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Topic ClosedSetting up trailer alone
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Jewel59 View Drop Down
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Joined: 19 May 2016
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Posts: 70 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Setting up trailer alone
    Posted: 19 May 2016 at 12:37pm
Hello- I just purchased a new 2016 R-pod 180.  I show chihuahuas and the main purpose of the trailer is to take to shows (and avoid hotel costs).  Shows are typically at fairgrounds and agricultural centers that provide camping facilities.  My question is this, how easy is it to unhitch and level the R-pod on you own? I consider myself a fit, active, strong and capable 51 year old woman.  Can I do this on my own?  It's kind of to late to back out as I've paid for R-pod and will pick it up Monday.  I'd like an honest appraisal of how many do the set up alone.  (since I know some people are laughing, yes it's good thing I show chihuahuas with such a small trailer)
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dr.becky View Drop Down
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Posts: 30 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2016 at 12:42pm
You will do great.  My husband and usually travel together and one person tackles the indoor stuff and
 one the outdoor stuff, independently.  We laugh when folks have tiny dogs in huge rv's.  As we have a huge dog in our tiny trailer, 120 lb Bernese Mountain dog.  He does great, just sleeps by the door and has yet to steal anything off the table that is at his nose height.  
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Jewel59 View Drop Down
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Posts: 70 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2016 at 12:48pm
Originally posted by dr.becky

You will do great.  My husband and usually travel together and one person tackles the indoor stuff and
 one the outdoor stuff, independently.  We laugh when folks have tiny dogs in huge rv's.  As we have a huge dog in our tiny trailer, 120 lb Bernese Mountain dog.  He does great, just sleeps by the door and has yet to steal anything off the table that is at his nose height.  

Oh my, that is a big dog.  Chihuahuas are definitely a good size for the r-pod.  My husband only occasionally comes to shows so mostly I'm on my own (which is fun)!
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2016 at 2:08pm
Welcome to the group!
Leo & Melissa Bachand
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Joined: 15 Mar 2016
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Posts: 270 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2016 at 2:12pm
You will be perfectly fine doing the unhitch and setup on your own, more time consuming than anything else.

Getting the camper back on the hitch will require a helper at first. Most importantly so you get the socket and ball aligned when backing up, and sometimes you need a second set of hands to slide the camper an inch or so for final alignment. Eventually most people can learn to back the truck up quite literally by feel, when it makes contact with the trailer. Sliding the trailer can be done solo too, with such a tiny camper it is more a matter of technique than strength. 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2016 at 2:38pm

Congratulations and welcome to the group!

You should do just fine. I travel alone with my dog 100% of the time. The worst part is lining up the tow vehicle and trailer. This gets easier with time/practice. Some purchase a camera (but not me).

Most everything else doesn't require super-human strength, or a genius IQ (thank goodness). Level your trailer, side to side, with leveling blocks before unhitching - just back up onto them and then "chock" the wheels. Level front/back using the tongue jack when you unhitch. The stabilizers are not difficult, just a lot of turning the crank. There is an attachment for cordless drills that can be used, if desired.

So, can you do it alone....YES! If you have any particular questions, just ask!
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David and Danette View Drop Down
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Posts: 1223 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2016 at 2:56pm
Welcome to the group and sure you will do fine, that's the advantage of having a small camper it makes things easier. I agree with David- " weird guy with a wolf " gets easier with "time/practice".
2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-              
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Jewel59 View Drop Down
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Posts: 70 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2016 at 7:49pm
Originally posted by David


Congratulations and welcome to the group!

You should do just fine. I travel alone with my dog 100% of the time. The worst part is lining up the tow vehicle and trailer. This gets easier with time/practice. Some purchase a camera (but not me).

Most everything else doesn't require super-human strength, or a genius IQ (thank goodness). Level your trailer, side to side, with leveling blocks before unhitching - just back up onto them and then "chock" the wheels. Level front/back using the tongue jack when you unhitch. The stabilizers are not difficult, just a lot of turning the crank. There is an attachment for cordless drills that can be used, if desired.

So, can you do it alone....YES! If you have any particular questions, just ask!

Thanks for the words of support.  I consider myself capable (LOL, we'll see).  I have a BMW X3, I went with the tow package from BMW although it cost a lot more than I had hoped (comes with integrated brake control, all parts, and a reprogramming of the back up and parking sensors on the vehicle).  I'm told once the trailef is hitched, the back-up cam has been programmed to allow you to hitch with guidelines projected to the back-up cam screen....like docking the space station).  I am sure hoping this is the case!  
 


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Jewel59 View Drop Down
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Posts: 70 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2016 at 7:53pm
......I'll worry about the r-dome on my second trip (great shaded space for the dogs so I had to have it)
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 May 2016 at 8:26pm
If you don't need to drive anywhere you can leave it hitched up, which saves some aggravation.  You may find you can deal with it being somewhat out-of-level, so there will be times you can just back it in and put it in park.  This is often the case for us at truck stops.  I might crank up the tongue jack some to level it front-to-back a bit.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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