New R-pod full-timer!
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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=9111
Printed Date: 25 May 2025 at 1:52am Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: New R-pod full-timer!
Posted By: Chris and Sarah
Subject: New R-pod full-timer!
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 7:58pm
Hello everyone, just saying hello!
Chris and Sarah here -- we sold our house in Florida a year ago and have been full-timing it since then. We did 10 months in a t@b and it was great but we wanted something larger, so we just upgraded to a 2017 Rpod 171 -- and it feels like a MANSION in here!
2016 has taken us through about 30 states giver or take, and now we're in South florida through the winter. Great to be here!
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Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 8:02pm
Congratulations and welcome! We aren't quite ready to full-time. We have made some significant trips. I am hoping to make a trip to Yellowstone in 2018.
------------- 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
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 8:05pm
Welcome to the group!! Congrats on your 171!!
------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
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Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 8:09pm
Fantastic to hear. Wish i could full time it, and criss cross the U.S. like you guys in my 172. Maybe someday i'll get lucky/
------------- 2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 8:57pm
A couple months ago in October we met a couple from church who sold their home and have been full timing in their fifth-wheel. We were up on Lake Superior near Au Train (UP of Michigan) and their unit made our 177 look very small. This thing had 3 axles, weighs in at 19,500 lb empty, has 4 slides, and is 45 foot long, wow. I told my friend I wouldn't want to haul something that significant across the fruited plain, but he enjoys it. We hope to travel more in a couple years once I retire, for now we enjoy using our pod about 30 days a year. Good to hear you are enjoying your MANSION and am sure you have many great memories and stories to share.
------------- 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."
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Posted By: Chris and Sarah
Date Posted: 09 Dec 2016 at 8:58pm
Thanks everyone for the kind words!
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Posted By: twday66
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2016 at 8:24am
My wife and I were just talking about that sort of life today. We're thinking of cutting loose from our home and responsibilities after a couple of downsized years in a small city. I'd like to know how you handle the "address" issues for Social Security, bank accounts, etc without a fixed home. So many questions, so little time.
------------- 2014 R-POD 179
Nissan Frontier SE Supercab 4L 6-cyl, manual transmission
Yamaha WR250X & Suzuki V-Strom
Kayaks, canoes, bicycles, guitars, and a mobile recording rig all have to fit somewhere.
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Posted By: Chris and Sarah
Date Posted: 10 Dec 2016 at 8:30am
@twday66, we have a PO Box -- at one point we went six months before we were able to get back to it, and it was a GIANT BIN OF GARBAGE.
You don't think about what a giant waste of paper the mail is until you see half of a year of it all in once place, and you keep 2 envelopes and throw the rest away.
Of course, all the important things are handled online. For the VERY FEW situations where someone has insisted on a physical address, we used our old neighbor.
Other than that, from what I've heard the Escapees have a mail forwarding service for a reasonable price where you can use their physical address and once a month they'll send you a package of all your mail, or more frequently for something important.
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Posted By: TehachapiJanet
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 1:22am
I currently have a T@G and initially was going to get a T@B but now am looking at the 171. Do you have any advice or warnings? I travel by myself with my two dogs.
Thanks for any help, Janet
------------- Janet
Tehachapi
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Posted By: Chris and Sarah
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 6:31am
Janet,
From what I understand, the tab is just a bigger version of the tag, so I imagine you know what you're getting into when it comes to little guy.
As far as the 171 is concerned, what you're getting is SPACE. Wonderful, cavernous space compared to a tab (and especially a tag). There's no need to set up your bed every night and the table every morning -- it's two distinct spaces! The 171 has a real screen door -- one that will keep dogs in, whereas the tab just has a screen mesh that pulls across the open door space -- it's fine for people, but a dog inclined to chase something it sees outside will burst right through it. The kitchen and storage in the 171 allows you to actually cook a meal, where the tab's counter space and kitchen storage is severely limited. Finally, there's the size of the tanks. You can only boondock for 2 or 3 days max in a tab, and it's not about the battery -- you'll either run out of fresh water or fill up your gray or black water.
What you're losing with the 171 is build quality. The reason the price of a tab and a 171 are comparable is that the tab is just so well put together. The walls are thicker, the wood is nicer, and the overall fit and finish of the interior just feels a notch or 2 above the Rpod. Now, I'm new to the Rpod, so I really can't say anything negative about the durability. Just my first impressions.
Hope that's helpful!
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 9:11am
Originally posted by TehachapiJanet
I currently have a T@G and initially was going to get a T@B but now am looking at the 171. Do you have any advice or warnings? I travel by myself with my two dogs.
Thanks for any help, Janet
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Since you are already in that "group".. LOL
Have you looked at the T@B 400? Interesting alternative.. I think the wet bath is a bit better executed.
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Posted By: Chris and Sarah
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 10:04am
can you even get the 400 in the US?
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Posted By: TehachapiJanet
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 12:01pm
Thank you very much, that is the type of information I was looking for. I am leaning towards the 171. I am not seeing a lot of horror stories here on poor quality of Rpods. There seem to be many repeat buyers. I am concerned about reliability since I will be traveling by myself (with the dogs).
Thanks again,
Janet with Foxy and Rudy
------------- Janet
Tehachapi
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 12:21pm
Originally posted by Chris and Sarah
can you even get the 400 in the US? |
Production starts in early 2017.. They debuted a pre-production model in Louisville last month at the RVIA show.



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Posted By: TehachapiJanet
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 12:23pm
I don't think the T@B 400's are available here (from internet searches) and the price tag will probably be prohibitive. I want something with more room than my T@G, inside galley and bathroom, and the ability to boondock.
I need something I can count on. The quality of the cabinets is not such a concern, it is the reliability of the unit as a whole. There are so many Rpods on the road, I can't believe there are major issues with reliability. There has to be a balance between "quality" and price.
Thanks for your help.
PS: Is that "group" the Little Guy group? I'm not snooty and I think I want to be an Rpod owner, I'm just a little afraid of change.
Thanks again, Janet
------------- Janet
Tehachapi
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Posted By: TehachapiJanet
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 12:26pm
The information on the 400 didn't appear until after my post. Thanks for the info.
------------- Janet
Tehachapi
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 12:32pm
Originally posted by TehachapiJanet
Thank you very much, that is the type of information I was looking for. I am leaning towards the 171. I am not seeing a lot of horror stories here on poor quality of Rpods. There seem to be many repeat buyers. I am concerned about reliability since I will be traveling by myself (with the dogs).
Thanks again,
Janet with Foxy and Rudy
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In general, Pods are average I would say, in reliability. As with anything, how the owner treats it and cares for it will have an affect.. 171 is a good floor plan. If possible, you should try to go back to back between a 171 and a 177.. the extra bit of room the slide out gives is very noticeable.
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Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 12:35pm
Originally posted by TehachapiJanet
I don't think the T@B 400's are available here (from internet searches) and the price tag will probably be prohibitive. I want something with more room than my T@G, inside galley and bathroom, and the ability to boondock.
I need something I can count on. The quality of the cabinets is not such a concern, it is the reliability of the unit as a whole. There are so many Rpods on the road, I can't believe there are major issues with reliability. There has to be a balance between "quality" and price.
Thanks for your help.
PS: Is that "group" the Little Guy group? I'm not snooty and I think I want to be an Rpod owner, I'm just a little afraid of change.
Thanks again, Janet
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Didn't mean snooty.. just that you, and Chris and Sarah have "history" with the brand/style. (couple discussions going on here at once.. )
We would love to have a LG or T@B, but with nearly 200 pounds of dog with us.. and possibly more in the future, (when our Maggie passes, I want a Leonberger) and hoping to go "mostly full time".. just to small. ;) We just bit the bullet to go a bit bigger..
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Posted By: TehachapiJanet
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 1:35pm
You do have a lot of dog. I have a Chihuahua/terrier and a Border Collie, just lost my Golden Retriever. First time in 38 years that I haven't had a Golden.
Thanks,
Janet
------------- Janet
Tehachapi
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Posted By: twday66
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 2:07pm
Thanks for the information. We've only been in our current house for a couple of years, so I don't have a neighbor I could dump that mail trash pile responsibility on. We'll have to think about that problem for a while. Cutting loose of the house, state and national politics, and the rest of the useless pile of responsibilities and tribulations sounds pretty good at the moment and has for a while. Minnesota winter finally hit us last week and that always inspires "getting the hell out" emotions too. I assume things like voting are no longer an issue when you aren't really a resident? After 50 years of never missing an election, local or national, this year has made me rethink that policy, too.
------------- 2014 R-POD 179
Nissan Frontier SE Supercab 4L 6-cyl, manual transmission
Yamaha WR250X & Suzuki V-Strom
Kayaks, canoes, bicycles, guitars, and a mobile recording rig all have to fit somewhere.
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Posted By: Chris and Sarah
Date Posted: 16 Dec 2016 at 2:14pm
well, my driver's license still has my old house on it, so I had no problem voting absentee this time :)
I hear ya on the winter weather -- I'm in South FL and every day this week has been in the 80's!
I have to say...that 400 is gorgeous. Enough that I felt a pang of buyer's remorse for my new 171, which I really do love. I'm consoled by the fact that it still looks smaller than the 171 and is surely a bit pricier.
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