PILOTing the RP-178 |
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CO_PILOT
Newbie Joined: 21 Sep 2013 Location: Longmont, CO Online Status: Offline Posts: 21 |
Topic: PILOTing the RP-178 Posted: 05 Nov 2013 at 3:21pm |
Note: Also posted this at Pod Nation. Sorry about cross posting but this info might help someone. In September we bought a 2014 RP-178 from the Shober brothers at Bison RV in Clovis NM. Great guys, with a great group of folks to deal with. Highly recommended: We have a 2012 Honda Pilot for our tow vehicle. 4WD, 3.5L V-6 (250 hp), with 5-sp OD tranny. It came with the factory transmission oil cooler, 7-pin hitch connector, and 2" hitch receiver. Honda rates it with an ample 4,500 lbs GVWR tow capacity. Until we found the R-Pod line, GVRW of other travel trailers (even the so-called "ultra-lite" ones) ended up at the too-high - or over - end of our Pilot's tow rating. Even fully loaded with water and our [too much] stuff, I am confident that the RP-178 is no more than 3,500 lbs. Bison RV installed a Prodigy 2 in the Pilot to control the electric brakes on the RP-178. These worked beautifully and transparently ove our 1,500 mile first outing. I was concerned that the Pilot/RP178 combo might need a Load Leveling Hitch and/or an Anti-Sway Bar to achieve level and stable performance at highway speeds. No reason to worry as we discovered. You can see from the picture below that the pair stands absolutely level - using a 3 1/2" drop hitch insert. The Pilot does not squat from the tongue weight (look at the rqual wheel wells): We towed at 75 mph for 5-10 miles and there was no hint of sway. Sometimes wind gusts would blow the 'Pod to the side, but it always quickly came back in line without any hint of wanting to oscillate. |
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2014 R-Pod 178 -- 2012 Honda Pilot
Roadwise Wisdom for both Bikers and Froggers alike: http://www.dansher.com/bikequotes.html |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 05 Nov 2013 at 5:09pm |
Welcome.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Goose
Senior Member Joined: 24 Sep 2010 Location: Arizona Online Status: Offline Posts: 672 |
Posted: 05 Nov 2013 at 9:02pm |
Welcome Aboard!! Goose
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Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
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