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Topic ClosedWe bought a 2010 R-pod 175
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Glenn View Drop Down
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Joined: 19 Dec 2015
Location: Pointe Claire,
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Posts: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: We bought a 2010 R-pod 175
    Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 10:33am
Sorry this is such a long post.

We bought a 2010 R-pod 175 and will be leaving on our first trip April 8th. We'll be travelling from Montreal to Edmonton AB, then to Banff, Yellowstone, Oregon, Vancouver and back to Montreal in late May. A pretty ambitious first trip.
We are new to RV travel, although I have pulled other trailers and boats and have learned a lot from this forum (thanks very much, it's absolutely invaluable).
Our TV is a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport that has a factory installed tow package and is rated to pull 3500 lbs. so I think we are OK. ??
I have payed attention to this forum; so I have a Husky WD hitch and sway bar, new tires, packed wheel bearings, brakes checked by the dealer (although they don't seem to brake as strongly as I would like), a torque wrench for the wheel lugs, electrical test kit as suggested, (found a neat tester for about $8 that just lights up to indicate voltage as 110, 220, ...>).
We have tested everything except the plumbing and it all worksSmile
The trailer was winterized by the dealer and I haven't touched it except that I turned on the water pump for about 15 seconds by mistake and got some antifreeze in the shower.
When we leave in April most camps will not yet be open. We plan to travel through the US on the way west, through Chicago, Minneapolis, Fargo and then up to Regina SK. We hope it will be a bit warmer. We will have to boondock on the way so any suggestions would be welcome.
My biggest question is what to do about the water. The temperature will be dipping a couple of degrees below freezing often, particularly in the mountains so I think the best thing is to just leave the system winterized until the weather warms up. But that means I'll have to flush the system and set it up for the summer at a camp ground. Not looking forward to doing it for the first time at a camp ground but It seems the best choice. I hope the plumbing all worksEmbarrassed I have read through the Water heater 101 forum but haven't pulled up the bed yet to look at it.
We will be camping in slightly sub-freezing temperatures and I don't have a feel for what the system can take. I read something about R-pods having a heating pad for the holding tanks, but I don't think I have one.

Any suggestions, warnings, advice are very welcome. I'm looking forward to participating in this forum. Thanks again.

Glenn
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DavidW View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Jun 2013
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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Posts: 129 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 10:59am
Welcome Glenn!
While this year has been unseasonably warm, my rule of thumb here in Ottawa is to leave the system winterized until around the beginning of May. (I usually have a trip to Algonquin Park in April and the elevation often means that the weather is colder with snow still on the ground)
This is really no hardship because all Provincial Parks that I go to have comfort stations nearby, which I tend to use anyway.
I just bring jugs of bottled water with me (which you might be doing anyway to avoid drinking the water from the R-Pod; just use the R-Pod water for washing, showers, toilet etc.)
On a side note, and a shameless plug, I look forward to seeing you at our Rendez-vous next September 2017 at Arrowhead Prov. Pk. near Huntsville ON. (See the Campout/Events tab). Forest River is keen that we also hold one in Quebec sometime and I would love to tap your knowledge of possible sites.
Cheers,
David
David & Liz
2014 R-Pod 178
2019 Chevy Traverse
And Lily (our 8 yr old Golden)
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Glenn View Drop Down
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Joined: 19 Dec 2015
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Posts: 7 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 11:22am
Hello David,

Thanks for your reply and advice about winterizing. We will be carrying bottled water as you suggest and it's reassuring  to hear that you are comfortable camping in April. I don't have much to offer yet about campsites in Quebec, and I will keep the Rendez-vous at Arrowhead in mind, we do go to the Muskoka region occasionally.

All the best.
Glenn
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DavidW View Drop Down
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Posts: 129 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 12:37pm
Glenn,
No worries thus far camping early in the season. This year we got out on March 18th and took the long drive down to Pinery Prov. Pk. near Goderich. Wouldn't do it normally unless the weather is good, as the 401 can be a bit windy and tricky. Nothing like salt spray to mess up a good drive.
The R-Pod does not have any way to keep the tanks warm so you want to keep the R-Pod winterized.
For winter/spring camping I like electric sites so that I can plug in a ceramic heater (quieter than the furnace) and I have just picked up an electric mattress cover which was very nice to have. [Of course you could run the furnace on propane] Other than that, a strip of carpet for the floor, flannel sheets, socks in bed, and a pair of slippers fit the bill.
Of course, if one can't get out camping in winter/spring you can always spend the time planning your summer/fall camping and start making reservations.
Happy R-Podding,
David

David & Liz
2014 R-Pod 178
2019 Chevy Traverse
And Lily (our 8 yr old Golden)
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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: 31 Mar 2016 at 4:33pm
Welcome to the group!
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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jato View Drop Down
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Location: Kewadin, MI
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Posts: 3331 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 9:36pm
ok you guys are making me jealous,  We were hoping to get out and do a bit of podding ourselves, even though more snow is forecast for this weekend in Northern Michigan.  Unfortunately we can't get to our pod back in the horsebarn because the ground is way too soft.  Made the mistake last spring of trying to retrieve it under similar conditions and even with 4 WD made some 8" ruts getting to the barn.  Skipped the idea and made another set coming back to the house.  Gave me lots to do for a couple days fixing those ruts.
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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jato View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
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Posts: 3331 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 9:38pm
Congratulations on your purchase. May you have many grand adventures and memories in the future with your 175.
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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Leo B View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
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Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 9:46pm
Jato...........don't you just love mud season!!!
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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jato View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
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Posts: 3331 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Mar 2016 at 9:59pm
Indeed, you get a great workout with the D-1 (shovel) your arms and shoulders feel sore all over and then you get to wash off 6" of mud coated to your vehicle.  However in our neck of the woods guys purposely drive through mud bogs and then tool down the road with so much mud on their trucks you can't even tell what color it was or see through the windows, except the windshield.  Next time I see one, I'll have to post.  Don't think they would dream off washing off all that valuable mud, the more mud caked on, the better.
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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dacolson View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Apr 2015
Location: Farmington, MN
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Posts: 46 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Apr 2016 at 10:22am
Originally posted by Glenn

 brakes checked by the dealer (although they don't seem to brake as strongly as I would like)

I might have missed it but did you say you have brake controller installed in your TV? Having some extra breaking support when you need it in a hard stop can help a lot. Not expensive and can make all the difference. 
Dave - 2016 Silverado 2500HD LML - 2010 RP172T
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