Looking for R-pod
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10780
Printed Date: 03 Jun 2025 at 10:38am
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Topic: Looking for R-pod
Posted By: voy108
Subject: Looking for R-pod
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 1:44am
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Hi all or now that I'm living in Texas...Hi y'all(is this the correct pronunciation?) I'm new to this Forum and have been lurking a bit. Right now with the help of you good folks I have narrowed my R-pod search to the 171 or 172. I have acquired a 2004 Ford Explorer with that "little" factory hitch(1" ?). I would love to have a slide but not sure about the weight the Explorer will handle. Not wanting to push the limit a non-slide may be better. I currently have a 1992 Bounder and want to downsize. Full timed for 3 years, bought a small MH in an Alamo, TX RV park due to full knee replacement, and now want to get an RP to spend the summers in and do some fun boon-docking. Lordy it's hot and humid in the RGV during the summer. I may even look at a 151 but that seems small(I have toys to take along  )If you have a Pod for sale, please contact me. Is there a place to post "WANTED" messages? Not sure how to post in the for sale section. Thanks Doug Reading through many of the posts I'm looking forward to being a part of this Forum. Really, really helpful. |
Replies:
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 4:54pm
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Hi Doug, Welcome. If you scroll down to the bottom of the options you will find "Non-pod discussion forum" click that and then go to the bottom of that which is titled "General Camping" and click that. At the bottom you will find what you are looking for "campers flea market." Just today someone from N.C. posted a 2010 model 172 for $7500.00. There are probably others but that was at the top of the list. Have fun looking. Oh yes, we have towed our 177 with a 2008 Explorer (4.0 L V-6 with 210 HP) and currently with a 2013 Explorer with a 3.5 L V-6 with 295 HP. Tows well, no complaints. Our 177 empty is 2440 lbs, loaded we are probably around 3000 lbs. We use an anti-way bar to keep it "in line" from swaying, works well for the 26,000 + miles we have put on it. ------------- 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: jato
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 4:59pm
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I would ask the advice from someone knowledgeable about that 1" receiver on your Explorer and find out what it is capable of towing, towing weight at well as hitch weight. Both of our Explorers came with the standard 2" receiver that had the towing package which includes the transmission cooler, a must in my opinion when towing the pod.
------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 5:13pm
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If your eX came from the factory with a 1 1/4 inch hitch, I do not think it is rated to tow a Pod. Technically, a 1 1/4 can be "class II", but that's the hitch rating and not the trucks rating. Either way, 3500lbs is the MAX tow rating for a 1 1/4 inch hitch. Every Ford I have ever worked with, had the 2" receiver if it had the factory tow package. ------------- |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 6:07pm
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Actually, with the number of people you're addressing, it would be "all y'all". :)
Based on my Google search and depending on how your Explorer is equipped, you may just need to swap out hitches. From what I found, the 2004 Explorer should be able to pull a Pod. |
Posted By: voy108
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 9:28pm
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Hi all, y'all(thanks to The Bum's input who is from TX) According to the fellow(he had huge commercial flatbed) that picked up my brother's Buick for his daughter, he said the hitch has factory bolts so could be(should be) a factory installed tow package...maybe not heavy duty. The plate has stamped on it 3500lbs max with 350 tongue weigh and a non-7pin plug. If I can avoid it, I would rather not invest $$$$ on a vehicle that I may get rid of in the next year or so. Based on all my research on the 'net, the Explorer is rated for 5000lbs+ and the 171 dry weight is 2205/245. Maybe I'm missing what is needed but folks are using Rav 4's, Subaru's, Ford 150's, and Honda Odysseys to tow the Pods. I'm confused.  Doug |
Posted By: GrantP
Date Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 10:39pm
| Welcome and have fun with your research. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 7:45am
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The rating of the hitch is not the same as the rating of the truck. Make sure you double/triple check the trucks rating. You will have to have a 7-pin connection installed and a brake controller. These are not optional. The GVWR of all Pods is 3500lbs. In Texas, brakes are required on all trailers over 4,500lbs, but all your surrounding states, the requirement starts at 3,000lbs. There are people using Rav 4's and Subaru's to tow, It's neither safe nor advised. F150's are a full size truck, no issue there. The Explorer can be a fine tow vehicle for Pods, if properly equipped. We towed many miles with our '99 Explorer Limited, 5.0, 7400lb tow rating. In the long run we see WAY more unhappy towing stories from people who are trying to tow at the bottom of the limits. And I can't remember a single owner who said their previous "smaller" tow vehicle was in any way better then what they upgraded to, if they upgrade. BTW, the biggest towing issue with a Pod isn't the dry weight, by a long shot. The biggest issues are frontal area, and braking, controlling the load. As far as switching out hitches, that is a solid option if the truck, is in fact, otherwise rated to tow more then that hitch is rated to. Another advantage of that is with a 2" hitch, a Weight Distributing Hitch, (WDH), and sway control, become available. (though, with a slight modification or two, anti sway can be added to a 1 1/4 hitch). Many owners run a WDH, even when "not needed on paper" because they get a much better ride and feel more in control when towing. OH, and after re-reading the OP, finding a 151 is a pretty sketchy plan.. We have been podding for 7 years, have been to dozens of Pod rallies, pay attention when traveling, and two weeks ago, saw a 151 in the wild for the first time. It is in fact owned by a couple that lives about 50 miles from us, and was at the 2017 KY R-Pods and Friends MiniMini rally. 