We took the plunge!
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7294
Printed Date: 22 May 2025 at 4:56am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: We took the plunge!
Posted By: Marco T
Subject: We took the plunge!
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2015 at 1:15am
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We purchased a 2015 176T from our local dealer in Saskatoon (who also happens to be a neighbor) on Friday, right before they shut down for two weeks for Christmas. The bad news is I can't pick it up before January. The good news is we won't be going anywhere with it before May, so there is no rush. However, we are really looking forward to getting it in our yard so we can stare at it for a few months ;-) It will be a little strange to tow it home and then winterize it before we even go anywhere . . . This is our first RV. We've been camping with the two oldest kids before, but not since my son was born 20 months ago. My two daughters (10 and 7) are very excited at the idea of not having to run through the dark or the rain to go to the bathroom at 3am. I'm looking forward to planning trips to all corners of the continent that we wouldn't have contemplated before we had an RV. I'm a little apprehensive about towing with our 2009 Toyota Sienna and it's 3500lbs towing capacity, but we'll pack light and once we've paid off the pod we'll probably upgrade to something with at least 5000lbs towing capacity. I've been reading through the forums and you have all already helped me a lot as we consider towing issues (I bought a WD Hitch with stabilizer bars), battery and solar considerations, what to expect in terms of fuel economy when towing, and what to expect when trying to book sites. We have 8 acres, so I'm sure we'll get several nights in the backyard before heading out on a big trip to BC in July. Happy podding! Mark and family ------------- The Tri-podders 2011 Dodge Durango Citadel - 5.7L Hemi 2015 R-pod 176T |
Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2015 at 7:33am
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Congrats!!! Welcome to the group!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Rockin the Pod
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2015 at 11:48am
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Awesome! Welcome! ------------- 2016 180 HRE 2014 Tacoma Taylor 210 CSE Bose L1 Model II 2008 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Classic |
Posted By: shroomer
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2015 at 1:52pm
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Congrats and welcome. You mentioned winterizing. The pods come to the dealers dry. Could you take it home dry and then have them do the walk through when the weather gets warmer? Why load it up with water and then anti-freeze when you can just do it with water in the spring? Just a thought. ------------- Larry and Debbie w/Rosie the mutt. Old: '13 177, '06 Silverado V6 New: '15 Whitehawk 20MRB '14 Silverado V8 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 Dec 2015 at 8:32pm
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Welcome. You'll be fine with weight if you are careful, it has a 2600 pound weight dry, figure it will be pushing your 3500 pound limit fully loaded if you have the water tank full. Only take a few gallons for use on the road and fill up when you get where you are going. I agree you shouldn't have to winterize. ------------- 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: DavidW
Date Posted: 21 Dec 2015 at 12:46pm
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Welcome from Ottawa,
There is lots of great advice on this Forum (and on the FB group R-Pod Owners Forum). We tow our 178 with a Traverse which is rated for 5200 lbs. For Saskatchewan you will likely be fine with your 3500 lbs towing capacity. If you can postpone your BC trip until you have upgraded your vehicle, I would highly recommend it. Happy (and safe) travels to you. ------------- David & Liz 2014 R-Pod 178 2019 Chevy Traverse And Lily (our 8 yr old Golden) 
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2015 at 4:01pm
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Welcome to the world of podding. Guaranteed you will enjoy your pod AND expect to give tours at every campground you go to. We rarely have it where we don't give at least one tour per campground. Last September we went to RMNP, CO for 2 weeks and even though we didn't give many tours at the park, we did find ourselves giving tours along the expressway at gas stations, stores, ect.
------------- 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: Marco T
Date Posted: 29 Dec 2015 at 4:36pm
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Thanks all - we pick it up next week, but we've been sorting through camping gear and figuring out which accessories we need to order. I've got quite a list started at Amazon.ca 😜 Everything from water hoses to power cords and hitch ball locks. Our first trip is months away, but we're already very excited! Last week I installed a new hitch (not really a one person job) and I had the wiring done for the brakes and the power connection on the van. I also picked up the Husky WD hitch from Costco and a small Char-Broil X200 grill from Lowe's. Next task is to figure out the bedding. We'll definitely do a few test runs around Saskatchewan before heading out West. ------------- The Tri-podders 2011 Dodge Durango Citadel - 5.7L Hemi 2015 R-pod 176T |
Posted By: Marco T
Date Posted: 02 Jan 2016 at 12:39pm
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So, in the midst of our excitement around planning our big trip this summer we decided to start figuring out what we have and what else we need to buy. Setting it all aside and weighing it and then estimating the weights of what we don't have made me decide to do some math. The 2009 Sienna can tow 3500lbs and the GVWR is 5690lbs. We can load 1140lbs in the trailer, but that would put it overweight so we can only load about 800lbs. I estimate we'll have about 600lbs in the trailer. The van can carry 1420lbs including passengers and tongue weight and we probably will have 900lbs so we're within that limit, too. The problem I ran into was the GCWR (the weight of everything) is 7827lbs, but the weight estimates I have already put me at 8074lbs and that is running completely dry. It's an expensive lesson, but the only safe thing to do is upgrade the tow vehicle. If it was just me I'd buy a 6-8 year old F-150 and load the kids in the back and my wife can keep her van, but she's ready for an upgrade so I think we'll end up with a Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited. She also wants to check out the Acura MDX and the Infinity QX60, but I don't see a lot of people towing with those. I like what I've read about the 5.8L HEMI in the Jeep. Does anyone have an opinion between the 3.6L Pentastar and the HEMI? 6200lbs towing capacity vs. 7200lbs, 17/24mpg vs. 14/22mpg. I'm thinking that I'll like the extra power of the HEMI going through the mountains and I wonder if the eco mode will narrow that mpg gap in real life driving since most of our everyday driving around here is flat. Does anyone have any experience with these units? Thanks in advance! ------------- The Tri-podders 2011 Dodge Durango Citadel - 5.7L Hemi 2015 R-pod 176T |
Posted By: Marco T
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2016 at 1:23pm
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OK, math correction. I guess I don't need to add the tongue weight when calculating the GCWR. That puts me back to 7775lbs, which is technically under the 7827lbs. One Costco shop and we're cooked, though. Still going to look for a new tow vehicle :-) ------------- The Tri-podders 2011 Dodge Durango Citadel - 5.7L Hemi 2015 R-pod 176T |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2016 at 2:38pm
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NO ONE ever complains they have TO MUCH tow vehicle.. And, welcome to the pod side.. ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 03 Jan 2016 at 3:38pm
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Welcome. You would be fine with the Sienna as long as you don't fill the fresh water tank (a couple of gallons for use on the road, max), at least for local trips if they are flat. We towed our pod for a while with an earlier model Sienna. Long trips over mountain passes or with a strong headwind and you will want the extra power of a full-sized truck designed for towing (and the longer wheel base).
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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