Check Your Windows!
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Warranty, Service and Recall Bulletins
Forum Discription: Have a warranty or service experience to share?
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=6817
Printed Date: 27 Apr 2024 at 7:29pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Check Your Windows!
Posted By: Gavin
Subject: Check Your Windows!
Date Posted: 16 Aug 2015 at 7:51pm
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We took our new Rpod 176T out for the first camping trip this weekend and on Friday it came a good rain and we found a big leak!
Water was coming in about as fast as I could tear off individual paper towels to stop it from running down the interior wall!! 
It was coming in at the top of the emergency escape window....at the very center; at the top of the glass in the center was a metal bracket which let water pour in. Another helpful camper noticed me outside on a ladder( after the rain) looking at it and asked if I had a leak and I said "yes a good one too on this new camper!" He noticed that the vents on the refrigerator were caulked all the way around the perimeter of the vents but the windows were not caulked at all. So I hop in the truck and drive about 30 miles away to get some clear latex caulk and a caulking gun, while trying to beat another rain storm coming in. I caulked the top of the window and about 1/3 of the way down on each side to help shed any rain. I also noticed all of the windows on the Rpod wasn't caulked either...yes I know there is a rubber gasket between the window and the exterior wall, but Im too @#$#@ gun shy to not caulk them too ...feeling it could be leaking too but inside the wall, unseen! We all know an unseen leak is the death of a camper but I feel I cant trust the system rpod/Forest River is using on the windows without the added assurance of some kind of leak failsafe such as caulking too! Yes Im pretty perturbed about all of this....its a 2016 rpod and this was our first camping trip and I have lost a lot of faith in the forest river crowd! I really don't care if forest river recommends calking the windows or not, I just want to make sure it doesn't happen again! |
Replies:
Posted By: Tammy C.
Date Posted: 11 Oct 2015 at 11:40am
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Thanks for the heads up. I just checked the windows on my new 179 R-pod and only the rear window is caulked at the top and sides. None of the other windows are caulked at all. I'll head to the hardware store today for some caulk and get it caulked before any rain comes. ------------- 2016 R pod 179 2011 Volvo XC 60 |
Posted By: Gavin
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2015 at 12:44pm
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Hi Tammy,
Good to hear the caulk is working for you too. I was at Edisto SC about a month or so ago and found another leak along the seam up top, I was able to see the factory caulk had a crack in it.... If you get a chance inspect everything which has a seam, gasket etc. Since caulking my two problems Everything seems to be just fine, even after that solid two week monsoon here in South Carolina a few weeks ago but I will keep some clear silicone latex caulk with me in the camper always. I really like my rpod and really like the layout; I also get a lot of folks at campgrounds wanting to see the inside of the thing all the time...but these leaks are a little distressing on a new camper! It really makes me wonder if they are throwing these things together willy-nilly at the factory with complete disregard to the end user to maximize profits. Personally I see this kind of stuff as bad management on the part of the r-pod group of Forest River. Apparently they have a terrible management group or they treating their employees like crap, low pay, cronyism, drilling them into the ground with a heavy work load, etc etc. and moral has spiraled into the abyss. I hope you have your leaks fixed up! All the best! Gavin |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2015 at 5:16pm
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I think more likely since this problem has been non-existent until recently it is more likely that some materials were accepted that did not meet specs and it didn't show up until some trailers were already out. It sounds like FR is doing what it can to help folks with problems. Since they have been in business making RVs for years I would think that the management would understand that doing what you suggest would drive them out of business.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Gavin
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2015 at 7:01pm
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Hi Keith,
that could be the case, but if a company has been in business for years dealing with vendors who supply parts and their own manufacturing process would/should be better refined, should it not? These rash of problems folks are experiencing is a reflection of something wrong within that organization. It could be poor quality control, employee turnover, crappy vendor supplied parts etc etc. Its apparent Forest River has made a good product in the past because they would not be as far along as they are, but something obviously has changed within that organization for these problem to be currently arising. Its pretty obvious something is amiss within Forest River because if they made RV's in the beginning like which are people are currently having problems with now would not carried that business 10 years down the road. So, yes it could be an upper management issue in which they are trying to maximize profits since that fiasco of a fine they incurred. Im not going to white wash these problems simply because I have an rpod. In my opinion it should have never left the factory with any problem whatsoever. I actually still love my rpod and think its one of the best out there but I will not blindly look at something I plunked 15-16 k down for as being without any problems whatsoever. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2015 at 7:32pm
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I agree there is a quality control problem, but I don't see how you can extrapolate the long list of other issues like "low pay, cronyism" etc, from that. ------------- 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: Ronw435
Date Posted: 25 Dec 2015 at 9:26am
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Now I am nervous, we just picked up our 2116 178 and have looked things over. The back window looked to have had a crack in the silicone. We had the dealer re-do the caulk over the rear window. I noticed however all the other windows just have the rubber seal but does not look like it will leak. My question is should we caulk all the windows? Thanks Ron ------------- |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 25 Dec 2015 at 1:33pm
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Unfortunately your problems are caused by the success of the Pods. I spoke to a factory rep a few months ago and asked specifically about the problems that new owners have been experiencing. He said when we bought our 171 the output on a daily basis was about 8 Rpods. With the success, the volume has increased almost 3X to about 24 pods a day. The dealers are screaming for product and the factories are pumping them out as fast as they can. The staff is overwhelmed with the volume and the pods requiring additional work are parked outside and a staff person is supposed to address any manufacturing defects. Looks like they and the dealers are falling down on the job. For the price that we are paying, I would suggest this is the norm for the industry. It is, what it is. Some close friends of ours recently purchased a new high end 38' diesel pusher for about $250,000. They have had it in for repairs a number of times on small but aggravating problems. The RV industry has still not caught up the with auto manufacturers with quality control. I think the US car makers a number of years ago had to play catchup with the Japanese manufacturers higher quality, and I believe after a number of years, they are now comparable. Not sure what would kick the RV manufactures to make better products. On the other hand, cars are not rolling domiciles with many additional subsystems and add on products. Once the initial delivery faults are fixed, if you take care of your Pod, it should provide years of satisfactory service. Other than a few dried out caulks, we have not had any problems at all with our 2013 171. Hope that gives you some reasons to deal with the initial problems. 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: Gavin
