I need HELP!!!: Family of 5- 176T??

Family of 5- 176T??

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Topic: Family of 5- 176T??

Posted By: teamtarrant
Subject: Family of 5- 176T??
Date Posted: 29 Jun 2020 at 3:43pm

Hi team!

My wife and I are considering a light travel trailer for our family of 5. It looks like the 176t is the only option with bunk beds. We have 3 Boys (2,6,7). The Pod Dome seems like a great add on.

We would pull with a 2006 4Runner (5k Tow Cap). Looking for something in that 3kish range for safety.

Any family of 5 insights here or recommendations on whether 176T would be a good option?

Pro tips when looking to buy used?

Any advice whatsoever is welcome!! Thank you!!

Michael

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Team Tarrant

Replies:

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 29 Jun 2020 at 4:35pm

My opinion, the dinette bed as furnished will be tough on you and the wife. I would use the dinette bed for the little ones (it is camping, after all)and have the queen for you and wife with some space for 2 year old, we sleep with an 80 lb bulldog. The little guys will be ok, it's tough when the adults are uncomfortable.

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

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 29 Jun 2020 at 4:53pm

I should have added, I am not a fan of the hybrid bed. I also am from TN and I have spent some time in cold weather, it just happens. It's more like a pop up than a trailer.

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

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2020 at 5:30am

Originally posted by mcarter

I should have added, I am not a fan of the hybrid bed. I also am from TN and I have spent some time in cold weather, it just happens. It's more like a pop up than a trailer.

+1. Hybrids are cold and the beds areas are prone to condensation. You can end up sleeping on a wet mattress with water dripping on you all night. No walls to keep out sound in a noisy campground either.

When shopping for trailers ignore the empty weight. Look at the gross trailer weight which is around 3800 lbs. That's closer to where you'll actually be. And the 5K tow number assumes there is nothing in the tow vehicle besides the driver. You will have 5 people plus gear. I suggest trying it this way: Get the curb weight of your tow vehicle, add the total weight of people and a generous estimate for your gear (it will weigh more than you think). Add the max trailer weight to get the total rig weight. Look on your driver's door sticker and get the max combined gross vehicle weight rating (MCGVWR), and compare those numbers. You won't want to be towing right at the limit so the actual total rig weight should be substantially less than the MCGVWR. I like at least 10% less.

How much future proofing do you want to do in your purchase, those boys are going to be getting bigger quick over the next couple of years? You might want to consider a larger trailer and TV now.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 30 Jun 2020 at 8:01am

Without arguing the merits of a hybrid, I will say it's "doable" we have a Pod family of 5 who have been full time in Rpod 176t for 3 years now, while they build a homestead at altitude in CO.. But I do believe they are an exception.. LOL

Offgrid is very much correct that the advertised weight of the camper WILL be higher then you are planning for, and you need to take into account the weight of gear for 5.. and the 5.

Also, you need to check on frontal area restrictions in your owners manual. Most small SUV and trucks have a low limit, 27sqft or so. Pods are around double that.