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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Just Signed up
    Posted: 16 Jul 2013 at 12:53am
Once you get above 50 mph the "driving" issue (pun intended) is the frontal area and overall drag.  We had a Sienna before our current TV and even though the popup we had was much heavier than the pod the Sienna had no problems towing it.  Much less drag.  It struggled pulling the pod at times depending on wind and road conditions but the pod was probably 500 pounds lighter fully loaded.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2013 at 5:03pm
The dynamic difference is drag. A load in the bed is shielded, a towed load is not. The r-pod has a fair amount of drag.
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Joined: 12 Jul 2013
Location: Baton Rouge, LA
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2013 at 2:11pm
Hi – thanks for your reply.  That’s just it; I want to get away from flat country.  A couple months ago I completed a 10K mile trip out west carrying a pop-up Four Wheel camper in the bed of my 2012 Tacoma 4 cyl. and it did a respectable job.  The total weight was close to the cargo capacity rating of about 1300 lb.  Sure the mountains were a challenge put the wee truck did it.  So what I don’t know is the difference between the dynamic of hauling rather than towing.  I’m working on my wife to allow me to trade up a 6 cyl truck, but I’m a long way from a “kitchen pass”, as a friend once said.
Tom
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Joined: 12 Jul 2013
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Posts: 9 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2013 at 11:34am

Tom
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Joined: 13 Aug 2012
Location: Spokane, WA
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Posts: 454 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2013 at 8:25am

Welcome.  Given the area of the country that you live in, and assuming you won't be making trips over to the Rockies, you will most likely be on fairly flat land during your travels.  Therefore you should be okay with your current TV. 

P & M ... and Comet too!
2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod
2018 Ram 2500
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Joined: 23 Jun 2013
Location: New Richmond OH
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Posts: 12 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jul 2013 at 9:55pm
We just took our first trip towing our 178 with a 4 cyl Tacoma 4WD. With the good towing hitch, sway bar, new plugs, and new oxygen sensors it does okay if the road's aren't too steep. It will do the hill, as our own road is one of the steepest around, but slowly and it does put a strain on the engine. Headwinds are also difficult. Biggest problem is our driveway is so steep we're going to have to get axle risers. If I had to do it again, I would think twice about getting the pod with our present truck. Neither of us want to get rid of our Tacoma - we love it.
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Joined: 03 Dec 2010
Location: Hightstown, NJ
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Posts: 571 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jul 2013 at 6:07pm
If the road has any washboard characteristics you need to put extra latches on every thing.  We have had drawers on the floor driving on the good roads here in NJ (we pay for them, after all!).  Cry
Chris and Walt
'10 RP-171 'Free Spirit'
'13 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 L Hemi V8
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Joined: 01 Aug 2010
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Posts: 1807 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jul 2013 at 5:43pm
Just recently I saw some owners buy a new Pod and had a 4cyl vehicle.  Their dealer said they'd tow it just fine, shortly after they have posted that sure they can tow it, on flat roads!

I tow with a smaller 6cyl SUV that's rated for #5000lbs once set up for towing and after 3 seasons we've decided we're upgrading to a bigger tow vehicle next spring.

And I don't like taking the Pod on much of anything that goes far beyond a roughly paved back road to a campground.  She just doesn't like it.
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Joined: 16 Nov 2009
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Posts: 1950 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jul 2013 at 6:51am
Welcome to the group!  I have taken my Pod off road.  If you do that just take it slow and easy.  As with any camper you would put things away when towing.  A lot depends on the type of ground you will be going over.  Down here in FL it is mostly sand so you wouldn't try dragging a camper off road unless you had a 4X4.  The axle riser would be a must for off roading.

Terry
RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565
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Joined: 20 Sep 2010
Location: Ocean Shores, W
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Posts: 267 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Jul 2013 at 6:52pm
After this post, I may have to change my screen name to Debbie Downer, so here goes. The Pod is a really nice little travel trailer. It's not designed to be an off road war wagon. A 4 cyl Taco is a great little truck, not designed to tow a wind pushing TT. Lots of people have posted with excitement about towing a Pod with their 3500 lb or so tow capable tow rig. A very few have reposted about how well their tow rig has done. Many have sold their pod and drifted away, or like a lot of us, bit the bullet and bought something that was capable of doing the job when towing.
 
I towed our Pod with a 6 cyl Taco with the tow pack, and it did very well, and yet I moved back to a full sized Tundra. I AM kinda demanding of my tow rig's performance, so keep that in mind while reading what I've written. Don't set yourself up for towing/camping failure unless you've got a ton of cash to burn. Trailer camping is supposed to be fun, not an exercise in frustration.
 
P/S Welcome and I hope whatever decisions you make are good for you.
'10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL
'12 Toyota Tundra
'05 Sportster (half a Harley)
Retired-We're on Beach Time!
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