Date Posted: 01 Jan 2016 at 9:27pm
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Well not to beat good ol forest river to death but while camping this week close to hunting island SC I found another leak coming from underneath the bath room sink. It was coming from under the sink but soaking the small wood frame work on the other side of the wall which supports the seat...the plywood seat deck and frame support was soaked...and the emergency window which stared this whole grueling thread was still letting water in ( from a rain yesterday and today) but not as bad as it did this past summer...great! I'm done with forest river crap...I kinda liked the rpod but at this rate I won't have anything left but a moldy rotting heap in 5 years. I'm dumping this lemon as soon as possible! Caveat Emptor folks! Its not even worth chasing a warranty with these continuous problems...I could have a load of warranty work done only to limit out on the one year warranty and still have a mountain of issues later!
I challenged forest river to step up to the plate and address the quality issues by listing my rpod serial number and did they do so? Well folks what do you think? Do think a first-rate, second-rate organization be expected to step do so??? Not a word was heard from them and I know they read these threads! But for the life of me I wonder why reputable companies such as dometic, high pointe and Surburban would want to be connected to such a shoddy organization! |
Posted By: J&Jcf
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2016 at 7:10pm
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I have owned a number of campers and had leaks in most. Do not forget that the campers are flexing as they are towed down the road. I don't leave home without caulk,caulk gun, duct tape, plumbers hanging strapping, Teflon tape and the basic tools to make repairs. I also will not own a trailer with a slide out ( extra weight & another hole in the camper to leak ). Just my opinion & choice. I also never buy new . I don't want to take the depreciation hit. I am also very handy in making my own repairs.
This doesn't make it OK to produce a product that has problems and not stand behind it. ------------- J. - 2011 rpod 171 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 07 Jan 2016 at 10:09pm
So.. you refuse to use the warranty and get it repaired? Interesting. BTW, the windows on a pod are not supposed to be caulked. They have a compression seal. The correct way to handle it is to tighten the clamping force on the window, by tightening the screws on the inside of the window. As far as plumbing leaks.. they happen. Check your plumbing. unlike your house, they go down the road at 70mph. ------------- |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2016 at 9:02am
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I just read this and I have to concur! Use the warranty and get it repaired by the dealer. If Forest River didn't and won't do that, they won't be in business much longer!
------------- 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: Gavin
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2016 at 10:56pm
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70 mph? is that a serious rationalization? Warranty, you're kidding right? With the problems I was having, how many would I continue to have after the warranty expired? You really expect me to hang on to hope at this point? I simply do not expect everything will be rectified before the warranty expires! Likewise, windows adjusted right or not should have been properly done at the FACTORY, and not by a new consumer who plunked down 15k.  Lastly, the gas alarm went off while using the gas heater, the very same evening, but I guess I need to also adjust the gas alarm or gas fittings too huh...yea I know it goes down the road at 70 miles an hour, so that also will rationalize that gas leak for you too. Yep those copper gas line fittings can shake loose at 70 miles an hour when you only hand tighten them....may I can get in the trailer and have someone zip me down the road at 80 miles and hour while I tighten up the windows and gas lines...hey a 10 mph buffer might buy me another month or two without problems huh? I will stand by the fact that the R-pod is a great concept but is produced by a first-rate, second-rate organization who has some serious internal problems at that Forest River mfg facility....Disgruntled; not Satisfied employees produce these kind of quality problems. However, today good news! I dumped the r-pod... that lemon was squeezed before I even bought it and bought another travel trailer, NOT mfg by Forest River! Berkshire Hathaway, might need to divest themselves of that outfit as soon as possible. However, these windows are fully caulked everywhere by the MFG and it has been raining good today and no leaks! And the gas heater worked without alarm too! But I digress, I only had it up to 60 miles an hours! Wow I had no idea 10 miles an hour would make all the difference in the world! ....groan If you send me a PM, I will tell you were you can buy it and you can tighten the windows yourself for a spectacular deal...how does that sound to ya? You can get it up to about 90 mph and fix away, surely you would not have any reservation whatsoever in placing yourself in harms way with a superior product huh? |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2016 at 12:27pm
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I think you made the right decision to sell your pod. I do think you are in a fools paradise if you think your new trailer will be without problems. The good news is that we don't have to hear about them. Have a nice life Gavin.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2016 at 2:17pm
as we say elsewhere.. "quoted for truth" Also.. Gavin, NEVER buy a new home. It's obvious you will lose your mind. ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 10 Jan 2016 at 10:12pm
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He lost me on his 2nd post in this thread. ------------- 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: jato
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2016 at 6:44am
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Appears that when people become extremely angry they lose all sense of being rational, hence the 2nd post. ------------- 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: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2016 at 10:14am
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I had posted this recently but it seems to have disappeared into a black hole. Some friends or ours purchased a high end 38' diesel pusher, last year, and spent around $250K. They have had a number of small problems and finally the owner sent a letter to the president of the manufacturer. The manufacturer to their credit, responded quickly and picked up the coach and took it for repairs. That was before the holidays and they still don't have it back. My point is that even spending $250K there are still "teething" problems with RV's. Unfortunately it is the nature of the industry and having a rolling house on wheels. If you are expecting perfection from any RV manufacturer, you are in for a rude awakening. However, once the initial delivery problems are solved, you will have a long term camping experience with a very solid RV. I would think twice about selling and expecting a better made RV from another manufacturer. I haven't heard of any warranty defects not being fixed by either the dealer or FR. All RV's seem to have initial delivery problems, but that is what your warranty is for. Good luck. 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: furpod
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2016 at 10:38am
But see, there is the rub, He clearly stated he refused to take it in for warranty work. FR, and/or his dealer, never got an opportunity to address a single one of his "issues". I am betting on "buyers remorse". ------------- |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2016 at 10:41am
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Also, a small mean part of my brain hopes he bit the bullet and bought an Airstream.. I will be watching the airforums for him, because he will implode if he did. Trust me in 6 years of 'stream ownership and being on the forums there, an occasional trip into the new owner problems area is interesting to say the least.. $70-100K for a lot of the same issues..
------------- |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2016 at 12:24pm
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LOVE this thread, bookmarked for life! I have gone through bowls of popcorn happily reading this.   ------------- 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: CharlieM
Date Posted: 11 Jan 2016 at 12:30pm
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Following Furpod's thinking, if this guy goes AS the implosion will be a Supernova.
------------- 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: Countrygent
Date Posted: 15 Jan 2016 at 10:40pm
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I recently had a problem with my shore power plug having shorted on the trailer side and after looking around my neck of the woods found a well-recommended independent repairer/rebuilder. I had some other work I wanted done, but noted in particular that the exterior plastic and rubber components - the handles on the dump valves, the flanges on the dump valve covers, had UV fatigue and just snapped or crumbled from normal use in just a few years. Then the window and roof seals, and the plastic bead that covers the main sidewall channels were both badly deteriorated. Clearly an inability of the materials used to withstand just sitting outdoors for a few seasons. Another example - rusting of the steel bottom frame - clearly a higher quality coating and painting of that frame would resist spot rusting for more than 3 years off the lot. What do you think? I asked the owner. His answer - the entire industry uses cheap components and quick construction methods to try and maximize their margins and slide through the warranty period. Basically, "they don't make them like they used to". His language was a bit saltier. As our conversation went on he took me over to look at a 3 year old Class A ... $150K plus motor home and showed me how many of the components were the same as on the RPod or 90% of RV's for that matter. Fact is now a few component suppliers totally dominate the market - latches, hinges, seals, sealing compounds, window and door assemblies, piping, valves, appliances ... design and perhaps assembly technique is the main difference among many. If RV's were built with the kind of materials and specs that are put into marine applications by reputable boat builders, they would stand up to use and the elements much better but the cost would put them out of reach of most of the folks who buy them now. And lots of folks are remembering simpler times when heavier materials were used, amenities were much fewer therefore the product was less complex ... the entire attitude about obsolescence and replacement was different. Get the best bang for our buck and then take it upon yourself to maintain and repair and be vigilant because the durability is suspect otherwise. It's the world we live in. Things are not built to last as long as they once were, quite the opposite, they are calculated to find the lowest input costs to make them last just long enough to satisfy the standards of the marketplace. When they start to really deteriorate whether from use or abuse they will generally be so outdated that it makes major repair unrealistic. Forest River is playing in a marketplace where they watch the competition and the standards and price points, the quality of labour and supervision they can afford, etc.,. are well known to them. I think it is great when people hold their feet to the fire and make them stand behind their promises as to quality, but at the end of the day the whole industry is in a race to make them shiny and pretty enough and cheap enough to roll off the dealers lots as fast as possible. ------------- Geoff & Tricia & Phoebe the Retriever 2012 177 HRE Toyota Tacoma 6cyl Little Bigpod |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2016 at 11:33pm
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Yes. ------------- 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: Gavin
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2016 at 9:45pm
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Yes glad to be rid of it, way too many problems for a new camper. Moved on to another camper. I really liked the pod but the quality was lacking, if you folks would read through some of my postings about the pod, I even listed the serial number and called forest river out on it and challenged them to fix it and and it was complete silence from them! Fantastic customer service huh? So the new 2016 pod had these problems: One window leak One upper body leak One gas leak One bathroom faucet/ plumbing leak Yes while under warranty, and I never took it in...why? because as rapid as these problems occurred with that lemon-pod, how many would I had after the short one year warranty was over and other problems began reaching into my pocket? The odds on that lemon going without any problems for any length of time was looking slim. But enjoy defending a first rate-second-rate camper ...lol Forest River thrives on that mentality! |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2016 at 10:27pm
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Good luck.........................happy camping ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2016 at 10:28pm
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Dear Gavin, Hopefully you can move on and not have your life shortened due to anger, hatred, and resentment in your heart. The glass is half-full, not half empty. The only way to keep yourself fit is by the discipline of the disagreeable. As we exit a 'trial' in our life we either become better or bitter. Hopefully the former will be the case for you as another trial will certainly become reality in the future. ------------- 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: Leo B
