Montana RPOD - R-pod Owners Forum

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ZooPod

Newbie

Joined: 06 Jul 2017
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Posts: 4

Topic: Montana RPOD
Posted: 11 Aug 2018 at 6:46pm

I purchased a 2017 RPOD 180 last summer. I wouldn't buy one again.

ZooPod

furpod

Moderator Group - pHp

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128

Posted: 11 Aug 2018 at 7:14pm

Great first post!!

OK.. how about a list of what issues you have had.. I am guessing you came here for help..

If it's just to rant, let us know, so we know not to bother trying to help.

StephenH

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6288

Posted: 11 Aug 2018 at 8:01pm

Please elaborate. Was the problem with the 'Pod or with the dealer? What was wrong and what steps did you make to get things fixed wile it was under warranty?

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

ZooPod

Newbie

Joined: 06 Jul 2017
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4

Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 6:17am

OK, I'm not asking anyone for help and I don't know if any other manufacturer is any better. If I knew then what I know now I simply wouldn't buy this camper again. Here goes:

1. Heavy converter/charge/power unit mounted to light gauge paneling fell out. Yes I did drive on gravel roads but VERY slowly and with care. I keep care of my vehicles and don't abuse them. Solution is to mount this unit with better bracing.

2. Same thing with TV mounting. Also TV position made it very difficult to remove mattress for access to pump and plumbing. Solution - Removed TV.

3. I have calculated battery draw to .5 Amps per hour with nothing turned on. I assume this is for LED's and system sensors (low battery/LP?).

4. Low battery/LP alarm is not documented anywhere in my manual that I can find. Alarm is loud and cannot be identified or switched off. Solution: Monitor battery condition closely. Plug camper into tow vehicle and run engine and wait for charge to return sufficient to silence alarm or disconnect battery. Always disconnect battery cables when camper will not be used for awhile to avoid excessive draw down. How long I really don't know. A battery cut off switch would be nice. The manual says it has one, Page 51. I can't find it. Troubleshooting this problem is difficult in the middle of the night.

5. Foam filling in seat cushions is poor. I'm not a big person or particularly heavy but not skinny either. Still, I find the foam compressing completely. Solution: Better quality foam.

6. Construction debris not cleaned up - sawdust, extra screws & such.

7. Mis-aligned drawer catch.

8. Trim pieces falling off

9. Light gauge cabinet construction bracing splitting at screw points particularly where screws are not straight.

10. In my opinion the manual is insufficient.

11. In my opinion appliance manuals are insufficient

12. The handle next to the door is helpful to steady yourself while entering the trailer. It swings to a closed position over the door while traveling. How would you possibly exit the trailer if someone were to close this while you were inside?

These are the highlights. Incidentally I have and will continue to perform all care and maintenance items as specified in the manual. My dealer is a couple hundred miles away so it is not practical or economical for me to return there to accomplish these tasks. I take particular care to maintain seals to keep them in as good condition as possible and to avoid "abusive treatment" as specified on page 49 of the user manual.

ZooPod

StephenH

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6288

Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 8:52am

Okay.

1. I have not experienced this. I agree that it should have been better mounted. lining the paneling with some cleat stock into which the screws could get a grip would be good.

2. That one is strange. I have a 179 and have been over some very rough roads and even had an accident which required my 179 to go to the factory for repair. The TV has stayed in place, even when I forgot to fasten the strap. Unless the mounting bracket was changed, it should have four screws holding it to the wall with all of them going not just into paneling, but into studs or other stock behind the paneling.

3. Yes, phantom draws are unavoidable. About the only thing one can do is to make sure the antenna booster is turned off. One can't disconnect the CO/LP detector. The refrigerator circuitry, the AC/furnace thermostat circuitry, USB outlets (if installed), etc are draws, but they are minimal. Check my mods (link in signature) to see the battery cut-off switch I installed. It was easy and avoids problems. I keep mine plugged in when it is at home so the converter will maintain my dual 6V batteries (wired in series to provide 12V). The switch is for when I take it somewhere for service where I know it won't be plugged in. As for the manual, it is indeed lacking. I think the same manual is used for multiple models, some of which might have a cut-off switch. The R-Pod doesn't unless the newer models have added one.

5. Agreed. High density foam or a thick layer of high-density foam topped by a thin layer of standard density foam would work much better.

6. Common. Dealer prep could have caught this, but dealers don't open things and check.

7. Not unusual. Easy to fix.

8. It can happen when one is causing the equivalent of an earthquake every time the 'Pod is moved unless the roads are smooth as glass (never has happened with me).

