182G Questions (Useful? Towing? Alternatives?)
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Topic: 182G Questions (Useful? Towing? Alternatives?)
Posted By: Zampa
Subject: 182G Questions (Useful? Towing? Alternatives?)
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 11:51am
 My wife and I really like the rear garage component of the 182G model: http://www.forestriverinc.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=173&ShowParent=1&ModelID=976#Main - http://www.forestriverinc.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=173&ShowParent=1&ModelID=976#Main My question is: who has one of these, and what tow vehicle are you using with them? Would a 3,500lb. towing capacity tow vehicle be insufficient? Calculating towing limits is frustratingly complex - both on the trailer side and vehicle side. There's so little real world info on "if I buy X can it tow Y" out there.
Also, is the rear garage as useful and convenient as it appears? Are you happy with the build quality and added value of it? Are there any other manufacturers building any comparable ultralight trailers with a similar rear garage? Thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 12:27pm
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We don't have that model, so I can't comment on the garage part of it. However, I would say that a vehicle rated for 3,500 lbs would barely be adeqate. More likely you want to take the maximum your trailer weighs (~~ 3800 lbs), and multiply by 1.3 to find the minimum rating for your tow vehicle. That would be a tow vehicle at "around" 5000 lbs. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Zampa
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 1:38pm
Ugh, I was afraid of that. Now that puts me in a tough pricing range of around $50-60k where regular vehicles compete with luxury vehicles. I don't want to pay +$50k for a Honda Pilot if a BMW X5 is only a few thousand more, ya know? Trying to find that perfect combo of quality interior, towing capacity, and gas mileage is tough. Hybrids are even more difficult, as they often reduce the towing capacity just by virtue of being a hybrid.
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Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 2:33pm
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Glue Guy advice is +1 IMHO. My tow vehicle is rated at 6400 lbs but there is no way I'd tow anywhere near that. So when shopping for a camping trailer we only look at trailers at or less then the maximum tow rating for the vehicle. You can spend $50K or even $100K or more on a new tow vehicle or you can spend well under $20K on a good used tow vehicle like a Ford F150 two wheel drive. It all depends on what you really want and need, to each their own! Good Luck! ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: kansasfrogs
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 2:53pm
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We have a 2015 182 G and it does add lots of space for storage as well as using it for grilling out. The trouble I have found with ours is that sometime it has leaked from above and has bubbled a few inches of inner lining/wallpaper. (Getting repaired this spring, not sure of how much damage) It is handy for carrying fishing poles, the grill and other things as well. I would never pull it with something that only has 3500# towing capacity. Our Pod weighs 3200# fully loaded ( no water, 1 propane tank and 1 battery). We pull it with a Pilot which has a towing capacity of 4500# and I only do that on fairly level non-mountainous terrain. With the WDH and sway control, it travels pretty well. We needed a bigger dining area and bunks, so the 182 was just our preference. ------------- FROGGY |
Posted By: Zampa
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 3:29pm
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My current top-pick vehicle to tow this thing is a 2018 Audi Q7 3.0T v6 (rated at 7,770 lbs. towing capacity) for ~$55k. Neither I or my wife are "truck people", so we're sticking to SUVs. The Dodge Durango v8 (7,400 lbs. tow capacity) is ~$48K similarly equipped (but has a lot cheaper quality cabin materials/design). About the same price for a Jeep Grand Cherokee. Range Rover is WAY too expensive. Would be $65k+ to start. Toyota Land Cruiser is $85k. Cadillac Escalade and Lincoln Navigator are $74k. GMC Yukon is ugly, and $50k+. The Nissan Armada ($45k, 8,500 lbs.) would potentially work, but I'm not a fan of Nissan/Infiniti. Chevy Suburban and Tahone are both close in price, but so huge... |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 3:59pm
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There are allot of folks here that tow with SUV's, lots of choices new or used. I would be looking for a vehicle that has one of the maximum rated towing to make your life easy.
------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 4:24pm
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: RobnCari
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 5:38pm
Why does your TV have to be brand new? Let some one else pay the depreciation. There are alot of TV out there that are far below $50-$60K. But if you're going to limit yourself to a Brand new SUV then don't complain about the price! JMO ------------- 2006 Toyota Tacoma 4WD AC 2018 RP 179 |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 5:47pm
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+1 - you don't need a brand new tow vehicle. You need a capable tow vehicle. You can get a tow vehicle for less than 15K. If brand new is your choice, so be it. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Zampa
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 6:30pm
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Well, my tow vehicle will also be my daily driver, so I want something nice, with modern tech and safety. A factory towing package would alleviate my anxiety of towing a lot, too. I'm not complaining about price, but I do want to make sure I get the best & newest vehicle for the money. |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2017 at 8:33am
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Makes perfect sense. My TV is a low mileage 2006, Chevy 4X4, I use it everyday. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: riotkayak284
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2017 at 9:43am
| General rule is TV rating should be twice the weight of the trailer..... |
Posted By: texman
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2017 at 4:18pm
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i have a 2015 182g and enjoy everything about it. I tow with a 2015 4x4 Tundra Crewmax, which is rated around 10k for towing. I definitely know the Pod is back there, especially with side or head winds. The rear kitchen is great, i think. Hot Running water and sink, lots of storage, shade from the hatch, rear propane for the grill or whatever, TV, stereo, Plugs for 120v appliances. If it is spring/fall, we cook breakfast inside since it is cool outside and then lunch and dinner are outside. The outdoor kitchen is what sold me along with sleeps four. Texman ------------- TexMan 2015 182g 2018 Sequoia http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9122&title=texman-182g-mods - TexManMods |
Posted By: Hour Pod
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2017 at 10:57pm
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We enjoy our 182G, with the "G" plus bunks the primary attractions. We use the "G" for most meals, with the counter for food prep and sink for clean up very nice features. We tow with a V8 pick-up and we feel it in the PNW mountains.
Good luck. ------------- Love'N Hour Pod 2017 Sierra Crew & 2017 182G JJ, Erin, Alexa & Jace |
Posted By: RP538
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2017 at 8:01am
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Google Trailer Life Tow Guides & pick year of vehicle your interested in & the charts will list tow rating based on engine &options. Plus, lots of info about RVing in the guides. Sanidumps app on iPhone has lots of info on that aspect of RVing. My wife & I owned a R-Pod 180. GVW (gross vehicle weight) was < 4000 lbs. Our 2012 V6 Grand Cherokee base model Laredo w/tow pkg (rated 5000 towing) was perfect. Bought it used in 2015 w/24k miles @ good price. Lots of info online. Check out RoadsLessTraveled.us. A blog by full time RVers. They share all their experiences & things they’ve learned (upgrades, maintenance, etc). Important to stay legal. Tow capacity is important, so is load capacity. Example: I want to tow a 7500 lb trailer while carrying my m/c in the bed. I had to go with a F250 over a F150 even though the ecoboost F150 had the ‘towing capacity’. Load = m/c weight, hitch weight, weight of fuel (8.5 lbs per gallon), weight of passengers and anything else your carrying. If your overloaded and have an accident you are liable. Don’t trust RV dealers for advise. ------------- 2015 Fun Finder 215WSK 2011 F250 Lariat 8’ bed & ext cab 2004 Jeep Wrangler 2008 Yamaha Raider 1993 Harley FLHTC IYAOYAS - Semper Fi |
Posted By: Zampa
Date Posted: 03 Nov 2017 at 7:43am
Yeah, I've seen the guide, and it is helpful but still only has the capacities. It's tougher to find tongue weights, axle weights, GVWR, GCVWR, etc. to really get an accurate calculation.
I've been researching the 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee (7,200 lb. tow capacity) and Dodge Durango RWD (7,400 lb. tow capacity) pretty heavily. Their V8 Hemi models are both in the low $50k range and have capacities comparable to the Audi Q7 (7,700 lb. tow capacity). Biggest difference between those two vehicles are the styling and the third-row in the Durango - otherwise they're identical vehicles. So really I have to sit in them and see if the Audi is worth the extra $10k or not. I'd rather have a brand new vehicle than used, and I plan to just do a 3 or 4 year lease because PHEV options are going to explode by the time my lease ends and I'm going to want to get into something different. I realize it's kind of a crazy idea to want a hybrid SUV that tows well, but that's my ideal vehicle. The Chevy Tahoe hybrid is about as good as it gets with 6,200 lb. tow capacity - and they don't make them anymore. I'm also a lot more particular about in-cabin tech than most (infotainment systems are not all the same, some are horribly designed), and interior comfort / design. I thought about maybe trying to find a used Porsche Cayenne (7,716 lb. tow capacity), but even models a few years old with 30-40k miles are selling around $40-50k. |