Date Posted: 24 Jan 2016 at 10:33pm
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Well said! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2016 at 8:14am
I suspect I speak for many, if not most here, when I say that "I hope it works out for you and you are happy". On a personal note, I would be interested to know what camper make and model you found to replace it, as the wife and I are in the market. Always interested in hearing other peoples observations. Pretty sure we have the Airstream sold, and we decided (for now) to keep furpod, so we are going to the RV shows now, in fact this week we start, to try to see what we want next. ------------- |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2016 at 10:41am
The Airstream will never sell, it is bonded to the floor, it has become one with the barn. IT LIVES! ------------- 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: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2016 at 8:08pm
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And one trip to your dealer would have fixed all of these, unless you had managed to alienate them as well. I do hope you have better luck with your new purchase but I suspect you won't be happy with that purchase either. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 06 Feb 2016 at 9:27pm
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I guess I am luckier than most, our 2011 RP-172 never went back for any repairs after we purchased it. We went to the boat/rv show in Louisville Ky a couple of weeks ago and saw a couple we really liked , but the Pod is going to stay for a while longer. No Leaks, squeeks or any other problem, ohh except I did replace the hose between the LP Gas tank and the frame as it had an internal restriction that would not let gas flow properly. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: drhalvey
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2016 at 8:36am
| I have found chalk to be this R-Pod owners best friend :-) Blessings! |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2016 at 11:00am
Please expand on this. For what do you use chalk? Did you perhaps mean caulk? ------------- 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: Gavin
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 11:39am
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Hi Keith, Dont lash out me with those troll-pod comments, because you drank that r-pod kool-aid!  LOL, when Forest River has gotten done with you with their shoddy workmanship, you will probably be thinking that a walmart tent, a few air mattresses, a space heater, a portable air conditioner, camp stove and potable toilet would have been a wiser investment! At least all of that can fit in the trunk of a Corolla at the fraction of the price of lots of caulk and an R-pod! But, dont worry about those star cracks that nowadays appear to be popping upon those R-pods  Still not a problem out of my Dutchman/ Coleman camper, calking is on all the windows and other areas and is far more roomier too! But best of all, still no warranty work to be done and it cost the same as that Lemon-pod I had! If anyone is interested, look into the Dutchman/ Coleman 235 QB, its the same price as a r-pod and about twice the space too! |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 12:39pm
LOL.. that is all, just LOL.. unless I start rolling on the floor. ------------- |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 12:57pm
Gavin, if it makes you feel good to call me a troll I don't care. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 2:27pm
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I am glad he finally told us what he bought.. the insight is handy.. He bought a poorly made square box, that is 10 feet longer then a pod. So, my guess is his wife liked the cute little pod, he couldn't talk her out of it, and so acted like a little kid until he convinced her that he was "right" and traded for the bigger everything Coachman. I certainly hope it works out for them, but doubt it. The fact that he keeps coming back to check the thread and hurl insults at satisfied owners also tells us a lot. People who have had their pods 5-6 years, didn't just drink the kool-aid. But owners who refuse to have issues repaired for free, that are relatively minor, points to either buyers remorse, or psychosis. Gavin, I hope your Coachman is better then my buddies. In 4 years of ownership, his spent a year at the dealer. In the end he practically gave it away because it was such trash, and that was after Coachman replaced the complete slide once, and the second one was rotting off the trailer when he sold it. The roof leaked in 5-6 places, the doors literally quit working at one point, and one of the sidewalls didn't just delaminate, it split open. And that's just some of the issues he had. ------------- |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 4:23pm
Furpod, i just wonder why he would feel the need to offer the list advice. As poorly as he has handled this who reallly cares what he thinks. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2016 at 10:46pm
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Well Furpod, I guess that settles it ! You will NOT be bringing Gavin with you to the 2016 ERU in Traverse City, Michigan this summer, UNLESS GAVIN eventually realizes the errors of his ways AND if you can pick yourself off the floor from laughing too long.
