1st time trailer owner
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8103
Printed Date: 23 May 2025 at 6:34pm
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Topic: 1st time trailer owner
Posted By: Artypod
Subject: 1st time trailer owner
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 10:28am
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Hello all, thanks for putting this great forum together. The boss (wife) and I just purchased a 2016 178 to take our 7 and 9 year old camping yesterday. We pick up on the 11th, next Saturday. Going from a 1978 palomino shetland popup, this is our 1st trailer of any size and appliances, toilet, etc. Reading through some negative reviews, I'm a little bit concerned about what I got us into. I'm fairly handy with electrical work and steel fabrication, not so much with wood finish work, but convinced i can fix anything. What are some things that I should look at in our walk through? It seems loose water connections may be a problem. Anything else?
Thanks again for all the help, and tips in here. I would welcome some reassurance and success storys too. |
Replies:
Posted By: Gregm
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 11:47am
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When we got our 171 the windows were not sealed properly and we had te dealer caulk them ------------- Gregm 2014 171 2015 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 1:17pm
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Welcome to the group!Congrats on your 178!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 3:18pm
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Hopefully you are purchasing from a reputable dealer. On the walk-through record everything on a smart phone or other digital device, it will be well worth it as a lot of info will be covered. We were like you, moving up from a '93 Jayco popup that slept six to a brand new (at the time) 2011 model 177. Fortunately we have not had any issues with ours, except for owner error. We have been blessed with our 177 going now on year 6.
------------- 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: computerfixitguy
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 3:20pm
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I go to pick mine up on Wednesday and my gut feeling after reading what you guys have said is to put some water in it to make sure everything does not leak. Also I think I should run water over the top to see if it leaks anywhere outside. Outside of the obvious stuff of turning on all the stuff in the trailer like the microwave, radio, tv, A/C, and fridge. It seems to me that the dealer that sells it would be the most willing one to fix it as I take delivery. That being said, since I am traveling to Iowa to get the trailer I bought and hauling it back to Denver, should I expect the local dealer to service me like I would a car dealer?
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 6:26pm
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Welcome. ------------- 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: jstrenn
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 6:57pm
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When my dealer did the walk through with us, he showed us how to operate everything. All appliances, water heater, furnace, A/C, thermostat/ electrical panel, refrigerator, microwave, TV, Stereo, fantastic fan, all the lights, the stove, water pump, sinks/faucets, toilet. I mean everything. And he made sure I operated everything so I understood how it worked and answered all questions I had. Very thorough. It took about 2 hours, maybe more.... I hope you get the same experience on your walk through. Don't settle for anything less!
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Posted By: Richand Cindy
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 8:54pm
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Good luck on your new RPOD. We have not picked up our 180 yet so cannot tell you about our experience, only what we have heard. RV dealers are not like car dealers. We always buy our cars at the cheapest dealer and then service them at our closest dealer. Never had a problem. In fact just being nice, giving xmas presents etc and we get always get royal treatment even not having purchased the car at that dealer. However we have heard horror stories about RV dealers refusing service or taking many weeks for an appointment. We called Forest River and they strongly recommend you buy at your local dealer. they especially warn against buying from distant dealer and having the RV shipped. In case there is warranty work needed they will fix it from a local dealer since forest river shipped the RV to them at their risk, but will not fix it if you had it shipped. Thats due to the fact they do not know if the shipper damaged the RV. Since you picked up the RV yourself that should not be a problem however you may find it difficult to get service at your local dealer. We already know we cannot go back to one dealer that is 40 miles from us because we did not buy from him (he wanted $3000 more plus another $2000 for "options"). He said his service dept cannot handle more RV's than they sell. A second dealer refuses to answer our emails or call us back. So when we get our 180 we will have to drive the 100 miles to get service. That being said most items are third party and any RV repair place can fix them (eg heater, refrigerator, hot water, stove, ac etc). Only construction issues (leaks, loose doors, wiring, etc) need to go back to the dealer.
------------- OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk NEW: 2018 Passport Elite 23RB + 2017 Ram 1500 Diesel |
Posted By: computerfixitguy
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2016 at 10:18pm
| Thank you. FR does not offer the 176T where we live, if you click on their websites map, its not for us mountain folk apparently, and the dealer here does not bring it in because its not made in Oregon. So the closest one is a very large dealership chain in Nebraska. Why the 176t is only marketed to half the country is a puzzler. Were excited to go get it and start camping with our Jeep which is why we settled on the R Pod. This forum has been a great resource. Its also not overwhelmed with users posting their awesome problem free experiences, but we know they are there. |
Posted By: Artypod
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2016 at 1:08am
| Thanks for all the replys. The dealers seem decent, (Sprads in Reno), talked us out of the Lance even though we could afford it as it wasn't as off road ready. They did tell us to plan on at least 2 hours for the walk through and we were encouraged to video tape it. Hopefully it all goes well. Has anyone used the forever warranty they give out these days. They said for an annual $150 "inspection fee" pretty much everything is covered for the life of trailer. Seems like a scam to get you to use their service on pretty basic maintenance. I'm guessing most failures happen in the 1st year or 2, but like I said total newb to all the conveniences of these trailers. |
Posted By: Richand Cindy
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2016 at 4:18pm
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We have researched the Forever Warranty and they are not a scam. However you may realize like we did that they may not be worth it even for free. The company is very transparent and you can read their materials they use to sell their plans to dealers, what items are covered and what the purchaser needs to do to keep the warranty active. They mostly offer warranty's for cars and couple years ago they added RV.s. they only sell to limited number of dealers so that a dealer can "beat" his competition by offering free lifetime warrantees. The dealer pays for every RV they sell so even if you turn it down they bought it anyway and just as well give you the contract. Not everything is covered just the opposite mostly add-ons are covered (a/c, heater, refrigerator, fan). The only things covered about the RV are the doors and hinges. So leaks not covered, frog decal pealing not covered. Wall coverings, mirror falling off not covered. So make sure if you are comparing the cost of the RV to another dealer that offers extended service contracts you compare one with the same coverage. In fact, after you buy your RV with the free warranty and go to pick it up they probably will still offer to sell you and extended contract (note they cannot call them warranty - a warranty is from a dealer and is free thus the lifetime warranty, anything else that you buy is an extended service agreement). Every year you have to bring your RV back for an inspection which cost $150. So dealers love this (especially car dealers ) since it means you will continue to bring back your RV for service and anything they find which is not covered they can charge you for. The only dealers we found that gave these free warrantees had the highest prices. When told them this they reply but yes we are including the warranty which is worth $3000. Wrong it is free. So if two dealers are charging the same price yes I would go for the free warranty. But I would not pay for it and probably would not pay the yearly fee. But like I said this is all available on their website so I would not call it a scam, Just read the print (and its large not smallprint) If you are more than 100 miles from the dealer you can bring it to any reputable mechanic for the yearly inspection and warranty service but need to get authorized in advance from the company (not your dealer). Hey after five years the A/C goes out you paid $750 to get a $1000 a/c so it could be worth it.
------------- OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk NEW: 2018 Passport Elite 23RB + 2017 Ram 1500 Diesel |
Posted By: computerfixitguy
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2016 at 4:56pm
| what great information. thank you. sounds like dental insurance almost. guess it's down to what's your time worth. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2016 at 12:27pm
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If you want info on warranties, see the link in my signature. ------------- 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: computerfixitguy
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2016 at 11:52pm
| Picked up my 2017 176T... didn't check before I left but my keys don't work. HA.. Question, anyone know if there are 3 different keys on the T model for the back hatch? I have two keys and neither of them fit the hatch much less rotate. |
Posted By: Marco T
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 4:37pm
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Hi computerfixitguy - we have the 2015 and a 1/2 176T model and the first time I tried my keys in the back it didn't seem to work either. I think they are just really difficult to get the key in there initially. The round key that also opens the storage compartment should be the right one. I'm planning on researching on how to get the lock sets replaced, since I believe anyone with an RV likely has the same little key. Kind of how any John Deere lawn tractor key will work in any JD lawn tractor . . . ------------- The Tri-podders 2011 Dodge Durango Citadel - 5.7L Hemi 2015 R-pod 176T |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2016 at 7:36pm
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Yes, the storage compartment keys are the same. There are only about 50 patterns for the door. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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