New R Pod 179 owners
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10118
Printed Date: 30 May 2025 at 2:20am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: New R Pod 179 owners
Posted By: CjMk
Subject: New R Pod 179 owners
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2017 at 3:41pm
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Hi everyone, I am so happy to see this forum. We are brand new to camping with a trailer. We pick up our R-Pod in about 10 days. I am completely clueless. I ordered 2 batteries, and a stabilizer as well as a brake controller. I am hearing we should get 2 generators. I am circumspect when dry camping - I don't want to annoy anyone with a generator. Does anyone have any suggestions? We also need a bike rack. We were hoping to use our heavy duty bike rack we got for our Toureg. If anyone knows of a one stop shop where I can load her up with everything we need, please let me know. Lastly, for now anyway... any tricks to back her up?  Thanks in advance for your reply. We are soooo excited! ------------- With Gratitude, Cj & MJ R-Pod 2018 179 2017 VW Touareg 6 Cyl VW Toureg |
Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2017 at 3:52pm
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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 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2017 at 4:23pm
Welcome and Congratulations! By 2 batteries are you meaning two 6V batteries or two 12V batteries? By stabilizer, do you mean sway control device? Brake controller is a given as it is needed. Generator depends on how much dry camping you intend to do. If it is occasional and you do not think you will need to run the generator or microwave, you don't really need one (or two). If, however, you will be doing extended dry camping, then a generator large enough (3000 Watt) or two 2000 watt generators run in parallel will be needed, especially if you need to run the AC or microwave. Amazon is the nearest thing to a one-stop-shop for a lot of us. As for the bike rack, Forest River only specifies one model as a lot of other ones are too heavy for the rear cross-member to support. A search of the forum would be helpful. Backing? Practice, practice, practice! Do so in an empty parking lot. Remember that small movements of the steering wheel can have big impact on how the trailer backs. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2017 at 4:52pm
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Welcome Cj and Mj ! We have 2 12v batteries on our 177 and are now going on year 7. Maintenance is very important as well as not drawing them down below 1/3 S.O.C. when using. We expect 3 days per battery when camping in cold weather when night temps are upper 30's to upper 40's; furnace will run quite a bit and is the big culprit in drawing down battery charge. If camping in warmer climes, you will get over a week easily with what you have regardless if they are 6v or 12 v. As StephenH stated above, practice, practice, practice. Also, when backing up, place your hand at the bottom of your steering wheel. If you move your hand to the left (moving the steering wheel clockwise) the pod will also turn left; vice versa for right. Pretty simple once you've done it a few times. We special ordered our 177 w/o A/C back in 2011, a decision we have not regretted, at least yet, so no advice about generator's but there are a lot of seasoned and well-versed people who will give you good advice on that issue. Enjoy your 179! ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: ArenaBlanca
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2017 at 9:32pm
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jato has the right technique. Until I got proficient at backing up, my wife and I used two walkie-talkies since I couldn't see her. They can be marriage savers with bigger campers, Not such an issue with R-pods. ------------- Enjoy Life!! |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2017 at 9:19am
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The generator you might need is totally dependent on how much boondocking you're going to do. If your boondocks are only a day or two at a time, then you might not need any generator. If you're going out for a week, then I would recommend one 3KW generator. As for backing up, what others have said is good advice. I will add: One; practice! Two; steer from the bottom of the steering wheel. Three; use walkie talkies. Four; get your signals straight. "Left" and "right" are ambiguous when backing up. We use "passenger side", "driver side" as an alternative. Good luck, and safe travels! ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: ParPod
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2017 at 3:14pm
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One other tip to pass on to your "guide" for backing up.....if they can't see one of the side mirrors then you can't see them......if you can see them then a simple set of hand signals works well. Once you start practising you'll find that it's really not all that difficult as you work your way through it. You'll soon be the talk of the campground as they all watch you expertly manouver that eye catching pod into a small campsite! ------------- Bob&Margaret 2017 179 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2 sets of Golf Clubs |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2017 at 4:46pm
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Yes, congrats on your new pod. As for backing up, one of the things I really like about this forum is I always learn new things [or I always feel really stupid]. I've been backing trailers off and on since I was a kid but never knew about the bottom of the steering wheel trick. I can't wait to try it out. As for confusing right and left, in the world of navigable waters, they use port and starboard. Thus, no matter which way you are looking on the boat, it's always the same and there's a simple mnemonic you can use to remember: A forward looking man (or woman) has port wine left. Thus, port - the driver's side - and starboard - the passenger side. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2017 at 5:09pm
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lostagain,
Port is left both 4 letter words. Easy for me that way. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: rsmith779
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2017 at 7:58am
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Generator, stabileriser and backing have all been covered....this is why I love this Group. So my 2 cents on backing up, always make sure the person that is helping you backup is in your view, use the mirrors, try not to turn your head around while backing up...it will totally confuse you. I took my bride to a parking lot that had straight parking lines. I had her backup using the "hands at the bottom of the steering wheel method" and backup using the right passenger mirror and then using the drivers mirror, obviously with the line on the appropriate side. Use the walkie talkies....works great! Big 5, Costco, Walmart...all have them. Congrads on the new Pod! ------------- Rick and Rosie Smith 2010 175 2015 Chevy Duramax Deisel 2500 |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2017 at 1:28pm
We have hands-free cellular in our TV, so we just use the phone. |
Posted By: CjMk
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2017 at 1:32pm
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Thanks for all of the great replies. We are picking up our casita on wheels, on Friday and taking her right on the road. I guess we will practice in the RV lot first. The hands on the bottom of the wheel is a great tip! Do you think we need walkie talkies if we have a back up camera on the Toureg? I was thinking we would not be running the AC unless it's ridiculously hot. We would like to dry camp for at least 5 days at a time, but probably will not be out more than 3 days at a time this season, so I will hold off on that expense. I have a cart full of goodies in Amazon. Prime is a blessing and a curse. Any other tips are graciously welcomed. Thanks again camping friends! ------------- With Gratitude, Cj & MJ R-Pod 2018 179 2017 VW Touareg 6 Cyl VW Toureg |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2017 at 2:19pm
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Enjoy yourselves! We leave tomorrow to pick ours up from being repaired. It will be good to bring our escaPOD home. I agree that Amazon Prime is both. I've used it quite a bit myself.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2017 at 9:07pm
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Codex1554
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2017 at 9:19am
Both syllables of starboard have R in them for right. One more way to remember  ------------- Jim McP Beaverton OR RPod 180 (Podamus) Nissan Xterra |
Posted By: CjMk
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2017 at 11:34am
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Thanks for the clarification. We will use a spotter. I guess walkie talkies are better than our cell phones? ------------- With Gratitude, Cj & MJ R-Pod 2018 179 2017 VW Touareg 6 Cyl VW Toureg |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2017 at 11:45am
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |