Questions for rpod owners
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Topic: Questions for rpod owners
Posted By: TriPod
Subject: Questions for rpod owners
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 12:46pm
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Hi, we do not own an rpod yet, but are strongly considering one. We are to the point where we'd like to hear from people who actually own and use them. A bit of backstory for you: My hubby and I both grew up in families that loved camping. His had motorhomes, mine had a slide in truck camper. Two weeks with four people in a campsite with no electrical plug in was not a problem. Fast forward to current day: We'd been able to borrow a travel van for some trips but wanted our own rv. We did countless hours of research and found what we though would be the "perfect" trailer for us. We ended up using it a total of 3 times and selling it. Why? It had some idiosyncrasies which turned out to be huge issues for us, which no one told us about before we bought the trailer. The water pump was SO loud it sounded like an airplane landing and then it'd do a series of fast ticks after..... those middle of the night trips to the loo would wake everyone when the toilet flushed. Possibly even the people in the next site. Not good. And you could hear everything outside the trailer. It was like being in a tent, but with hard walls. I'm a light sleeper, who didn't sleep much at all in the trailer. One should not need to use earplugs every night! There were other issues (like the dealership going bankrupt right after we took possession of the trailer, so we had no support from them), but it's taken us 4 months to even consider buying another one. But we love camping, so... We love the look of the rpods. We've seen a LOT of them on the roads this summer, so figure if that many people have them, there must be something to them. We are considering either a 177 or 179, and are going to a dealership to see a 177 for the first time tomorrow (no 179 available to view). We can at least check out the build quality, etc. What we'd really like to know from those of you who already have them, is: How noisy is the water pump? How are they for soundproofing? Do you hear every little noise outside, even with the windows closed? Do you use a stabilizer/sway control hitch? (our tow vehicle is a 2009 Chevy Trailblazer) On gravel roads, do you get a lot of dust coming in? If we do the 2 battery/solar panel system, are we going to be able to camp for a week (or two?) without needing an electrical hookup? Any other rpod quirks that would be helpful to know? Thanks so much in advance, and my apologies for the length of this post. |
Replies:
Posted By: SNO4ME
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 1:50pm
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We have had our 2011 177 Pod for two years. Pump noise: Someone on this board isolated their water pump with a foam pad, we haven't tried that yet but it was said to help a lot. The other thing about it bothering neighbors. It's not nearly as loud outside as one thinks. You can barely hear it outside if it's real quiet. Outside noise: One has to consider the windows are not thermopanes but I thought ours fared quite well a few weeks at a Forest Service campground when the big motor home left their generator running for two days straight, partied till 1 in the morning................ Stabilizers: We have an 07 Colorado Pickup with a 5 cyl 3.7 Ltr 240 hp engine. I thought the Pod pulls fairly well with out stabilizers. We have towed from NW Wis across MN, NE, Black Hills SD, up through WY to Devils Tower and home. About 1900+ miles and it went fairly well other than dropping into low a couple times coming in and out of Devils Tower. To get to Devils Tower we went farther west into Wy to avoid bigger grades in the middle of the Black Hills. I would check the weight difference between the 177 and the 179 if you don't have a V8 in the Chevy. Then again if you are towing mostly flat-lands you maybe would do just fine. Dust: Not much help there, haven't put too many miles on gravel with the Pod. Dual Batteries: We have dual 24 group batteries and have no problem with a week end camp out. We are looking at looking at a generator for camping in the fall as we have not tried running the furnace on the batteries for any length time. As for Solar, keep reading, more people on here are doing it. ------------- Bruce & Donna in the Sno Pod (and Brewer too) 2011 RP 177 |
Posted By: sailor323
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 2:37pm
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Shore Leave is a 179. We looked at a 178 but didn't like the galley arrangement compared to the 179. Water pump: Not especially noisy Outside noise: Not noticeable to us and we are used to peace and quiet. Sway control: we pull with a Toyota Tacoma and sway bar. Minor sway is noticeable when passed by a big rig at speed. We get 15 mpg--but we have standard transmission. Long grades can slow us down to about 50 mph. Dust: Not especially a problem and we live on a dirt and gravel road. Dual batteries: Recommend 2 golf cart batteries Solar: Great, but beware of niche marketing and over-priced products. Sizing of array and storage capacity depends entirely on your needs. Inventory your average energy needs before buying. |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 3:34pm
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I think most small campers have noisy water pumps it depends how they are mounted that can make a difference. You can make changes yourself to make them quieter. Outside noise the r-pods I think are fairly quiet most of your noise comes from the windows you can make or buy heavy curtains that helps a little. Depends upon tow vehicle if you need sway control but most even with a full size truck prefer sway control. When you look at one ask sales person to allow you to listen to water pump in operation and sit inside for a few minutes to listen to the outside noise. And I think a big advantage that wasn't mentioned is having a active owners forum that you do have with a r-pod.