------------- 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: kymooses
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 9:52am
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And here I am without a bag of popcorn again. ------------- 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: les olvera
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 11:01pm
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Wow! This put a major fear into me. I just purchased a 2013 Rpod 171 and had it in a major rain storm and had no leaks, but now I'm wondering what will happen down the road I'm pretty happy with my Rpop 171, please I would like to hear something positive if any. I did have a leak at the base of the toilet but I tighten the toilet down and stopped the leak. ------------- Les |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 11:15pm
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Our 177 is 2 years older than yours and we have had it in some major rains. Probably the most memorable was in September 2013 in the RMNP, Estes Park, CO, rains were so severe all roads going East out of the park were washed away. We had to travel west over the mountain pass and then south before we could head back east to Denver and then back home to Michigan. Have had many other big storms as well and here we are nearly 6 years old and have never had a leak, anywhere. ------------- 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: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2016 at 11:16pm
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Welcome. We have owned our 2013 171 since purchasing it new in 2013. We have traveled at least 20,000 miles in the last few years. Other than a few initial minor problems, it has performed beautifully. Proper maintenance is required for flawless performance. We are presently planning our new camping year and still enjoying it. All RV's have some initial "teething problems" and once they are addressed, and with proper maintenance, you should enjoy many happy years of camping. I hope you enjoy yours as much as we have ours. Again, welcome. 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: marwayne
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 12:07am
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We had our's since September 2010, haven't had a leak anywhere. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: GLBCamper
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 1:18am
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I would be willing to bet the owners who HAVEN'T had any leaking is probably in the 90% range. That being said, maintain your pod, check for leaks regularly if it's being stored, and try not to let the "what ifs" worry you. ------------- Old: 2014 177 HRE 2015 Tacoma V6 4x4 Double Cab New: 2016 EVO ATS 200rd 2016 F150 4x4 Sport |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 6:58am
 ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 10:00am
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We have a 2009Rpod173 and have used it extensively for long cross country trips. We have never had any leaks or major problems with our pod. We love It! Jato-- we were also in the RMNP when the floods hit. We were stranded at the campground for a day and half before finally able to drive up and over the mountain at 5pm in the fog. There a were no guard rails or reflectors and dense fog-- the scariest tow job ever! Were going about 15mph until we crested the top and found sunshine on the other side. Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 11:51am
Actually.. everyone in this thread EXCEPT the OP, who refused to have warranty work done on his pod is happy. All RVs need maintenance. Since you already fixed a small plumbing problem, and apparently didn't lose your mind.. you will be just fine. :) ------------- |
Posted By: timpod
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 1:21pm
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Don’t mean to hijack this leaky window thread, but this is sort of relevant. I just purchased a new 2016 172, haven’t picked it up yet, but I did go through it thoroughly a couple days ago, and a couple observations… 1. First, the obvious… it’s made of inexpensive materials, and some fixtures are on the ridiculously cheap side. 2. Craftsmanship is not the greatest… 3. Horrible sloppy caulk jobs 4. Screws in panels that don’t actually penetrate the support on the other side (panels lose) 5. Broken light fixture (installed that way) 6. Debris left around (leftover wiring, etc.) 7. Pipe weld cement a mess 8. Unsecured wiring and hoses. Wiring and hoses underneath the pod, which could be caught by road debris… as well as wiring and hoses internally, where I could see behind panels. These will move while underway, possibly chafe through, etc. I’ll definitely be going over all of it, especially propane lines, to make sure they are secured and not rubbing on anything sharp. 9. Rust on parts of the frame. A small amount and mostly on the tongue, but this was unexpected as I thought it was all powder coated. 10. And last, but not least, very poor cabinet design. We like the basic layout, but amazing amounts of wasted space. Cubic feet worth of space lost from cabinets in order to install one or two switches. Latest stereo (2016 model?) also eats up what was once several cubic feet of upper cabinet storage… and I’m sure it’s empty space behind the stereo. Could go on here, total lack of thought on design details. This is just the immediately obvious stuff, I’m sure I’ll find more as I take possesion of the trailer. I want to point out that this is everything I’ve observed before I put my money down. So why did I buy it? We’ll, because I think it’s pretty good value for the money… and though it has issues, they’re for the most part minor and easy to rectify. I believe their quality control (or construction manager) could use a talking too, and their interior designer should be fired. I think they could do better, even at this price point… but for the price, it’s not too bad… and from what I’ve seen, nobody else is doing any better, unless you want to spend a lot more money. So this isn’t a dis. on Forest River, I think they’ve done pretty well in providing an affordable light trailer. But if you are considering any small inexpensive trailer, you should make sure your expectations are set correctly :) This has been said before on other threads. And if your worried about the trailer eventually leaking… no need to worry, if you own it long enough, it will eventually leak. Luckily it’s not a big deal, unless you leave it un-repaired. If you’re not the fix it type, this is an opportunity to learn some basics. Fixing and modding a trailer is part of the fun :)
I should point out that my 172 has been sitting out on the lot in a number of recent big downpours, and it was dry as a bone! Yeah! |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 2:38pm
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I have a 172 bought in September 2010. We went to see the pod a few times, the last time we went inside to look again before buying I closed my eyes and visualised the whole interior the way I wanted it to be. So there for I liked the idea of very few cabinets so I could design and build my own. We have enough storage space to put everything behind doors, there is nothing in boxes or bags. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 3:32pm
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Marwayne, Do you have pictures of what you did? It would be interesting to see your cabinets.
------------- 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: marwayne
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 5:21pm
                 ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: timpod
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 6:02pm
Nice work marwayne, and I especially like the top drawer under the sink, with the drain pipe cut-out 
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 6:27pm
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Nice work!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 7:03pm
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You are definitely a cabinetmaker. That is beautiful work.
------------- 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: marwayne
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 7:07pm
My biggest pet peeve on all the pods is the trim around the bathroom door. I simply can't understand why FR hasn't done anything about it. it's such a simple fix. Here are some before and after pics.
 ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 7:21pm
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Marwayne, I have a question. Was that sink in the kitchen original or did you replace it? I am about to replace the plastic kitchen sink that came with our 179 with a stainless steel sink. The one I chose looks like the one you have. However, I am going to use a different faucet. When I get the job done, I will make sure to post pictures.
------------- 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: marwayne
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 7:33pm
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No I changed the sink and the cooktop cover with stainless. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 7:36pm
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Thanks. I will be installing the sink as soon as Lowes does its reset (getting display model at a significant discount) and we get the R-Pod back from the dealer.