9. Light weight construction is for weight savings. However, I agree that a little more care or pre-drilling holes would prevent the splitting. I can add staples sticking out to that as well, particularly in the under-bed area as seen through the outside storage hatch. I nipped those off so I could slide things in and out without them being caught on the staples.

10. As do all of us. Check out the online manual here. It is much more complete.

11. Don't blame Forest River for those. Blame the appliance manufacturer. You can go online and find more details.

12. Not an issue. It does not prevent one from opening the door. If that does not seem to be possible, taking a file and rounding the edge of the bracket next to the door slightly will make it even easier to open if someone swings it closed while someone is inside.

Some of these issues would be common to all small camping trailers. You don't get an Airstream for the price point we pay for the R-Pods. If you want Airstream quality, be prepared to pay Airstream prices. It is good that you are doing much of the care yourself. I do so also since my dealer is also distant from me. My warranty is expired anyway, so doing things myself is a way to save money and get things done in a timely manner.

Beside the things above there are two things you should check:

1. Check the supports for the fresh, gray, and black water tank to make sure the brackets are tight up against the frame and that there are no threads showing between the brackets and the frame. This will make sure you don't experience the loss of a tank. Even after the dealer tightened up mine, I did not like it so I installed one stainless steel bolt with SS washers and lock nuts in each bracket. I was told the screws are "industry standard." That is not an excuse to keep using something that can fail.

2. Check the supports for the gray and black water tank drains. The factory mounting is inadequate. Rough roads can cause even lock nuts to vibrate loose and come off. Twice I have had the support for the black tank fail. When my R-Pod went to the factory for repair, they added a second support of the same type. It did not help as both of those failed on our trip this spring. It won't happen a third time because I have decided to make my own support. I got to test it on our most recent trip, some of which included rough roads that contributed to the previous failures. No problems with my new supports. I submitted pictures and descriptions of that to the R-Pod factory to see if their engineers can redesign the supports to prevent this from happening to others. I am not the only one to whom this has happened.

Last, enjoy your R-Pod. They are lightweight and easy to tow which makes them great for traveling and seeing large parts of the USA. I think I am approaching about 30,000 miles with ours by now. One of these days, I will have to figure out just how many miles we have been with it.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

CharlieM

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1797

Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 8:56am

It's unfortunate but your disappointment should be expanded to include the entire RV industry. Forest River is no worse and no better than the rest of the industry. I agree your first two items could/should be addressed by FR at little or no cost but the other items are SOP for the industry. Instruction manuals, both camper and appliance, are severely lacking but on par with any other consumer item in your house. And customer support? Right down there with the rest of the market. So you original statement might be amended to state you would not buy another RV. Period.

Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

GlueGuy

Senior Member

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2628

Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 9:43am

In addition to what Stephen & Charlie have said, I will add that I think .5 amp parasitic draw is more than it should be. I've measured ours, and it is less than half of that. So as Stephen has pointed out, you probably have something else turned on that is adding to the draw. And finally, don't expect the battery to go more than a week without a charge. That's why many owners add a battery disconnect switch. Even then, the battery will still need a charge every 6-8 weeks or so.

bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

tcj

Senior Member

Joined: 05 Jul 2018
Location: Central WA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 141

Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 9:57am

I can not open the door from the inside if the outside hand rail is across it. I can't see any way to bevel any bracket edge that would make it possible to open the door. The hand rail must be lifted about a half inch before it can be rotated out of the way. Ours is a 2019. Maybe older models have a different design??

2018 R-pod 180 Hood River Edition

tcj

Senior Member

Joined: 05 Jul 2018
Location: Central WA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 141

Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 10:00am

I probably should practice going out the window just incase.

2018 R-pod 180 Hood River Edition

ZooPod

Newbie

Joined: 06 Jul 2017
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4

Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 11:05am

OK. I didn't in any way say that the RPOD manufacturer is any better or worse than the industry. Also, the notion that just because everything else might be poorly made doesn't by itself mean that customers should simply accept it. Thankfully, people started demanding and buying well built cars in the 70's and 80's forcing the industry overall to improve. So I see no need to amend any statement I made. I have a sizable investment in my tow vehicle, trailer, and I recently purchased a good solar battery charge system to mitigate power issues. So I'll be towing this unit at least for the near future. But that doesn't change how I view this RPOD. If someone were to ask me if I would buy it again I would reply that they can do what they want but I would not. I have no desire to enter into any further debate, Mr. M. PERIOD.

