learning to tow - R-pod Owners Forum

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21grandma

Groupie

Joined: 04 Jun 2013
Location: Dubuque, Iowa
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 83

Topic: learning to tow
Posted: 08 Jul 2013 at 4:04pm

Any hope for a 70 year old female who has never ever towed anything,learning to tow an r-pod? I really want to be able to go places with it by myself.

21grandma

furpod

Moderator Group - pHp

Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6128

Posted: 08 Jul 2013 at 4:34pm

No reason at all not to. Plenty of older people pull. I don't see gender as an issue.

Or as they say..

Just Do It!!

coopercdrkey View Drop Down

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 26 Aug 2012
Location: Cedar Key, FL
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 457

Posted: 08 Jul 2013 at 5:24pm

If it helps, I'm a scant two years behind you, and the last "towing" experience was as a teenager in the

marina I worked in during the summer. (Actually, we never "towed"- we "pushed" with a front-mounted

trailer ball.)

If backing seems a challenge, seek out campgrounds with pull-through's.

Bob and Joyce
Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels
RP 177 "Key Pod"
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71

P&M

Senior Member

Joined: 13 Aug 2012
Location: Spokane, WA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 454

Posted: 08 Jul 2013 at 6:19pm

Originally posted by coopercdrkey

If backing seems a challenge, seek out campgrounds with pull-through's.

This would be my recommendation as well. Towing it is not difficult at all, especially if you take it slow and easy. Backing it up is the most difficult thing to do, followed (in my mind at least) by hooking it up to a TV, and unhooking it from a TV.

P & M ... and Comet too!
2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod
2018 Ram 2500

David and Danette View Drop Down

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 24 Nov 2009
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1223

Posted: 08 Jul 2013 at 8:19pm

Use your side mirrors when making a turn, especially when pulling into a gasoline station. The trailer will turn sooner than your tow vehicle. There has been some who have had problems with this including myself when we first started towing our rpod. Its not that difficult you can do it just use caution. David and Danette

2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014)
Middle Tn
2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab

Tars Tarkas View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 14 Jan 2013
Location: Near Nashville
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1454

Posted: 08 Jul 2013 at 10:31pm

Everyone else has given good advice. Just take it easy and look carefully when changing lanes and turning, especially into tight areas. You can avoid a lot of backing, and you should when you can. It can be scary but you'll have to do it occasionally. Practice in an empty parking lot. Be careful not to turn too much when backing. Jackknifing when backing is easier than you think. (I'm taking about hitting your bumper against the rpod or the tongue, while backing slowly.) There is no shame in stopping to get out and see what's happening and how things are lining up. I've seen tenured tractor trailer drivers stop, get out, walk back and assess the situation. It's just smart if you have an doubts.

TT