------------- 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: jato
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 7:36pm
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Vann, We left RMNP the day they closed it, we were told to leave Moraine Campground. As we went went on the mountain road the rain was intense, many cars were stopped, we crept as the rain - x on our windshield at least allowed us to travel at 20 - 25 mph. Amazing to see plow trucks on the road pushing off boulders that had come crashing down on the road. Some of these were 6 - 8 foot tall ! We never left the rain until we got to the extreme west end of the park and then as we came toward Denver, it started all over again. We were extremely fortunate as we came through Denver at one point it looked like a very dark spot on the road, I was able to manuever my Explorer and pod around it, found out it was a sinkhole about 3 foot across in the middle of the expressway. From that point we counted nearly a dozen cars with front tires blown out as a result of hitting that. Heard on the radio about 5 minutes later to be on the lookout for that sinkhole! What a trip.
------------- 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: jato
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 7:37pm
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Extremely nice cabinetwork. You have been blessed with an ability to do professional wood work!
------------- 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: marwayne
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 7:40pm
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Well I only bin doing it for 58 years. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 7:47pm
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WOW, you started when you were 4? That is a lot of experience under your belt. Thanks for sharing the photos!
------------- 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: marwayne
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 8:02pm
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No I think I was two.
------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 9:26pm
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I don't mean to hijack the thread-this is about INTENSE rain and no leaks and a reply to earlier posts by Jato and myself. specifically about the rain and floods in rocky Mountain National Park. we were driving up to the park from Denver when it started raining. It rained all day as we arrived and set up the pod at Mary's Lake Campground. It rained all night-intensely at times. the next day was still raining. we decided to go hiking and sightseeing anyway-we were here and were determined to see the park. well, we never saw anything over 9000 feet because everything was in the clouds. and still raining. all day and all night. The third morning we decided to leave. We derigged everything, hitched up the pod and started out. We didn't get very far until a ranger stopped us and told us all roads were either washed out or closed. We were not able to leave. so we went back to the campground and set up everything again. It looked like we might be there for an unknown time. so we filled up the water tank . It was still raining. We decided to go into Estes park and try to buy some additional groceries. We got almost to the small town and found that there was a small river that crossed under the road. the water was literally up to the bottom of the bridge. We knew the water was only going to get higher because it was still raining. We got some basic groceries and returned to Mary's Lake Campground. As we went back to the campground, we drove around a little to see what was happening. It was unbelievable what the local rivers, creeks and even the drainage ditches were carving huge crevaces into the ground-flooding everything. We also discovered that Mary's Lake Campground was located at the base of Mary's Lake, right below the dam! If the dam broke or the lake overflowed, we were in the direct path of the water. We were totally freaked out. It was still raining. We lost internet, then power. We were quite alarmed-no, we were scared, but couldn't go anywhere. about 4 or 4:30 that afternoon the ranger came by the campground and told us that Trail Ridge Road was going to be opened by 5 pm but it would only be open for about an hour-it was to be closed again at dark. We did the fastest tear down and hook up ever!!we got the pod secured and hitched to the truck and scrambled up the road. as we passed the same bridge to Estes Park, we ran through about a foot of water over the bridge. We were able to go up and over the highest road at about the slowest speed ever. As Jato said, there was no visibility, boulders everywhere, slow vehicles and RAIN. When we got to the top, there was sunshine on the western side. We stopped and camped at Granby Lake l Forest Service campground on the flatlands west of RMNP. That is where the photo in our signature was taken. We were glad to be there!!We slept very well that night. The R Pod NEVER leaked!! Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9">
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2016 at 9:51pm
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Vann, another one for the record books. The day before we left we wanted to take old Fall River Road, a one-way road up through the mountains (dirt) with numerous switchbacks, no shoulder, severe drop offs, and not a drive for the timid! Yes, rainy, and quite foggy, which suited my wife just fine as she couldn't see the full scope of the terror of driving on that road. Anyway there were areas of that road that were getting pretty bad, glad we had 4 wheel drive, and we had to keep going ahead, no backing up or turning around. We were probably one of the last to drive that road before they closed that down as well. Phew. We do some stupid things in life. I better rephrase that as "I" do some stupid things. Hopefully next time we are there we can do it on a sunny day. Great shot at St. Mary's. We were wondering why we didn't see you as we always go through parks looking for other pods, but we were in Moraine. ------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 24 Feb 2016 at 10:35am
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So far, our record was a trip, pretty local, 3 dayer, and on Saturday, we got +6" of rain. Friday and Sunday were beautiful. No leaks in the pod. The dome did either leak a bit, or sweat, temps were in the high 40's.. ------------- |
Posted By: dinglebobbins
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2016 at 8:22pm
Hi. we picked up our new 177 a few weeks ago. Yesterday, we were loading gear into the trailer after a few good days or rain. Low and behold: a wet mattress, and considerable wetness and de-lamination of the plywood under the mattress. A little sleuthing found that the water was coming through the seal along the bottom edge of the back window. Looking at the window from the outside, we can see that there is caulk along the top and sides of the window, but not the bottom. Does anyone know if that is intentional? Thanks, ------------- Dionne and Garret 2016 177 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited |
Posted By: timpod
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2016 at 9:23pm
| I don't remember how mine are, but it's common to only caulk the top and sides of windows so that water will drain out. |
Posted By: timpod
Date Posted: 28 Mar 2016 at 9:34pm
| I just check my rear window, and it's the same. No caulk along the bottom, which is normal. But the water leak reminded me that we just filled up our tank last week for the first time and had water filling up the interior of the pod! Found that out by seeing water drain out the aft corner of the pod while we were filling. Caused by interior fill hose clamps not properly fastened. I alternate between being really happy about the pod, and pulling my hair out at the poor quality control. |
Posted By: Gavin
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2016 at 8:40pm
Keithy LOL still no problems out of it and I also have a walk in bathroom...nicer than a tiny wet bath. Still no leaks anywhere...windows are well caulked while its only 24 feet long, we have plenty of room and cabinet space. Everything works like it should! 40 gallons of fresh black and gray. I have not had the need to have any warranty work done...none, repeat, none. LOL it might be a box but what is aesthetics when it sells for the same price but with no leaks, shoddy fixtures, star cracks and busted leaf springs. While I now pull with a diesel, I dont have to worry about going over a mountain top with an anemic gasser which will eventually tear the transmission up. In retrospect I would have been better off with a popup...cheaper, lighter and easier to pull with a gasser at the fraction of the cost. While the r-pop is eye-candy, there still remains far better deals out there for those who can emotionally detach themselves from their mistake in buying the r-pod. The same money invested in an r-pod can buy far better campers with better room . At the rate Forest River is going with this junky line, they will have to add flashing marquee lights and lots of chrome to lure folks in...really pimp them out on the exterior to sell them. |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2016 at 8:47pm
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Hi Gavin, I am glad you are having great success with your Coachman with no issues. Hopefully you can tell me the same in 5 years. We are now on our 6th year of ownership with our 177 and like you, we are very happy with it and like you, no issues, no problems, no warranty work. However, you are 5 years behind me and about 18,000 - 19,000 miles behind. So when you get to where I am now, I hope you can "boast" like I do now about how wonderful your TT is. Happy travels to you. Be safe. ------------- 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: Gavin
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2016 at 9:02pm
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Hi Jato, Good point! So far I have taken it as much and as far as the r-pod with no issues thus far. The day it left the lot I was ahead of the game than when the rpod left the lot...Im sure some folks get a good rpod, but many dont and some within this forum will never admit that they ever had problems but would rather bark out remarks because they have to defend spending all that money on an often questionable product. |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2016 at 9:12pm
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Hi Gavin, I do believe there are more pod owners than you know that are happy with their purchase. As is with human nature, we tend to be complainers. If something goes wrong, we want the world to know about it. lf all is going well, then, life goes on (because we feel entitled to having things go our way) and nothing is said because nothing is wrong. I know that is true for me. Unfortunately I don't tell others when things are going well, normally only when things aren't. I work as a golf course superintendent over 54 holes of golf. When everything is great, I hear a few compliments from golfers but rarely from the owners. Yet if something isn't right, I will hear about it almost immediately from the owners, whereas the golfers tend to be more forgiving. I am sure you probably see the same. ------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 11 Apr 2016 at 9:35pm
LOL.. so REALLY what was wrong with the pod for you and what you point out here, is it was to small.. You know, the exact same size it was when you bought it. Not like it shrunk when it got wet in the rain.. As far as cost.. I SERIOUSLY doubt you got that coachman for substantially less then I bought our pod for, it's OK. The Pod is still the number one selling TT under 20 feet in the USA. I can live with that.. And of course, I still, and most owners have not, needed any warranty work. 6th season in progress..  ------------- |
Posted By: Retroactive
Date Posted: 12 Apr 2016 at 11:04am
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If the Rpod were so plagued, the sales would not be so high - It's as easy as that. It seems rather a rather sloppy over generalization to call Rpods and emotional attachment. Some dealers can barely keep them in stock, yet 90% of RV owners I know have never even heard of them - so it's hardly a purely emotional craze. The Rpod is universally popular because it was "the right idea, at the right time", it is popular with all age groups due to the unique socio-economic demographic at this time. They have chosen their floorplans very wisely, ingenious flexibility that can work for many needs. It seems to be extremely popular with Baby Boomers, with 10k of them retiring a day; it can work for those ready to "downsize" from bigger trailer, just as well as those who just need a place to crash while they are "finally able to do all that traveling they always wanted to do". It also seems to be popular in some regions with Gen-Y/Millenials; small and cheap with "party friendly" garage options, but still able to become a modest family TT if kids suddenly come into the picture. Most of my Gen-X peers are still stuck in the "bigger! better! more!" phase and have TT the sizes of houses, but for a lot of TT noobs like me with kids heading off to college$ in two years it is a very desirable option economically and maintenance wise.
You simply can not find a used Rpod on lots around here, when you do they want almost as much as a new one. If they were total sh*te then after almost 7 year there would be dozens of used ones on the lot for cheap money, I seem to remember used Ford Pintos for everywhere for about 1/10th of the original MSRP. ------------- |
Posted By: Gavin
Date Posted: 13 May 2016 at 10:46pm
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Furpod, same price and 24 foot long... but4300 lbs, you would eventually burn up that expedition transmission and probably with the r-pod too! LOL the rpod was ok in size for me but when I found out you could get far more size for the same dollar, with no leaks, then why not??? Sure Diesel is the way to go, but if you ask around while sipping the rpod koolaid you might find out that diesels are used a LOT to PULL campers, ask them if you dare and you will see most folks went from a gasser to a diesel after they overheated the transmission a few times and burned up the bands in them ( automatic) but Im sure you know all that However I really doubt you really have a clue about much of anything, you called it a COACHMAN ,when I said it was made by DUTCHMAN....so you drinking the Flint Michigan water too? Whats next...you saw Bigfoot riding a Unicorn? So in one post you berate it as cheap junk, yet in another post you essentially say it is far more expensive than an R-pod, so what is it? If its cheap junk but more expensive than an Rpod, where does that leave the rpod...is it a first-rate, second-rate camper? Thank you for the lesson in Schizophrenia |
Posted By: timpod
Date Posted: 13 May 2016 at 11:34pm
Ok, that's funny. Just made me think of a sailor, mocking the sea worthiness of his rival's boats, while not realizing his own is sinking underneath him. ------------- 2016 Pod 172 2015 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited |
Posted By: Retroactive
Date Posted: 14 May 2016 at 10:48am
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He who can not make an argument without resorting to childish insults, betrays the fact that their thoughts are banal and perfunctory. ------------- |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 3:24pm
Again.. LOL, just LOL.. unless.. well.. no ROFL. ------------- |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 7:04pm
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go blues, hogone
------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 15 May 2016 at 7:54pm
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This could be their year!!!