------------- 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: Mountainrev
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 6:02pm
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My two cents' worth: How noisy is the water pump? It is noisy to me, but it typically runs for a couple of seconds, so I don't really care. If one of us gets up to use the bathroom in the night, the other is awakened anyhow, so the extra little staccato of the pump doesn't matter. How are they for soundproofing? Do you hear every little noise outside, even with the windows closed? We had popups for over 20 years prior to getting the Rpod last year, so to me, it's very quiet. But then again, so far we've only camped in pretty quiet campgrounds. Do you use a stabilizer/sway control hitch? Yup. I tow with an '04 Dodge Durango and use a friction anti-sway bar. On gravel roads, do you get a lot of dust coming in? We just got back from a camping trip that required driving 7 miles back on an extremely dusty washboard Forest Service road. While the vibrations managed to knock loose several things (e.g. the furnace grate and a screw securing the gray water dump pipe to the brace underneath the camper), I noticed no dust whatsoever inside. If we do the 2 battery/solar panel system, are we going to be able to camp for a week (or two?) without needing an electrical hookup? What sort of things will you be running? I switched our bulbs out to LEDs, which take very little amps (2015 Rpods come with LEDs, but ours is a '14). That helps. The water pump uses amps, but it only runs on demand, so that's not a big deal. The biggest drain on your battery is the furnace. If you are going to run it for a few hours a day, it will drain your batteries pretty quickly. Obviously, you can't run your A/C off 12 volt, so that isn't an issue. We have two group 24 batteries on ours, and we've gone over three days with no problems whatsoever. I doubt we could do a week or two with this set-up. Two 6 volt golf cart batteries would give you lots more amp hours, but cost more, too. The tongue isn't really big enough to be able to house two group 27 or 29/31 batteries without some serious modifications, so either two group 24s or 6 volts would seem to be the best option. I have no experience with solar, but from what I've read, you would need some fairly large and expensive solar panels to do more than keep your batteries topped off. In a pinch, you can always recharge your batteries with your tow vehicle via jumper cables, although that means running your car on idle for maybe 30 minutes or so, creating lots of exhaust in your campsite. I usually bring along my battery charger, so that if there's an outlet somewhere, like in the bath house, I can charge it there (which involves keeping an eye on things lest they grow legs and walk away). Or you could always invest in a generator. Hope this helps. ------------- 2014 177 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee Turbodiesel "I lift my eyes to the hills." 
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Posted By: Podinaroundbc
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 7:37pm
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We have a 179 and have no issues with the water pump.
Its quiet but we camp mainly outside campgrounds. We travel many Kms of gravel with no dust inside living or cargo areas. These trailers are a good buy for what they are. Perfect for 2 and a dog. |
Posted By: topher2u2
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 8:02pm
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We've taken our 171 on several dirt roads to get to camp sites and I haven't noticed any issues with dust inside. The outside, on the other hand 😄 The water pump is right under our bed, so even if it was virtually silent, a light sleeper would probably hear it. I've heard a loud pump, in my dad's 5th wheel and ours is very quiet in comparison. We have a Renogy 100w suitcase panel and just one 12v battery. The panel easily tops off our battery each day, but we are not large electric users when we camp. We did run the fan in the bathroom continuously on one recent trip to try to keep things cool. Otherwise, we run some LED lights and charge some phones. ------------- #3PsnRPod 2016 R-Pod RP 171 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 8:30pm
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Welcome. Expect the water pump to be noisy. Even if you put it on a mouse pad and wrap all the pipes with insulation you will still hear it. You can make it run less often if you add a pressure tank, but the trade-off is it will run longer when it does run. So you might get by with a flush and quick hand wash in the night - but you might also catch it right when it needs to recharge and get a long run. One option for the night for #1 uses, is to leave the pump off and use hand sanitizer. Since you need to fill the bowl 2/3 up for #2 uses, and you should do a full hand wash, there isn't much of an option there. Maybe leave the bowl filled 2/3 just in case, and http://www.rei.com/product/708992/reliance-fold-a-carrier-water-carrier-5-gal?cm_mmc=cse_PLA-_-pla-_-7089920016&mr:trackingCode=0386071B-81F9-DE11-BAE3-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&mr:device=c&mr:adType=plaonline&mr:ad=53280440440&mr:keyword=&mr:match=&mr:filter=126983317960&lsft=cm_mmc:cse_PLA - one of these on the edge of the sink. The pod is the quietest camper I've been in since it has so much insulation, including styrofoam in the floor and side walls. Our current camper is noticeably louder inside but still much quieter than being in a popup. Starting with the pod, we started leaving the A/C fan on low continuously overnight for white noise, to drown out the noises that do make it inside. Plus that masked the sound of the compressor kicking on and off. I always recommend a weight distribution hitch (WDH), one that includes sway control, no matter how capable your tow vehicle (TV) is. Even if you have a full-sized pickup it acts as an additional suspension system which makes your ride more comfortable. You will be fine long-term with a solar system, get at least 100 watts in panels. However, if you have even a little shading the panel output will drop dramatically. Half-shaded and you'll get almost nothing. So if you often camp under trees it may not be the solution. A small inverter-generator may be better.
