Newbie's First Night

I have been looking for a travel trailer small enough for me and the dog (if she ever learns how to behave) to take quadding.  I am done with tent camping!  I searched and searched and I kept coming back to the R-Pod.  Found one at a used RV dealer in Portland and had to have it.

So I purchased this slightly used 2011 R-Pod 177 Wednesday and did a test camp in it last night in my buddy's driveway hehe.  I am 6'1" 200lbs.  When my head and shoulders were toward the drivers side the furnace squealed at me, like too much weight was on it.  When I switched my head and shoulders toward the passenger side the squealing stopped.  Also my back ached throughout the night.

I am wondering if the mattress platform might be cracked or warped?  It is a big empty space to be spanning for my frame.  I will probably build a wood frame to support the mattress platform in the middle to see if this solves the issue, and try another night in my friends driveway.

But all in all I still love it.  I will work out the sleeping and furnace issues in time, preferably before my first outing next year to ride my quad.  Sport ATV's generally require a more limber back, if you actually want to have fun that is lol!

Welcome.  I'm sure some of the 177 owners will pitch in with some ideas. 

Same here, between my wife and I,  we weigh alot more and always sleep with our heads next to the shoilet. We have not used the furnace much, but when we did it did not squeal. As for our backs, after we installed a foam mattress topper, we sleep alot more comfortably. You should be able to pull the matress off and look at the support underneath. Hope you figure it out and welcome!!

Welcome to you from another newbie!  Spent my first night in my Pod on Saturday - didn't use the furnace, just used a small electric heater and I was toasty warm.  My mattress slept good - it's a good thick one - but a topper is probably a great idea.  As tall as you are, you probably couldn't stretch out good, and I bet that's why your back hurt!  Hope things start looking up!

Welcome, we are new to Rpods this year also. The three inch memory foam mattresses topper saved our lives. Not sure we would have spent another night with out it. Like many others here we use a electric ceramic heater. It is quiter than the built in and saves on propane, purchased it at Home Depot for 19.95, also nice to have a back up. Good luck and have fun podding. Clark