2015 R-Pod 179
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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=4716
Printed Date: 21 May 2024 at 3:48am
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Topic: 2015 R-Pod 179
Posted By: R-PodKids
Subject: 2015 R-Pod 179
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 4:45pm
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Hello, We're hoping to have our new R-Pod by second week of June. Looking forward to any tricks and tips you can share. I know we'll have lots of questions. We are from Wisconsin and looking to camp within the state our first year and get to know our R-Pod.
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Replies:
Posted By: CasaJack
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 5:13pm
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Welcome and you will have lots of fun.
------------- Jackdaddy |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 6:06pm
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Welcome to the group!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: R-PodKids
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 6:57pm
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Thank you! I think my husband and I thought as long as our vehicle had the capability to pull the weight of the R-Pod, we could just hook up and go! But we're finding there are several things we need to do first and it's getting a little mind-boggling. We are planning to pull the 179 with an RX-350 which has a limit of 3,500 lbs. We are scheduled to get a brake system installed in my vehicle, I guess so when we brake with our vehicle, the R-Pod will brake as well. We've heard yes's and no's to the stabilizer bar. I'd love your comments on that. And I guess there's the kind you can leave on when you park the R-Pod and the kind you have to take off or you'll jackknife. And now my husband is ordering mirror extenders for my vehicle. (I guess I should use the term TV, right?  )Looks like most people end up getting a different mattress. Ideas for which one turns out to be the best? I see they can get pretty pricey, too. Short-queen sheets probably needed too. Anything else you can think of before we tow this thing away, please pass the info on. Much appreciated! |
Posted By: rascalrv
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 9:19pm
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Where did you purchase your 179? I got mine at camping world in Madison. ------------- |
Posted By: NormanHill
Date Posted: 12 May 2014 at 11:38pm
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I.m also anew owner and struggling with the WD hitch with or without a stabilizer. I've only towed it about ten miles from Camping World to my house in Madison and was surprised by how poorly It towed. Sway and bounce, but this was empty. My TV is a 1998 F150 4x4 w/4.6 v8. I.m pretty sure I didn't have enough tongue weight. Some questions: Does anyone have a floor plan that shows the location of water tanks with relationship to the axle? With this light a trailer, thinking it would have less than 400 lbs tongue wt, will a WD hitch do me any good? If so, any recommendations. I'm used to dual axles so maybe sway control without the WD hitch would make sense, reasonable? We're taking off on a longer trip next week somI want to get this figured out soon. Thanks to anyone with advice! |
Posted By: outermostpod
Date Posted: 13 May 2014 at 8:36am
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We use a fastway E2 weight distributing hitch with sway control. Our TV is a 2014 Hyundai Santa Fe rated to tow 5000 lbs. The E2 was $250, is easy to install and easy to connect each time. We weren't sure if we would need it, but decided for $250 it was worthwhile for peace of mind. It does not have to be disconnected for backing up, and you don't have to drive/tow any differently than you would without it. Tongue weight is still obviously important, but the E2 makes it easier to achieve the proper stance. I don't have any experience towing without the E2 but I can tell you that we have had no problems with sway. Probably too late, since you ordered them, but we don't find mirror extenders to be necessary. The rpod is narrower than most trailers, and we have no problem seeing around it. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 May 2014 at 9:30am
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Welcome to both of you. I agree that the mirrors are usually unnecessary since the pod is fairly narrow. The brake controller is mandatory - you might look into the Tekonsha RF since it doesn't involve any work on the TV other than plugging into the power outlet, and almost no work on the camper, to install it. Some here feel fine w/o sway control, I used to tow a popup that was suicide to tow w/o so I was happy to tow the pod for a while w/o. Less hassle. Then I had a bad day with wind and decided to get it, and went ahead with a weight distribution hitch that also has sway control. I have the E2 600/6000 model. ------------- 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: CasaJack
Date Posted: 13 May 2014 at 10:01am
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I have the WD with stabilizer and I am glad I do especially when we ran into very high winds in Palm Desert, CA about a month ago. I recommend it. I also agree that you probably don't need the extended mirrors. ------------- Jackdaddy |
Posted By: R-PodKids
Date Posted: 13 May 2014 at 12:02pm
We ordered from Couchs RV Nation out of Indiana so it's getting shipped to us. They are giving us all the bells and whistles and a great price, BUT if we would have told Camping World what we were getting, they would have matched it. 
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Posted By: R-PodKids
Date Posted: 13 May 2014 at 12:06pm
| Is anyone pulling with a Lexus RX-350? Interested to know how it's working and what you all added to your purchase to be able to pull the R-Pod comfortably. |
Posted By: rascalrv
Date Posted: 13 May 2014 at 2:02pm
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I tow my 179 with a Ford Explorer 4wd with factory towing package that tows up to 5,000 pounds and I can feel the truck strain a bit going up bigger hills, etc. Level roads it cruises along just fine.
As a side note, since your from Wisconsin you might consider joining about 25 other Rpod Units along with other Forest River products at the 3rd annual Forest River Frog Camping Rally in Goshen, Indiana this August. Details below
http://forestriverfrog.com/InternationalRally/ - http://forestriverfrog.com/InternationalRally/ ------------- |
Posted By: R-PodKids
Date Posted: 13 May 2014 at 5:13pm
Looks like a really nice time. We have some reservations in Door County right after that. Might have to extend our vacation time.
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 13 May 2014 at 7:53pm
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I think we need a Wisconsin rally.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: R-PodKids
Date Posted: 14 May 2014 at 12:09am
| Yes to a Wisconsin rally! |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 14 May 2014 at 7:32pm
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Lets see if someone with a flair for organizing such an event is interested,
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: rascalrv
Date Posted: 14 May 2014 at 7:55pm
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http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52700 - http://www.forestriverforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=52700
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Posted By: R-PodKids
Date Posted: 18 May 2014 at 9:34pm
| Still searching for Podders pulling with a Lexus RX350. Want to know what it's been like for towing. Or other vehicles with 3500 towing capacity. |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 19 May 2014 at 6:27am
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We tow with a 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan which has a 3500 towing capacity. We have had no problem towing our 171 and have towed from Vermont to Florida and VT to North Carolina on multiple occasions we average 13.5 mpg driving out of VT in the mountains and 14.5-16 mpg once we get to Massachusetts and south. We have towed through the Pocono Mtns with no problem handling or power wise. It handles the wind well. We are presently waiting for delivery of a 179 that we purchased, I think it will be 300 pounds heavier than our 171, don't anticipate any problems in towing that. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: R-PodKids
Date Posted: 19 May 2014 at 10:18am
| This is very encouraging news. Thank you! |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 19 May 2014 at 12:11pm
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One thing to note is that we usually only carry probably 5 gallons in our water tank while we are towing. Also the wind conditions can really vary your miles per gallon. We usually travel at a steady 55-65, usually not in a rush. We only use the one battery, so we haven't done a lot that has increased the weight of the trailer. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: R-PodKids
Date Posted: 19 May 2014 at 12:48pm
| All good to know. Thank you! |
Posted By: rascalrv
Date Posted: 19 May 2014 at 2:05pm
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The quick answer is yes your vehicles will be able to tow the trailer but if you want my honest opinion, the both of you will quickly find out that towing the 179 will put a lot of strain on your vehicles with that towing capacity. I have the 179 and the dry weight with all the options from Forest River puts the weight at 2,800 pounds plus another 150 pounds or so for a single battery and a full propane tank. Then you need to add in all the gear that you put in your exterior storage compartment as well any camping stuff you pack inside like food, drinks, clothes, camping gear, etc. You will be easily at 3,500 pounds and then some if you pack light for one to two people. This doesn't even take into consideration any water you fill in your storage tanks, etc. Personally I wouldn't tow a larger RPOD unless you have at least a 5,000 pounds towing capacity that has a built in factory towing package and transmission cooler. Even then I will say I know I am towing my 179 especially when it is a windy day or even going up any type of incline. The RPM's in my vehicle typically are 2 - 3 towing on level roads but as soon I go up a hill towing the 179 my 2013 Ford Explorer strains and automatically shoots up to 4 RPM's until the road levels out. Just my two cents worth. ------------- |
Posted By: bcskimiller
Date Posted: 20 May 2014 at 12:55am
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rascarlrv, what kind of gas mileage do you get? So far I've gotten around 10.5 and that's at 60mph everywhere. I see the same thing with my 2013 Explorer 4wd & 178. The towing requirements for the Explorer say anything over 2K need to have WD, and I can see a difference in ride characteristics with & without (even in short jaunts around the neighborhood). I have also have the sway control and on my first real road trip I ended up in a borderline wind advisory on a narrow construction laden 2 lane road with heavy truck traffic...I got pushed around alot but never had "sway" problems. I was even down to 50 mph because roads were that bad. That being said, on the way back down the hill, I screwed up one of the pins and didn't have the sway control for 400 miles of that two lane and interstate and didn't notice, but we also didn't have the same winds or traffic; I agree with others, especially with as "little" of a TV you have: WD & sway. ------------- Me, the Wife, 3 Kids 5 and under...its Crowded! 2014 RP-178 HRE 2017 Expedition EL 4WD |
Posted By: rascalrv
Date Posted: 20 May 2014 at 10:30am
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Currently I don't have a WD set up on my explorer but I do have built in Trailer Sway Control by Ford. For the most part my trips are relatively short one way under 150 miles on relatively flat roads (Wisconsin) so my gas mileage is better around 15 mpg. The true test of how it will tow will be when I travel to the 2014 Forest River International FROG Camping Rally in Goshen, Indiana this August. ------------- |
Posted By: bcskimiller
Date Posted: 20 May 2014 at 7:18pm
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Just a note on the "Built in Sway Control" by
Ford (or any other manufacturer), it will only work after your trailer is
getting blown around and is "out of control". Then the computer applies the car's breaks to
compensate for the motion that is being imparted on it by the trailer. A friction "sway control" device on
the hitch works by using friction to prevent your trailer from getting blown
side to side in the first place and thus keeping your entire rig in a safer
condition. At that point, if your TV's
sway control kicks in, you know it would have been even worse since it already
overcame the friction on your hitch. There are several different types of hitches out there,
even ones like an "Equalizer" WD & Sway that doesn’t have separate
chains, just two bars, pretty slick.
