Print Page | Close Window

New to R-Pod life

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13922
Printed Date: 27 Aug 2025 at 10:51am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: New to R-Pod life
Posted By: van_islecanada
Subject: New to R-Pod life
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2020 at 12:50pm

Hey everyone

We just picked up a 2018 R-Pod 172 trailer in almost brand new condition.

Anyone have any advice or things to check on before utilizing fully.

We already are aware of having to glue and seal the bathroom.



Replies:
Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2020 at 1:21pm
I have a slightly older 172; couldn't love it more! I don't know what you mean about the bathroom (I'd like to know) but did I use sticky velcro to secure the shower curtain at the door and keep the water inside.  I also removed paneling at the floor in front of the bunks and the dinette seats to use plastic storage bins to function like drawers for storage. If you won't be using the dinette as a bed (I don't) removing the dinette table and replacing with something smaller really opens up the space.  

I hope you love yours as much as I do mine.


-------------
Julie

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 19 Aug 2020 at 2:32pm
Welcome! 

Don't know what your tow vehicle is and whether you are new to towing or not but that is the first thing to check.

Are you within its capabilities for tongue weight, trailer weight, and max combined vehicle weight? And I mean actual, not empty weights of the trailer and tow vehicle. IOW, weigh the TV and trailer at a scale. 

Also is your tongue weight over 10% of your trailer weight (to prevent sway)? Is your brake controller set up right and are the trailer brakes working (they should get hot when you activate the manual control on your brake controller a few times)?

Do you have a weight distribution hitch and is it set up right? You might want to add one if not and also sway control. 

Moving on to the trailer, you should pull the wheels, inspect the brakes and repack the bearings. Check tire pressures. You might also want to upgrade from the marginal load range C trailer tires that come with the rPods. I recommend a load range D tire. 

All of the above are safety related issues. Everything else can be sorted out but if you don't get to your campsite in one piece then nothing else really matters......


-------------
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: Monopod
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2020 at 8:33am
No such thing as 'brand new condition' when it comes to an RV.

In addition to the safety items described above, please get a ladder, clean, inspect, and repair/replace all the sealant on the roof. Then, check the sealant on the wall penetrations. The windows and hatches use a bulb gasket and shouldn't need anything. The door, equipment access panels, the slide-out gutter, and the where the rear section attaches all have sealant. This is supposed to be done every 90 days, and a minimum of every 6 months.

Look up underneath. How's it look? Is there any missing or torn barrier? Dripping water?

People should realize they bought a house that needs maintenance just like their permanent home, but it's worse because driving down the road is like putting it through a small earthquake. Things move and vibrate. Look in areas you don't normally occupy or notice such as under bunks and in the corners of your bathroom that aren't easily visible. Just like you should be looking in your basement, crawl space or attic once in a while at home.

Things the dealers/sellers typically don't tell you.

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2020 at 8:44am
I wonder if shock absorbers would help with the vibration and bouncing?  It would certainly be helpful to dampen the jolting the trailer gets when under way.

-------------
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2020 at 9:17am
My understanding is that with the torsion axles, shock absorbers would not help. The fact that Lippert does not make such a shock absorber for torsion axles, but does make them for spring axles makes this point clear.


-------------
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2020 at 9:20am
Thanks for the info StephenH

-------------
Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

Posted By: Monopod
Date Posted: 03 Sep 2020 at 12:37pm
Torsion axles provide a smoother ride than spring axles with less bounce, so some shock absorption is built-in. They do require that you pay a bit more attention to your side-to-side loading so as not to overload one axle. I try to load heavier items on the passenger side to offset the weight of the slideout.


Print Page | Close Window

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz - http://www.webwizguide.com