Any other 4x4 Frontier Pickup Tow Vehicles?
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Topic: Any other 4x4 Frontier Pickup Tow Vehicles?
Posted By: K0VQ
Subject: Any other 4x4 Frontier Pickup Tow Vehicles?
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2022 at 2:38pm
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Hello to the group. We just bought our Rpod 192 last fall and haven't had a chance to use it yet but I was wondering how many other owners out there are towing with a Nissan Frontier? I have a 2017 Pro-4X Crew Cab, Century Topper, 4x4 and 4.0L V-6 and automatic with O/D. I know that the listed tow capacity is 6300# per the manual but realistically what does that mean from an actual use standpoint? I usually go for overkill but I wonder what others have had from a practical towing standpoint? We live in and camp mostly in Western Colorado and Eastern Utah (like Moab) so there is a de-rate to a certain extent due to altitude and mountainous terrain. I know its not going to haul down I-70 at 80 MPH which I wouldn't want to do anyhow. But what should I be able to expect? We used to have a Minnie Winnie with a V-10 and it never felt comfortable over 65 MPH due to side winds and truckers passing. So I would expect this is pretty much the same drill? We bought a WDH for the camp trailer so that should be a big help and I have an electric brake controller I use with my Haulmark 6x10. So any comments, suggestions or critiques would be greatly appreciated. Nice to join the club. Tracy A.R.S. K0VQ
BTW, any other hams out there? And any of you put rigs in your Rpod's? |
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2022 at 4:28pm
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Hello Tracy, I don't have the radio in the RPod as such. I made a carrier for the IC-7100 I use and that is in the Frontier most of the time. If we are going to be some place for enough time, it is easy to move the radio to the RPod. I have a set of Hamsticks that I use for mobile operation. I use an Eagle One antenna along with an Icom AH-4 tuner for portable (RPod) use. I made two mounts for the Eagle One. The first is a hitch mount. The second is on the tongue of the RPod which makes it easy to set up, strap into place, and then connect. I'm going to have to update my QRZ page which I will do when I have it set up next and can get some good pictures. 73, Stephen, NY4NC ------------- 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: seafans
Date Posted: 18 Jan 2022 at 10:37pm
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Hello owners. About a year ago we purchased a 2020 Frontier with the 3.8 .l and 9 speed transmission to pull a 192. The 9 speed works very well and the 310 HP 3.8 works good also. To bad the tires on the pod have a speed rating of 75 MPH. One of the first mods i did was to replace the factory shocks with Bilstein and installed the Firestone air springs on the rear axle. I tried the sumo springs and they were to bouncy and with the air springs you can adjust the height of the bed to factory finder arc height. Next mod it to replace the factory out side morrow with tow mirrors. I wish they were heated. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2022 at 7:09am
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1aauto.com is where I got the towing mirrors for our 2010 Frontier. They are heated. I did a search for the 2020 model year, and could not find them. However, they are available for the 2017 model year. https://www.1aauto.com/nissan-suzuki-driver-and-passenger-side-6-piece-mirror-set-trail-ridge/i/trmrp00051/1111785/2017 - https://www.1aauto.com/nissan-suzuki-driver-and-passenger-side-6-piece-mirror-set-trail-ridge/i/trmrp00051/1111785/2017 Given that the body style has not changed for 2020, it is highly likely that the same mirrors would fit the 2020 model. As for the SumoSprings, I tried the blue light density ones, and then switched to the black medium density ones. I am very happy with them. I did not want to mess with air springs. ------------- 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: K0VQ
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2022 at 4:25pm
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Hi Stephen, glad to meet you. That's a cool callsign you have! I looked up the sumo springs and they are on backorder so its all academic at this point. I guess I'll do a short trip somewhere close by and evaluate what the issues are and then maybe get some adders like you mention. I run a KW TS-50 with a MFJ travel tuner and G5RV Jr. They work alright. I used to have a flagpole buddy for the Minnie where I used the push up mast for the center of the G5RV below the flag. Maybe I can use the same set up on the 192? Not sure where I will snake the RG-8X in like I had on the Minnie Winnie. That one was a nice little hole in the outside entertainment port where the radio and speakers are which was adjacent to the kitchen table. I guess I could just run it through the sliding window temporarily until I find a place.
The cabinets are so lightly constructed in the 192 that the guy who delivered the camper from KC, KS last fall had several of them falling off the wall when he drug it along I-70 for almost 700 miles! The screws pulled out! I had to back butter them with carpenters glue and longer screws. I bought a brad nailer to fix the trim work around the bed that was falling off. But I guess if you're going to get that weight down 3379# dry, you have to cut some corners somewhere. There are certainly a lot of nooks and crannies that are hidden from view that could be used for storage but have been intentionally made off limits due to the weight loading I guess? For example, the cabinet under the water heater in the bathroom has a huge void where something could be stored. The same is true next to both sides of the murphy bed. I found the secrets while trying to locate the water pump when I was winterizing last fall. Bingo! So now all we've got to wait for is getting the snow to melt. Maybe a trip to Moab for the Easter Jeep Safari (https://www.rr4w.com/events.cfm)? Hope to work you on the air someday soon Stephen. Now I'm looking into alternative power supplies for boondocking. So if anyone has any ideas, jump in and share them. I was thinking of something like a jackery solar generator (or knockoff) with some suitcase panels. I need to run a ventilator and oxygen generator for my CPOD and CO2 retention. Especially at higher elevations. So would love to chat with people in similar boats. I have a small yamaha 1000 watt genset/inverter but I'm sure I would not be very popular with my neighbors running it all night even though it's barely audible. 73 Tracy |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 19 Jan 2022 at 5:24pm
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I just looked at the 192 floor plan. You could consider using the pass through hatch. You don't have the slide-out that I have. I slid the cables under the base of the slide-out. In any case, you will find a way. I'll write more later, but we have to go now. 73, Stephen ------------- 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: seafans
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2022 at 11:38am
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Thank you for the location for the mirrors. I reviewed the feedback from others that installed them and most had one thing in common was they had to change the wiring. Did you have an issue with the wiring? Steve
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2022 at 11:52am
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No. It was plug and play for me. The only wiring problem I had was that I pinched the wire on one which did not help. I also had to buy a new set when I hit a pole while backing up and broke the passenger side mirror's pivot hinge. That was an expensive mistake for sure.
Now to continue with the remarks about how to get a cable in the RPod, you could use an SO-239 barrel or bulkhead connector mounted somewhere to get the cable inside. You could install one in a location and have a waterproof cap for the outside. Then you would not have gaps for insects or other things to get inside. https://www.amazon.com/DHT-Electronics-coaxial-adapter-female/dp/B00CX01IYM/ - https://www.amazon.com/DHT-Electronics-coaxial-adapter-female/dp/B00CX01IYM/ https://www.amazon.com/Eightwood-Adapter-Female-Bulkhead-Connector/dp/B01MR16V5X/ - https://www.amazon.com/Eightwood-Adapter-Female-Bulkhead-Connector/dp/B01MR16V5X/ https://www.amazon.com/Protective-Female-SO-239-Connector-Adapter/dp/B07RYQ1GMB/ - https://www.amazon.com/Protective-Female-SO-239-Connector-Adapter/dp/B07RYQ1GMB/ Another option is to use a thin pass through cable in the window as you suggested. https://www.amazon.com/CTC-50M-Original-Comet-Window-Feed-Thru/dp/B005OEB3IA/ - https://www.amazon.com/CTC-50M-Original-Comet-Window-Feed-Thru/dp/B005OEB3IA/ MPO is that I would choose one of the SO-239 adapters with a cover. I can see from the comments on Amazon that the Comet version, apart from being quite expensive, is not going to be a good fit with the metal frames of the RPod windows if they are like the ones in our 179.
------------- 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: K0VQ
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2022 at 12:48pm
| Thanks Stephen, I think you're right. The double female looks to be the best option. And I like the dust cover idea. Inside you can leave the rig and jumper hooked up and just plug in the outside coax to the jack and off to the antenna you go, no matter what it is. Maybe I will find an inconspicuous place somewhere to drill the hole and back butter it with silicone caulk for weather proofing. Perfect solution! 73 Tracy |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 22 Jan 2022 at 12:57pm
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I used the barrel SO-239 connectors to make a window pass through for my house. I might consider using one to get my antenna cable in the RPod. If so, I might go underneath in a relatively protected space inside a cabinet. The cover would be essential to keep the connector clean and dry. It would take a pretty long one to reach through all the floor layers. ------------- 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: StephenH
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2022 at 8:18am
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One other choice might be to use BNC connectors instead of SO-239 for the pass-through. The BNC connectors are waterproof when connected and are easier to connect/disconnect. There are covers for the BNC connectors also to keep them clean when a cable isn't connected.
