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steandstel View Drop Down
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Joined: 19 May 2018
Location: Cochrane
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Posts: 17 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: New 171 Owner
    Posted: 20 May 2018 at 9:39am
Hi we just bought a 2013 171 for our retirement and plan to drive doesn't from Canada in the Winter to Arizona a few questions for the experienced RPoders

1.  Looking for a full awning any suggestions
2.  Do you recommend weight distribution hitch and anti sway
3.  Looking at getting tow veh with 5000 lb tow that's good on gas lol
4.  Bought Costco 100 w solar but plugged in and battery went flat anyone else had issues



Any other advice appreciated 

Steve and Estelle Phillips Cochrane Alberta
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Ben Herman View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Apr 2018
Location: Gr Junction, CO
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Posts: 355 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 May 2018 at 10:09am
Originally posted by steandstel

Hi we just bought a 2013 171 for our retirement and plan to drive doesn't from Canada in the Winter to Arizona a few questions for the experienced RPoders

1.  Looking for a full awning any suggestions
2.  Do you recommend weight distribution hitch and anti sway
3.  Looking at getting tow veh with 5000 lb tow that's good on gas lol
4.  Bought Costco 100 w solar but plugged in and battery went flat anyone else had issues



Any other advice appreciated 

Steve and Estelle Phillips Cochrane Alberta

Hi folks - cant answer all but here's what I can contribute:

2. Definitely recommend anti-sway/weigh hitch- we tow with a Honda Ridgeline (5000 lb) with an Equalizer hitch and definitely notice a smoother ride when we use the hitch.
3. Met someone from Canada a few weeks ago using a Dodge Ram EcoDiesel as a tow vehicle - getting 25 mpg towing. We're lucky to get 13 in our Ridgeline.
4. Check polarity on the solar plug-in port on the RPod - had the same problem with mine and learned that the black and red connectors are reversed on the input jack. Read this thread that I started; this happened to me while on our first camping outing.
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
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Posts: 2628 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 May 2018 at 10:47am
Originally posted by steandstel

2.  Do you recommend weight distribution hitch and anti sway
3.  Looking at getting tow veh with 5000 lb tow that's good on gas lol
4.  Bought Costco 100 w solar but plugged in and battery went flat anyone else had issues
I can help with a couple of these.

2. Whether you need WDH or not depends a lot on the type of vehicle you are going to tow with. We use one on our F-150, and some will say that it's overkill for a vehicle of this type. We also have a Tacoma (6500 lb tow capacity), and we would most likely use it with that too.

3. Some might say that a bigger tow vehicle and good gas mileage is an oxymoron LOL. Expect 12-15 MPG almost no matter what. If your tow vehicle runs on diesel, you might get in the upper teens somewhere, but the cost premium will be stiff.

4. Sounds like you may have reversed the leads on the solar. Check the polarity!
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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Leo B View Drop Down
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Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4508 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 May 2018 at 1:04pm
Welcome to the group!! Congrats on your 171!! Our first pod was a 171, we really like it!!!!
Moved up to a 179 just for the larger kitchen area. 
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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PilotPodder View Drop Down
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Joined: 04 May 2016
Location: Portage, MI
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Posts: 305 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 May 2018 at 4:42pm
I used an Equalizer WDH with the 2016 171 I had and towed with a 2014 Honda Pilot and it worked pretty well. Expect 11-12 MPH at no more than 60 mph. Congrats on your new trailer! 
Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — My RPod YouTube Videos
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