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 > I need HELP!!!
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Tow vehicle ideas needed!
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Tow vehicle ideas needed!

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <123>
Author
Message
lostagain View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2595
Post Options Post Options   Quote lostagain Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Tow vehicle ideas needed!
    Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 10:06am
Ben, you may be real happy with the ecoboost engine if you are driving at high altitudes.  We lived in NV and camped all around the northeast Sierras.  Crossing Ebbetts and Carson passes was easy with the ecoboost engine.  The altitude made no difference at all and there was plenty of power for our 4400 GVW trailer.  We had a Dodge Dakota with a 4.7 V-8 that we towed our Pod with and it really struggled to get up steep climbs.   With a naturally aspirated engine and a 5K weight limit, you may find that the mountain passes are unpleasantly challenging.  

The down side of the small displacement engine is that you don't get much compression breaking and have to be careful to keep your speed down so you don't have to use your brakes too much.  A diesel engine has the same compression braking issue unless it is equipped with a compression brake system, such as a Jake Brake.  If I had it to do over again I would have test driven a 3.5 ecoboost to compare the difference.  
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
Back to Top
Pod_Geek View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 04 Dec 2019
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 261
Post Options Post Options   Quote Pod_Geek Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:15am
I'll just comment that since I switched from a RAM 1500 to a 2500 the towing experience with the R-Pod 195 (weight about 4500 lbs) is much better...much more stable in crosswinds and just overall a more solid ride.  I attribute it to the heavier towing vehicle (+ 1600 lbs).

I'm not suggesting that the OP get a 2500 (unless he sees a bigger trailer in his future as we do), but note the weight of any prospective TV in light of my experience.
2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River
2018 RAM 2500 6.4L
Back to Top
poohbill View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 22 Aug 2019
Location: Idaho
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 87
Post Options Post Options   Quote poohbill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:21am
We have been towing a 179 with a 2017 (Gen 2) Ridgeline all over the Rockies for years. They are well matched for each other. The transmission Honda uses has improved tremendously in model years later than mine. Mileage is close to 14@65.
2016 179 Gastropod
2017 Ridgeline
Back to Top
GlueGuy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2660
Post Options Post Options   Quote GlueGuy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:45am
Originally posted by lostagain

The down side of the small displacement engine is that you don't get much compression breaking and have to be careful to keep your speed down so you don't have to use your brakes too much.  A diesel engine has the same compression braking issue unless it is equipped with a compression brake system, such as a Jake Brake.  If I had it to do over again I would have test driven a 3.5 ecoboost to compare the difference.  

I worked for a company whose work trucks were all the 2.7L EcoBoost. The power was fantastic, but when we did off-road, I was surprised by the lack of compression braking; even in 4L. The 3.5L does not have the compression braking of a diesel, but it is way better than the 2.7L.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
Back to Top
Ben Herman View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 26 Apr 2018
Location: Gr Junction, CO
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 355
Post Options Post Options   Quote Ben Herman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:53am
Originally posted by offgrid

Tesla just dropped pricing aggressively on its whole product line, so it seems like perhaps the inflated pricing post the Covid shortage on new cars in general and EVs in particular might be ending. Ford may well need to price more  sensibly on the Lightning soon too. Hope so anyway. In the meantime tho lowest cost EV on the market is the Bolt, which is what I'm getting.

Re your need for hill climbing, be sure to separate horsepower from tow rating. They are related but not directly connected. If you didn't like the power output of the Ridgeline then it sounds to me like 5000lbs on the tow rating woukd be fine but you need something with high hp output at higher altitudes. That would suggest something with a turbo might be in order. 

Thanks, that makes sense. I can see where having the turbo kick in as needed would help. 
Back to Top
Ben Herman View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 26 Apr 2018
Location: Gr Junction, CO
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 355
Post Options Post Options   Quote Ben Herman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:55am
Originally posted by lostagain

Ben, you may be real happy with the ecoboost engine if you are driving at high altitudes.  We lived in NV and camped all around the northeast Sierras.  Crossing Ebbetts and Carson passes was easy with the ecoboost engine.  The altitude made no difference at all and there was plenty of power for our 4400 GVW trailer.  We had a Dodge Dakota with a 4.7 V-8 that we towed our Pod with and it really struggled to get up steep climbs.   With a naturally aspirated engine and a 5K weight limit, you may find that the mountain passes are unpleasantly challenging.  

The down side of the small displacement engine is that you don't get much compression breaking and have to be careful to keep your speed down so you don't have to use your brakes too much.  A diesel engine has the same compression braking issue unless it is equipped with a compression brake system, such as a Jake Brake.  If I had it to do over again I would have test driven a 3.5 ecoboost to compare the difference.  

Thanks for that info - I definitely plan to take a look at the 3.5 and see how it drives. 
Back to Top
Ben Herman View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 26 Apr 2018
Location: Gr Junction, CO
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 355
Post Options Post Options   Quote Ben Herman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Jan 2023 at 11:56am
Originally posted by GlueGuy

Originally posted by lostagain

The down side of the small displacement engine is that you don't get much compression breaking and have to be careful to keep your speed down so you don't have to use your brakes too much.  A diesel engine has the same compression braking issue unless it is equipped with a compression brake system, such as a Jake Brake.  If I had it to do over again I would have test driven a 3.5 ecoboost to compare the difference.  

I worked for a company whose work trucks were all the 2.7L EcoBoost. The power was fantastic, but when we did off-road, I was surprised by the lack of compression braking; even in 4L. The 3.5L does not have the compression braking of a diesel, but it is way better than the 2.7L.

Appreciate the feedback on the 2.7 vs 3.5!
Back to Top
Ben Herman View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 26 Apr 2018
Location: Gr Junction, CO
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 355
Post Options Post Options   Quote Ben Herman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Apr 2023 at 5:45pm
Just a report back to all of you who assisted (I know we all like to hear the ending to a story). We just took posession of a 2016 F150 with a 3.5 V6 ecoboost. We'd gotten as far as putting a deposit down on a new Tacoma (prices on used ones are nearly the same as new), but realized that 1) the Tacoma would still likely fall short of our expectations for towing the 179, especially in the mountains and 2) we didint want to spend so much $$ on a vehicle that we pretty much only use for camping and occasional local trips. It'll take some getting used to - driving a big rig, that is - but I'm sure it will work well as a TV. 
Back to Top
jato View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3258
Post Options Post Options   Quote jato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Apr 2023 at 7:09pm
Good choice.  We have been very pleased with our 3.5 EB and the seats in our F-150 are very comfortable IMHO.  We purchased ours when it was 3 years old, let someone else pay for the depreciation before we got it.
God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
Back to Top
StephenH View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6329
Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Apr 2023 at 7:43pm
So far, I am glad we traded the 2010 Frontier for the 2018 F-150 3.5l Ecoboost XLT. Overall, I am getting better mileage with the bigger truck and I have tow capacity to spare. The back seat area of the F-150 crew cab is impressive. It is built with leg room for even big people.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <123>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

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