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: ron/roscoe
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2016 at 6:45pm
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On my first trip in our pod 178, 2016 model, I noticed that the final floor was floating with air after about 100 miles in the entire camper, dealer had to fix that. Also the back back pass through storage had water in it after a heavy rain. This still needs repair, may be the back window. Anybody have a problem like that? ------------- Ron Rowland |
Posted By: Westgl
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 1:13pm
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uh oh, I just bought a 2017' 179 rpod, Looks like majority of owners do not have leaks, and searching for leaks is part of the routine or daily during and after rain maintenance. I have looked at used Trailers and have seen the Majority of the ones I have looked at had sealant on the each side, around the windows, and usually the rubber tops were cracked on at least the 5 I looked at, and they all had Mold in them to varying degrees. I had looked at the casita and scamp seamless roof all Fiberglass TT the wood in them is all sealed and incased in the fiberglass, so rotten wood would Not be an issue. I did not like that the casita had carpeting through out them and even on the ceiling. I decided to take a chance on the rpod. ------------- 2010 RAV4 V6 2017 RPOD 179 Hood River Edition Dual 6 volt Batts Dual propane Tanks Batt Disconnect Bed leg extension Dinette modification Renogy 100w solar Motorcycles several currently |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 1:25pm
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Keep the faith......................we have a 179, and love it! No water or leak problems!
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Westgl
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 2:44pm
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I have searched to see if I could find a video or pi ture of the roof seam strips removed for reseal in as I want to see how they come off and how the seals look under them
I don't have any problem doing my own repairs and actually look forward to it as long as it isn't a delamination issue ------------- 2010 RAV4 V6 2017 RPOD 179 Hood River Edition Dual 6 volt Batts Dual propane Tanks Batt Disconnect Bed leg extension Dinette modification Renogy 100w solar Motorcycles several currently |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 7:26pm
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The edge trim is just thin vinyl. Remove the screw at the bottom edge and it will just peel up. http://www.walmart.com/ip/46529858?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227034048109&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=88146586008&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=122345344848&veh=sem - http://www.walmart.com/ip/46529858?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227034048109&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=88146586008&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=122345344848&veh=sem ------------- 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: les olvera
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 11:30pm
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I like to see more positive comments, I have a 2012 R-171 and thoroughly enjoy it, I do the basic maintenance religiously and I haven't had any problems. You know something, I'm glad I drank the cool-aid. I'm new to rving so if there's any problems I should have experienced a long time ago. So come on you cool-aid drinkers if you have anything constructive to say about your R-pod let's hear it. ------------- Les |
Posted By: Jewel59
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 9:37pm
| I have a new 2016 180. First time out we had severe storms for the duration of the night. I didn't notice any leaks. I also drove with the trailer in the rain and no leaks. Like other new owners, this is a frightening thread. Mine is being stored in covered storage. I can see how exposure to the elements would be very hard on seams. Mine has a sticker by the door that says per manufacturer recommendation the seams should be inspected once every three months. I'm not sure what seams they are talking about????? |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2016 at 10:35pm
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They are talking about seals, not seams. The rubber seals around the slide-out (if your R-Pod has one), windows, and the door are what should be inspected. Rubber seal conditioner is good for those seals you can reach.
------------- 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: bjk
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2016 at 12:28am
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I'll add positive to this thread. I picked up an early 2016 R-179 back in March and have taken it out 3 times since. My first and second trips I experienced both a deluge (Astoria OR) or snow (Spokane WA -- beautiful sunny 70º trip up, over an inch of unexpected snow overnight--learned in a hurry I need to have a ladder and something to remove snow from the slide). Had to drive in the rain on the first trip home (I live in Portland OR). I haven't seen leak in either case. Now because this was an early 2016 model (mid to late 2015 production), it did sit on the lot for a few months so I do have some rust to attend to  , but that's about it.I've got a warranty appointment on Tuesday to take care of a few little things I've discovered but after lurking on this forum for a couple weeks, I see my issues are minor (and I've been taking lots of notes on what to check on for my list when I take it in!) I'd be interested in knowing what is the recommended rubber seal condition to use on the seals. ------------- 2016 HRE R-179 "CapPODccino" 2011 F-150 SLX |
Posted By: par49
Date Posted: 20 Aug 2016 at 10:15pm
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Really appreciate this thread. I'm picking up my 180 next week. Will take all the necessary equipment to caulk window etc. Thanks for the input since the 180 will be stored outside. Maybe I should buy the cover!
------------- par |