151's were only built in the first couple production runs, only a couple hundred in the whole world, and out of production for 7 years now. ------------- |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 9:16am
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We were towing with a Ford Escape with 2L Ecoboost engine until we hit ice with a strong crosswind. We now tow with a Nissan Frontier with 4L naturally aspirated V6. In a few aspects, the Escape towed better than the Frontier. At any significant altitude, the 2L Ecoboost engine had more power than the naturally aspirated 4L V6. The transmission also had more gears, so it was better in mountasins, especially when set to Sport (or Schlepp) mode.The shorter distance between the rear axle and hitch ball on the Escape also meant the trailer exerted less force on the TV. I actually feel the trailer more with the Frontier than I did with the Escape because of the increased axle to hitch ball distance. Now, the Frontier does have a 6,100 lb tow rating as opposed to the Escape's 3,500 lb rating. Having the truck bed to carry items like a generator, spare propane tank, and gasoline for the generator is great. Now if the Frontier had a diesel engine, I think it would be close to ideal for towing an R-Pod. ------------- 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: Gregm
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 9:23am
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The Explorer should be fine. When we got our pod we had a Suburu and did not care for the way it handled when towing.The salesman said it would be OK.
We now tow with a Toyota Tacoma and are quite happy ------------- Gregm 2014 171 2015 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner |
Posted By: voy108
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 1:24pm
WOW, thanks to all of you for the GREAT input. I'm feeling better about the Explorer for now and will look into changing TV in future once I get the Pod. There is are a couple 171's in TX for sale so will look at them as soon as I get back which should be the 20th.I think I have wrapped up my brother's affairs so now it's up to his kids to sell the house once transfer is completed. Since I am single with small dog, I have settled on the 171 as apposed to the 172. Would rather have the dinette and queen plus from what I gather the 171 is set up a bit better for heater and storage.  Doug |
Posted By: Gregm
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 1:42pm
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I think you will like the 171. We do. I recommend you get another mattress though unless FR has changed the ones they have been supplying. Best of luck! ------------- Gregm 2014 171 2015 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner |
Posted By: MontanaBreeze
Date Posted: 13 Oct 2017 at 9:19am
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We have an RPOD for sale, if you want to come to Montana to get it!! It comes with an extended warranty. It's 17'8". We have babied the heck out of it. No smoking, never used the toilet for solid waste. We used a latex 2 in topper over the mattress. Comes with an anti-sway system which is a gas saver in the prairie winds of Montana. We also have a heavy duty adjustable hitch to go with it. Everything about this camper is easy! Small bump out, queen bed, nice dining area that makes into another bed. Storage everywhere. Has solar capabilities; the fiberglass exterior is pretty much hail proof. We also put extra coating on it to protect from fading. We use an f150 to pull it with no drag. Two batteries; propane; elec/gas fridge. Convection/ Microwave. Two burner gas range. TV/DVD Radio, outside speakers. The list goes on! Difficult to find one used that is like new! A/C, bathroom fan, scissor jacks. Includes 7 year extended warranty ( four years left). ------------- Greetings! We love the R-Pod experience. The fiberglass shell, the high clearance, the comforts, the solar capacity. The interior height for us tall folks! |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 13 Oct 2017 at 10:30am
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: voy108
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2017 at 3:41pm
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Well, my search is over. I was going to go for a 171 in Fl but came across a dealer here in TX that had blow out price on a new 2017, 171. Had to wait until I got back before I could do anything. Well, their blow out was $12,626. By the time I got to the ad it was off the special price and up to 13,294. Called 'em today and offered 12000 waiting for a counter of 12500. Well, they came back at 11995. Whoopee, I said, and said I take it. I'm amazed and the sales guy said he was also. I pick it up Thursday. Now to get the Explorer ready. Monday I'll check on a new hitch and brake controller. They can do the brake controller and 7 pin. Controller, 175...7 pin, 125. Soooo, I guess I can say I now own an R-Pod!!! Doug |