R-pod Owners Forum : Looking for A Replacement http://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : Introduce Yourself : Looking for A Replacement Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Sun, 03 May 2026 13:06:38 +0000 Sun, 15 Feb 2015 17:21:57 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=5818 R-pod Owners Forum http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png http://www.rpod-owners.com/ Looking for A Replacement : Welcome. http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56728#56728 Author: techntrek
Subject: 5818
Posted: 15 Feb 2015 at 5:21pm

Welcome.]]> Sun, 15 Feb 2015 17:21:57 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56728#56728 Looking for A Replacement : I won't talk about Volkswagen's... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56703#56703 Author: David and Danette
Subject: 5818
Posted: 14 Feb 2015 at 7:47pm

   I won't talk about Volkswagen's but the 179 has a different shape to the back it is not as sloped like all other r-pod models. It too I believe has the largest slide with a different motor to move slide in and out. I was in one at a RV show and they have a lot of storage space. The rear kitchen is very nice plenty of counter space. And as you have most likely noticed they have quickly become popular among the different r-pod models.]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2015 19:47:14 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56703#56703 Looking for A Replacement : Thanks for the review. I looks... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56701#56701 Author: twday66
Subject: 5818
Posted: 14 Feb 2015 at 7:16pm

Thanks for the review. I looks like the older 175 is about the same camper as the 179? Am I missing something important in the layout?]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2015 19:16:13 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56701#56701 Looking for A Replacement : Hi twday66, Sorry about your Rialta... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56700#56700 Author: johnandwendee
Subject: 5818
Posted: 14 Feb 2015 at 6:39pm

Hi twday66,
Sorry about your Rialta experience. We upgraded from a tent to a 24' 5er about eight years ago. The 5er was terrific. No more sleeping on the ground! We traded for a 179 last spring and love it. Less room of course but it works great for us. Get a big enough tow vehicle and watch out for bumps up or down when entering a gas station. Take them on a angle or you will bottom out. Our 179 is great!
John    ]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2015 18:39:49 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56700#56700 Looking for A Replacement : I've got a good bit of German... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56699#56699 Author: twday66
Subject: 5818
Posted: 14 Feb 2015 at 3:03pm

I've got a good bit of German in my genes, too. Even the mechanicals are suspect in too many VW vehicles. There was a spate of timing chain sprockets they "forgot" to properly harden on the 2.6L 6-cylinder motors, a problem VW simply ignored in spite of evidence they knew about the problems. VW assemblers are notorious for "forgetting" to completely seal windshields, allowing water to drip on to the poorly positioned and wire-prepped electronic controls on the inside of the firewall. Several independent mechanics have told me that the plastics VW/Mercedes uses "dissolve" in a few years, unlike Chinese and Japanese vehicle plastics. Usually, that indicates poor processing/cleaning tactics, but I won't have to know about it from here out.

In all, it was a painful but cheap lesson for me. I'm a motorcyclist and at 66 the day when I get off of two wheels for the last time is not that distant. My "plan," before the Rialta, was to trade the motorcycles for a new VW Beetle. Now, I wouldn't touch one of those disasters on wheels with your money. Since I'd have been looking at $30k for a new Beetle convertible, the Rialta saved me a lot of pain and suffering and a big dent in my retirement savings.
]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2015 15:03:27 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56699#56699 Looking for A Replacement : No offense to Germans, I have... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56698#56698 Author: David and Danette
Subject: 5818
Posted: 14 Feb 2015 at 2:55pm

 No offense to Germans, I have a German name and ancestors. But our family experience owning German made cars is that for some reason Germans have difficulty in understanding electricity. German made mechanical engines and machinery are among the best in the world. But electricity in my opinion seems to puzzle them. I guess that is why I recently had questions and needed help with the electrical system in our Vibe. Confused Smile]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2015 14:55:40 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56698#56698 Looking for A Replacement : There is a little comfort in knowing... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56695#56695 Author: twday66
Subject: 5818
Posted: 14 Feb 2015 at 12:52pm

There is a little comfort in knowing "we're not the only ones." I belonged to a Yahoo! group of "full-timers" when we first started having problems with the Rialta. One member said the two best days of ownership were the day they bought it and the day they sold it. Since I put so much work (even SOOOOO much work) into getting ours ready to travel, then repairing it, the day we sold it was bittersweet. However, the only thing we've missed was the living quarters. Servicing a VW is a nightmare: no decent available manuals, the worst OEM customer service (nationally) in the industry, terrible quality control and haphazard engineering, and unreliable parts availability.

However, I'm an insanely engineering-oriented and anal record-keeper. Not counting 2 seconds of my labor, let alone the misery of crawling around under that sad vehicle in New Mexico goatheads, gravel, blowing sand, ice and snow, and on the side of the road in the middle of New Mexico nowhere, our cost of ownership was $2.03 a day and $0.10/mile for 9703 miles. The upside of the maintenance was that we were stuck in a place we came to love, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, made some dear friends, and had a great time between cursing at all things VW/German. I think we escaped relatively unharmed. And, as you said, we learned what sort of camper we need.
]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2015 12:52:09 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56695#56695 Looking for A Replacement : My brother was a longtime Dodge... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56689#56689 Author: Leo B
Subject: 5818
Posted: 14 Feb 2015 at 9:35am

My brother was a longtime Dodge mechanic and wanted a change of pace so he went to work at a VW/Audi dealership. He lasted about 9 months couldn't take it and switched back to Dodge!]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2015 09:35:16 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56689#56689 Looking for A Replacement : As much as I love VW.. I have... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56688#56688 Author: furpod
Subject: 5818
Posted: 14 Feb 2015 at 8:48am

As much as I love VW.. I have heard bad things about the Rialta for years.. Glad you got home, glad you didn't get soaked getting rid of it. ]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2015 08:48:08 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56688#56688 Looking for A Replacement : You could have been telling "our... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56685#56685 Author: Victoria
Subject: 5818
Posted: 14 Feb 2015 at 7:29am

You could have been telling "our story."  We bought a 2005 Rialta and had a very similar experience.  Every outing required some sort of repair.  The electrical system was a mystery to all!  This being said we loved the layout.  We too, sold ours and sat out for a while, but discovered we missed camping.  Our 179 should be delivered in a few weeks.  Having the Rialta and knowing how we "lived" in, it made selecting a TT easier.  Hoping this adventure  has less irritation and more  relaxation!   Welcome!]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2015 07:29:51 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56685#56685 Looking for A Replacement : Welcome to the group! We have... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56684#56684 Author: Leo B
Subject: 5818
Posted: 14 Feb 2015 at 7:10am

Welcome to the group! We have a 179 and really love it! It is easy to tow, has a lot of storage and has a comfortable amount of room.
Good luck
]]> Sat, 14 Feb 2015 07:10:59 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56684#56684 Looking for A Replacement : In May of 2013, I flew out to... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5818&PID=56681#56681 Author: twday66
Subject: 5818
Posted: 14 Feb 2015 at 12:09am

In May of 2013, I flew out to Oregon and bought a "like new condition" 2000 Winnebago Rialta and drove it home. That was pretty much the highpoint of our Rialta ownership. In October and newly retired, we headed west with big plans to travel the Southwest and the Pacific Coast. We made it to Carlsbad, NM and after six days snowed in our VW-based RV started to die. After struggling to Albuquerque and discovering that VW dealers are incapable of repairing VWs and nobody else either has the skills or desire to work on that German brand of junk, we limped into Truth or Consequences and I set about the task of becoming a VW Eurovan mechanic/electronic tech. Four months later, we were back on the road home. We escaped Rialta ownership with most of our investment, which was the next-best moment of Rialta "ownership."

We spent this past summer getting ready to sell our home of the last 18 years, buying a massively downsized replacement home in Red Wing, MN, and trying to sort out ourselves so we can do the traveling thing again, sans VW. Since the camper portion of the Rialta was perfect for us, the R-Pod 179 looks like the hot setup. So, the minute the 2nd house sells, I'm going to be looking for a 179. Any tips, warnings, advice, or jokes would be greatly appreciated.

The picture below was us in March, after I had the VW electronics sorted out and we made a tentative trip west of TorC to shake out the bugs and convince ourselves we might make it back home without having to buy a bus ticket.

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