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CjMk View Drop Down
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Joined: 06 Jun 2017
Location: Novato
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Posts: 6 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: New R Pod 179 owners
    Posted: 07 Jun 2017 at 3:41pm
Hi everyone,

I am so happy to see this forum. We are brand new to camping with a trailer. We pick up our R-Pod in about 10 days.  I am completely clueless.  I ordered 2 batteries, and a stabilizer as well as a brake controller. I am hearing we should get 2 generators.  I am circumspect when dry camping - I don't want to annoy anyone with a generator. Does anyone have any suggestions?  We also need a bike rack.  We were hoping to use our heavy duty bike rack we got for our Toureg. 


If anyone knows of a one stop shop where I can load her up with everything we need, please let me know.  

Lastly, for now anyway... any tricks to back her up? Tongue

Thanks in advance for your reply.  

We are soooo excited! 
With Gratitude,
Cj & MJ
R-Pod 2018 179
2017 VW Touareg 6 Cyl
VW Toureg
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jun 2017 at 3:52pm
Welcome to the group!! Congrats on your 179!!
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Posts: 6418 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jun 2017 at 4:23pm
Originally posted by CjMk

Hi everyone,

I am so happy to see this forum. We are brand new to camping with a trailer. We pick up our R-Pod in about 10 days.  I am completely clueless.  I ordered 2 batteries, and a stabilizer as well as a brake controller. I am hearing we should get 2 generators.  I am circumspect when dry camping - I don't want to annoy anyone with a generator. Does anyone have any suggestions?  We also need a bike rack.  We were hoping to use our heavy duty bike rack we got for our Toureg. 

If anyone knows of a one stop shop where I can load her up with everything we need, please let me know.  
Lastly, for now anyway... any tricks to back her up? Tongue

Thanks in advance for your reply.  

We are soooo excited!

Welcome and Congratulations!

By 2 batteries are you meaning two 6V batteries or two 12V batteries? By stabilizer, do you mean sway control device? Brake controller is a given as it is needed.

Generator depends on how much dry camping you  intend to do. If it is occasional and you do not think you will need to run the generator or microwave, you don't really need one (or two). If, however, you will be doing extended dry camping, then a generator large enough (3000 Watt) or two 2000 watt generators run in parallel will be needed, especially if you need to run the AC or microwave.

Amazon is the nearest thing to a one-stop-shop for a lot of us. As for the bike rack, Forest River only specifies one model as a lot of other ones are too heavy for the rear cross-member to support. A search of the forum would be helpful.

Backing? Practice, practice, practice! Do so in an empty parking lot. Remember that small movements of the steering wheel can have big impact on how the trailer backs.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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jato View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
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Posts: 3336 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jun 2017 at 4:52pm
Welcome Cj and Mj !

We have 2 12v batteries on our 177 and are now going on year 7.  Maintenance is very important as well as not drawing them down below 1/3 S.O.C. when using.  We expect 3 days per battery when camping in cold weather when night temps are upper 30's to upper 40's; furnace will run quite a bit and is the big culprit in drawing down battery charge.  If camping in warmer climes, you will get over a week easily with what you have regardless if they are 6v or 12 v. 
As StephenH stated above, practice, practice, practice.  Also, when backing up, place your hand at the bottom of your steering wheel.  If you move your hand to the left (moving the steering wheel clockwise) the pod will also turn left; vice versa for right.  Pretty simple once you've done it a few times.  We special ordered our 177 w/o A/C back in 2011, a decision we have not regretted, at least yet, so no advice about generator's but there are a lot of seasoned and well-versed people who will give you good advice on that issue.  Enjoy your 179!
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."
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ArenaBlanca View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 Sep 2016
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Posts: 158 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Jun 2017 at 9:32pm
jato has the right technique.  Until I got  proficient at backing up, my wife and I used two walkie-talkies since I couldn't see her.  They can be marriage savers with bigger campers,  Not such an issue with R-pods.
Enjoy Life!!
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2706 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2017 at 9:19am
The generator you might need is totally dependent on how much boondocking you're going to do. If your boondocks are only a day or two at a time, then you might not need any generator. If you're going out for a week, then I would recommend one 3KW generator.

As for backing up, what others have said is good advice. I will add:

One; practice!  
Two; steer from the bottom of the steering wheel. 
Three; use walkie talkies. 
Four; get your signals straight. "Left" and "right" are ambiguous when backing up. We use "passenger side", "driver side" as an alternative.

Good luck, and safe travels!
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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ParPod View Drop Down
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Joined: 28 Oct 2016
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Posts: 105 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2017 at 3:14pm
One other tip to pass on to your "guide" for backing up.....if they can't see one of the side mirrors then you can't see them......if you can see them then a simple set of hand signals works well.  Once you start practising you'll find that it's really not all that difficult as you work your way through it.   You'll soon be the talk of the campground as they all watch you expertly manouver that eye catching pod into a small campsite!
Bob&Margaret
2017 179
2016 Toyota 4Runner
2 sets of Golf Clubs
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Joined: 06 Sep 2016
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2017 at 4:46pm
Yes, congrats on your new pod.  

As for backing up, one of the things I really like about this forum is I always learn new things [or I always feel really stupid].  I've been backing trailers off and on since I was a kid but never knew about the bottom of the steering wheel trick.  I can't wait to try it out.

As for confusing right and left, in the world of navigable waters, they use port and starboard.  Thus, no matter which way you are looking on the boat, it's always the same and there's a simple mnemonic you can use to remember:  A forward looking man (or woman) has port wine left.  Thus, port - the driver's side - and starboard - the passenger side.
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jun 2017 at 5:09pm
lostagain,

Port is left both 4 letter words. Easy for me that way.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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rsmith779 View Drop Down
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Joined: 08 Jun 2017
Location: Santa Maria, CA
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Posts: 5 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jun 2017 at 7:58am
Generator, stabileriser and backing have all been covered....this is why I love this Group. 
So my 2 cents on backing up, always make sure the person that is helping you backup is in your view, use the mirrors, try not to turn your head around while backing up...it will totally confuse you. 
I took my bride to a parking lot that had straight parking lines. I had her backup using the "hands at the bottom of the steering wheel method" and backup using the right passenger mirror and then using the drivers mirror, obviously with the line on the appropriate side. 
Use the walkie talkies....works great! Big 5, Costco, Walmart...all have them. 

Congrads on the new Pod!
Rick and Rosie Smith
2010 175
2015 Chevy Duramax Deisel 2500
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