Just joined from Idaho - 179 Owner
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=9598
Printed Date: 26 May 2025 at 12:41am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Just joined from Idaho - 179 Owner
Posted By: IdSummitGirl
Subject: Just joined from Idaho - 179 Owner
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 10:58am
Hi! We purchased a 2016 1/2, only 5 times out, 179! We are thrilled and terrified. :-) We were very fortunate to find this great deal from a really nice couple who barely used it (I spent yesterday taking off new appliance stickers and doing a formality clean) and did a few great upgrades (e.g., full-sized mattress, tv swivel arm, generator). They clearly hated to see it go, but decided they wanted to join the toy hauler crowd. We, on the other hand, have been die hard tenters, but age is impacting our comfort, so we've been keeping our eye out for good deals in this floor plan. We've spent the last couple days searching this forum and really appreciate everyone that has shared their information and modifications. We have a lot to learn and this site is great to get people fully into the pod experience quickly. Thank you!
Thank you especially for the "checklists" and "must haves" posts. We've been all over them trying to customize them for our use. We're from Pocatello/Driggs Idaho and have friends with rpods, or will soon be getting rpods.
When we brought it home Friday, we managed to bottom out on a stabilizer jack (ever so gently) while backing it into my slightly sloping driveway. I have searched the forums for alternatives to the fixed stabilizer jacks and haven't seen anything. we are thinking we'd have better ground clearance for maneuvering without the two on the back being fixed. Maybe I need a better keyword? or more experience. Would appreciate your thoughts on this....
-------------
The Journey Matters....
|
Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 1:31pm
Welcome to the group! Congrats on your 179! We really like ours!!
-------------
Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171
|
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 2:30pm
Idaho is a great place to have a camper! Congrats!
Maybe the first thing to try regarding the rear stabilizers, is to lower your hitch ball. The pod should tow level to slightly low in front, so if it's already there, this suggestion may not help, but if you can lower the hitch end, that will raise the back end.
There are other stabilizers that I'm not familiar with, and you can take the ones you have off and stow them and use them loose. Not nearly as convenient, obviously. You can put boards and bricks under the back when camped. In other words, almost anything will do.
You can also put 3" - 4" risers on the axle, but I bet you already have them.
TT
-------------
2010 176
FJ Cruiser
|
Posted By: IdSummitGirl
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 2:35pm
|
Thank you. I like the hitch and riser idea. I am not sure where we are at on either.
We also have an FJ. :-)
-------------
The Journey Matters....
|
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 2:43pm
Hi and welcome! Congratulations on your new POD! We purchased our gently used R-pod 2016 179 last June and have been very happy with it. We full-time with 3 cats! We removed the rear jacks because they often scraped on uneven surfaces. We use what are called stack jacks. They are metal jacks that you put under the frame to level and remove and store when traveling. They're available at Walmarts and Camping World. Probably Amazon, too! Also, if you're on Facebook consider joining the Rpod group there. Like this forum, there's lots of great people and great information and advice! Have fun!
-------------
Diane and Michael
2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE)
2007 Toyota Tundra
BLOG:Podding in Paradise,
birderdiane526.blogspot.com
|
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 2:47pm
I hope that smiley means you like yours as much as I like my FJ! Absolutely the most fun vehicle I've ever had. Even though it's not that big a truck, I had to lower my hitch a good bit to level the pod. And I don't have a lift or monster tires or anything.
It does very well towing the pod, but I don't enjoy the 9-11 mpg I get when towing. I tend to drive faster than I probably should though. Two things I think are very important if you have an automatic transmission: an auxiliary transmission cooler (very easy to install) and some way to monitor the transmission fluid temperature. I use a Scanguage. Third thing: don't drive in 5th at all, and in the mountains you may need to drop into 3rd or even 2nd, not so much for the torque, but to keep the transmission from searching for gears. That's what really drives up the temp. I drive a lot in the Smokey Mountains and even there, my transmission used to get way hotter than I like. Last fall in the Rockies with the transmission cooler I did fine.
TT
-------------
2010 176
FJ Cruiser
|
Posted By: IdSummitGirl
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 3:03pm
Thank you!
-------------
The Journey Matters....
|
Posted By: IdSummitGirl
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 3:08pm
|
We like it alot. Named it Onyx. We actually have a manual transmission and we did notice the low mpg with that as well, but knew it going into it. We were also driving slower than I would have liked bringing the pod home, but the wind was very high that day. I appreciate all your info. My man will be reviewing it....
-------------
The Journey Matters....
|
Posted By: IdSummitGirl
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 3:17pm
|
Thank you for these tips re: the jacks. We have so many uneven surfaces out here. If we can adjust the leveling as another poster suggested and modify the jacks, it might make a huge difference for us.
I am also interested in your "logistics" (i.e., cat box) with three cats. We have one and if we could make her pod compatible, it would give us options on longer trips. She wasn't too impressed when we introduced her to it the other day. Seemed more interested in getting back into her "real" house.
I will look for the rpod FB group as well. Hadn't even thought of that....
-------------
The Journey Matters....
|
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 5:03pm
There was a post in the recent past by a member who replaced the upper jack bolts, not the ones holding jack to frame, the bolts thru top of jack with locking pins. SO they could remove the jack when the got in a situation where they would drag. Fairly easy fix and solved the drag issue. For some reason my search does get me anywhere past today, have tried the advanced search and it indicates I have results, but nothing is displayed.
-------------
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
|
Posted By: IdSummitGirl
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 7:31pm
i have noticed that with a number of my searches. says there's results, but nothing displays. hopefully a temporary glitch. Thank you, i will try to find that....
-------------
The Journey Matters....
|
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 11:33pm
We have adopted all 3 since we have been on the road. All 3 were put to the test immediately as we full-time. No sticks and bricks home for them! Luckily they travel well. They'll ride in the TV with us; mostly sleeping, but periodically they'll move around the car and visit us in the front seat. We bought 3 of these cardboard scratch "recliners" that are in the car (later in the trailer when we are camping) and they all like them. We keep 1 litter box in the truck and one in the trailer. In the trailer, the box (shared by all 3) is on the floor by the refrigerator. We clean the box 2 to 3 times a day. In the trailer they sleep wherever suits them, mostly in bed with us! Also, we use Banfield Pet Hospital for their vet needs. It works out well for us as they are all around the USA. They're in most Petsmart stores. Two of the 3 love being outside so we have them in harnesses on a tie-out and we're always present. We do short walks with them too. Hope this helps you to travel with your kitty!
-------------
Diane and Michael
2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE)
2007 Toyota Tundra
BLOG:Podding in Paradise,
birderdiane526.blogspot.com
|
Posted By: Wood River Pod
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2017 at 11:02pm
IdSummitGirl,
Greetings from Hailey, ID fellow 179 owner. We have a steep driveway as well. As mcarter said, I did the following mod to be able to remove the rear jacks when coming or going. Could also be convenient when heading down some dirt roads to that secret camp site.
Check out the link and scroll down to clevis pins in the jacks. There is another bracket that you need to line up when reinstalling the jack. First time your see the two arms mesh together so that the jack raises evenly. Once you get the hang of it, it takes less than 5 min.
Enjoy!
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9134&KW=wood+river+pod&PN=1&title=wood-river-179-mods - http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9134&KW=wood+river+pod&PN=1&title=wood-river-179-mods
-------------
Smith's in Hailey
Early 2017 179 HRE
http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9134&PN=1&title=wood-river-179-mods - Wood River Mods
|
Posted By: IdSummitGirl
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 10:17am
|
Wow, Hailey. I could probably name drop.
If the 170 had a dry bath, that would be perfect, perfect. But we're pretty happy with just perfect! Thanks for your mod info. We like a number of them and appreciate you sharing. We've yet to drill anything into the wall, but i like your instructions and we definitely need to get some storage options on the wall.
-------------
The Journey Matters....
|
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 11:55am
I've also made a number of mods. You can see them by following the link in my signature block below. Perhaps some of them would be useful to you also.
-------------
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: IdSummitGirl
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 12:28pm
Thank You! You guys are the best!
-------------
The Journey Matters....
|
Posted By: john in idaho
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 5:43pm
|
I used the Save a Jack. Very easy to mount. Then the jacks go in the TV for travel.
|
Posted By: IdSummitGirl
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 6:21pm
So have you had any concern about theft with these? (meaining any "removable" type jack/stabilizer.
-------------
The Journey Matters....
|
Posted By: birderdiane526
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 6:32pm
We have not. With the weight of the trailer on them, they aren't going to be easy to take.
-------------
Diane and Michael
2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE)
2007 Toyota Tundra
BLOG:Podding in Paradise,
birderdiane526.blogspot.com
|
Posted By: IdSummitGirl
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 10:59pm
Thanks, appreciate your response. We've really only camped and for the most part in remote places. Not used to "front-country issues." :-)
-------------
The Journey Matters....
|
|