Looking for R-pod |
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voy108
Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2017 Location: alamo, tx Online Status: Offline Posts: 20 |
Topic: Looking for R-pod Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 1:44am |
Hi all or now that I'm living in Texas...Hi y'all(is this the correct pronunciation?)
I'm new to this Forum and have been lurking a bit. Right now with the help of you good folks I have narrowed my R-pod search to the 171 or 172. I have acquired a 2004 Ford Explorer with that "little" factory hitch(1" ?). I would love to have a slide but not sure about the weight the Explorer will handle. Not wanting to push the limit a non-slide may be better. I currently have a 1992 Bounder and want to downsize. Full timed for 3 years, bought a small MH in an Alamo, TX RV park due to full knee replacement, and now want to get an RP to spend the summers in and do some fun boon-docking. Lordy it's hot and humid in the RGV during the summer. I may even look at a 151 but that seems small(I have toys to take along ) If you have a Pod for sale, please contact me. Is there a place to post "WANTED" messages? Not sure how to post in the for sale section. Thanks Doug Reading through many of the posts I'm looking forward to being a part of this Forum. Really, really helpful. |
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3252 |
Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 4:54pm |
Hi Doug,
Welcome. If you scroll down to the bottom of the options you will find "Non-pod discussion forum" click that and then go to the bottom of that which is titled "General Camping" and click that. At the bottom you will find what you are looking for "campers flea market." Just today someone from N.C. posted a 2010 model 172 for $7500.00. There are probably others but that was at the top of the list. Have fun looking. Oh yes, we have towed our 177 with a 2008 Explorer (4.0 L V-6 with 210 HP) and currently with a 2013 Explorer with a 3.5 L V-6 with 295 HP. Tows well, no complaints. Our 177 empty is 2440 lbs, loaded we are probably around 3000 lbs. We use an anti-way bar to keep it "in line" from swaying, works well for the 26,000 + miles we have put on it. |
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3252 |
Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 4:59pm |
I would ask the advice from someone knowledgeable about that 1" receiver on your Explorer and find out what it is capable of towing, towing weight at well as hitch weight. Both of our Explorers came with the standard 2" receiver that had the towing package which includes the transmission cooler, a must in my opinion when towing the pod.
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 5:13pm |
If your eX came from the factory with a 1 1/4 inch hitch, I do not think it is rated to tow a Pod.
Technically, a 1 1/4 can be "class II", but that's the hitch rating and not the trucks rating. Either way, 3500lbs is the MAX tow rating for a 1 1/4 inch hitch. Every Ford I have ever worked with, had the 2" receiver if it had the factory tow package. |
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TheBum
Senior Member Joined: 26 Feb 2016 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 1407 |
Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 6:07pm |
Actually, with the number of people you're addressing, it would be "all y'all". :)
Based on my Google search and depending on how your Explorer is equipped, you may just need to swap out hitches. From what I found, the 2004 Explorer should be able to pull a Pod. |
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voy108
Newbie Joined: 15 Sep 2017 Location: alamo, tx Online Status: Offline Posts: 20 |
Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 9:28pm |
Hi all, y'all(thanks to The Bum's input who is from TX)
According to the fellow(he had huge commercial flatbed) that picked up my brother's Buick for his daughter, he said the hitch has factory bolts so could be(should be) a factory installed tow package...maybe not heavy duty. The plate has stamped on it 3500lbs max with 350 tongue weigh and a non-7pin plug. If I can avoid it, I would rather not invest $$$$ on a vehicle that I may get rid of in the next year or so. Based on all my research on the 'net, the Explorer is rated for 5000lbs+ and the 171 dry weight is 2205/245. Maybe I'm missing what is needed but folks are using Rav 4's, Subaru's, Ford 150's, and Honda Odysseys to tow the Pods. I'm confused. Doug |
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GrantP
Newbie Joined: 05 Oct 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 8 |
Posted: 10 Oct 2017 at 10:39pm |
Welcome and have fun with your research.
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 7:45am |
The rating of the hitch is not the same as the rating of the truck. Make sure you double/triple check the trucks rating.
You will have to have a 7-pin connection installed and a brake controller. These are not optional. The GVWR of all Pods is 3500lbs. In Texas, brakes are required on all trailers over 4,500lbs, but all your surrounding states, the requirement starts at 3,000lbs. There are people using Rav 4's and Subaru's to tow, It's neither safe nor advised. F150's are a full size truck, no issue there. The Explorer can be a fine tow vehicle for Pods, if properly equipped. We towed many miles with our '99 Explorer Limited, 5.0, 7400lb tow rating. In the long run we see WAY more unhappy towing stories from people who are trying to tow at the bottom of the limits. And I can't remember a single owner who said their previous "smaller" tow vehicle was in any way better then what they upgraded to, if they upgrade. BTW, the biggest towing issue with a Pod isn't the dry weight, by a long shot. The biggest issues are frontal area, and braking, controlling the load. As far as switching out hitches, that is a solid option if the truck, is in fact, otherwise rated to tow more then that hitch is rated to. Another advantage of that is with a 2" hitch, a Weight Distributing Hitch, (WDH), and sway control, become available. (though, with a slight modification or two, anti sway can be added to a 1 1/4 hitch). Many owners run a WDH, even when "not needed on paper" because they get a much better ride and feel more in control when towing. OH, and after re-reading the OP, finding a 151 is a pretty sketchy plan.. We have been podding for 7 years, have been to dozens of Pod rallies, pay attention when traveling, and two weeks ago, saw a 151 in the wild for the first time. It is in fact owned by a couple that lives about 50 miles from us, and was at the 2017 KY R-Pods and Friends MiniMini rally. 151's were only built in the first couple production runs, only a couple hundred in the whole world, and out of production for 7 years now. |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 9:16am |
We were towing with a Ford Escape with 2L Ecoboost engine until we hit ice with a strong crosswind. We now tow with a Nissan Frontier with 4L naturally aspirated V6. In a few aspects, the Escape towed better than the Frontier. At any significant altitude, the 2L Ecoboost engine had more power than the naturally aspirated 4L V6. The transmission also had more gears, so it was better in mountasins, especially when set to Sport (or Schlepp) mode.The shorter distance between the rear axle and hitch ball on the Escape also meant the trailer exerted less force on the TV. I actually feel the trailer more with the Frontier than I did with the Escape because of the increased axle to hitch ball distance.
Now, the Frontier does have a 6,100 lb tow rating as opposed to the Escape's 3,500 lb rating. Having the truck bed to carry items like a generator, spare propane tank, and gasoline for the generator is great. Now if the Frontier had a diesel engine, I think it would be close to ideal for towing an R-Pod. |
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Gregm
Senior Member Joined: 20 Dec 2015 Location: Statesville NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 103 |
Posted: 11 Oct 2017 at 9:23am |
The Explorer should be fine. When we got our pod we had a Suburu and did not care for the way it handled when towing.The salesman said it would be OK.
We now tow with a Toyota Tacoma and are quite happy |
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Gregm
2014 171 2015 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner |
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