4-cyl towing thoughts?

Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic

   You should check what the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is on your 173. I'm betting it is "close" to your 2700 lb tow limit on your Outback. If the GVWR is more than ~~ 2500 lbs, you are in the red zone with the capabilities of your Outback. It might be able to do it, but it probably won't be a lot of fun. I'd be looking for a TV that had at least 3500 lb capability, or better still around 5000 lb.

Like others have said, I've never heard anyone complain about having too much power.

Author	Message Share Topic Printable Version Google Delicious Digg StumbleUpon Windows Live Yahoo Bookmarks reddit Facebook MySpace Newsvine Furl Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic
GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2723	Topic: 4-cyl towing thoughts? Posted: 15 Jun 2018 at 11:26pm
	You should check what the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) is on your 173. I'm betting it is "close" to your 2700 lb tow limit on your Outback. If the GVWR is more than ~~ 2500 lbs, you are in the red zone with the capabilities of your Outback. It might be able to do it, but it probably won't be a lot of fun. I'd be looking for a TV that had at least 3500 lb capability, or better still around 5000 lb. Like others have said, I've never heard anyone complain about having too much power.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1089	Posted: 15 Jun 2018 at 8:46pm
	We owned a 173 for over 6 years. It was a great trailer and we loved it. We did a lot of mods and spent many multi-week trips in it. We probably put about 30,000 miles on it. I can tell you from experience that a loaded 173 will weigh more than 2000 pounds. We stopped by the local county dump and weighed our rig before every trip. The 173 weighed 3300 fully loaded with all of our clothes, , food , 2 bikes and nothing in the 3 tanks. We don’t go extrA heavy, but we were going out for 3 months. The point- don’t even think that a 173 will weigh less than 2500 in my opinion. That figure doesn’t include batteries, propane, a/c, m/w and empty tanks. You will easily add 500 pounds or so of pots and pans, clothes, food, drinks, tous, etc. We pulled it with a Chevy Astro van and it was acceptable, but not much extra power, brakes or transmission. We traded for a larger tow vehicle. Check your numbers carefully. The safety of everyone is involved. Vann
	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

OldNeumanntapr Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 May 2018 Location: CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 204	Posted: 15 Jun 2018 at 8:02pm
	I towed my ‘89 Coleman Sequoia pop up tent trailer with a 2002 Tacoma with a 2.4 liter four cylinder. The Coleman weighed 1,200 lbs dry and probably 1,500 lbs wet. It had no fridge, AC, furnace, bathroom, or other heavy extras. The Tacoma had a 3,500 lb towing rating so I felt it would be fine. On flat ground it was OK but hills / mountain passes was another story! There is a really steep portion of highway 12 in Utah, out of Bryce Canyon going into the mountains. I barely made it over the pass! It was not fun. I can’t imagine pulling a travel trailer that had a high front end with a low powered tow vehicle. At least the tent trailer was low and wasn’t affected by wind. I would not recommend towing much with a four cylinder. My V6 Tacoma PreRunner is so much better at towing (with a 6,400 lb towing capacity.)

Tars Tarkas Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1455	Posted: 15 Jun 2018 at 7:37pm
	It sounds possible. You might want to check what that 2000 lbs includes. It might not be much trouble at all to get to 2500 lbs going down the road. You are right; the high profile of the Pod really slows it down and kills gas mileage. That said, a lot of people tow with vehicles rated at 3500 lbs. I've never towed with less than a 5000 lb rated truck. I have a 176 and I wouldn't relish towing with anything less than a 5000 lb vehicle. Some people like to say no one ever complains about having too much towing capacity. See what other people say. My opinion: try it if you're open to the idea of finding a heavier duty TV, maybe not otherwise. TT
	2010 176 FJ Cruiser

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3367	Posted: 15 Jun 2018 at 7:29pm
	Interesting you bring up the 173 as that was the first pod we ever saw at Fort Wilkens State Park at the tip of the Upper Peninsula, Michigan back in October 2010. It was towed by a Subaru Outback as well. I remember they told us that the Subaru was fine on flat or gentle rolling hills but they were disappointed crossing over the Appalachians when they went to Smokey Mountains; lacked power and could barely make it over some of the passes except at very slow speeds. We have towed our 177 (2400 lbs because of no A/C, no entertainment system, no microwave/convection oven) with an '08 and '13 Explorer (both 6 cylinders) and while it has the power we have noted that over some of the higher climbs in the Rockies, it is really laboring hard). So . . . if you were just going to flatland it, probably be ok but seeing where you have been and you would probably repeat your travels over similar terrain, I think you would be sorely disappointed.
	God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

TrailerTrish Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Jun 2018 Location: SF Bay Area Online Status: Offline Posts: 32	Posted: 15 Jun 2018 at 7:07pm
	Hi, I’m considering buying an RPod – one of the smaller ones. Of interest is a 2009 173 (2000 lbs). We’re currently towing a 12’ FR Flagstaff A frame, also 2000 lb, but, of course, a much lower profile when folded. We have a 2015 4-cyl Subaru Outback, rated to tow 2700 lbs. We’ve had the A-frame for three years and have towed it over the Canadian Rockies, the Colorado Rockies, and the Sierras without any problems. We throttle back so we aren’t gobbling gas, but we still have plenty of pickup if needed. We probably spend 3-4 weeks a year camping, so the rest of the year we didn’t want to have to be driving around in a gas guzzling 6-cylinder and are happy with the arrangement so far. But now I want something with a potty. Our needs are simple, I don’t need a powerhouse or a rolling mansion, just 2 separate sleeping areas and a potty. Do you think the lighter RPods could work? We have elec brake controller and am told we’d need an anti-sway bar. .. TIA Trish