R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Introduce Yourself
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Pod newbie
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedPod newbie
 Post Reply Post Reply
Author
Message
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
bob elliott View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Location: alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Pod newbie
    Posted: 19 Aug 2017 at 8:21pm
Just purchased 2017 179 model and will pick up tues. Have owned everything from tent to 42ft pusher motor home but never anything like the rpod. Recently retired and moved from Ohio to alabama and look forward to traveling places that the pusher never could. Travel with 2 labs and my wife and will probably use a Ram 2500 to pull for now since its already set up but hope to be able to eventually use our ford flex. Any new tips or advise will be appreciated.
Back to Top
Blue Highways View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 20 Sep 2016
Location: NC mountains
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 86 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Aug 2017 at 10:25pm
Welcome, bob

Let anybody in the forum know if you are thinking about any "R-Pod specific" questions that are coming to mind, as you are already experienced in basic RV systems that were on your rear engined Class A.

The main difference will be that you have the option for more private "back-in" campsites (increased buffer of trees and space between you and the next campers) because with the R-Pod you can select "back-in" sites, instead of just the 50A pull-thru ones you might have always relied on before.

Some, (not all) full service campgrounds might charge you something less per night, using the Rpod's 30A power over 50A power sites you needed before; but more and more, they'll have posts with 30A & 50A together on the same power post.

You'll save some fuel bucks on your trips, because you'll be reaching the fuel economy in the teens with the R-Pod instead of somewhere under 10 per gallon with your Class A. Your Ram would be good muscle for capably lugging your R-Pod into mountain west areas, but you could switch to your Flex for enjoying the SE US and coastline camping with your Pod, saving some fuel on those trips. I would guess most members here would recommend the equalizer tow bars with the Flex, (optional for the Ram).

For your labs, you'll probably get a lot of enjoyment from the R-dome accessory over some indoor/outdoor carpet to keep the K-9 paw dirt down, allowing your labs to have their little enclosable porch hang out zone. You'll have a double outlet right on that side of your R-Pod along with a couple of speakers for the R-dome zone.

Those are the changes that come to mind going from Class A to a more maneuverable R-Pod set-up.

Brad
Back to Top
bob elliott View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Location: alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Aug 2017 at 1:08am
Thanks Brad for the info. You do raise a question. I was looking at the r dome as you suggested but we will have the Thule awning and all the pics I see look like the r dome can't be used with the awning??? Someone mentioned screened walls that could be used with the awning but I can't seem to find any? Any suggestions?
Back to Top
Leo B View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4518 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Aug 2017 at 5:35am
Welcome to the group!! Congrats on your 179!!
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
Back to Top
Blue Highways View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 20 Sep 2016
Location: NC mountains
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 86 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Aug 2017 at 8:57am
Oh yeah, Bob, I forgot that you have the cool blue 2017-1/2 model with the built-in awning.... little jealous here. If you still also have the black aluminum channel track running along the curved upper edge, you could still attach the enclosable Dome, but not sure the mounting track for that comes with the new 2017.5s, (and then you might ask yourself why have both????)

One other benefit the R-Pod has over a Class-A, that I didn't think about until later, was that upon eventual re-sale, you don't have a depreciating engine/transmission/drivetrain to either adjust re-sale price to with wear, or be forced to make expensive mechanical repairs to get it back in resale condition. (This would preserve your investment dollars a little more with R-Pod, in order to use for your next phase of outdoor/travel life).


Assuming you eventually re-sell your R-Pod after 8-10 years travel fun with it, it will probably be the millenial generation that you would be selling it to, and it's far more likely they'll be much more interested in the R-Pod classic tear-drop cool-factor for lighter camping, (with pre-wiring for solar panels) as opposed to a 10 year old Class-A. But that's only a hunch on my part. They'll be well familiar with the brand name and positive reputation cache that goes with them, plus Pods are just terrific for completely self-contained dry camping, (whether or not you tote along a quite-running Honda or Yamaha generator).

For your labradors, you'll settle on something workable. I can picture 2 large dog beds angled on a roll of brown outdoor carpet under the right corner of the awning). Just toss the dog beds on top of the main bed when traveling onward. I've seen an R-Pod & Honda gen. used at a dog show, using just 110V, where little dog "habitrail enclosures" are set up alongside, for a 2-3 day event.

You'll find tons of modifications R-Podders do to overcome what they see as pesky R-Pod shortcomings to tweak it perfectly for them. A common one is to switch to a more articulating TV mount so it angles down further for better viewing on a rainy night from all points inside. We did that, as well as thicker padding on the outer seat pads of the 179 dinette (among other things). All descriptions are in this forum, just adopt the ones you like.

You really have a great community here, with a lot of funny and smart people; some with more advanced DIY skills than I have.

 As Leo & Melissa said, "Welcome & Crongrats!"

(+1 here, too)


Brad & Layli
Early Green '17 HRE 179 (WanderPod)
"BG" the 10 Tundra CrewMax
Former Alaskans; now Western NC


 
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz