pros and cons of risers.
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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=3597
Printed Date: 29 Apr 2024 at 11:11pm
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Topic: pros and cons of risers.
Posted By: 21grandma
Subject: pros and cons of risers.
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2013 at 6:35pm
 We would like to get our 177 into our back yard, but our driveway is down hill. Are risers the way to go, and what are the negatives of risers.
------------- 21grandma |
Replies:
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2013 at 6:59pm
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The only negative I can see is the cost. After loosing one of the stabilizers I had them put on this spring and all is well. Plenty of room now and it pulls fine. I should have had it done when I bought the Pod. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Kickstart
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2013 at 7:15pm
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After peeling off a stabilizer entering a gas station, I figured we should have the risers installed. A con for us is the additional step height, as my wife's back is encased in a titanium cage and she doesn't do well with much height on steps. We added a second entry step, which actually decreased the step height for her, even with the risers. ------------- '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: furpod
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2013 at 7:16pm
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As far as cons.. you will need a new hitch to keep the pod level when towing (assuming it is level now).. and the r-dome will fit a bit funny after the lift, if you use one. ------------- |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2013 at 6:59am
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I ordered mine with the riser. I sometimes take my camper off road so I wanted the extra height to protect the holding tanks etc. The only negative, as was mentioned, was the R-Dome doesn't fit as it is supposed to. But it does still work. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2013 at 7:47am
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In four years owning my r-pod, I've never installed risers. I've only once scraped the stabilizers and that was on a friend's steeply sloped driveway. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2013 at 8:49am
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I guess what it boils down to is, do you NEED it. The sloped driveways are usually the problems. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2013 at 10:09am
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Having the R-dome not fit well is the only con I know of. ------------- 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: P&M
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2013 at 11:48am
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It is interesting that everyone says having the R-dome not fit well is the drawback, but mine came with the risers on it and our R-dome fits just perfectly as it should ... maybe at some point they made a mod to the dome size?? ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: 21grandma
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2013 at 11:54am
 Any idea what the cost of the risers are, and does the dealer have to install them or can my husband do it , and where does one buy them. There is no r-pod dealer near us.
------------- 21grandma |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2013 at 1:23pm
You can get them for forest river direct. I paid $100 for mine at a dealer and I put them on myself. It is not a difficult job if you have a hydraulic jack and an 1/2" impact wrench. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2013 at 8:02pm
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My dealer sold me the risers for $68, and charged me $220 to install the risers, pack the wheel bearings, check the brakes, clean and test heater, fridge, and water heater, and fill the LP tank.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2013 at 10:11pm
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http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2747&title=misc-forest-river-contacts-and-other-info - http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2747&title=misc-forest-river-contacts-and-other-info ------------- 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: Anthony Valenzano
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2013 at 10:17pm
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CON: I lost about 1 MPG (or about 10%) by installing the risers. Now the height is a little too high over the tow vehicle. I considered taking them back off for this reason, but I like not having to worry about scraping. I also really needed the risers it to level up the trailer with my TV. If you are worried about scraping only they make some heavy duty 6" casters that can bolt to the frame to catch it. That seems to work pretty well with small/light campers. http://www.rvpartscenter.com/RV_Parts/rv_skid_wheels.htm |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2013 at 9:26am
So at the back where the dome touches the Pod it the rain flaps are 100% on the ground and you can stake them down? ------------- 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: P&M
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2013 at 12:41pm
I did notice that in some older R-dome pics it looks like the sides of the dome were completely removable, along with the front. The sides on mine cannot be removed out completely ... the front can, the front side of the dome has a separate zipper opening so it can be opened up but not removed, and the back side can be zipped open and rolled up but again not removed. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2013 at 1:37pm
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You can order it from Forest River. Then have a RV dealer put them on. The only part of my R-Dome that doesn't "fit" is the skirt. It doesn't reach the ground. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2013 at 9:20pm
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I've just always hated that I can't stake my dome down in the back. On one side it's fine cause the cooler sits on the flap, but the other I never have anyway to do anything with it. Annoys the crap out of us.  ------------- 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: Bill-GA
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2013 at 9:32pm
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I got some small bungee cords (6-10") and I use them with tent stakes (looks like large nail with plastic head). I think there's a tab on inside corner of Dome which I use with bungee and stake. Did this last year ... seemed to work well as I remember.
I may have also used small bungee from Dome to bottom of stabilizer. Experiment and see what you can do. I was 3 weeks in one location and it held up well. ------------- Bill & Bev 13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa' 2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out) 2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 11:30am
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Adding a new set of stakes to our list for next shopping trip. Currently I have the exact number I need but no spares so I never thought to just stake one at that corner and then small bungee cord it! That should work nicely! ------------- 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: 21grandma
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 1:45pm
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Husband nixed the ideas of risers.Said gas mileage would decrease significantly. .....anyone noticed this?
