Camping Adventures: Maiden Voyage Completed!

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Maiden Voyage Completed!

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Camping Adventures
Forum Discription: Post your camping adventures here for all to share
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8915
Printed Date: 05 May 2025 at 11:35am
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Topic: Maiden Voyage Completed!

Posted By: therese50
Subject: Maiden Voyage Completed!
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2016 at 7:27pm

Hello fellow campers. My husband and I had a great weekend at a small park in Greenville, Michigan. The R-Pod was so easy to set up it was almost unreal. Backing it into the campsite was the hardest part. This is something that we hope gets easier with time! We couldn't believe that the bed was indeed big enough for the two of us, and I laid there telling him I was expecting the whole camper to tip over on it's end with our weight. It was a really big decision, buying this camper, and now we are so tickled we can't wait to go again. Hope to explore more sites in Michigan and beyond.

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Therese from Michigan

Replies:

Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2016 at 8:06pm

Congratulations and welcome to the forum. If you haven't figured out about winterizing your pod, this is the place to ask about it -- and anything else related to pods.

TT

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2010 176
FJ Cruiser

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2016 at 8:53pm

Glad to hear you had a great time! We just returned yesterday from a 1 week jaunt in the UP of Michigan. Hope to post some pics later this week. Most exciting part was rock picking along Lake Superior looking for agates and riding the infamous H-58. From Muskallonge Lake to the Lake Superior State Forest Campground it is only 7 miles but it took us a good hour to travel it as the unimproved road had major potholes in it as well as having to ford water that was nearly a foot deep in a few areas. Slow and steady but the final location on Lake Superior was superb! Had the sad duty of winterizing the pod this afternoon. Closed the bypass to the HW tank, drained it as well and then hooked up the air compressor to the 3 way valve under the sink. The blowing out takes about a minute, going through each outlet including the toilet twice. Use almost 1 pint of the pink antifreeze for the toilet, the 2 sink traps and the 1 shower trap. Backed it into the horse barn, hoping for another opportunity maybe later in November to take it out again, but if not, we will be ready for next year.

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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: therese50
Date Posted: 16 Oct 2016 at 10:35pm

Thanks. I've been lurking and asking some questions. Everyone is so helpful it's great!

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Therese from Michigan

Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2016 at 10:38am

We have developed a routine for backing over the years - first horse trailers, then tent camper then rPod. The second person in the vehicle has to get out, and stand behind but always in view of one of the rear view mirrors. Two way radios are of minimal help - Right and left directions can be confusing at best. Hand signals direct which way the trailer is to go. A clinched fist means STOP.

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2016 at 6:10pm

Backing tip, with your hand at bottom of steering wheel (center), the direction you move steering wheel will determine direction trailer will go. If you want the trailer to go left - push the steering wheel left. Go slow and steady and if you get out of control a bit, pull forward and start over. Patience is the key to good backing. Guide has to be where they can be seen and no yelling, hand signals, left - right, stop.

Posted By: Pete Brayton
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2016 at 6:16pm

Some people have suggested practicing in a parking lot... empty preferred!

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2021 Rpod 196
2013 Ford 150 V8

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2016 at 7:56pm

+1 on the empty parking lot.

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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: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2016 at 9:45pm

Michael is better at giving directions for backing up, so I'm behind the wheel and he verbally gives directions. Works great for us!

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Diane and Michael
2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE)
2007 Toyota Tundra
BLOG:Podding in Paradise,
birderdiane526.blogspot.com

Posted By: Blue Highways
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2016 at 10:56am

Everyone has a backing system that works for them. I modified (your correct clenched fist) way of signalling to stop backing up with my wife only slightly. This change helped us out in backing up in low light, such as dusk. Instead of the clenched fist to stop, she now holds up her forearms and crosses them in an "X" which is a little more visible to me through the mirrors. Would hate to even nudge an immovable cement picnic table!

Sometimes we'll do a second stage backing step to roll the appropriate wheel into our yellow "lego" raising block(s). In low light, my wife will immuminate, from the side the yellow block that I want to bring the wheel up upon, using her small LED flashlight. This way, I can see it well, and then we're level to set up the WanderPod. That helps for low light or almost dark. Best thing is to arrive at a campsite earlier in the afternoon of course! Best laid plans... right? Anyway, very soon the whole procedure will be as smooth as Electro-guide for you! Congrats on your maiden voyage! Ours is happily lodged into our memory banks. It just gets better.

Brad & Layli

WanderPod, our durable 179 that obediently follows

"BG" (aka Baleuga), the blue 10 Tundra