Many of our smaller TVs like the Explorer etc require the WD to spread
the load out evenly across the frame; heck when I have the car loaded down it
starts to squat even without the trailer.
And as far as "max tow capacity", don’t forget to look at your
Max Payload, Gross Combined Weight Rating, etc. When I am loaded with my wife, kid, dog and
some personal items, my trailer weight can only be ~4000lbs, not anywhere close
to the 5000 lb max capacity the Explorer claims. There are lots of good web pages with
"max tow calculators", it's worth checking into. If you have transmission, axle seals, suspension
etc etc go out while towing over the "max limits", Ford or Lexus or
whoever are smart enough to say "you should have read the manual..." Not trying to preach, I spent hours and hours
researching and learning what it all meant so just trying to pass on the
knowledge. Bobby ------------- Me, the Wife, 3 Kids 5 and under...its Crowded! 2014 RP-178 HRE 2017 Expedition EL 4WD |
Posted By: vacationwhileyoucan
Date Posted: 29 May 2014 at 7:18pm
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With an f150 there is absolutely no way you need a wdh to pull an rpod. I used to own a 2003 f150 with a 5.4 and it towed great. I pulled our 179 with our 08 F150 5.4 and couldn't even feel it through the mountain passes in Oregon and even with 35mph winds on i5. Good luck guys! I would add quality rear shocks and keep weight over the axles. ------------- 2008 Ford F150 Supercrew 5.4 V8 Flowmaster Dual Exhaust Volant Ram Cold Air Intake 3.73 Gears with Limited Slip 2015 R Pod 179 Hood River Edition |
Posted By: NormanHill
Date Posted: 31 May 2014 at 11:25pm
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We just returned from a 1500 mile round trip with a 1998 f 150 4x4, 4.6 v8 w/manual transmission towing a 178. Most of the trip had to be in 4th, not overdrive, and the mileage was only 12.5 mpg. I think I'd benefit from a bigger engine and automatic transmission. That said, the trailer towed great and no problem without a WDT. It sat damn near level when loaded. I did add a sway control bar on the trailer and recommend them to everyone. This 2 wheel trailer is much more skittish than the tandems I've pulled. It does make some noise when you're turning and I released the pressure when backing up. |
Posted By: Oddpod
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2014 at 10:12am
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We just bought our Rpod 176 in March, 1st time owners and I've never trailered before this. I'm trying to learn the acronyms and lingo. We trailer the Rpod with a 2005 Honda Pilot with factory installed hitch package, and at times it can get swaying back and forth on the short trips we've taken. We have no sway control, just a standard hitch. What does WD stand for and do you find sway control bars really help make the ride feel less unstable. It's a bit unnerving when it gets swaying as trucks or winds push you around. ------------- Larry, Erin, Lindsay, Caitlyn and Jules the lab R pod 176 |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2014 at 12:19pm
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It seems this topic never seems to be definitively answered. I might suggest that some of the "Whiz Kids" who are active on this forum write a definitive answer to this perplexing concern. Safety is at issue here, and possibly a MUST READ note might be added for all new campers. I think it should address not only flat road travel, but for some, steep and long climbs up and down mountains, as well as large trucks passing, with the possible problems. Too much info is passed on here without all of the towing parameters being discussed. As we now seem to have and electrical advocate onboard, possibly a towing advocate might also be searched for. My two cents. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 LB. Mini Dachshund) 2013 Rpod 171HRE(ORPod) 2016 Lance 1685 2015 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2014 at 11:52pm
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Welcome. Since I'm on the road I can't elaborate much right now, but the short answer is, there is weight distribution, sway control, and the combination of both of them. Some WDHs have sway control, some don't. With the shorter wheel base and 3500 pound towing capacity of your Pilot, I suggest a WDH that includes sway control. E2 and Equalizer are two brands that do both. I have an E2, and Equalizer owns E2, FYI. I used to own a popup and if I didn't use the sway bar (didn't have WDH then) the thing was nearly impossible to tow no matter the other anti-sway steps I took (see the link in my signature for info on sway control). So in that case it definitely helped. I towed my pod for about 2 years w/o any sway control or weight distribution on our prior TV (tow vehicle) but a good day in wind convinced me to get sway control. Getting the E2 also solved the weight distribution problem. When I changed my TV I tried w/o on one trip and went back to using the WDH sine it improves the ride quality. ------------- 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: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2014 at 1:10pm
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We too hauled a popup without sway control. It could be a handful on a given day. Since tripling the weight of our camper, we went with a Blue Ox WDH with sway control built in. The Rpod is loaded heavy & still hauls & rides better than our 1200 lb. popup did.
Now if I could figure out how to get 150 more horsepower & 25 more MPG at the same time..... ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |