P-pod for dry camping?

Originally posted by MarkW <i><span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">We had a discussion on the forum about the Curt bluetooth controller you can use the search feature for. The upshot was that it worked fine. The negative was that some of us, myself included, did not want the manual trailer brake override on a smartphone where it might not be instantly accessible in an emergency. In a trailer sway situation immediate application of trailer brakes without hitting the TV brakes can save you from having a wreck.</i></span> <span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;"></span> <span style=": rgb251, 251, 253;">Thanks -- my thought had been to use an old phone running nothing but the brake controller app and put it in a mount.</span>

That should work, the app has a big red button for manual operation . But most of the work I’ve seen with wiring up a 7 way connector has been running the 10 gauge power feed for the trailer which you’re going to want so you can use it for battery charging anyway, so I don’t really see any particular advantage to the Bluetooth brake controller.

<i>We had a discussion on the forum about the Curt bluetooth controller you can use the search feature for. The upshot was that it worked fine. The negative was that some of us, myself included, did not want the manual trailer brake override on a smartphone where it might not be instantly accessible in an emergency. In a trailer sway situation immediate application of trailer brakes without hitting the TV brakes can save you from having a wreck.</i>

My Highlander weighs 4500 lbs and is rated for 5000 lbs towing and a 500 lb tongue weight. We aren’t the vehicle design engineers so can’t know why one is rated 1500 lbs less than the other, but I’m sure there is s good reason, no one deliberately specs their products lower than they need to be.

Toyota also allows the use of a weight distribution hitch in the Highlander, which I find to be necessary for decent ride and handling. Don’t know if they allow one in the Sienna. I’m pretty sure Subaru doesn’t allow them.

I too am not worried about horsepower. I used to drive around in an old VW bus, anything has a better power to weight ratio than that. Towing a travel trailer isn’t a race.

If you are within all your weight specs then have at it, tow away. 👍 But you should weigh it and your TV fully loaded, you won’t be able to tell what you have otherwise.

We had a discussion on the forum about the Curt bluetooth controller you can use the search feature for. The upshot was that it worked fine. The negative was that some of us, myself included, did not want the manual trailer brake override on a smartphone where it might not be instantly accessible in an emergency. In a trailer sway situation immediate application of trailer brakes without hitting the TV brakes can save you from having a wreck.

Originally posted by Dirt Sifter I believe pedwards info is spot on for consideration in response to the OP's questions. The OP knows his equipment and has experience towing with his vehicles. I am more concerned with the frontal drag effect of the rpod vs a sailboat than I am the weight. Having towed our 179 in a strong head wind and becoming a safety hazard on the hwy when I couldn't maintain 55 mph once with a tow vehicle rated to tow substantially more weight, it is a real item to ponder. If he wants to adjust his travel plans and speed to fit his available equipment, he can do so knowingly. His questions are about his mod's. My $0.02