------------- 21grandma |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 2:07pm
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Probably unmeasurable impact on gas mileage. The real decrease in gas mileage happens when you hook up the Pod. My dealer said the risers were worth their weight in gold. He was only half right. They are worth TWICE their weight in gold.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 2:16pm
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Charlie: What do you mean by 'hook up the pod'? Hooking it to the hitch literally due to the weight which obviously reduces gas mileage or hooking up the wiring and using the TV system to charge the pod? Just want to clarify. I could possibly see how risers could reduce mileage, as it would be up approx 3 more inches in the air, but your right, probably minimially. ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 2:31pm
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I never noticed a significant change in gas mileage between with and without Risers. I had my trailer a year before I put on the risers.
------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 3:32pm
| I saw no change in mpg after installing the risers. We tend to go to one state park more than others and did all kinds of playing for improved mpg and only found that the position on our kayaks on the roof seemed to help (v shaped) |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 4:49pm
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Just a thought here. Everyone agrees (so it seems including myself) that MPG seems to fall in about half (maybe not quite half but close) when pulling the pod. I wonder if it would be worth the investment to attach an air deflector on the TV to shoot the resistance up and over the pod. I'm not even sure if those deflectors (hope everyone knows what I mean by that) even really work or make much of a difference, just a fleeting thought.. ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 5:04pm
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I have wondered the same myself. I think it would have to be V shaped though because the TV ls narrower that the trailer. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 5:23pm
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On a tractor/trailer the airshield on the cab roof and the fairings on the side of the cab do work very well if they are 18 inches from the trailer but not over 30 inches, after that they start to loose their effectiveness. The same holds true with a TV and the POD, you really need a set of fairings that extend a little ways from the back of your TV to start to see any improvement in MPG. Those that have put kayaks on the roof of their TV's have reported better MPG as the kayaks are much like the airshield on a big rig.
I would not think that risers would have much a difference in MPG. Putting flexible side skirts on your TV and the POD may help some, just like on the race cars. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 7:26pm
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We, too, had our pod for a while before we got the risers, and didn't notice any difference. Discussions with computer modeling in the past showed air flow problems across the curved rear, counter-intuitively. I think the problem with the pod is less pressure on the front and more suction on the rear. ------------- 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: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 7:40pm
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I got the best mileage ever on the last trip and it was the first since putting on the risers. The only thing that helps is keeping the speed to about 55-60. I loose 5MPG (20 to 15). If I go 70-75 I loose half (20-10).
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 8:16am
No one has reported any real change in mileage from adding risers, or the fairing/light bar for those of us that got retro fitted with them. We just did the trip down to NC for the rally, 1050 miles round trip, pretty hilly and curvy for a lot of it, and I do mean curvy.. as in "LOOK a Pod".. oh wait.. that's us.. curvy.. averaged right at 11.5 for the whole trip. When pulling on the interstate, cruise set at 60-62. (truck says it got 13.1 on it's little readout, but I have always known it is an optimist..) ------------- |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 10:33am
What I meant was just the fact that you decided to tow a trailer.  It's like pulling a parachute. Hooking up the battery charging line would be an unmeasurable difference. Even the weight is only a big factor when accelerating or going up a steep hill. By far the biggest impact is the wind resistance. Hence the large impact of higher speed you see reported around here. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 10:43am
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That's what I thought!! You know when I first looked at the pod I kind of thought (trust me I'm no engineer!) that it looked like and would be very aero-dynamic. Of what I have been reading, not the case. Oh well, still love the pod. ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 2:36pm
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That's what everyone thinks, and FR implies it (or they used to, I haven't looked at their sales materials lately). ------------- 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: Kickstart
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 4:52pm
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Ok, I've towed the Pod for 3 years now and up until September of last year had not hit the Holy Grail of 13 mpg but once. Since then I have achieved 13 mpg several times towing the exact same routes as previously. Same truck, same gas, same common routes, same weather, same speeds for the last 1.5 years. I hand figure every tank. The only difference is the much maligned recall wing. Now I'll add more kindling to the fire. Since the addition of an air conditioner a couple weeks age, 4 of my 5 towing tanks have been above 14 mpg--again, over oft towed routes. The wing and the A/C are doing something to lessen the rear air drag. If my results are an anomaly, then they are a consistent anomaly that I'm happy to be a part of. ------------- '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: Thinker
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2013 at 1:49pm
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Mine came with risers, I get 12.5 or 13 towing. If I want better mileage, I slow down. Mileage is inversely proportional to speed. ------------- Tow Vehicle: 2013 Pathfinder 4WD R-POD Model 171 
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