Got the POD home safe and sound!

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   Got the POD  177 home safe and sound from the dealer yesterday evening.  I believe it was something of a miracle, and I'm not kidding.  I drove the 50 miles home in high gusty winds due to the storm front that had passed through here in the southeast.  The POD didn't sway due to the sway bar, but I sure could feel the wind resistance. 

When I pulled up in the driveway and my husband saw the POD his face turned absolutely white.  There was no cotter pin holding the big pin in place -- you know, the big pin that attaches the ball hitch to the car.  My husband recently had a trailer come loose (but was able to stop safely) when he got in too big of a hurry and failed to put in the cotter pin, so you can imagine what he thought when he saw my ball hitch.  He said, "Someone was looking after you today."  And I think he was a little mortified that no one at the dealership realized it, and I felt quite sick to my stomach when I realized what could have happened.  

It had taken the dealership longer to get me ready to go than we anticipated -- other issues I won't go into now because it wasn't the dealer's fault -- it was issues with Mercedes and the brake controller -- but let me just say that several of them missed their lunch to get me going, and they all had worked very hard.  Anyway, Hodge-PODge is all set up and at the moment we are driveway camping!  I suppose all's well that ends well . . . . .

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Hodge-PODge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Location: Calhoun, GA Online Status: Offline Posts: 539	Topic: Got the POD home safe and sound! Posted: 17 Apr 2011 at 11:11am
	Got the POD 177 home safe and sound from the dealer yesterday evening. I believe it was something of a miracle, and I'm not kidding. I drove the 50 miles home in high gusty winds due to the storm front that had passed through here in the southeast. The POD didn't sway due to the sway bar, but I sure could feel the wind resistance. When I pulled up in the driveway and my husband saw the POD his face turned absolutely white. There was no cotter pin holding the big pin in place -- you know, the big pin that attaches the ball hitch to the car. My husband recently had a trailer come loose (but was able to stop safely) when he got in too big of a hurry and failed to put in the cotter pin, so you can imagine what he thought when he saw my ball hitch. He said, "Someone was looking after you today." And I think he was a little mortified that no one at the dealership realized it, and I felt quite sick to my stomach when I realized what could have happened. It had taken the dealership longer to get me ready to go than we anticipated -- other issues I won't go into now because it wasn't the dealer's fault -- it was issues with Mercedes and the brake controller -- but let me just say that several of them missed their lunch to get me going, and they all had worked very hard. Anyway, Hodge-PODge is all set up and at the moment we are driveway camping! I suppose all's well that ends well . . . . .
	2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge 2011 Mercedes ML350 "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."

Goose Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2010 Location: Arizona Online Status: Offline Posts: 672	Posted: 17 Apr 2011 at 12:22pm
	Glade that all worked out with the help of someone watching over you to get you home safe. This will make for a good campfire story in a few years. Goose
	Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee

Hodge-PODge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Location: Calhoun, GA Online Status: Offline Posts: 539	Posted: 17 Apr 2011 at 1:08pm
	Thanks, Goose! But when I think of what COULD have happened . . . . well, I'm just thankful it didn't!
	2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge 2011 Mercedes ML350 "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059	Posted: 17 Apr 2011 at 2:50pm
	You'll get in the habit of doing a full walk-around before you start moving, including at home, gas stops and rest stops. One thing I always check is that cotter pin because it would be so easy for some kid to pull it out thinking they are being funny. I also make sure nothing is hanging down on the 'pod including stabilizer jacks, steps, covers/caps. I'm very glad nothing happened to you this time. Take a look at my recent post in the camping adventures forum, I battled that wind all day yesterday, probably the worst towing experience in 24 years of pulling trailers. I feel your pain!
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Hodge-PODge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Location: Calhoun, GA Online Status: Offline Posts: 539	Posted: 17 Apr 2011 at 3:48pm
	I looked at your! post in the adventures forum. You got out of my old stomping grounds in N.C. (I was born and raised near Wilmington) just in the knick of time! Looks like someone was watching out for you and your tribe, too. As for myself, I survived my maiden voyage, and learned an important lesson from it. Thanks for advising me about doing a walk-around before I pull out. VERY good idea! I won't forget it.
	2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge 2011 Mercedes ML350 "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."

Outbound Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 767	Posted: 17 Apr 2011 at 4:03pm
	I've always used keyed-alike brass padlocks through both the receiver pin and the hitch hasp. A padlock won't walk off and it won't jiggle loose and fall out.
	Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150

Goose Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2010 Location: Arizona Online Status: Offline Posts: 672	Posted: 18 Apr 2011 at 1:27pm
	I don't use cotter pins, I use hitch pins in the receiver and trailer hitch. The ring on the hitch pin snaps back against the pin so that it can not slide out. On the trailer hitch I use a hitch pin for a tractor PTO, it can be found at any farm supply store. I have thought about investing in locks like Outbound but just have not gone that route yet. Goose
	Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee

Hodge-PODge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Location: Calhoun, GA Online Status: Offline Posts: 539	Posted: 18 Apr 2011 at 1:55pm
	Oubound and Goose, Thanks for the ideas about pins and padlocks! It will make for safer podding for us all.
	2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge 2011 Mercedes ML350 "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Posted: 18 Apr 2011 at 6:54pm
	What the heck.....I'll throw in my $.02. Like Outbound, I use a keyed alike set - one one the hitch bar and one for the camper tongue. There ain't no way the hitch bar is going to come off. I don't worry much about the hitch bar being stolen in the campground, but it would be very easy for someone to take when parked elsewhere. I'm very glad nothing bad happened on your way home!

Hodge-PODge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Apr 2011 Location: Calhoun, GA Online Status: Offline Posts: 539	Posted: 18 Apr 2011 at 7:08pm
	Okay, Outbound and David . . . I like the idea you guys have of using a padlock instead of a pin -- but what size padlock are you talking about? And how did you get your set of padlocks all "keyed alike?" Do you buy them that way?
	2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge 2011 Mercedes ML350 "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."