Want tow vehicle recommendation for 179 - R-pod Owners Forum

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Leo B

podders Helping podders - pHp

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

Topic: Want tow vehicle recommendation for 179
Posted: 26 Aug 2015 at 9:19pm

Welcome to the group!

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

techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

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

Posted: 26 Aug 2015 at 8:40pm

Welcome. Any vehicle rated to tow 3500 pounds can tow either of those models. HOWEVER, you can easily add 1000 pounds to the unloaded vehicle weights shown on the Forest River website, between add-ons, propane, clothes, kitchen stuff, food, and a full load of water. You can just barely get away with it if you don't fill up the fresh water tank and don't overload on your "stuff". But you are also then pushing the limits of your TV (tow vehicle).

Since your plan is to travel to the national parks and not just stay local, you really will want a bigger TV. Getting up the mountains in the NE and the Rockies with the horsepower and torque you'll get with a TV rated to tow 3500 pounds will be painful - high RPMs and slow speeds. I was there, pulling with a Sienna for a while.

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

WashStateNana View Drop Down

Newbie

Joined: 26 Aug 2015
Location: SE Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9

Posted: 26 Aug 2015 at 7:50pm

I'm sure this has been asked and answered often, but I'd appreciate your advice....

My husband and I are trailer newbies who want to take our 8 yo granddaughter on road trips, working up to longer multi-state trips to see the country. We homeschool her, so we're looking forward to visiting historic sites, national parks, etc. during less crowded seasons.

So - before the trailer decision (179? 180? It's so hard to decide! We'll be borrowing or renting before buying) - we need a tow vehicle to replace my aging car. Most of the time, it will be used to transport just the two or three of us, so a Honda Pilot or Ford Flex (two that we've been looking at recently) seems like overkill. And we'd rather not spend that much, either.

We know an F150 or similar would handle the job nicely, but we're not in the market for a pickup. My husband loves his Ranger (12 years and 200,000+ miles!) and would not part with it.

Is there a smaller vehicle that would safely tow a larger pod? Or is a midsize SUV/crossover better? Would love to hear about your experiences and favorites - I know there are lots of possibilities.

Thanks!

Pam

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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	Topic: Want tow vehicle recommendation for 179 Posted: 26 Aug 2015 at 9:19pm
	Welcome to the group!
	Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171

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: 26 Aug 2015 at 8:40pm
	Welcome. Any vehicle rated to tow 3500 pounds can tow either of those models. HOWEVER, you can easily add 1000 pounds to the unloaded vehicle weights shown on the Forest River website, between add-ons, propane, clothes, kitchen stuff, food, and a full load of water. You can just barely get away with it if you don't fill up the fresh water tank and don't overload on your "stuff". But you are also then pushing the limits of your TV (tow vehicle). Since your plan is to travel to the national parks and not just stay local, you really will want a bigger TV. Getting up the mountains in the NE and the Rockies with the horsepower and torque you'll get with a TV rated to tow 3500 pounds will be painful - high RPMs and slow speeds. I was there, pulling with a Sienna for a while.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

WashStateNana Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 26 Aug 2015 Location: SE Washington Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Posted: 26 Aug 2015 at 7:50pm
	I'm sure this has been asked and answered often, but I'd appreciate your advice.... My husband and I are trailer newbies who want to take our 8 yo granddaughter on road trips, working up to longer multi-state trips to see the country. We homeschool her, so we're looking forward to visiting historic sites, national parks, etc. during less crowded seasons. So - before the trailer decision (179? 180? It's so hard to decide! We'll be borrowing or renting before buying) - we need a tow vehicle to replace my aging car. Most of the time, it will be used to transport just the two or three of us, so a Honda Pilot or Ford Flex (two that we've been looking at recently) seems like overkill. And we'd rather not spend that much, either. We know an F150 or similar would handle the job nicely, but we're not in the market for a pickup. My husband loves his Ranger (12 years and 200,000+ miles!) and would not part with it. Is there a smaller vehicle that would safely tow a larger pod? Or is a midsize SUV/crossover better? Would love to hear about your experiences and favorites - I know there are lots of possibilities. Thanks! Pam