------------- 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: SNO4ME
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 9:08pm
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Tech, did I misread something or were you suggesting a FIVE GALLON water tub on the edge of the sink? Ones hands should be clean after that!  ------------- Bruce & Donna in the Sno Pod (and Brewer too) 2011 RP 177 |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2015 at 9:28pm
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The water pump definitely makes noise, but I don't have a problem with it. The furnace and the air con are a different matter. Soundproofing is great, I think. I don't use a WDH or sway bars. I haven't had a bit of trouble over closing in on 10K miles. No problems with dust and no experience with solar, but I think a lot would depend on the kind of camping you do. If you do mostly beaches and deserts you'll be a lot better off than in forests and mountains. We use a small generator to keep the batteries topped of and to use the air con and microwave when we want. Those don't work at all on battery power, of course. From what I've heard you'd have to be pretty conservative with your twelve volt usage to get a week out of 2 six volt golf club batteries without topping them off. Solar panels might be enough to keep you going though. We love our pod. It's getting a bit of age on it but is still in great shape. This forum attracts the people who love their pods and the ones who have problems with them. Most issues are resolvable and this place is a great resource. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2015 at 5:10pm
If you ain't used 5 gallon', your hands are a smellin'. ------------- 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: TriPod
Date Posted: 11 Sep 2015 at 2:11am
Awesome, thanks so much for all the info everyone!  We finally got to check out a 179 last weekend, and all 3 of us loved it! However, a lot of other people have also loved the 179s recently, and they're a little hard to come by, so we're not sure what may happen...... The one we got to look at had just been sold the day before, but since we'd gone so far to see it, the dealer was super nice and let us have a look inside. We have a lead on a used one ('14) but it's a looong way from here and we're not getting much info on it. So......we're still looking....... A solar system of some sort is very appealing to us, as we do like to go camping in places where electricity may not be available. RV parks are not for us unless we're passing through and desperate for someplace to stop for a night! And since r-pods don't really have room to store a generator and we'd rather not have it in the tow vehicle..... solar it is! Not many rv dealers around here know much about it, much less stock anything, so we'll have to keep on looking into that. The search continues...! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Sep 2015 at 1:49pm
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Depending on your TV, you could put the generator up front. That was my solution. Or on the tongue. ------------- 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: bigcat
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 3:31pm
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HI all, I'm the new, proud owner of a 2017 179. The wife and I are very excited for our first use this weekend. It will be a dry camp and in the low 40s at night. We have a 9 month old so we are nervous about warmth and batter life. We have two 124 batteries and just going for the night. Any thoughts on if we will run out of battery power to run the furnace over night? Is the furnace and fan very loud? I've heard mixed reviews. Sorry I am replying to this thread. I'm new to the forum and haven't quite figured out how to create a new post. Thanks! Big Cat
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 3:50pm
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Welcome to the group! Congrats on your 179!
