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MikenGinger View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Oct 2014
Location: Pennsylvania
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Newbies
    Posted: 19 Oct 2014 at 1:54pm
New Owners - brought our trailer, rPOD 179, home on Friday.  Any advice and tips are much appreciated!  Mike & Ginger

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RescapePod View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 14 Sep 2014
Location: Charleston WV
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Posts: 45 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2014 at 2:51pm
Bought 179 last month. On shake down outing had only Luke warm hot water. Issue was the hot water tank bypass was open. It needs to be closed to not mix cold water with hot. It was set that way from factory by mistake. 
2015 R-Pod 179
2013 Chevy K1500
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techntrek View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2014 at 7:20pm
Welcome.  Go to the link in my signature for a good start.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Old Dingo&Mrs.Dingo View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 Jul 2012
Location: Tarentum, PA
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Posts: 138 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2014 at 8:16pm
Welcome

We too are from PA - about 20 miles north of Pittsburgh.  What part of PA are you from?

Hope you enjoy your new R-pod and have many safe camping trips in the future.

Bob and Sylvia
Old Dingo and/or Mrs. Dingo
181G
2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee
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Outbound View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
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Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
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Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Oct 2014 at 9:29pm
Congratulations and Welcome!  I hope you end up loving your r-pod as much as I love mine.  My suggestions:
  • If you bought new, and you didn't buy/haven't heard of Forest Rivers' second year of warranty coverage, have a look for it in the documentation that came with your trailer.  Its very inexpensive and you may find it to be worthwhile.  You only have 10 days from the date of purchase to buy the extended warranty (although Forest River have been known to make exceptions), so have a look now.
  • Winterize your trailer before the first hard freeze.  Don't assume that its been done, nor think that you can get away without doing it.
  • Check your lug bolts and tire pressures regularly (as often as before every trip).  Seriously.  Trailer lug bolts mysteriously loosen far more often than a car tire's.  And use a proper torque wrench (you'll need one capable of 100 ft-lbs).
  • During the first month of camping (which I assume will be in the spring), bring a notebook with you to mark down any fit & finish issues you have with the trailer.  You'll likely have some - it may be sticky windows, a misaligned drawer, a few loose/missing screws and some missing trim.  Please don't let this little stuff frustrate you; it happens with all travel trailers.  Just expect to find it, and expect to return to your dealer to have them fix it under warranty.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posts: 9059 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2014 at 11:11am
+1 on everything Outbound said.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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MikenGinger View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Oct 2014
Location: Pennsylvania
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2014 at 5:23pm
We live between Wilkes Barre & Lewisburg, along I-80.  
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MikenGinger View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Oct 2014
Location: Pennsylvania
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2014 at 5:24pm
Many thanks!  This is really helpful
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MikenGinger View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Oct 2014
Location: Pennsylvania
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2014 at 5:28pm
I am a little bewildered by the water heater.  The toggle switch under the panel on the outside; Which position is for gas and which for electric?  Thanks a lot.  Mike
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podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
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Joined: 19 Nov 2009
Location: Oshawa, Ontario
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Posts: 767 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2014 at 9:23pm
Originally posted by MikenGinger

I am a little bewildered by the water heater.  The toggle switch under the panel on the outside; Which position is for gas and which for electric?

Well, let me confuse you a bit more...

The white switch inside the trailer is for propane operation of the water heater.  The breaker-style switch, accessed from outside and located on the water heater itself, is for electric operation of the water heater (It reads "On" when flipped to the on position).

Technically, both electric and propane may be turned on at the same time, if you'd like.

Many people tend to leave the outside electric in the on position and use the breaker on the fusebox (located inside the trailer) to turn on/off electric the water heater.

Personally, I just use propane.  It heats up quickly, is easy to turn on/off, and it uses very little propane.  Of course, I can fill a propane tank at the Costco down the street from my house for $12, so I tend not to be miserly with the gas.

One caution: before turning on electricity, make sure you've filled the water heater tank with water.  Its very easy to forget and burn out the electric element.  Run the hot tap inside until the air/sputtering has stopped and you get a steady flow of water.
Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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