Looking for R-pod

Originally posted by voy108 WOW, thanks to all of you for the GREAT input. I'm feeling better about the Explorer for now and will look into changing TV in future once I get the Pod. There is are a couple 171's in TX for sale so will look at them as soon as I get back which should be the 20th.I think I have wrapped up my brother's affairs so now it's up to his kids to sell the house once transfer is completed. Since I am single with small dog, I have settled on the 171 as apposed to the 172. Would rather have the dinette and queen plus from what I gather the 171 is set up a bit better for heater and storage. Doug

Just one more voice in the wilderness here, but I would not tow an R-pod with the 1-1/4" receiver. It's really not meant for anything greater than a bike carrier or a very small utility trailer. Please do replace that receiver with a full 2" receiver.

I think you will like the 171. We do. I recommend you get another mattress though unless FR has changed the ones they have been supplying. Best of luck!

The Explorer should be fine. When we got our pod we had a Suburu and did not care for the way it handled when towing.The salesman said it would be OK.
We now tow with a Toyota Tacoma and are quite happy

The rating of the hitch is not the same as the rating of the truck. Make sure you double/triple check the trucks rating.

You will have to have a 7-pin connection installed and a brake controller. These are not optional. The GVWR of all Pods is 3500lbs. In Texas, brakes are required on all trailers over 4,500lbs, but all your surrounding states, the requirement starts at 3,000lbs.

There are people using Rav 4's and Subaru's to tow, It's neither safe nor advised. F150's are a full size truck, no issue there.

The Explorer can be a fine tow vehicle for Pods, if properly equipped. We towed many miles with our '99 Explorer Limited, 5.0, 7400lb tow rating.

In the long run we see WAY more unhappy towing stories from people who are trying to tow at the bottom of the limits. And I can't remember a single owner who said their previous "smaller" tow vehicle was in any way better then what they upgraded to, if they upgrade.

BTW, the biggest towing issue with a Pod isn't the dry weight, by a long shot. The biggest issues are frontal area, and braking, controlling the load.

As far as switching out hitches, that is a solid option if the truck, is in fact, otherwise rated to tow more then that hitch is rated to. Another advantage of that is with a 2" hitch, a Weight Distributing Hitch, (WDH), and sway control, become available. (though, with a slight modification or two, anti sway can be added to a 1 1/4 hitch).

Many owners run a WDH, even when "not needed on paper" because they get a much better ride and feel more in control when towing.

OH, and after re-reading the OP, finding a 151 is a pretty sketchy plan.. We have been podding for 7 years, have been to dozens of Pod rallies, pay attention when traveling, and two weeks ago, saw a 151 in the wild for the first time. It is in fact owned by a couple that lives about 50 miles from us, and was at the 2017 KY R-Pods and Friends MiniMini rally. 151's were only built in the first couple production runs, only a couple hundred in the whole world, and out of production for 7 years now.

Hi all, y'all(thanks to The Bum's input who is from TX)
According to the fellow(he had huge commercial flatbed) that picked up my brother's Buick for his daughter, he said the hitch has factory bolts so could be(should be) a factory installed tow package...maybe not heavy duty.  The plate has stamped on it 3500lbs max with 350 tongue weigh and a non-7pin plug. If I can avoid it, I would rather not invest $$$$ on a vehicle that I may get rid of in the next year or so. Based on all my research on the 'net, the Explorer is rated for 5000lbs+ and the 171 dry weight is 2205/245. Maybe I'm missing what is needed but folks are using Rav 4's, Subaru's, Ford 150's, and Honda Odysseys to tow the Pods. I'm confused.
Doug