ZooPod

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ZooPod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 06 Jul 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Topic: Montana RPOD Posted: 11 Aug 2018 at 6:46pm
	I purchased a 2017 RPOD 180 last summer. I wouldn't buy one again.
	ZooPod

furpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128	Posted: 11 Aug 2018 at 7:14pm
	Great first post!! OK.. how about a list of what issues you have had.. I am guessing you came here for help.. If it's just to rant, let us know, so we know not to bother trying to help.

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: 6288	Posted: 11 Aug 2018 at 8:01pm
	Please elaborate. Was the problem with the 'Pod or with the dealer? What was wrong and what steps did you make to get things fixed wile it was under warranty?
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

ZooPod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 06 Jul 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 6:17am
	OK, I'm not asking anyone for help and I don't know if any other manufacturer is any better. If I knew then what I know now I simply wouldn't buy this camper again. Here goes: 1. Heavy converter/charge/power unit mounted to light gauge paneling fell out. Yes I did drive on gravel roads but VERY slowly and with care. I keep care of my vehicles and don't abuse them. Solution is to mount this unit with better bracing. 2. Same thing with TV mounting. Also TV position made it very difficult to remove mattress for access to pump and plumbing. Solution - Removed TV. 3. I have calculated battery draw to .5 Amps per hour with nothing turned on. I assume this is for LED's and system sensors (low battery/LP?). 4. Low battery/LP alarm is not documented anywhere in my manual that I can find. Alarm is loud and cannot be identified or switched off. Solution: Monitor battery condition closely. Plug camper into tow vehicle and run engine and wait for charge to return sufficient to silence alarm or disconnect battery. Always disconnect battery cables when camper will not be used for awhile to avoid excessive draw down. How long I really don't know. A battery cut off switch would be nice. The manual says it has one, Page 51. I can't find it. Troubleshooting this problem is difficult in the middle of the night. 5. Foam filling in seat cushions is poor. I'm not a big person or particularly heavy but not skinny either. Still, I find the foam compressing completely. Solution: Better quality foam. 6. Construction debris not cleaned up - sawdust, extra screws & such. 7. Mis-aligned drawer catch. 8. Trim pieces falling off 9. Light gauge cabinet construction bracing splitting at screw points particularly where screws are not straight. 10. In my opinion the manual is insufficient. 11. In my opinion appliance manuals are insufficient 12. The handle next to the door is helpful to steady yourself while entering the trailer. It swings to a closed position over the door while traveling. How would you possibly exit the trailer if someone were to close this while you were inside? These are the highlights. Incidentally I have and will continue to perform all care and maintenance items as specified in the manual. My dealer is a couple hundred miles away so it is not practical or economical for me to return there to accomplish these tasks. I take particular care to maintain seals to keep them in as good condition as possible and to avoid "abusive treatment" as specified on page 49 of the user manual.
	ZooPod

