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Whats pulling your RPod
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gpokluda View Drop Down
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Posts: 435 		Post Options Post Options   Quote gpokluda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Whats pulling your RPod
    Posted: 03 Dec 2025 at 6:52am
Originally posted by ppine

A diesel has tons of power, outlasts gas trucks and gets great mileage.  I sleep in the back often.  Now I will be using an rPod for the first time.  I use a diesel to pull a 29 foot Nash for longer trips with my girl and 3 dogs.  

I will never understand people that want to pull with just enough truck. 

People usually go with what they got. If I was a full time RVer, I may consider a diesel, but aside from that, I have zero use for a diesel when my F150 will do everything I need it to do. Plus I don't own a 29' camper, either.
Gpokluda
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Posts: 2746 		Post Options Post Options   Quote GlueGuy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2025 at 12:59pm
Originally posted by StephenH

Sometimes it is that one just can't afford a Diesel powered truck. The price compared to gasoline powered trucks is hard to justify if one does not need the torque and capacity of a Diesel in everyday driving. I would like to have a Diesel powered truck. I drive a Ford F-150 with the 3.5l Ecoboost engine instead. I just could not justify purchasing a truck that would have cost over half of what our house costs to purchase and that depreciates in value.
+1

The premium for the (short lived) diesel F150 was outrageous, and the 3.5L EcoBoost pulls like a diesel anyway, and is a much nicer driving power train too. In fact, IMO, I think the 2.7L EcoBoost is more than enough to pull an Rpod, and even some TTs a bit larger.
bp
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poston View Drop Down
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Posts: 203 		Post Options Post Options   Quote poston Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Dec 2025 at 2:50pm
Originally posted by ppine

I will never understand people that want to pull with just enough truck. 

I don't want to drive a big vehicle for the majority of time that I'm not towing.

--
Jim
Virginia City, Nevada
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ppine View Drop Down
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Posts: 42 		Post Options Post Options   Quote ppine Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2025 at 10:43am
People should drive whatever they want. 
I am making a case for diesels in general.  
For the $10k premium in cost, they last 2.5 times as long as a gas truck. 
They out pull everything else. 
They get better mileage. 
I can sleep in the back. 
I get 22 mpg around the valley and about 13 mpg pulling a big heavy trailer.  I expect about 17 mpg pulling the rpod. 


Edited by ppine - 12 Dec 2025 at 10:59am
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Rpod-Couple View Drop Down
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Posts: 57 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rpod-Couple Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Dec 2025 at 10:30pm
I had a diesel VW Rabbit in 1980, a diesel Mercedes 190D in the 1990’s  and a 2012 diesel Jetta that VW bought back due to Diesel-Gate. Love the mileage; hated the high price of diesel. Where I live diesel is running 35% higher than unleaded negating the mileage benefits. I currently tow with a 2023 3.5 liter V6 VW Atlas Crossport. The 5000 lb tow rating is plenty capable for all but the largest dual axle R-PODs and it fits in my garage. 

There is a an Airstream dealer in Canada that tows up to 26 foot dual axle trailers with a 2008 diesel VW Jetta. Car is stock front wheel drive but they built a custom hitch receiver and use higher load rated tires. They have over 135,000 miles on it of which more than 75,000 miles towing and delivering trailers with no issues. The dealers towing videos claim the Jetta’s lower center of gravity along with a properly setup WDH make it handle better during sudden evasive maneuvers compared to a full size pick up. Interesting perspective on real world towing. Of course these are empty trailers and only one driver, but still impressive.
Steve & Elaine
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gpokluda View Drop Down
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Posts: 435 		Post Options Post Options   Quote gpokluda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Dec 2025 at 9:21am
Originally posted by Rpod-Couple

There is a an Airstream dealer in Canada that tows up to 26 foot dual axle trailers with a 2008 diesel VW Jetta. Car is stock front wheel drive but they built a custom hitch receiver and use higher load rated tires. They have over 135,000 miles on it of which more than 75,000 miles towing and delivering trailers with no issues. The dealers towing videos claim the Jetta’s lower center of gravity along with a properly setup WDH make 

Impressive, yes, but obviously a marketing ploy. I can see how the conversation goes:

Customer, "What type of tow vehicle do we need to pull one of the tandem Airstreams?"

Dealer, "Well, we deliver all of our trailers with a VW Jetta"
Gpokluda
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Posts: 57 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Rpod-Couple Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Dec 2025 at 9:09pm
Lot of thoughtful information on WDH setup and towing on Can-Am RV’s website. I leave it to reader’s to decide if it’s a marketing ploy.  https://www.canamrv.ca/towing-expertise/

VW 2008 diesel Jetta has a curb weight of 3100 lbs. Axle rating is 2100 lbs front and rear - combined equaling 4200 lbs carrying weight. Five passenger sedans are often 1000+ lbs carrying weight since they will carry five people and their stuff in the trunk. (This is far more likely scenario for auto manufacturers and a liability risk they have to deal with.) Put 500 lbs on a well built and dialed in WDH, leaves 600 lbs for a couple and two small kids in the Jetta. 

I don’t expect to convince full-size pickup owners…just giving everyone else something to consider before they take out a second mortgage.
Steve & Elaine
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Posts: 4 		Post Options Post Options   Quote dhoni44551 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Dec 2025 at 1:34am

Hi! Many owners find newer hybrids can handle an R-Pod if within the tow rating, but long-term stress on the engine and transmission can be higher than with traditional engines. Your Murano should be fine as long as you stay under its 3,500 lb tow limit.
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Posts: 3 		Post Options Post Options   Quote DBudlong Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Yesterday at 9:32am
Will be towing with our 2026 Silverado EV!
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