Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Tow Vehicle (is it enough?)

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Tow Vehicle (is it enough?)

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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11243
Printed Date: 28 Jun 2025 at 6:35pm
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Topic: Tow Vehicle (is it enough?)

Posted By: Heyjohn56
Subject: Tow Vehicle (is it enough?)
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2018 at 5:04pm

We're going to be towing our pod with a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 3.6L V6. Wanted to know if anyone has experience towing with something like this. I've seen pics of Dodge Caravan as the TV so I think I'll be ok. We have a Caravan but it says it tows up to 3500 lbs and we didn't want to go right up to the limit. The jeep says it can tow 5000.

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John & Nancy
2017 R-Pod 178
2019 Dodge Durango V6
(hope it's enough)

Replies:

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2018 at 5:09pm

You should be ok. You are about at the 80% mark and you are correct we do have members towing with Caravans and other vehicles rated at 3500. I would not advise that. We also have a number of folks towing with Grand Cherokees. Are you using a WDH?

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: henryv
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2018 at 5:16pm

I have a similar tow vehicle (6 cyl Ford Explorer)I personally think it's a perfect match for my 171. I've added extension mirrors which help.

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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2018 at 5:18pm

We towed our 171 and our 179 with our Dodge Grand Caravan for several years up and down the east coast. Had plenty of power and got pretty good mpg. We recently upgraded to a F-150, but still have the Grand Caravan.

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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171

Posted By: Chris 'n Lou
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2018 at 7:05pm

We have a #180 which we tow w/ a 6 cyl Toyota 4-Runner. It is OK for up to 5,000 lbs. No problem - just don’t load yourself down w/ too much “stuff”.

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2018 - #180
‘04 Toyota 4-Runner Ltd

Posted By: jalong
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2018 at 7:38am

I tow a 179 with a 2014 Grand Cherokee Laredo that has the towing package making the tow rating 6200lbs. I use an E2 sway weight distribution hitch. My Jeep has an economy shift mode that I turn off when pulling a trailer. Last year I replaced the OEM trailer tires with D range Goodyear Endurance that makes the towing even better.

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John & Sue
2016 179 - built in April 2015
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6L 13-16mpg with 179 - 21-28mpg without

Posted By: Heyjohn56
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2018 at 9:15am

Thanks all. I don't have a WDH. I asked the dealer about upgrading from just a sway controller, but they said I didn't need to. Looking into mirror extensions but it seems like they would fall off at speed. My Jeep is only rated at 5000 lbs (not sure why) but it seems it will do the job based on others experience. I'm not going to push the speed. Take my time, try to relax and enjoy. Thanks again for all the input. Great group.

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John & Nancy
2017 R-Pod 178
2019 Dodge Durango V6
(hope it's enough)

Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2018 at 9:28am

We had a set of mirror extenders that we had gotten at Walmart and we used them on our Grand Caravan

in 9+ years of towing with the van we never had one come off and we would hit 70-80 at different times . Though we mostly cruise at 55-60 most of the time.

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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171

Posted By: Larry-D
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2018 at 9:57am

With the width of the pod you may want to think about mirror extensions. I tow with a Wrangler and found the extensions made no difference since the pod's width was less that a trailer with its wheels inside the body instead of outside.

I do use a WDH. At the dealer I had them hook it to the Jeep w/o the WDH and it set pretty level. Kept thinking about it overnight since we use a WDH on our truck and larger TT. Decided that, for my peace of mind I wanted the WDH. Is it necessary, I don't know but I do know that in pulling the pod back from FL which was our first pull with it, it handled great. Took a good hit on gas mileage but pulled, straight, level and no sway with the sway bar.

Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2018 at 11:43am

We tow our 179 with a 2012 3.5L V6 Highlander with tow package and it has handled mountains admirably. We use a Fastway E2 WDH. We bought a set of extension mirrors and only used them once; the side mirrors are fine if I lean sideways a bit.

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Alan
2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod"
2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4
Three cats

Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2018 at 11:48am

I just bought extension mirrors, and honestly, i only want them for backing into a spot. I'm hoping i can expand my view as the camper and T.V. become angled to each other

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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2018 at 12:51pm

Our stock mirrors work fine. I have no problem seeing around the R-pod. I think the slightly more narrow width of the R-pod makes this possible. If we had a "full width" TT, then I think we would need the towing mirrors, plus the addition MPG hit we would get with those elephant ears.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost