I need HELP!!!: Newbie with a lot of questions..

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Newbie with a lot of questions..

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Forum Name: I need HELP!!!
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Printed Date: 09 May 2025 at 10:25pm
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Topic: Newbie with a lot of questions..

Posted By: jaxon96
Subject: Newbie with a lot of questions..
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2018 at 9:47pm

My husband and I have decided to buy the 189 model. For sure know we want one with a convection oven and R-dome awning with the screen room.

My questions is, what do you wish you would have been told or known when you were buying your RPod for the first time? Any suggestions on things we need to add immediately on our own or through the dealer?

I have been researching for about 6 months. I have seen the awning cover for the slide out that is for sure needed, but other things that you wish you would have known or ideas at first would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance!

Replies:

Posted By: Happy Tripping
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2018 at 7:27am

There are really qualified people here who will give you all sorts of good lists. A lot of things are self-evident - like travel trailer toilet paper. Basically, if you are using it at home, it probably will be nice to have in the trailer.

Random thoughts -

Safety items are essential and will be comprehensively listed by others.

From my personal experience - Beware of false hitches!

Insect repellant!

A 12 volt tire inflator is a must have!

camp chairs and table

5 gallon water container

flashlights

for this Luddite - Lots of good books

7X35 binoculars (See how subjective personal likes are?)

A short 'shake down cruise' at some close-by park will help you more than anything!

Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2018 at 8:10am

Agree with HT, a shake-down trip will show you real fast how much you packed that you don't really need and what you forgot about. Ha, did for us!

Our 4,000 mile run showed us even more that we don't need to carry.

Since our runs tend to be extended.. Storage of dry-goods became the greatest issue. That ended up in the back of the truck (I have a cover on the bed). As did dirty laundry (plastic container), spare tire and the spare propane tank.

We found this really nice collapsable 3 pocket storage bag that really became very useful (also in the back of the truck). This is really close to what we bought:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756QHND4/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0756QHND4&pd_rd_wg=HCXgb&pd_rd_r=WFBXT2BCKE6BRZ7B968E&pd_rd_w=za2Pp - http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756QHND4/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B0756QHND4&pd_rd_wg=HCXgb&pd_rd_r=WFBXT2BCKE6BRZ7B968E&pd_rd_w=za2Pp

That's a few that come to mind.

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander

Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2018 at 9:56am

Originally posted by jaxon96

My husband and I have decided to buy the 189 model. For sure know we want one with a convection oven and R-dome awning with the screen room.

Thank you in advance!

I think that you are already doing the right thing - spend some real time reading through various threads on this forum. You'll quickly see that there are many different ways that folks use their RPods. Some always camp in campgrounds with ac power, water, etc and shower buildings. Some boondock far from everything. Your needs for each of those types of camping are very different. Figure out what you plan to do and provision your trailer accordingly.

I think that the most important thing, especially if you have not owned a trailer before, is to take the time to learn about how the various systems in the Pod work (water, electricity, etc) and to know what basic maintenance is needed. A shakedown trip or two is a good idea.

Posted By: crw8sr
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2018 at 11:33am

Welcome, you're in the right place for information.

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Chuck & Lyn
Izzy, Morkie. RIP
Zoe Joy & Gracie, Yorkie
2018 R Pod 190
2019 Traverse

In moments of adversity;when life's a total wreck, I think of those worse off than me and really feel like heck.

Posted By: OldNeumanntapr
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2018 at 12:32pm

Make sure you have a lug wrench that fits the lugs on the trailer wheels, and also a good bottle jack.

A good tire gage is also a nice thing to have.

I agree. A little 12volt tire compressor is a good thing too.

Also, towing mirrors if you have a smaller TV. Helps to see around the pod. Some states require them too.

Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2018 at 5:02pm

I think that the first things you should do is get an EMS surge protector installed, and a vent cover so you can open the vent for fresh air, and not worry about rain getting in. As a personnal preference, I added the rv lock keyless entry system. I hate worrying about or carrying keys when camping. You'll soon see how important that is to you soon enough.

