1st trip Ocala, Santos, FL

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Just got my R Pod 173 and took off on my first trip to check her out and break her in.
Christened her "Giant Egg" (my jeep is named "Big Bird")

Went to Santo Campground south of Ocala Fl. near the national forest, and Silver Springs.  Rte 27/301/441 at 80th st. (research it and find it, it is worth the trip)

 Beautiful little campground next to miles of forest, which mostly serves mountain bikers that are using the miles of trails in the Santos Trail head connected to the park.  All the amenities including full hookups, nice bathhouse, hot showers, good water, great sites, nice folks.

camped 7 days only using electric hook up cuz the battery wont hold a charge. (going to replace)

The pod exceeded all my expectations and is way better than other trailers I have had.

able to get 4 showers, plenty of washing and cooking, heat at night, fridge on gas, etc.  could have done 5 showers if I was more frugal with water. barely tapped into propane plus I have a second bottle if needed.

biked, 4 wheeled in jeep, hiked, went to REO Speedwagon concert, canoed in Silver Springs, hung out in old Ocala (Harrys Tavern, great place), girlfriend visited and spent a night!

It was hard to go home.  

Now off to Colorado for the summer!!

THINGS TO DO
Need more storage, add shelves, etc.
remove the couch and put in a crosswise dinnet that will convert to a nice flat 40" wide bed with storage under. small table for that dinette.
add strategic hanging hooks.
better mattress for front dinnette
replace small entertainment center with a swingout 19" TV DVD (12V),
 add fold down table next to sink
add mocrowave, 
convert lights to LED,
set up dual battery system (maybe)
maybe small generator for AC later. (gets really hot in the south when dry camping, small generators weigh less than a big dual battery system)
get screen room,
other odds and ends.
Got to keep it all as light as possible as I am right at the limits of what my Jeep can pull effectively. (3500lb tow, trailer and gear is at about 2600lb right now)

Dave
east coast central FL

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dcrispin1 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 04 Feb 2012 Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Topic: 1st trip Ocala, Santos, FL Posted: 05 Feb 2012 at 2:23pm
	Just got my R Pod 173 and took off on my first trip to check her out and break her in. Christened her "Giant Egg" (my jeep is named "Big Bird") Went to Santo Campground south of Ocala Fl. near the national forest, and Silver Springs. Rte 27/301/441 at 80th st. (research it and find it, it is worth the trip) Beautiful little campground next to miles of forest, which mostly serves mountain bikers that are using the miles of trails in the Santos Trail head connected to the park. All the amenities including full hookups, nice bathhouse, hot showers, good water, great sites, nice folks. camped 7 days only using electric hook up cuz the battery wont hold a charge. (going to replace) The pod exceeded all my expectations and is way better than other trailers I have had. able to get 4 showers, plenty of washing and cooking, heat at night, fridge on gas, etc. could have done 5 showers if I was more frugal with water. barely tapped into propane plus I have a second bottle if needed. biked, 4 wheeled in jeep, hiked, went to REO Speedwagon concert, canoed in Silver Springs, hung out in old Ocala (Harrys Tavern, great place), girlfriend visited and spent a night! It was hard to go home. Now off to Colorado for the summer!! THINGS TO DO Need more storage, add shelves, etc. remove the couch and put in a crosswise dinnet that will convert to a nice flat 40" wide bed with storage under. small table for that dinette. add strategic hanging hooks. better mattress for front dinnette replace small entertainment center with a swingout 19" TV DVD (12V), add fold down table next to sink add mocrowave, convert lights to LED, set up dual battery system (maybe) maybe small generator for AC later. (gets really hot in the south when dry camping, small generators weigh less than a big dual battery system) get screen room, other odds and ends. Got to keep it all as light as possible as I am right at the limits of what my Jeep can pull effectively. (3500lb tow, trailer and gear is at about 2600lb right now) Dave east coast central FL

dsmiths Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Oct 2011 Location: Southern Ind Online Status: Offline Posts: 866	Posted: 05 Feb 2012 at 4:06pm
	dcrispin, on your to do list, check the flea market section on this site, I have seen new R-Dome (is a screened in porch that is almost as big as the pod) It fits into the grove on the door side of your pod, our 2011 RP-172 came with the R-dome, I think they are $400.00 or so new. good luck, you are going to have a blast with the pod. Another funny thing is in the r.v. parks people ride by and look and look, like what is that ?
	Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller

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: 9062	Posted: 05 Feb 2012 at 10:59pm
	Glad you had a good first trip. Don't worry that the Dome was sold, they come up all the time.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Swift-Pod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Dec 2011 Location: Presque Isle WI Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 06 Feb 2012 at 1:52pm
	Congrats on your first trip. Got to wait two months for our first venture out. Time goes fast at this age but winter months in WI have a way of slowing it down, especially when looking forward to the first Pod trip. Nice pix. Thanks for sending.
	Duanne & Ann 2011 177 R-Pod 2007 Toyota Tacoma

tpierce220 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2011 Location: Oswego IL Online Status: Offline Posts: 281	Posted: 06 Feb 2012 at 1:56pm
	Great pictures! Welcome! Tim
	Adventures with ¡Podtástic!--Life in a Forest River RPod 182G with Tim and Louis and our two cats, Desi and Lucy. Check our website at http://podtastic.info for information on our journeys.

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Posted: 06 Feb 2012 at 4:17pm
	Welcome to the group! It looks like you had a great time. I am a former RP173 owner..... it's the best floor plan of the "non-slide outs".

Rock Climber Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Location: Colorado Spring Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Posted: 23 Feb 2012 at 10:40pm
	Hey Dave, we too are new rPod'ers. We live in CO Springs. Love to mountain bike, rock climb, road ride, ski and snow board. I guess we love CO. Are you spending the nature summer in CO?
	Dan and Janet 2012 r Pod 171 F150 FX4

Rock Climber Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Location: Colorado Spring Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Posted: 23 Feb 2012 at 10:44pm
	Oh yeah, here is a pic of our rPod.
	Dan and Janet 2012 r Pod 171 F150 FX4

Rock Climber Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jan 2012 Location: Colorado Spring Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Posted: 23 Feb 2012 at 10:45pm

	Dan and Janet 2012 r Pod 171 F150 FX4

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: 9062	Posted: 24 Feb 2012 at 9:22pm
	Hmm, neither pic is showing - they appear to be links and not pics.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual