The rig means both the trailer and the tow vehicle, plus the load and passengers in the TV and the load in the trailer. One thing you can check is the max combined gross vehicle weight rating (MCGVWR)  of the tow vehicle, that should be on the driver's door jamb, along with max axle weights and other useful information. 

The other number to check is the trailer tongue weight rating. That should be in your TV owner's manual and is typically 10% of max tow rating, or in your case 350 lbs. The 300 lb number that FR provides is really the minimum tow rating, your actual tow rating is almost always higher, and depending on how you load, much higher. In fact, it needs to be,higher, you don't want your tongue weight to be below 10% of actual trailer weight. Sway might occur if its too light. 

Everyone should weight their rig and each axle so you know what you actually have. Generally folks are surprised at how heavy their TV and trailer really are. You can get the weight at a public scale, and you can get the weight on each axle by adding an axle at a time to the scale, then subtracting the measured weights. To get the tongue weight disconnect the trailer and go back through the scale with just the TV. Tongue weight = TV weight with trailer - TV weight without trailer. 

If you have a weight distribution hitch don't have that tensioned when you go through the scale. If you don't have a WDH you'll probably want to get one, but it won't make and overloaded tow vehicle OK, it will improve your stability and handling though. 

If all this seems complicated that's because it is, but its critical for safety to understand and manage all this. 

In your case I can say with high confidence that your tow vehicle will be overloaded or close to it when everything and everybody is on board. 

I so much feel your pain in estimating all these numbers. We also got a used 178 Rpod, 2013. We purchased the Honda Passport with the same towing limits as the Pilot and Ridgeline. The more I read, the more confused I get. It should be simple as the math used is simple arithmetic. 

What do you mean "your rig"?

Do you mean each component: the RPod and the towing separate and together and full?

Thanks,

Aura

Welcome! Now that you have it fixed, I hope you have many fun adventures and make many great memories doing so with your RPod.

Was it the AC that fell or only the inside shroud for the AC? If the whole unit came through the roof, that would really be bad.

Unlike StephenH, I prefer separate sway control from the wdh. That allows me to adjust the level of sway resistance independently from the amount of weight distribution. There is a school of thought that a lot of sway resistance is undesirable on wet or loose road surfaces because it could cause the tow vehicle rear tires to break loose, so in those conditions and on very winding roads I lower the friction in the sway control arms. The all in one systems don't allow for that. Just my preference. 

Welcome and Congratulations! I hope you have many fun adventures and make many great memories with your RP180. We have a 2016 RP179 and are currently towing with a 2010 Nissan Frontier. Since you say your 4-Runner has a 5,000 lb capacity, I am guessing it comes with a factory tow package. You will need a brake controller as well. We have the Hopkins In-SIGHT Flex-Mount controller and have been very happy with it.

WDH/sway control:

If you are getting WDH, make sure it has sway control built in. That way, you don't need to mess with a separate sway bar and its complications.

A good one would be an Andersen No-Sway hitch. It is probably the lightest of the WDH hitches with sway control. All the others use a heavy hitch head and bars. If weight is important to you, check out the Andersen hitch.

We currently use a Hensley Cub hitch. It and the ProPride hitch which is similar are the Cadillac of hitches--quite expensive unless you can find a used one.. It is easier in that the main part of the hitch stays attached to the trailer and the part that attaches to the vehicle is very much lighter although hitching up can be challenging, more so than the demo on the web site where things are perfectly lined up.

We used to use an Equal-i-zer 4-point sway control hitch. The head is heavy, but it was pretty effective. Similar to it is the E2 hitch which is a 2 point sway control hitch. The E2 is less expensive, but many have used it and found it to be adequate. There are other brands also. Just make sure that you buy one that is suited to the weight (overall and tongue) weight of the RPod. For example, the Equal-i-zer 6000/600 (6000 lb capacity, 600 lb tongue weight capacity) which is the one the dealer installed when we bought our RPod.

That is my $.02 worth. I'm sure others will also give their input. I wish you well.

My husband and I just purchased a new to us, 2017 180. This is our first experience with an “RV”. We’ve done a good bit of off-road camper with a tent trailer he built. We have loved traveling to more isolated places and rougher terrain and plan to still take trips with it. 

There are many reasons I wanted the rpod. First, since my husband travels a lot for work, it’s just my teenage daughter, myself and our large dog. I needed something that was fairly easy for a beginner and lighter due to my towing vehicle Toyota 4-Runner TRD Off-road’s towing capacity of 5000. 

Secondly, we wanted to bring the pup (and possibly our cat at some point, though I’m the only one who thinks it’s a good idea ) and be able to leave him/them in the camper if needed for a short time. We are used to traveling light and without many amenities with the tent trailer so we don’t need too much but the air condition and heat are important if we plan on leaving the animals for any amount of time. Plus the teenage is really happy about a “real” bathroom. 

Thirdly, I want to see America, visit small towns, see landmarks, national parks, and meet up with the husband wherever he is working. I especially wanted to before my daughter goes to college or starts getting busy with her own life. (Though I still plan on traveling by myself if my hubby is out of town.)

Currently my in-laws (avid RV travelers in a much larger 5th wheel) and I are camping in a lake campground close to where we live in north Georgia for a few days so I can get first hand experience from them. Hubby is out of town so it’s just us girls and the dog and so far so good. Tomorrow we leave and I will get to experience dumping the tanks. 

We are still making the camper our own and have much to do and buy but overall after one night I’m feeling pretty good about our ability to do this on our own. 

P.S. I’m currently researching WDH if anyone has any suggestions or things to avoid. 

Thanks if you made it to end of my ridiculously long intro and I hope to see y’all out on our adventures. 

Hello and welcome! I know you are excited to pick up your RPod. I hope you have many fun adventures and make many great memories with your RPod.

Originally posted by Bobbo Hi there,  New to the forum. My wife Pam and I take possession of a 2021 193 this coming Thursday from Bankston Motor Homes in Huntsville, AL. First timers all the way. We've done a ton of research and had a lot of boxes to check and this one seems to check them all. We like the murphy bed, bunk beds and the couches. Construction seems solid enough, although I read too much about construction issues on other Forest River products. We have our pre-acceptance checklist in hand and plan a thorough walk around to test everything out. Any suggestions/recommendations on specifically what to look out for would be appreciated.    We are towing with a Nissan Frontier 4WD short bed. With 6,100 lbs of towing capacity, we should be comfortably below any weight limits even if we load it up. We are buying the weight distribution/sway bar hitch and are having the dealer install the brake box when we pick her up. First trip out is to a local campsite later this month.  I'm still learning my way around this forum eager to absorb its content and owner's stories. Hopefully, we'll be regaling you with our own wonderful memories soon enough.  Best regards,  Bob

On your walk-through, use either a video camera or your phone to shoot video of the walk-through. There is a lot of information covered in a very short period.

Things to make sure they explain to you:

1. If there is a battery cut-off switch, its location and operation. If not, how to properly disconnect and reconnect the battery.

2. Make sure all plumbing fittings have been checked and tightened. On our first trip, we found that the kitchen sink drain had not been tightened and it leaked into the drawers beneath, damaging a couple of cookbooks we had put there.

3. Operation of the water pump, to include winterizing/dewinterizing valves for the water heater and proper positioning of them.

4. Operation of all appliances. Make sure all of them are tested to include AC, furnace, fan, and especially refrigerator on AC, DC, and LP. If it has set at the dealer for any time, have them pull the panel off and check for wasp nests or spider webs.

5. If you are having them install a WD hitch, make sure they show you how to adjust it. The initial setting there will not be correct for the weight after it is loaded.

6. Verify operation of all lights and switches.

7. Look over all the cabinets and construction to see if there are any loose trim pieces. Make sure all doors and drawers operate properly without binding.

8. Check the finish outside to make sure there are no scrapes/scratches/dents, etc.

9. Check how the black and gray water drains are attached. There is a problem with the weak attachment of the black water drain pipe. I've had it fail twice. After the first time, the factory added a second support of the same type. Both of them failed. I made my own support so there won't be a third time.

10. If you feel comfortable about crawling underneath, make sure the support members for the fresh water, gray water, and black water tanks are pulled up tight against the frame rails. If the bottom is covered in these newer models, skip this as they would not be visible.

We also tow our 2016 RP179 with a Frontier. Ours is the 2010 LE Crew Cab 4x4 model with the same tow rating. Depending on what the dealer is charging, you could save money by installing the brake controller yourself. The Frontier is pre-wired (if it has the tow package and the round bargman connector already) for a brake controller and it is simply plugging in a wiring harness and attaching the control box. I got the Hopkins InSIGHT Flex-mount controller and have been happy with it as I put the display where I can see it without looking down and the manual control where I can easily reach it. The control box mounts on the side of the foot well. I had a much harder time mounting it in our previous vehicle which was not pre-wired for  a brake controller (Ford Escape).

There are other things to check, but these are the ones that come to mind. I'm sure others will add to the list things I have forgotten.

New to the forum. My wife Pam and I take possession of a 2021 193 this coming Thursday from Bankston Motor Homes in Huntsville, AL. First timers all the way. We've done a ton of research and had a lot of boxes to check and this one seems to check them all. We like the murphy bed, bunk beds and the couches. Construction seems solid enough, although I read too much about construction issues on other Forest River products. We have our pre-acceptance checklist in hand and plan a thorough walk around to test everything out. Any suggestions/recommendations on specifically what to look out for would be appreciated.   

We are towing with a Nissan Frontier 4WD short bed. With 6,100 lbs of towing capacity, we should be comfortably below any weight limits even if we load it up. We are buying the weight distribution/sway bar hitch and are having the dealer install the brake box when we pick her up. First trip out is to a local campsite later this month. 

I'm still learning my way around this forum eager to absorb its content and owner's stories. Hopefully, we'll be regaling you with our own wonderful memories soon enough. 

Best regards, 

Bob

Welcome and congratulations on your "new to you" RPod. When we were new, this forum was very helpful also. I hope you have many fun adventures and make many great memories with your RPod.

We got a Coleman Grill-Stove. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Camp-Propane-Grill-Stove/44503985

Overall, I have been happy with it. It is a little hard to keep clean, but it is great for fitting in the tight storage and does a credible job of grilling. The burner is handy also. I recently got a Coleman camp oven that fits over the burner and so beside the convection-microwave, I can bake outside the RPod also. I also bought the griddle that goes with this stove and it is very handy for bacon and eggs, pancakes, etc.

I can find the griddle that fits this stove on the Coleman site, but can't find for sale anywhere. It has apparently been discontinued.

I had purchased a CharBroil  Grill2Go X200 Infrared grill thinking I would take that instead of the Coleman Grill-Stove. However it is a lot bigger and would not fit the storage area, so it stays home.

We are from the Puget Sound area and just purchased a slightly used 2019 rpod 190.  We are looking forward to great adventures this year.  In the past, we've owned two Class C's and a travel trailer, but haven't been RVing for awhile.  

With no warranty or dealer walk through (the original owners just wanted to have it sold so they weren't much help), we have found your forum full of great tips and ideas.  Really has helped to get us oriented!

First challenge:  Just went to Camping World today to buy a BBQ--got it home it was too tall to fit in the storage compartments.  Any recommendations on BBQs that fit?

Thanks for all the advice and stories.

TugPod

2019 Rpod 190

TV Ford F-150

But that's not my worst by a long shot.

84 Jeep Cherokee, purchased new (yep, very dumb of me). While AMC owned Jeep they engaged in the very worst parts bin engineering. GM 2.8L V6 engine BAD. Had to grind a groove in the heads to get the head gaskets to seal. That was the official Jeep fix believe it or not. Clutch slave cylinder WORSE. It was made by Lucas of all possible bad choices. Natural rubber seals, requires special brake fluid. And Jeep filled it with regular DOT3 fluid  Cylinder failed and leaked brake fluid all over my new dress shoes, with only about 5K on the ODO. Going on 40 years later and Jeep still has a poor reliability record. That was and will remain the last Jeep product I'll ever own. You just don't ever forget stuff like that. 

Glad to hear the backup thingy is more than a gimmick. 

We've also had several Toyotas. We've never had an issue of any great importance with any of them. We've also had a couple of Fords. We might have gotten a Tundra instead of the F-150, but the F-150 had way more room, and close to 20% better fuel economy. We had owned a Tundra back in 2005, and it was very reliable; it just didn't get very respectable fuel economy.

Ford's backing system works really well.  I was able to put the trailer's left wheel up on some blocks simply by watching in the mirror and aiming the backup dial.  Put it onto the 2x6's on the first try.  My prior practice was to back a little further than I wanted and pull forward up onto the boards.  It's going to take a bit of a learning curve, but that's not the system, but the user. 

Here's a video demo of the system.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tby3A29osDg