Boondocking/Dry camping advice for R-Pod noob

Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic

   See the Wind Sun battery FAQ for lots of good info on battery care. 
Lots of boondockers buy a catalytic heater, like the Little Buddy or Olympian Wave.  No battery power needed.

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
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: 9059	Topic: Boondocking/Dry camping advice for R-Pod noob Posted: 31 Jan 2015 at 2:28pm
	See the Wind Sun battery FAQ for lots of good info on battery care. Lots of boondockers buy a catalytic heater, like the Little Buddy or Olympian Wave. No battery power needed.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Tars Tarkas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1446	Posted: 31 Jan 2015 at 10:45pm
	We've been talking about electricity but another big factor related to boondocking is water and waste water. It is best by far to travel light -- without water in the potable tank. At least not much. Water equals weight which impacts your MPGs. Get fresh water at the campground or at least as late as you can, and get rid of left over water and dump the waste tanks before you head home. The other thing about water, fresh or waste, is that it can really affect the Pod's stability. I have a 176 (no T) and my fresh water tank is behind the axle. If there's much water in that tank it will lower the tongue weight, which will help magnify sway, which can be a major safety issue. TT
	2010 176 FJ Cruiser

ToolmanJohn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Apr 2014 Location: Connecticut Online Status: Offline Posts: 451	Posted: 01 Feb 2015 at 9:28am
	I agree, towing with water lowers towing performance. But getting water at the final destination is sometimes NOT posssible ( such as a MTB Festival I go to each Summer ). So I do tow with a full tank of fresh water. As you said, drain almost all the fresh water left over beforer leaving, but driving home, I will have a nearly 3/4 full gray tank. The black tank has never been over 1/3 for a 4 day trip. After the 200+ mile tow home, I stop at a public dump station located at a Connecticut state rest area on I-84 East in Southington CT and empty and rinse the tanks. Short drive home from there. Luckily (??) I have never had sway. Even when towing full fresh tank, 65mph, past semi trucks. I get buffetting from air flow from those trucks, but keep my distance until the time to pass is right (uphill when they slow down).
	2017 ATC 7X20 Custom Toy Hauler 2013 R-Pod 177 (SOLD) 2013 VW Touareg TDI

Podster Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 16 Sep 2014 Location: San Antonio Online Status: Offline Posts: 1108	Posted: 01 Feb 2015 at 11:11am
	I am more concerned about towing with tanks 1/2 or 1/3 of capacity because of the shifting weight.
	Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity)

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: 9059	Posted: 01 Feb 2015 at 10:22pm
	The weight of the water is negligible compared to the air resistance and terrain. Our last 2 trips across the US I kept records of every fill-up and mileage. Some legs we had full water, some w/o, and I just don't see a noticeable difference. Legs where we hit big hills and others where we went faster you could tell.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

furpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128	Posted: 02 Feb 2015 at 4:33pm
	I think a big part of it is weight.. If you have all three tanks, say, half full, that's around 60 gallons, at 8 pounds a gallon.. That's 480 lbs.. or nearly half the useable cargo weight of some pods.

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: 9059	Posted: 02 Feb 2015 at 6:19pm
	I agree that adds a lot of weight, but I'll give you an example of why weight means very little compared to the air resistance of a TT. Our prior TV, a Sienna, got 23 mpg in daily driving. Pulling our 3500 pound popup it got 16. Pulling our pod at near 3000 pounds it got 12. Heavier popup by about 600 pounds, but better mpg.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual