Introduce Yourself: Potential 176T owner

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Potential 176T owner

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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=4056
Printed Date: 29 Aug 2025 at 3:19am
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Topic: Potential 176T owner

Posted By: retiredtraveler
Subject: Potential 176T owner
Date Posted: 03 Oct 2013 at 9:29am

I'm looking to trade in my popup for a small trailer. I have no interest in the larger trailers and am now focusing on the 172T as the bunk end provides a lot of extra space to which we are accustomed.
I have been camping in a pup for 8 years and have done maintenance to it as well as adding solar powerl for the extensive dry camping we do. So, even though I have little familiarity with the pods, I'm fully versed in 12 volt systems, towing, water, etc. on a trailer. I'm looking to get into a 172T when I can find a dealer around here that has one in stock. I have looked at pods a few years ago, but need to take a close look now.

Replies:

Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2013 at 10:58am

Hello retiredtraveler,

I too am taking a very close look at pods. Your 12 volt experience intrigues me.

We use a Battery Tender charger - http://batterytender.com/products/solar.html - http://batterytender.com/products/solar.html to maintain a 12v. battery for electric fence around beehives. About every 3-4 months I "top-off" the battery overnight with a Battery tender trickle charger. BTW, I did discover AutoZone sells perfectly fine "used" batteries at a very reasonable cost - folks leave their lights on all night, can't start car in morning and demand new battery. I think I payed $30.00 for one I bought two years ago.

While the above scenario would probably work great for down-time battery maintenance, could you provide some insight to off-grid solar charging while camping?

I can and will "do-the-math" when I determine necessary wattage, but I'd sure like to hear of some real life experience.

We will be visiting our first pod dealer Monday. Thanks and good luck to you!

fred

P.S. I should add that our electric fence is not to keep the bees in. It's to keep the bears out!

Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 06 Oct 2013 at 3:01pm

Welcome, future congratulations, and glad to have you all looking at Pods!

Seems you are all on the right track so far, looking at Pods usually leads to buying Pods, and we love to see that!

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https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map

Posted By: retiredtraveler
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 2:34pm

Ok. Real world experience.

    We only have a 54 watt panel (and charge controller). I really should have purchased something more in the 80 watt range. We dry camp for 2-3 weeks at a time. We need two batteries to keep us going, and we're very frugal with the electric use. The main thing we're after is to run the pump for showers and doing dishes and to run the heater, very sparingly, in the mornings for a short while to warm up. We also like to listen to a radio (we're old fashioned, no laptop, TV, or anything like that). I use an inverter for the radio.

The obvious problem with solar is that you need the sun. We've had really nice campsites, but mostly shaded. I will place the panel out towards the street or wherever I can get the most sun in a day. That means the panel is not affixed. We unplug the battery on the popup (during the day) so we don't get the 'phantom draw' of the propane detector or anything else. We use LED lanterns for light. With two batteries, and minimal electric usage, we get by.

Now, that is our simple camping style. We go out most of day to hike, so we're not hanging around the camper using electric. If you want to dry camp, but want your amenities, you will need more solar power.

   We did this as we can't stand listening to someone else's gen, so we won't do that. In all honesty, if you're going to dry camp for extended periods as we do, and don't want to worry about usage, the gen is the way to go.

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Looking hard at a pod
2006 Jayco 1206 (pup) with slideout, shower,solar
2005 Nissan Xterra (probably going to new Nissan Frontier)
Into hard-core hiking and biking

Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2013 at 7:36pm

Thank you rt. That all makes perfect sense. The economies of solar probably aren't quite there yet. Your message of energy conservation is duly noted. Thank you. Sailing offshore for days or weeks at a time taught me that.

I'm still working on that hand cranked, above tree level, 400 watt wind turbine. I'll let you know when it's ready! ;)

fred