New Member Saying Hi!
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3512
Printed Date: 15 May 2025 at 10:47am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: New Member Saying Hi!
Posted By: Cooks128
Subject: New Member Saying Hi!
Date Posted: 20 May 2013 at 2:50pm
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Hello - New member just stopping in to say hi. My wife, 7 year old son and I bought a 2013 182G back in January and have to say we just love our Pod. We've tent camped for years, and still do with our son being a Cub Scout and when I do multi day expedition Jeeping into places the pod just can't go. We talked about getting a camper for about four years and seriously looked for the past two or so. I was dead set on a small tear drop because I really wanted a small camper and also loved the rear galley cooking area; however it wasn't a good fit for a family of three with two English bull dogs. So when my wife learned about the Pods she knew it to be the one we could both love...she was right....I moment I saw the 182G in person I knew it was "the one", it had everything we both wanted in a camper. We're really into Jeeping, I own three (JK, XJ, CJ7) and use our 2012 Rubicon Unlimited as our primary tow vehicle. I know the Pod is pushing the TV 3500 weight limit but we still pack like tent campers and on our maiden voyage last month, it made the three hour trip each way trip to one of our favorite off-road parks with ease...no complaints. We just spent the weekend on our second trip to a local campground less than 15 min from out home and I was able to take advantage of the electric tent sites tucked away in the woods rather than the RV sites in the sun with zero shade. The jeep once again towed the Pod with ease, even with the added weight of a full water holding tank. I don't think I would tow with full water long distances, however the campsite was so close to my house it was a no brainer. Even though our four door wrangler seems to tow with no issues, we have been offered a 2004 Dodge Dakota 4.7 V8 for a ridiculously low price from my wife’s brother that we may buy it for no other reason than using as a tow vehicle....still doing some more research. Anyway...This is a great forum I've been reading for a few months....I'll try to post some pics....some of you may have already seen them on Facebook. I wanted to join mainly to say THANK YOU to everyone that has posted about their experiences and their pictures of little modifications they've done...really really helpful. ------------- 2013 182G TV 2004 Dodge Dakota V8 - 2012 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 May 2013 at 3:29pm
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Welcome. We have another Jeep fanatic here, Terry. What are the Dakota's ratings? ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Cooks128
Date Posted: 20 May 2013 at 3:43pm
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I'm not sure if the Dakota has the 3.55 or the 3.92 gears, I'm going to check vehicle spec tags tonight when I get home to be sure, but it's either 5500 if 3.55 gears or 6500 if 3.92s. I would imagine (and hoping) it has the 3.92 gears becuase it does have the factory tow package with the plugin for the brake controler, prewired 7 pin and the trans cooler. Either way, it's at least 2K more then then our JKUR. We are indeed Jeep fanatics....I have a friend of mine that owns a graphic design shop that when business slows down at the end of summer he's going to price for us changing out the stock graphics on the pod to Jeep-Pod with offroad tire tracks following the lines of the pod.------------- 2013 182G TV 2004 Dodge Dakota V8 - 2012 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: Racer|X|
Date Posted: 20 May 2013 at 7:59pm
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Welcome! You will love the unit, many the same reasons why I chose it. X ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 May 2013 at 9:34pm
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Sounds like its much more capable than your Jeep for towing, if you can get it cheap I'd go for it. Many of us have towed with 3500 pound rated vehicles and found they were marginal at the limits. In my case a trip to Florida with nasty head winds dropped my mpg to 8 because there were times I had the gas to the floor just to maintain 55 mph.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: francoisfrogpod
Date Posted: 20 May 2013 at 9:40pm
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Welcome to the forum! You're in the right place for advice. Podders are very helpful people!
------------- Denny and Linda 2013 Pod 177 '08 Santa Fe |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 21 May 2013 at 8:09am
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Welcome! Glad to hear that you are enjoying your Pod! ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 21 May 2013 at 8:17am
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Welcome to the 18xg club! ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 21 May 2013 at 12:50pm
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Welcome to Poding. I tow with a 2009 Liberty. It has a 5000 tow rating with the trailer package. I only wish that it had the the 3.6 Liter engine that the Wrangler has instead of the 3.7. the 3.6 gets 286hp and the 3.7 only gets 210hp. Other than border line power I like towing with the jeep. One of the vehicles that I have looked at to replace the Jeep is the V8 Dakota. Longer wheel base and more power good combination. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 21 May 2013 at 1:07pm
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Hi! new member welcome to the forum. I think you should accept your brother 'in' laws Dakota. We have the 4th. generation 4.7 engine in our 2012 Ram. What I have read they are a durable and reliable engine. You will appreciate the extra horsepower and torque. I have had two Jeep Liberty's a 2004 and 2010 the 3.7 and short wheel base were not the best for towing. The Ram we love and very happy with it as a tow vehicle. David and Danette
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: Zag
Date Posted: 21 May 2013 at 3:21pm
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Welcome to the forum. We are newbie's as well and are still working on upgrading our Hyundai Tucson to something that can tow 5K#. The Dakota Quad Cab is on the short list. Anyone have any opinion on the V6 vs the V8? Happy trails! ------------- 2009 RP-152 (Cutie-Pod) 2001 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: Cooks128
Date Posted: 21 May 2013 at 3:42pm
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Well, we went ahead and purchase the Dakota off my brother in law last night.....the price he wanted was a steal and truck in great condition and I would have been kicking myself for YEARS if I had passed it up. I have plans to change the oil, trans filter/fluid and both front and rear differential fluids this saturday, possibly flush and fill the radiator to be on the safe side. ------------- 2013 182G TV 2004 Dodge Dakota V8 - 2012 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: Kickstart
Date Posted: 21 May 2013 at 3:57pm
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We towed our RP 175 a few times with an '07 Dakota QC 3.7 v/6 w/tow package, 3.92 gearing and a 4800 lb. tow rating. It didn't suffice for us. The Dakota had a 4 speed transmission, and locked out 4th for tow. We then towed in 3rd as our tow gear. The 3.7 didn't have enough horses and torque to tow in 3rd on almost any hill. It would drop down to second and have to run at 4000 rpm or better with nothing in reserve to crest the hills. With a fifth gear, more torque, and a few more horsepower the Dakota would have been a great tow rig for the RPod, as the trailer really followed the Dakota well. So, I think, with the 4.7 v/8, a Dakota would be a great choice. I would only consider the Dakota V/6 if you're a real flatlander, which unfortunately we're not here on the left coast.
------------- '10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL '12 Toyota Tundra '05 Sportster (half a Harley) Retired-We're on Beach Time! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 May 2013 at 4:06pm
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David and Dannette - good of you to mention wheelbase, that is important for towing stability and I forgot to mention it!
Cooks28, congrats! ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Zag
Date Posted: 21 May 2013 at 4:17pm
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Thanks Kickstart for the feedback. That's exactly the type of insight I was hoping for (and continue to get from this forum)! There's an '03 Auto with a 4.7l relatively close to me; guess I should go take a closer look!
------------- 2009 RP-152 (Cutie-Pod) 2001 Nissan Pathfinder |