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

Posted By: Richand Cindy
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2018 at 5:41pm

If you search my postings, on several occasions I posted a long list of need to have, and want to have items that I collected from reading this forum. In terms of knowing whether an RPOD is right for you I would strongly recommend you find a place that rents RPODS or equivalent. Basically if you are coming from tenting or pop ups an RPOD is a move up. For us we were hotel hoppers transitioning to a travel trailer and an RPOD turned out too small and we had to move up to a 26 foot camper. Wished we had rented one first. We loved the POD but needed more space for anything more than a long weekend trip

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OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
NEW: 2018 Passport Elite 23RB + 2017 Ram 1500 Diesel

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 05 Aug 2018 at 5:49pm

RVs are like cars or anything else. Everyone I have owned was exciting when I got it. Then options changed and I wanted something else. Funny I have owned the Pod the longest it is just to easy to move and work with, plus I put a lot of my own time into it. My family didn't grow larger but my wants and needs changed, if that makes sense. Time changes things as does technology. I can understand folks changing.

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

Posted By: harrypodder
Date Posted: 06 Aug 2018 at 8:25am

Driveway shakedown. Before you go on your first outing get a 30amp to 115V adaptor, plug into an outside outlet if you have to use an extension cord get one as short as possible and with 14 ga minimum wire. You CANNOT run your A/C but your converter, TV, micro and frige can be checked get a plug in voltage display or use a meter to check your voltage supply is not to low. Buy your fresh water hose with pressure reducer valve and hook up to your fresh water inlet check for leaks operate all your faucets and shower leave water on and all faucets ,shower ect. turned off for at least 30 minutes to see if leaks develop anywhere also your toilet and since your just testing and not using you can check your black and grey water storage tank drain valves because you will only be draining clean water. Our new 189 had a water heater leak that did not show up right away at the dealer it is located under your bed so not readily seen. I would turn off the water when your done checking or when left unattended until you feel comfortable with your system. If your tow vehicle is a PU check to see if your tailgate will open all the way or hits the power jack it can be rotated 90deg to gain more room do not forget to turn the switch on the power jack to 'OFF" when done using it there is a built in light that is hard to see when on during the day it has no separate switch so if jack switch is left on and no shore power is connected it will drain your battery down. There are four screws that hold a wood face panel in on the bottom of your side if you remove them and the panel you can see if anything (waterlines, propane lines )are stretched to tight when the slide is retracted in our 189 the hot water line was way to tight and had to be extended. Make sure your bathroom door is closed before retracting your slide in. You will need a way to check the top of your slide on the outside before moving it in. The first thing you do when getting home from the dealer and unhooking is chock those wheels. I would comment on changing out those Chinese made tires but opinions vary on those do some research on there quality control and decide since you have a single axle and not the benefits of a tandem during a mishap.

Posted By: harrypodder
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2018 at 6:53am

If your 189 comes with CH751 storage compartment keys I've got the same key as well as thousands of other people if you intend to put anything of value in your storage areas change out or re-key the locks.

Posted By: crw8sr
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2018 at 4:44pm

What replacement locks are recommended?

-------------
Chuck & Lyn
Izzy, Morkie. RIP
Zoe Joy & Gracie, Yorkie
2018 R Pod 190
2019 Traverse

In moments of adversity;when life's a total wreck, I think of those worse off than me and really feel like heck.

Posted By: harrypodder
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2018 at 7:47pm

www.ch751.com

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2018 at 9:14pm

What we did was buy a couple of locks from http://www.rvlocksandmore.com/ - these people . We got them keyed the same as the door, so now we only use one key to open everything.

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

Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2018 at 10:50pm

Originally posted by GlueGuy

What we did was buy a couple of locks from http://www.rvlocksandmore.com/ - these people . We got them keyed the same as the door, so now we only use one key to open everything.

This makes sense for convenience. Security is a relative thing with campers. It takes very little to pop open the doors. Don't store valuable items in your pod.

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Keith-N-Dar
Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers)
2011 R-Pod 177
2010 Ford F-150

Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 07 Aug 2018 at 11:35pm

I have 11 locks for my hatches, all keyed alike.These looks use all letters of the alphabet and numbers from 1 to 99, So there are 2574 combinations.

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If you want something done right, do it yourself.
2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd.

Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2018 at 9:32am

I use rvlock keyless entry for the door, and combi - cam 3 digit combination locks on compartment doors. I gotta look and see if they the combi - cam lock fits on the outside shower door.

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