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 4:05pm
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For the 179, the furnace makes some sound, but not nearly as much as the AC unit. What is helpful is to have a small fan positioned at the base opening of the bed to help circulate the hot air from under the bed platform opening out into the R-Pod. We did that on our first winter trip, and it really helped. The constant sound of the fan also minimized the disturbance as the furnace cycled on and off. We got a 12V fan that I plug into an outlet I installed. Alternately, it also operates on 8 D cells. With dual batteries, you should be okay with running the furnace overnight. I would check and recharge during the day if possible to be sure. What will really kill the battery would be to try to run the refrigerator on 12V. Propane is best in that case. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 4:08pm
with our dual group 24's we did 4 pretty cool fall nights. Heater ran some each night. The furnace is fairly loud. It is what it is. ------------- |
Posted By: SNO4ME
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 4:13pm
We have two group 24 batteries on our pod and have used it carefully for two nights without problem. If you are new to hard shelled campers remember to leave the vent cracked an inch or so. We usually set the thermostat in the mid 60s so the temp remains stable during the night. Yes the furnace makes noise. It will wake you up the first few times and then it becomes part of the background. :-) BTW, in cooler weather the wife rolls a light blanket or flannel sheet against the wall as sometimes the wall is cold if she gets close to it on a cold night. Keep reading, there is an incredible amount of knowledge and help on this forum. And good luck! ------------- Bruce & Donna in the Sno Pod (and Brewer too) 2011 RP 177 |
Posted By: bigcat
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 4:30pm
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Thank you everyone. The batteries are 24's not 124's. I will get the hang of this! We are beyond excited! |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 7:08pm
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You might want to try unzipping a down sleeping bag and using it as a blanket. Down goes a long way in keeping you warm. 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: jato
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 8:49pm
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The water pump is noisy to us, but you get used to it. Agree with the above posts, this thing is pretty quiet, great insulation. We normally dry camp in state forest campgrounds, national parks and the like. Our favorite destination that we attempt to reach every other year in September is Rocky Mountain National Park. Normal lows in the Moraine Campground are mid 40's so the furnace runs a fair amount. During the day we are gone hiking so the furnace is turned off. Run fridge on propane. Usually get 3-4 days per battery so getting a full week out of our 2 group size 24 deep cycles is no problem. We run the batteries down too 1/3 full charge before changing out to the other. Others state not to go below 50% but we are now on year 6 with these batteries and they are still in great shape and take a good charge. ------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 9:22pm
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Welcome and congratulations on your new POD! Let us know how your maiden voyage goes! Happy trails! ------------- Diane and Michael 2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE) 2007 Toyota Tundra BLOG:Podding in Paradise, birderdiane526.blogspot.com |
Posted By: bigcat
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 9:57pm
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Thanks everyone! Just curious why we need to crack a window? Classic newbie, right?
Diane and Michael, our TV is a 2005 4Runner. Have you ever had any issues with it pulling your POD? ------------- Big Cat 2017 179 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 10:07pm
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Ventilation helps reduce humidity build-up. When we breathe, we exhale moisture. Moisture also comes from our skin. Evaporation from wet towels adds to the moisture load. Cracking a window and/or opening the vent a little helps remove this moisture. Less moisture, less condensation. Less condensation, less possibility of moisture getting into places it shouldn't and causing mildew or rot.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: bigcat
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 10:17pm
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Ah yes that makes sense. Thanks Stephen! ------------- Big Cat 2017 179 |
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2016 at 10:24pm
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Our 4Runner is V6 4x4 and we have had no problems. Automatic. It has 157,000 miles. Haven't done any mountain passes yet, so can't speak to that! ------------- Diane and Michael 2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE) 2007 Toyota Tundra BLOG:Podding in Paradise, birderdiane526.blogspot.com |
Posted By: SNO4ME
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2016 at 4:08pm
If we are not going to open the door/windows first thing in the morn I will turn the fan on to suck some of the moisture out. Especially if there is a lot of moisture on the windows, etc. ------------- Bruce & Donna in the Sno Pod (and Brewer too) 2011 RP 177 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2016 at 4:35pm
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We ALWAYS have the FF vent cracked an inch or so, no matter the season.
------------- |
Posted By: PossiblePod
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2016 at 5:53pm
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Do you leave the FF cracked open when not in use as well? ------------- Samm 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan 2016 180....hopefully |
Posted By: codycountry
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2016 at 6:29pm
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I don't leave it open unless I'm camping, here in Wy where the wind blows a lot. I found out that's how you get dust in the pod even when not moving. They are built tight and don't leak dust if you keep them closed up, even on the worst dirt roads. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2016 at 8:16pm
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2016 at 8:59am
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Mine is shut in the driveway. However, I have a dehumidifier bucket in the kitchen sink (in case I don't catch it and it overflows). I will check it and change it as needed. That will keep the inside clean and keep the humidity lower.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |