Hi There!!
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
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=10453
Printed Date: 01 Jun 2025 at 8:45pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Hi There!!
Posted By: pngunme
Subject: Hi There!!
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2017 at 12:32pm
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Hi there, Dianna and I upgraded, from a 2009 Casita 17' Spirit Deluxe, to a 2017 R-Pod 179 a couple of months ago. We wanted a similar size, but needed the slide out and the better floor plan, for longer trips, with Chester, our Golden Retriever. We just returned from our first trip, to Northern New Mexico (Angel Fire, Taos and Santa Fe) and really are happy with the change! The wider (~12-20") wheelbase makes it so much more stable on the highway and, other than the wheelbase, it tows just like the Casita. I've been using a sway bar for 8 years, but never really needed it, with the Casita... I noticed, the day I towed our 179 home from the dealer, in Parump, NV, the 179 should really be towed with a sway bar... It has a tendency to sway or fishtail. It's a foot taller than the Casita and slightly less aerodynamic. This trip imprinted several mod ideas into Dianna's brain, so I'll be a little busy for a while... I'll look thru your mod threads and I thank you in advance. Mid-month, we are going to South Tahoe, for 7 nights and afterwards, New England or merely to Austin, TX, to visit family. Cheers, Dianna, Danny & Chester ------------- Dianna, Danny & Chester 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River Edition 2002 Toyota Tundra |
Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2017 at 1:41pm
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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: pngunme
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2017 at 4:22pm
Thanks Leo! ------------- Dianna, Danny & Chester 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River Edition 2002 Toyota Tundra |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2017 at 6:33pm
We find we are just fine w/o a sway bar with our F-150, but we are using an E2 WDH, which has a simple 2-point friction anti-sway. Ours seems to not have any sway or fishtail issues at all. So, whichever works for you; anti-sway or WDH. One of those will probably help. Congrats on the new 179! It sounds like it's a good fit for you. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: pngunme
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2017 at 7:42pm
Thanks! ------------- Dianna, Danny & Chester 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River Edition 2002 Toyota Tundra |
Posted By: Steve 911
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2017 at 8:28pm
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Welcome to the world of podders!! We have a 2017.5 179 also, and love it. Making mods as we go. I just changed the shower head to an Oxygenics. What a difference..today removed all cushions and pillows from slide-out dinette and replaced with upgraded cushions and larger softer pillows for comfort.. Happy trails and good luck.. Steve ------------- Firefighter Steve (retired) 2017.5 Rpod 179 (Reepod) 2016 Highlander AWD w/tow pkg. E2 wdh, prodigy RF brake controller. |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2017 at 8:51pm
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Welcome and congrats on your pod! We too use Fastway E2 WD anti-sway bar hitch and have no trouble with swaying. Pulling without complaints with a Tacoma with an automatic transmission that I usually run in shift mode in 5th gear.
------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2017 at 7:21am
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Congratulations and welcome! We have a 2016 RP-179. We tow with a Nissan Frontier using an Equal-i-zer 4-poont stabilization hitch. Originally, I wanted a Casita. I'm glad we got the 179 instead. I hope you enjoy yours as much as we enjoy ours.
------------- 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: Cassie
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2017 at 11:56pm
| I have a 2018 176 and tow it with my Tacoma 2016. I have 4x4 tow package WDH and double cab. But I'm thinking this trailer must be at the max for my Tacoma. Do you guys think the trailers may be a bit much for the truck? |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2017 at 10:01am
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Hello Cassie, Welcome! I tow a 2016 179 with a Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 4x4 with factory tow package. The answer depends on your Tacoma's setup. Does it have the factory tow package? What engine size. Most importantly, what does Toyota specify as towing capacity for your Tacoma? If it is the one with the towing package, your towing limit is 6800 lbs, which is more than adequate for the 176. That being said, please don't think you can tow the 176 at 70 mph easily. Wind resistance is proportional to the square of the velocity. You will have much better mileage at 55-60 mph than at 65-70 mph. If you are getting 12 mpg or better, you are doing well. You can help the aerodynamics by using a wind deflector such as PurpleLine's AeroPlus or Icon's AeroShield. Team that with limiting your towing speed, and you will find the towing experience to be more economical as well as more relaxing. ------------- 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: 25 Sep 2017 at 11:34am
https://www.ajdesigner.com/apptrailertow/weightdistributionhitch.php - https://www.ajdesigner.com/apptrailertow/weightdistributionhitch.php This will require you to get all the actual numbers for both the Tacoma and the R-pod, plus a couple that you won't find in a book (e.g. hitch ball to axle for both vehicles). However, once you're done you will really know where you stand for both weight carrying (WC) and weight distribution (WD) setups. You can also see what happens with various different loads in both vehicles. Quite handy.
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2017 at 2:21pm
I'm pulling a 180 model with the same truck as you are 2016 Tacoma SR5 4x4 with tow package WDH and have no trouble at all pulling the Pod. Your Truck is rated to pull something like 6400 lbs and your 176 Rpod is less then half that weight. If you have an automatic transmission like my truck has do you shift it over to the S mode and shift it between 4th and 5th while running in the ECT mode? If not try that and you'll see that you can even pull the trailer along at 70 miles and hour as I recently did with mine on the coast. I've gone all over the Appalachian mountains up and down from north to south and down along the coast with no problems. Could you pull your trailer easier with lets say a Ford 150 with a V8 engine? Yes, sure but your fuel mileage and such will not be much better if at all IMHO. ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: Cassie
Date Posted: 25 Sep 2017 at 11:52pm
| Thank you guys, you are making me feel a bit better. I'll do the calculations and get back. I was nervous I might have made a mistake with my truck/travel trailer combo. I really love my Tacoma when not trailering. One last question on figuring my actual weight: how much do I add in for the easy WDH? Can't seem to find that. Thank you all so much. |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2017 at 9:43am
Hu? Just to be sure when you say WDH I am assuming your speaking of the Weight Distribution/Anti-sway bar hitch, yes? If that's the case it would only add 100 lbs or less to the rear of your truck. Remember this device is meant to even out your load with your vehicle and trailer and to help reduce possible sway from your trailer. I assume you also have a electric brake controller installed in your Tacoma which unfortunately our trucks didn't include with the tow package? For more information on your Tacoma go to: https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/3rd-gen-tacomas-2016.186/ Search out the towing thread. ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: Steve 911
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2017 at 9:50am
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Hi, Just an FYI, if you haven't installed a brake controller yet, you might consider Prodigy RF. It is wireless and it works like a charm in my Highlander. Just my $.02 ------------- Firefighter Steve (retired) 2017.5 Rpod 179 (Reepod) 2016 Highlander AWD w/tow pkg. E2 wdh, prodigy RF brake controller. |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 26 Sep 2017 at 1:04pm
 ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Cassie
Date Posted: 27 Sep 2017 at 5:06pm
| Thanks so much. Yes weight distribution hitch! Yes I have trailer brakes and controller. You folks are making me feel a bit better pulling my Rpod with my Tacoma. I'll add up my weights. |