Introduce Yourself: Newbe with questions

Newbe with questions

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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=5882
Printed Date: 19 May 2025 at 12:53pm
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Topic: Newbe with questions

Posted By: mgbbob
Subject: Newbe with questions
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 11:06am

Good morning,

Getting close to retirement and considering a small travel trailer for vacation trips. I have looked at the Scamps but like the layout and extra room in the R Pods. I have a 2000 Ranger with 45,000 miles on it that I would like to use to tow. It is a xcab, 3.0, auto.

The dealer says no problem but I want to hear from the experts.

Thanks,
Bob

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Bob

Replies:

Posted By: Fly Pod
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 12:15pm

You can find alot of comments about that on the R-Pod Owners Facebook page as well. But in my situation I have a 2005 3.0 4x4 Escape that was rated at 3500 lbs with the tow package and all the experts told me not to use it for my 178 model R-Pod. If your truck isn't rated to tow at least 5000 lbs I wouldn't do it. I bought an older Silverado 1500 with the 350 V8 to tow my R-Pod.

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2015 R178 R-Pod
1998 Chevy Silverado 1500
2005 Ford Escape

Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2015 at 1:30pm

Dealers will often tell you your TV will have no problem towing the trailer they want to sell you. We had a 2010 Jeep liberty 3.7 210 hp. it was rated for 5,000 lb. towing capacity. The engine had to work hard in towing our 171 r-pod. You need to figure in wind load sometimes your TV manufacture will give a frontal wind load limit in square feet to be included in towing capacity limits. I would think you need at least 250 hp. and need to consider wheel base of TV and transmission cooler.

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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: Viperbyte
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2015 at 12:37pm

Hi
Years ago I owned a Ford Ranger 4.0, 4X4, Auto XLT. To truly answer your question, a little more information is needed but I am assuming you have an actual tow hitch installed and it is not the bumper hitch and ball. If so that is only rated for about 2k.

If it is and actual tow package that is installed, you are nearing the limit of the trailer weight about 3800 lbs. Depending what you are hauling with it for cargo, Gross Vehicle weight might be over limit. Tongue weight maximum might also be an issue.

If it were me I would not tow an R Pod with it, but I am overly cautious and here in Kentucky we have too many hills for me to want to strain that 3.0 L 6 cylinder. I see you are in Kansas so hills may not be an issue, but not knowing where you will want to travel might add to the concern.

Concerning trusting the RV dealer, I would actually contact a Ford dealership or stop in and talk with a technician to seek more credible advice or go to a Ford Owners forum and do a search.

Best wishes to you.

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Jon & Missy
Bandit, Willy, Woody, & Fargo (The Pod Pack)
2015 (Early) R Pod 179
2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac V8 4x4

Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 01 Mar 2015 at 2:09pm

I have had both a 3.0 V6 and now a 4.0 V6 Ranger. My current Ranger is a 2011 Super-cab 1/2 ton version with factory tow package rated at 5,800lbs of tow capacity. So far, I have towed back from Iowa to San Antonio, then down to the Gulf, out to West Texas, then North to the high hill country. It performs very well. It also has a 5 speed automatic transmission and that helps. Based on my experience I would not tow a POD with the previous standard cab 3.0. My current set up, for me, is minimal.

I grew up on the West Coast and although it is beautiful out there, I really don't have an interest in going that way. If you look at a topographical map and draw a line straight up from Texas everything East of that is pretty darn flat, and that is where I intend to play.

If I were interested in going N West, I would probably consider something with a little more headroom on the Horsepower side, or pump the Ranger up some.

Update Edit: I could force it, but I'm fairly confident that the current setup will fail if I push it to hard. By the time we retire the Ranger will be tired and we'll upgrade then. That's the plan!

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Cliff & Raelynn
Ranger 4.0/178
(1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity)