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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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    Posted: 27 Jun 2018 at 10:14am
 
Originally posted by TrailerTrish

Thanks, Ben, I’ve appreciated your insights. I’ll keep the 70% in mind. And about the furniture, I guess I thought it would be a lot heavier. I based that assumption on the bloody dining table we took out of our A-frame and replaced with a slab of plywood. That table cracked my rib!  I was trying to switch it from bed to table, and the leg was hung up, so I picked it up, bent back and rested it on my sternum on edge for a second to adjust my grip and Crack! Three months of misery, a rib belt, absolutely agonizing. So I assumed everything was made out of that stuff. 
While the weight is an issue, I think the bigger issue for you will be the wind resistance/sail issue. The R-pod is going to be this very large wind catcher pulling from behind.
bp
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TrailerTrish View Drop Down
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Posts: 32 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jun 2018 at 6:34pm

Originally posted by Ben Herman

 Not sure what else to add - if you google around a bit about cvt transmissions and towing up significant grades you'll see that the recommended weights are well below the published max capacity. My experience and that of many others is that ideally I'd be towing somewheres around 70% or so of the tow vehicle's max capacity, to allow for hills w/o significant strain. If you are really set on doing this go for it, but not sure you'll find any enthusiasm from this crowd. 


Please take this in a positive spirit; my experience is that members of this forum are eager to help and would be cheering you on if we thought otherwise. 


Your other questions about weight, structural integrity and such - really can't offer any help on that, without knowing the older 173s. I do alot of furniture and cabinet-building though and while what you are suggesting would make some difference, you might only be talking about maybe 100 lbs or so difference at the most, unless you go really high end like honeycomb plywood, but cost would be considerable.


All I have to offer - if it were my rig, I wouldn't do it, but only you can decide.


Thanks, Ben, I’ve appreciated your insights. I’ll keep the 70% in mind. And about the furniture, I guess I thought it would be a lot heavier. I based that assumption on the bloody dining table we took out of our A-frame and replaced with a slab of plywood. That table cracked my rib!  I was trying to switch it from bed to table, and the leg was hung up, so I picked it up, bent back and rested it on my sternum on edge for a second to adjust my grip and Crack! Three months of misery, a rib belt, absolutely agonizing. So I assumed everything was made out of that stuff. 
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TrailerTrish View Drop Down
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Posts: 32 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 11:54pm

Originally posted by Ben Herman

 Not sure what else to add - if you google around a bit about cvt transmissions and towing up significant grades you'll see that the recommended weights are well below the published max capacity. My experience and that of many others is that ideally I'd be towing somewheres around 70% or so of the tow vehicle's max capacity, to allow for hills w/o significant strain. If you are really set on doing this go for it, but not sure you'll find any enthusiasm from this crowd. 


Please take this in a positive spirit; my experience is that members of this forum are eager to help and would be cheering you on if we thought otherwise. 


Your other questions about weight, structural integrity and such - really can't offer any help on that, without knowing the older 173s. I do alot of furniture and cabinet-building though and while what you are suggesting would make some difference, you might only be talking about maybe 100 lbs or so difference at the most, unless you go really high end like honeycomb plywood, but cost would be considerable.


All I have to offer - if it were my rig, I wouldn't do it, but only you can decide.


Thanks, Ben, I’ve appreciated your insights. I’ll keep the 70% in mind. And about the furniture, I guess I thought it would be a lot heavier. I based that assumption on the bloody dining table we took out of our A-frame and replaced with a slab of plywood. That table cracked my rib!  I was trying to switch it from bed to table, and the leg was hung up, so I picked it up, bent back and rested it on my sternum on edge for a second to adjust my grip and Crack! Three months of misery, a rib belt, absolutely agonizing. So I assumed everything was made out of that stuff. 
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Posts: 32 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 11:10pm
Originally posted by CharlieM

OK. One more input. No dog in this fight but I do have the experience of towing a similar trailer (RP172) with a 3.5L V6. The 2015 Outback was offered with a 2.5L 4cyl and 3.6L 6cyl. My guess is the structure of the basic vehicle including frame and brakes was the same. Towing capacity of the 6cyl model is 2700-3000 pounds. Therefore I think safety of the 4cyl model is not an issue. The remaining issues are performance and vehicle life.
<snip>
Either way you'll be safe but you may not be the first one to the campground. Wink



Ok, fair ‘nuff. :) things to think about. Re durability, I have great faith in the Outback engine – perhaps too much – but my step-daughter just traded in her 22-year-old Outback with over 250,000 miles on it. And she wasn’t someone who took especially good care of things, used it for farm work, hauling hay and feed, things where she didn’t want to take the F250 out. Ours is now three years old and has about 20,000 miles on it. We are in our 70s, we tend to keep our speed down when we tow and are in no hurry when we travel - and we don’t mind being late to the campground! (grin) I have every faith (again, perhaps misplaced) that it will outlast us. 
Thanks so much for your thoughts and experiences. (Nice loco in your profile - my husband is a railfan)
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 10:20pm
Seems to me the horse is dead.  So I, for one, am not going to beat it any more; at least not until its morale improves.
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 2:44pm
OK. One more input. No dog in this fight but I do have the experience of towing a similar trailer (RP172) with a 3.5L V6. The 2015 Outback was offered with a 2.5L 4cyl and 3.6L 6cyl. My guess is the structure of the basic vehicle including frame and brakes was the same. Towing capacity of the 6cyl model is 2700-3000 pounds. Therefore I think safety of the 4cyl model is not an issue. The remaining issues are performance and vehicle life.

Performance of the 4cyl will extremely marginal. Hills and mountains will be very slow but you're prepared for that it may be OK. Air resistance increases as the square of speed so maintaining 60 MPH may be difficult. You might find yourself hunched over the steering wheel shouting "Go, go" but that might be acceptable.

The last issue is vehicle stress and its impact on vehicle life. Pulling a full sized trailer with high frontal area will stress the little engine and drive train. This will be the real difference from the popup experience.  According to other forums towing with a CVT may be iffy. So if you don't mind reducing the life/reliability of the vehicle this also may be acceptable.

Towing my 172 with a Honda V6 was OK on level ground at sea level but it was on the edge on mountain grades. I accepted it but wouldn't want any less engine. Consider these comments in your decision. Either way you'll be safe but you may not be the first one to the campground. Wink
Charlie
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furpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 10:42am
OK, we are up to 7 pages of experienced, no dog in the fight, advice and information. If the OP still thinks it's acceptable, then let them have at it. They are now taking offense at the answers. I am good with what I said/advised, as I am sure everyone else is. 
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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1455 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 8:38am
BTW, I love your nom de forum.

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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Posts: 1455 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 8:36am
I'll chime back in on a couple of points.  One, what they tow with in Europe may be fine in Europe but there are legal implications in the US to towing too much.  You'll have liability even if an accident is not your fault.  Two, it's not all about weight limits and safety.  Going out on vacation is supposed to be fun and relaxing.  You won't be able to relax going down the road with a trailer that's at or close to the limit of your vehicle.  There probably aren't any stats on this but I can tell you for sure, it can be extremely stressful.  I guess there are drugs for that, but still....

I'll stick to what I said originally, modified a bit maybe.  If you decide to go with a Pod and your present vehicle, you might be okay, but you'd do well to be prepared to trade in either the Pod or your car for a better match.

TT
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malkbean2 View Drop Down
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Posts: 80 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Jun 2018 at 8:03am
I would congratulate you on doing your homework. If the numbers are acceptable to you then I would suggest - have at it - however you are likely to be frustrated by the 4 cylinder rig's performance.
Also please be careful if you are going to mess with the trailers weight distribution - it could result in dangerous fish-tailing - keep it heavier on the tongue end.
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