Pod or any other FR product.  If they won't address this issue how can I trust they will care about any other issues that come up.  When I worked in retail we had a saying, "a happy customer will tell one other person, an unhappy customer will tell 10".  From the looks of this thread we are telling more than 10.
Also, welcome Gone to Pod!  Please feel free to post often Smile. 
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TIDALWAVE View Drop Down
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Posts: 315 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2010 at 1:51pm
This is a followup to my airflow simulation animations shown on P11 of this forum topic as suggested by several members.

I still cannot seem to get my Youtube animations to automatically connect to this forum...so
again I am posting the URL addresses...you will have to copy/paste the Youtube addresses to see the animations.

My pickup truck with a topper and a large rear airfoil attached to the rear of the Pod:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez648wa8vrw

The same set-up but with a rear spoiler attached to the rear of the truck plus a large airfoil
attached to the rear of the Pod:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmJ6gfcSj8c

I have looked at all of the simulations a few times...it appears that adding spoilers to the tow vehicle and/or spoilers/foils to the Pod does not change the flow disruption-vacuum produced by the roof A/C by more than a small amount.

I was told that originally R-Pods came with the A/C built into the interior of the Pod. I was wondering if anyone on this forum owns one and what their mileage might be compared to owners
of the new version with roof top A/C?
TIDALWAVE
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tma-333 View Drop Down
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Posts: 14 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2010 at 2:01pm
[I was told that originally R-Pods came with the A/C built into the interior of the Pod. I was wondering if anyone on this forum owns one and what their mileage might be compared to owners
of the new version with roof top A/C?

[/QUOTE]
I like your last question...looking forward to hearing someone's experience.
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2010 at 2:58pm
Never heard of that.  There was an older style A/C unit the first year which didn't have the wall thermostat, but the A/C unit was virtually identical.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Posts: 3990 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2010 at 3:51pm
I have a 2009 171 Rpod Built Feb 2009 with the Air Conditionor on the roof.  The difference between the original and updated Air Conditions is that the controls on mine is on the AC Unit not the wall.
 
Also I'm not complaining at all about the MPG in towing the R-pod.  I always am trying to improve the MPG on my Gas Guzzlers.  My main ride that I use year round is a motorcycle getting a little over 50 MPG.
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Posts: 1223 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2010 at 4:15pm
    TIDALWAVE I think that you were misled about the AC's they have all been roof mounted. We owned a I-camp for a short while with the AC unit mounted inside. I have thought about it being mounted inside the R-Pod. The problem with the I-camp it was mounted next to the bed and it made a little to much noise for sleeping. Perhaps someone who owns a Rpod without the AC unit could give a response of their MPG.      David
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tdrace View Drop Down
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Posts: 133 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2010 at 10:21pm
I tow my r-pod with a Hyundai Santa Fe with a v-6 2 wheel drive. I have no problem towing the r-pod anywhere. I actually went up an 8% grade in the mountains and it did not struggle. I normally drive 60-65 on the interstate and get around 12 miles to a gallon. After hearing all about the wind resistance I think we are getting a little hung up on it. I have been very pleased with my tv and I am taking it to the Rockies next summer. Several people have been thru the Rockies with a V6, no problem. Anything taller than your tow vehicle is going to have wind resistance. You might want to check out Airstream's site, they have a wind study on their trailers.  Best of Luck on your choice of RV!
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Posts: 39 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2010 at 11:01pm
Originally posted by techntrek

Interesting.  Usually they just say "turn off overdrive".  Never heard of having to manually handle the gears.  Have you tried to let it shift on its own?  As long as it doesn't hunt up and down a lot you should be OK.  I've found I need to manually downshift to 2nd on hills to keep mine from constantly hunting, but otherwise I let it do its own thing.

Wow, I go to LA for the weekend and this thread takes off again!   I don't have an overdrive on my Tacoma to turn off and on.  I have tried letting the automatic do it's thing and it's fine in town, but on the freeway, it tries to shift into 4th gear and I lose power fast!   It really is best leaving it in 3rd and going 60ish than letting the automatic try and shift into the last gear.

-Runebane
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Posts: 11 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2010 at 1:18am

Hi Theresa,

Do you have the largest V6 engine Hyundai offers in the Santa Fe. What is your range towing your Rpod?
Did you have an auxiliary transmission cooler installed? Was it easy to get the hitch and brake controller installed?

I'm looking for a tow vehicle. I'm pricing out pre-owned Toyota 4Runner V8, Trailblazer, Explorers but hadn't given a thought to a Santa Fe.

Got any photos of your Rpod hitched up to your Santa Fe?  

Thanks

Kelvin
Originally posted by tdrace

I tow my r-pod with a Hyundai Santa Fe with a v-6 2 wheel drive. I have no problem towing the r-pod anywhere. I actually went up an 8% grade in the mountains and it did not struggle. I normally drive 60-65 on the interstate and get around 12 miles to a gallon. After hearing all about the wind resistance I think we are getting a little hung up on it. I have been very pleased with my tv and I am taking it to the Rockies next summer. Several people have been thru the Rockies with a V6, no problem. Anything taller than your tow vehicle is going to have wind resistance. You might want to check out Airstream's site, they have a wind study on their trailers.  Best of Luck on your choice of RV!
Theresa
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2010 at 8:05am
I have looked at all of the simulations a few times...it appears that adding spoilers to the tow vehicle and/or spoilers/foils to the Pod does not change the flow disruption-vacuum produced by the roof A/C by more than a small amount. - Tidalwave

Would I be correct in assuming the the flow simulator is only 2D (height/lenght).  If so, it would be "assuming" that the A/C is as wide as the Pod and creating more of a problem than it is.  I am also wondering about the vehicles or wind speed it shows?  Most everyone seems to notice the problem at about 50-60mph and up.  Again, thanks for your efforts.
 
I'm not sure we can solve/improve the problem with the tools at hand - if indeed it is able to be solved/improved in a reasonable/cost effective manner. 
 
I speculate that many were expecting/hoping for better mpg and road performance (myself included) out of the Pod.  Real world experiences have been a little dissapointing to these.  Who knows, maybe someone will find something to help - but only if we talk about it.    
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