https://www.amazon.com/wlaniot-Adapter-Female-Coaxial-Connector/dp/B077ZFRKT7/ - https://www.amazon.com/wlaniot-Adapter-Female-Coaxial-Connector/dp/B077ZFRKT7/ https://www.amazon.com/Ancable-2-Pack-Protective-Coaxial-Adapter/dp/B077XNPHC3/ - https://www.amazon.com/Ancable-2-Pack-Protective-Coaxial-Adapter/dp/B077XNPHC3/ ------------- 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: K0VQ
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2022 at 12:34pm
| Yes good idea but I already pulled the trigger and ordered the double female bulkhead connectors with caps. But that's also a good alternative but maybe less popular jumpers. 73 Tracy |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 25 Jan 2022 at 12:50pm
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Yes, that is why I didn't think of them at first. The SO-239 bulkhead connectors with caps will be just fine. I hope to see a picture of the installation when you get it done. ------------- 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: K0VQ
Date Posted: 29 Jan 2022 at 2:11pm
Yeah I will when it warms up a bit. Getting down to 1 degree or less at night and maybe 32 degrees in the heat of the day  is too cold for crawling around drilling holes in the camper. Besides the cover is on it anyway. Bring on spring! 73 Tracy
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Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 12 Feb 2022 at 3:51pm
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Hey there! We have a 2017 R179 (bought new) and tow with a 2016 Nissan Frontier SV 4.0 with OD. We pretty much wore the Westlake tires on the 179 bald over the past 4 years and the Frontier has never skipped a beat. Usually keep it out of OD and can easily cruise at 65-70mph. Anything above that and MPG suffers greatly. We do run a Fastlane WDH along with Sumo Springs. We've pulled through wind, rain, snow and everything else and the rig is rock steady. FWIW, Couldn't find any ST235/75R15 to save my soul so we went with Falken Wildepeak 10ply. Couldn't be happier with that choice. Definitely going to order up some of those tow mirrors for the Frontier. So tired of the strap on mirrors we use now. Happy traveling gpokluda 2017 Rpod r179 2016 Nissan Frontier SV |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2022 at 2:46am
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Have you tried towing the 179 without the trailer mirrors? It's narrow. I never added additional mirrors to my Highlander whith the 179 and my visibility was fine for me.That will also reduce fuel consumption a little.
I ran st225/75r15 lrd's on mine. The ST235s are a relatively rare tire. Etrailer has them. They and the light truck tires have an agressive tread pattern for traction which is not really beneficial on a trailer tire as they aren't drive wheels. The typical ST tread patterns are optimized for lower rolling resistance which improves fuel economy. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2022 at 1:33pm
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Turns out I could not find any bulkhead BNC connectors that would work, so I have some SO-239 barrel connectors on order. They were supposed to have arrived, but the only thing in the package was the coax seal I ordered at the same time. I think I will have to wait until Monday before I will hear from the seller about this. In addition to the two barrel connectors(for HF and VHF/UHF), I will be putting in a 4-pole plug for the AH4 antenna tuner cable that is needed for the Eagle One antenna. ------------- 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: StephenH
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2022 at 1:43pm
In our case, we probably could get by without the towing mirrors most of the time, but even for things like backing the trailer, they are helpful. I would not want to tow without the ones I installed. Since they are not an added mirror with straps and/or buckles, they don't change between towing or non-towing except for how far they stick out from the sides of the Frontier. Unlike strap-on mirrors, mine are heated power mirrors which is helpful in adjusting and in conditions where the mirror might a coat of moisture from fog or ice. ------------- 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: 13 Feb 2022 at 3:37pm
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Here's a summary of mirror laws state by state: http://ecomodder.com/wiki/Mirror_Laws_by_State_%28U.S.%29 - https://ecomodder.com/wiki/Mirror_Laws_by_State_(U.S.) ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2022 at 3:52pm
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The states I tow in have the fairly typical 200 ft viewing requirement. I easily met that with the standard Highlander mirrors and the (narrow) 179. With the wide rpods and other trailers, no way. One of several reasons I preferred the 179.
I do have a set of clamp on extension mirrors for towing wider trailers. If I ever went to Vermont I'd put them on while I was there and take em off when I left. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Linda&Gino
Date Posted: 13 Feb 2022 at 4:43pm
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Thanks for that. After reviewing the specs on those towing mirrors, I'm going to pass. They are a bit too wide. We used stock mirrors for a year but I never was comfortable with the view so we bought some towing mirrors. I do like having some extra visibility behind me so I will stick with them. I almost pulled the trigger on some ST225 tires, Goodyear Endurance, but decided to stay with the OEM size. Thanks gpokluda 2016 Nissan Frontier SV 2017 Rpod 179
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Posted By: K0VQ
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2022 at 1:03pm
Steven, yes I think that's your best option. I can't tell you how many questionable packages I received from Amazon lately by USPS where they were split open, cut open, etc., and luckily nothing fell out. Your luck my be different. 
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 15 Feb 2022 at 5:46pm
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In this case, the package was intact. The seller just forgot to put the connectors in the package. They should be arriving tomorrow. ------------- 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 |