New RP 180!!!

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   Congratulations and welcome! We are in the midst of our third trip with our RP179 out west to see our daughters and grandchildren. We've had other extended trips. I've lost track of how many miles we have put on our R-Pod but it is probably in excess of 15,000 since we purchased it. I hope you have many adventures and make many great memories with your R-Pod.

Don't expect anywhere near the mileage you were getting when towing the Coleman. The frontal area of the R-Pod means that there is much more wind resistance to overcome. We tow with a 2010 Nissan Frontier 4L V6 4WD Crew Cab. The truck gets 19 or 20 mpg without the trailer. When towing we get between 10 and 14 with our 179. I installed an AeroPlus to help with wind resistance and limit my towing speed to 60 mph, even on the Interstate Highways. If I were to try towing faster, I would be getting more like 8 mpg. Mountains and strong headwinds cut the mileage. A good tailwind helps. Towing at no more than 60 mph is more relaxing also.

You mention adding overload springs. Consider instead a weight distribution hitch such as the Equal-i-zer 4-point sway control hitch, the Progress Industries E2 hitch (2-point sway control), the Andersen No-Sway hitch, or something equivalent. These will provide sway control as well as keeping the back of the truck from sagging too much. Sway control is something you don't need until you do. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Crosswinds and passing trucks can exert much more force on the 180 than they could on the Coleman.

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StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289	Topic: New RP 180!!! Posted: 28 May 2018 at 11:17am
	Congratulations and welcome! We are in the midst of our third trip with our RP179 out west to see our daughters and grandchildren. We've had other extended trips. I've lost track of how many miles we have put on our R-Pod but it is probably in excess of 15,000 since we purchased it. I hope you have many adventures and make many great memories with your R-Pod. Don't expect anywhere near the mileage you were getting when towing the Coleman. The frontal area of the R-Pod means that there is much more wind resistance to overcome. We tow with a 2010 Nissan Frontier 4L V6 4WD Crew Cab. The truck gets 19 or 20 mpg without the trailer. When towing we get between 10 and 14 with our 179. I installed an AeroPlus to help with wind resistance and limit my towing speed to 60 mph, even on the Interstate Highways. If I were to try towing faster, I would be getting more like 8 mpg. Mountains and strong headwinds cut the mileage. A good tailwind helps. Towing at no more than 60 mph is more relaxing also. You mention adding overload springs. Consider instead a weight distribution hitch such as the Equal-i-zer 4-point sway control hitch, the Progress Industries E2 hitch (2-point sway control), the Andersen No-Sway hitch, or something equivalent. These will provide sway control as well as keeping the back of the truck from sagging too much. Sway control is something you don't need until you do. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Crosswinds and passing trucks can exert much more force on the 180 than they could on the Coleman.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067	Posted: 28 May 2018 at 8:17am
	Welcome to the forum. I am sure you will love your Rpod. Last year we spent 2 months traveling the Washington and Oregon coasts. There are lots of great camping parks and and areas to explore. travel safe Vann
	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

Leo B Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4508	Posted: 28 May 2018 at 5:57am
	Welcome to the group! Congrats on your 180!!!
	Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171

OldNeumanntapr Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 May 2018 Location: CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 204	Posted: 28 May 2018 at 12:38am
	After much debate as to whether or not to try to repair the extensive roof dry rot in my '89 Coleman Sequoia tent trailer I have decided to buy a new rPod 180. I've seen them on the road for a long time and always thought they were cool and unique. Just last weekend while visiting the antique travel trailer show at the Pismo Beach campground I noticed that there was an rPod dealer among the RV dealers across the street. I briefly looked at the RP 180 and took some photos with my phone. Later I showed them to my wife and she agreed to go see the trailer the following day. We ended up buying it last Sunday, and we settled on $750 for the trade for the '89 Coleman Sequoia. We pick up the new trailer this coming Saturday. They also agreed to throw in a set of towing mirrors and a new drop hitch and ball. My wife Genéte liked the large dry bath on the 180. I liked the 179's big kitchen and dinette but neither of us liked the wet bath. Since it's just the two of us, and our four Dachshunds, I'm hoping the 180 will work well. I liked the openness of that floor plan with the windows on each side. Today I cleaned out the old trailer and removed all of our gear. In 2003 we towed that trailer from CA to NC and did 13 states in six weeks. Genéte and I got married a month later because we figured that if we could live together in tight quarters for six weeks then anything was possible! I towed the Coleman tent trailer with a 2002 4 cyl Tacoma extra cab (5-lug), and got 17-18 mpg on flat ground. The hills were difficult, sometimes had to drop to second gear. This time I will be towing the new rPod with a 2011 Tacoma V6 PreRunner Access Cab with the factory tow package. I will probably add a set of Hellwig overload springs to the back of the Tacoma if the tongue weight pulls the truck down. My last Tacoma could have used overloads because the relatively light tent trailer (1,500 lbs) sank the rear. I just this week found this forums website and it looks like there is wealth of information here! Planning on some short weekend trips to try out the new trailer and later this year travel up the Oregon coast.