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New to all this, checklist

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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=9963
Printed Date: 28 May 2025 at 7:31pm
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Topic: New to all this, checklist
Posted By: somedude
Subject: New to all this, checklist
Date Posted: 16 May 2017 at 12:46pm
Hi all.  Been lurking for a while and reading, reading, reading all the posts here.  (this forum has made me very unproductive at work.)  

Been a long time tent camper and an occasional pop up user.  Taking delivery at the end of the month of a 176T and am really excited about it.  Being that this is my first travel trailer I'm of course overthinking all of it and making lists.  Wondered if with all the very experienced folks on this forum I could get some advice on my list.  Here is the list I made of pre-launch, setup at the site and departure from the site.  Would you all take a look at it and let me know if I've left anything off or got something in the wrong order.  Would love any feedback you have for me.  

Before Trip
check tv fluids and tire pressure.  
Test the propane, carbon monoxide, and smoke detectors.
Check propane bottle is full
Check top vent is closed.
Disconnect solar battery chargers
Verify stabilizers are fully up.
Attach to tv. 
Attach trailer power cable.
Attach trailer chains.
Test trailer lights.
Test trailer brakes.
Check air pressure
Check lugs (100 FT/LB)
Turn refrigerator on (home ac)
Partially fill water tank
Load trailer
secure all items
latch fridge door
open propane valve
Change refrigerator to propane.


Arrival at site:
park and check that power, water will reach.
Check that slide will open and rdome will fit.
Side to side level. 
Chock wheels
Disconnect tow chains and electric connection
Release coupler/unhitch
Raise front of trailer with tongue jack
lower stabilizers and level front to rear
put steps down and open handrail
open slide
attach water pressure regulator to spigot, then hose then water filter
turn on water to flush filter
connect filter to rpod
Turn water on
connect power first to trailer then to shore
Turn inside breakers on
switch fridge to shore power
turn on hot water heater
Turn on water pump if needed
open bath vent and windows
open tent end
remove outside contents including R-dome
Install Rdome
Put deodorizer in black tank 


Departure from site
load kayaks, bikes
check all lights are off
Ac/heat and fan are off
close tent end
stow table
make sure everything inside is secured/latched
Empty black tank
Empty grey tank
lower fresh water tank level if needed
turn off water pump
disconnect shore power
disconnect water
turn off hot water heater
Put fridge on propane
close bath vent and windows
throw out all trash
clean top of slide 
make sure inside nothing is in way of slide closing
close slide
secure all items
latch fridge door
close handrail/stairs
Raise stabilizers
attach to tv
attach power cable
attach chains
confirm tongue jack is raised
Remove wheel chocks
lock door
Test trailer lights
test trailer brakes
Pull forward, collect levelers if used and do final walk around including stabilizers and tongue raised 
Recheck trailer connection to tv.  


For storage
Empty/flush tanks if needed
close valves
double check propane is off
Cover LP
hook up solar battery chargers
Make sure fridge, lights are off
make sure vent and windows are closed
open fridge door
cover rpod.  

Thanks and looking forward to seeing some of you out there.  


Replies:
Posted By: Subzilla
Date Posted: 17 May 2017 at 9:14am
Don't forget to secure all inside items prior to departure from home (fridge items, pantry items, table...).  Latch fridge door.
Prior to leaving campsite:  disconnect tele cable if used.  If not on shore power, turn off water pump.  I also open the faucets for a second to relieve the built up water pressure



-------------
Mark
Concord, NC
2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4

Posted By: Bama Pod
Date Posted: 17 May 2017 at 9:52am
Also on departure don't forget to power off the TV antenna (seems I ALWAYS miss this step).

-------------
Bama Pod
Huntsville, AL

2017 Ford F250
2017 Airstream 26U

Posted By: Richand Cindy
Date Posted: 17 May 2017 at 11:01am
By accident we turned on the water before connecting it to the POD and black water came out from the filter.  Same as with a refrigerator at home you need to flush out the filter before using it.  So now whenever we hook up we make all the water connections first except for attaching it to the POD and then run the water for a minute washing out the filter.  Then we turn off the water and hook up the filter to the POD and turn the water back on.  It seems whenever the filter dries out the first few seconds the water is black from the charcoal so we now rinse it out first.  Just another step.

-------------
OLD 2017.5 RPOD 180 + 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk
NEW: 2018 Passport Elite 23RB + 2017 Ram 1500 Diesel

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 17 May 2017 at 11:45am
Do you actually want the refrigerator running on propane while you're wheeling down the road? 

I would rather have it running on battery for traveling.


-------------
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: bigbearcraig
Date Posted: 17 May 2017 at 5:03pm
When I tow the propane is always off. The refrigerator is run on 12v.

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 17 May 2017 at 5:31pm
Lot of discussion over this and conflicts. Really has to do with your TV alternator and wiring thru your 7 pin connector. You need, I think, a 10 gauge wire and ability to watch your TV charge circuitry. The propane option is easiest. If your TV can't supply the required voltage to keep fridge running, then you need to reevaluate your options. Make sense? You don't want to make a fuel stop and find your TV battery has been drained. It takes some watching. I prepare my fridge days before trip and load with freezable packets. I carry a cooler. A big one. The fridge is not going to support us for 3/4 days. Like all RV stuff, you need to be aware of what you're doing.

-------------
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 17 May 2017 at 6:51pm
I think most people run their fridge on propane whenever not hooked up to shore power.  Unless you know your TV can provide enough amps to run the fridge (very iffy) there is really never a reason to run the fridge on 12v except when going through some tunnels on the east coast and on some ferries.

Many larger RVs have fridges that only work on propane or 120v.  Battery power is not an option.  In the opinion of many people, propane power is safe at gas stations when filling up.  Else you'd probably run across a lot of flaming filling stations or burnt out hulks. Not to mention a lot of signs saying "TURN OFF PROPANE APPLIANCES".

One of the major reasons for not running the fridge on 12v is that unless you are positive your TV provides the amps out the Bargman, you can quickly end up with a dead pod battery and/or even a dead TV battery, especially if you forget to switch to propane for a lunch or dinner stop of more than an hour or two.

TT


-------------
2010 176
FJ Cruiser

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 17 May 2017 at 6:54pm
Originally posted by mcarter

Lot of discussion over this and conflicts. Really has to do with your TV alternator and wiring thru your 7 pin connector. You need, I think, a 10 gauge wire and ability to watch your TV charge circuitry. The propane option is easiest. If your TV can't supply the required voltage to keep fridge running, then you need to reevaluate your options. Make sense? You don't want to make a fuel stop and find your TV battery has been drained. It takes some watching. I prepare my fridge days before trip and load with freezable packets. I carry a cooler. A big one. The fridge is not going to support us for 3/4 days. Like all RV stuff, you need to be aware of what you're doing.
Sure. All true. However, I would be very uncomfortable about having an open propane tank valve, and pressurized propane in the system while traveling down the road. Just sayin'. I think that is a serious safety issue.

As for the TV. Our vehicle turns off power to the trailer when the engine is off. So I'm not worried about that causing a problem. For me, I prefer the 12V option. 


-------------
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: somedude
Date Posted: 18 May 2017 at 9:30am
Thanks for the suggestions, I've added them into my list.   I think the TV would be capable of running the fridge on 12v, if it weren't already running every other possible electronic device during travel.  Dvd, 2 Lcd screens, xbox, sat nav, multiple phone chargers etc...  The car has every possible electronic distraction in it, and the kids stock up on screen time since we have a no electronics policy once we reach camp.  

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 18 May 2017 at 1:01pm
The other thought I had was that the propane refrigerator by definition has an open flame that is vented behind the refrigerator. I have no idea what effect going down the road has on that flame. It would also make me very uncomfortable pulling into a gas station knowing that there is an open flame going in my TT.

-------------
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: rda54
Date Posted: 18 May 2017 at 2:34pm
We just did a 4000 mile trip and ran the fridge on lp when on the move no problems.


-------------
Ronald & Lonna
2014 178
2016 Chevy 1500

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 18 May 2017 at 3:12pm
GlueGuy,

I think your way of doing things is ok. I use the TV to run fridge, works fine. I get to site, I use shore power or propane. I am a huge cooler fan that has everything I need for week or more, not a fan of hanging out in grocery chains. Sure you have already checked your 12 volt charge wire to make sure it is adequate. It's each individuals travels, have fun.

-------------
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: rda54
Date Posted: 18 May 2017 at 3:52pm
I will try running on the battery this weekend when we go for our anniversary to beaver creek valley state park. Cold and rainy but that's ok we can find something to do.

-------------
Ronald & Lonna
2014 178
2016 Chevy 1500

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 May 2017 at 4:13pm
On our previous vehicle (Ford Escape), the setup was inadequate to both run the refrigerator and charge the battery. Once I figured that out, I have only been running the refrigerator on propane unless I am on shore power. We have traveled extensively using propane this way and have not had any problems. The flame is in behind baffles and there does not seem to be a problem with wind going down the highway.
I have not tried our Frontier. I don't have an adequate meter to measure amperage being fed to the batteries while going down the road, so I have stuck with propane.


-------------
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: TerriSchleiss
Date Posted: 28 May 2017 at 11:27am
Thank you for the check list.  I have never owned or towed an RV.  I am very disapointed in the paperwork that I got.  I was so overwhelmed when I picked up my R-Pod 179 that I cannot remember the walk through...  I will look this over and get back to you if I may...  Sincerely TerriSchleiss


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