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: 6288	Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 8:52am
	Okay. 1. I have not experienced this. I agree that it should have been better mounted. lining the paneling with some cleat stock into which the screws could get a grip would be good. 2. That one is strange. I have a 179 and have been over some very rough roads and even had an accident which required my 179 to go to the factory for repair. The TV has stayed in place, even when I forgot to fasten the strap. Unless the mounting bracket was changed, it should have four screws holding it to the wall with all of them going not just into paneling, but into studs or other stock behind the paneling. 3. Yes, phantom draws are unavoidable. About the only thing one can do is to make sure the antenna booster is turned off. One can't disconnect the CO/LP detector. The refrigerator circuitry, the AC/furnace thermostat circuitry, USB outlets (if installed), etc are draws, but they are minimal. Check my mods (link in signature) to see the battery cut-off switch I installed. It was easy and avoids problems. I keep mine plugged in when it is at home so the converter will maintain my dual 6V batteries (wired in series to provide 12V). The switch is for when I take it somewhere for service where I know it won't be plugged in. As for the manual, it is indeed lacking. I think the same manual is used for multiple models, some of which might have a cut-off switch. The R-Pod doesn't unless the newer models have added one. 5. Agreed. High density foam or a thick layer of high-density foam topped by a thin layer of standard density foam would work much better. 6. Common. Dealer prep could have caught this, but dealers don't open things and check. 7. Not unusual. Easy to fix. 8. It can happen when one is causing the equivalent of an earthquake every time the 'Pod is moved unless the roads are smooth as glass (never has happened with me). 9. Light weight construction is for weight savings. However, I agree that a little more care or pre-drilling holes would prevent the splitting. I can add staples sticking out to that as well, particularly in the under-bed area as seen through the outside storage hatch. I nipped those off so I could slide things in and out without them being caught on the staples. 10. As do all of us. Check out the online manual here. It is much more complete. 11. Don't blame Forest River for those. Blame the appliance manufacturer. You can go online and find more details. 12. Not an issue. It does not prevent one from opening the door. If that does not seem to be possible, taking a file and rounding the edge of the bracket next to the door slightly will make it even easier to open if someone swings it closed while someone is inside. Some of these issues would be common to all small camping trailers. You don't get an Airstream for the price point we pay for the R-Pods. If you want Airstream quality, be prepared to pay Airstream prices. It is good that you are doing much of the care yourself. I do so also since my dealer is also distant from me. My warranty is expired anyway, so doing things myself is a way to save money and get things done in a timely manner. Beside the things above there are two things you should check: 1. Check the supports for the fresh, gray, and black water tank to make sure the brackets are tight up against the frame and that there are no threads showing between the brackets and the frame. This will make sure you don't experience the loss of a tank. Even after the dealer tightened up mine, I did not like it so I installed one stainless steel bolt with SS washers and lock nuts in each bracket. I was told the screws are "industry standard." That is not an excuse to keep using something that can fail. 2. Check the supports for the gray and black water tank drains. The factory mounting is inadequate. Rough roads can cause even lock nuts to vibrate loose and come off. Twice I have had the support for the black tank fail. When my R-Pod went to the factory for repair, they added a second support of the same type. It did not help as both of those failed on our trip this spring. It won't happen a third time because I have decided to make my own support. I got to test it on our most recent trip, some of which included rough roads that contributed to the previous failures. No problems with my new supports. I submitted pictures and descriptions of that to the R-Pod factory to see if their engineers can redesign the supports to prevent this from happening to others. I am not the only one to whom this has happened. Last, enjoy your R-Pod. They are lightweight and easy to tow which makes them great for traveling and seeing large parts of the USA. I think I am approaching about 30,000 miles with ours by now. One of these days, I will have to figure out just how many miles we have been with it.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

CharlieM Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797	Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 8:56am
	It's unfortunate but your disappointment should be expanded to include the entire RV industry. Forest River is no worse and no better than the rest of the industry. I agree your first two items could/should be addressed by FR at little or no cost but the other items are SOP for the industry. Instruction manuals, both camper and appliance, are severely lacking but on par with any other consumer item in your house. And customer support? Right down there with the rest of the market. So you original statement might be amended to state you would not buy another RV. Period.
	Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2628	Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 9:43am
	In addition to what Stephen & Charlie have said, I will add that I think .5 amp parasitic draw is more than it should be. I've measured ours, and it is less than half of that. So as Stephen has pointed out, you probably have something else turned on that is adding to the draw. And finally, don't expect the battery to go more than a week without a charge. That's why many owners add a battery disconnect switch. Even then, the battery will still need a charge every 6-8 weeks or so.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

tcj Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05 Jul 2018 Location: Central WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 141	Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 9:57am
	I can not open the door from the inside if the outside hand rail is across it. I can't see any way to bevel any bracket edge that would make it possible to open the door. The hand rail must be lifted about a half inch before it can be rotated out of the way. Ours is a 2019. Maybe older models have a different design??
	2018 R-pod 180 Hood River Edition

tcj Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 05 Jul 2018 Location: Central WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 141	Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 10:00am
	I probably should practice going out the window just incase.
	2018 R-pod 180 Hood River Edition

ZooPod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 06 Jul 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: 12 Aug 2018 at 11:05am
	OK. I didn't in any way say that the RPOD manufacturer is any better or worse than the industry. Also, the notion that just because everything else might be poorly made doesn't by itself mean that customers should simply accept it. Thankfully, people started demanding and buying well built cars in the 70's and 80's forcing the industry overall to improve. So I see no need to amend any statement I made. I have a sizable investment in my tow vehicle, trailer, and I recently purchased a good solar battery charge system to mitigate power issues. So I'll be towing this unit at least for the near future. But that doesn't change how I view this RPOD. If someone were to ask me if I would buy it again I would reply that they can do what they want but I would not. I have no desire to enter into any further debate, Mr. M. PERIOD.
	ZooPod