The Motherpod Has Landed!

Originally posted by Retroactive After three long weeks of studying and anticipation, the Motherpod has finally landed. The dealer made the first mod for free, they added graphics on the side and front that listed our family name and home town and state...I was pleasantly surprised! Now I am off to level it for the first time...

I had the advantage of towing a utility trailer with a garden tractor as a child. I learned about backing up with that. Plenty of jackknifes for sure! I also had a utility trailer that I towed with a Honda Civic CVCC Wagon. I used it to do everything from haul firewood to helping take part of our possessions to my in-law's house just before I entered the Army. In the Army, I towed a trailer with a deuce-and-a-half. Now, I am towing an R-Pod with a Ford Escape.

Backing is still tricky. I don't jackknife, but it sometimes takes a few tries before i get the R-Pod in our driveway where I want it to be. It gets better each time though. It will get easier for you also.

Originally posted by JohnBG Same here when I got mine.  A friend of mine gave me a piece of useful advice.  Grab the bottom of the steering wheel and turn it in the direction you want the trailer to go.

Originally posted by StephenH Very nice. As for leveling, check out the BAL leveler. Easiest way to do the side-to-side leveling. No blocks, no backing up and pulling forward multiple times because the number of blocks was incorrect, no aggravation. http://www.amazon.com/BAL-28050-Light-Trailer-Leveler/dp/B000BH5MAA?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

I used my BAL leveler for the first time this past weekend. My first suggestion after getting it is to toss the wrench that comes with it and use a good socket wrench. The stock wrench kept flipping the ratchet the opposite direction on its own, which made it pretty much worthless. I ended up using my 300-ft-lb torque wrench because it's what I had with me with a big enough socket (3/4"). I had to raise it pretty high, with only about 4" of thread remaining at the top.

Thanks for giving the thumbs up on the BAL. I was looking at one back while I was still researching the Rpod. Some of the reviews were bad saying the thing failed to hold the full rating, but I figure my 171 is less than 2,300 unloaded. I will definitely give it a try.