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Brewsterivy View Drop Down

Newbie

Joined: 22 Aug 2010
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13

Topic: Returning to R-Pod
Posted: 03 Dec 2010 at 6:21am

Well, yesterday I went to check out the new 177 and loved it!!

The slideout and 6 windows made the trailer seem spacious and I especially like the bathroom with a small sink and also the new graphics on the outside. What I did not like was the TV hanging down from the ceiling over the bed - very odd since the other models did not have that arrangement.

One question I have is about the r-dome: Apparently the 2011 has a groove on the bottom to attach it. I am planning to get the raised axle and wondered if that will affect it. I may try to negotiate without the dome since I travel alone most of the time, and I doubt I would be able to set it up.

Also - does anyone know what the "r" stands for? No one at the dealership seemed to know.

The items I believe I need to get are : class 2 hitch and sway bar (I currently have a class 1), raised axle, and electric brakes on my car. Is there anything else I will need to negotiate or order specific to the rpod?? Is the raised axle necessary?? I heard of it from this site, and seeing how low the pipes were, I could understand how they could bottom out. Are these things I should get done at the dealer or elsewhere? I am totally not able to do that type of thing! I know those items will jack up the price considerably....

Thank you!

uphillracer View Drop Down

Newbie

Joined: 30 Sep 2010
Location: Mobile AL
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 21

Posted: 05 Oct 2010 at 1:33pm

You sound a little like us. We are picking up our NEW 171 on Thursday. Take a look at the "NEWEST" 2011 171. I thought I LOVED the little tweaks and improvements: bathroom sink, 3" risers, easier to use dome.....

The price we got with every conceivable feature included from Jeff Couch was only $300 more than the previous 171 model without the tweaks. I thought that was VERY attractive.

We will tow with a 2008 Land Rover LR3 as we are planning to boondock too and love to get WAY OFF road.

Good luck.

Uphill, Di, Tracer & Jorja
2011 171
2008 LR3

mountain mist View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 25 May 2010
Location: Gatlinburg Tenn
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 426

Posted: 01 Sep 2010 at 2:41pm

Yes, I use the bathroom vent fan , but have never turned it on more than the low speed. Might need to try that too.

'11 Forest River r.pod 171
'10 Ford Edge
ESCAPE POD
Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers
change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley

techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9059

Posted: 01 Sep 2010 at 1:47pm

Do you have the bathroom vent fan on while you cook?

Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

mountain mist View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 25 May 2010
Location: Gatlinburg Tenn
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 426

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 at 6:07pm

Amazing little things.

We have had people point and laugh, saying "look at that". Some have been caught looking and then just have to ask about it. Again, I think Pod People will have to be outgoing folks because we are calling attention to ourselves with the rig. An Englishman wanted to know if I was a sales rep

And the Pod is not inexpensive by any means. I always thought that a trailer got you more bang for your buck than our motorhomes. Why we see so many. Some people may be saying"you paid WHAT what THAT little thing. But it fits a nitch for sure. I had 2 grands with me in it and it was fun for a bit, but topsy turvy all the time, just don't see how a couple and several children can do it. I have gotten past the " patient" time of my life

, I want order and lazy.

On the dog food storage.....still wonder what kind of "gas" this makes in our little friends if it sets the alarm to chirping

And speaking of alarms chirping. Here you have both hands full, the griddle full and the darn alarm over the bed chirps. Anytime I see a little puff of "smoke" come off the griddle I head for the alarm with a pot holder.

Now, I am going to try, only while cooking, putting one of the shower cap things that go over leftovers, over the alarm. If it still chirps I am going to insert a coffee filter in it to see if that helps. Any other suggestions?

'11 Forest River r.pod 171
'10 Ford Edge
ESCAPE POD
Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers
change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley

techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9059

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 at 10:31am

Interesting. We don't keep the dog food in that area but its good to know in case we do in the future.

As for the size of the 'pod, I agree that many are looking to downsize or just not go so BIG as they might have 3 years ago. Sunday one 5er that passed us as they left the campground actually were pointing and laughing (while we were standing there!), but I thought about how much $ they have invested in their rig and have to spend every trip on gas/diesel and I had the last laugh. They have been the exception though. Most people, including several this weekend, ask to see it and ask questions.

Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

mountain mist View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 25 May 2010
Location: Gatlinburg Tenn
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 426

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 at 9:53am

Let me relay this story, might be interesting for some and save time and some money.

This was in connection with the PROPANE GAS DECTECTOR

Our "check-out" man for the Pod told this to us.

One of their customers, with a Pod, was having the cherp, brought the Pod in, the dealer replaced the part. Few days later the same man called to say it was cherping again.

He was told not to touch a thing that was in the Pod, not to move anything out, just bring as it was, cherping.

Come to find out it was the dried dog food stored in that area. It was emitting something(and this goes into our animals).

When Winter came and they were not covered up with work, they did some experminting with dried dog food on other motorhomes, etc. Sure enough, CHIRP

I don't even FEED my dog under the table near that dectector. Would surely put her off her feed if it chirped in her face. She gets "spooked" here in the house when the dust zapping unit in the basement gets over zealous. Must be something about the high pitch that hurts the ears.

It was fun to look through all the models, And yes, there is no pressure to sell because they are selling themselves. While there are a % of first time rv's buying, we in America are starting to downsize on many things. In Europe you seldom see a huge motorcoach, all caravans, light weights. Seems to be something for all in the Pods. The bunk ones intrigue me, not for sleeping, but for making space for something else, since it will be just 2 of us at most, but mostly just me and the dog. Tink is one example of great use of the slide out. The Mods on the Pods are wonderful.

I, for one, plan to use mine as a get away, in my yard, when football season starts. This way I can even THINK when I am reading or writing or painting at that time. Our house is an open floor plan and the noise carries all over!

Escape Pod

'11 Forest River r.pod 171
'10 Ford Edge
ESCAPE POD
Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers
change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley

FuzzySproket View Drop Down

Newbie

Joined: 28 Jun 2010
Location: CT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9

Posted: 31 Aug 2010 at 1:58am

We bought our 174 from Hemlock Hill RV in Southington CT From Peter. We had gone there to look into renting a pop up. They had the R-Pods on the lot so we were able to look at a bunch of different models, we checked out Pop ups and several bigger trailers, but at the end of the day we really liked the R-pod as did a bunch of other people, there was a lot of traffic checking them out. We went with the 174 cause of the slide out and the couch / bed. We didn't like the bunk beds and I'm not crazy with the canvas sides of the other units.

I really like them there was no pressure on the selling end and the office staff was excellent helping us with the financing paper work. Picking up the unit was great as they covered all the items on the check list and answered all our questions. On the service side I had a bad CO detector in the unit kept chirping even after two battery changes, I called them and they said I could bring in the trailer or detector which ever I was comfortable with and they would fix it. I would recommend them with no problem.

Tom & Cindy
2010 174 RPod
2013 Ford F250

mountain mist View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 25 May 2010
Location: Gatlinburg Tenn
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 426

Posted: 30 Aug 2010 at 2:29pm

I have the 171 pulled by Ford Edge. Came out of diseal pusher with slide outs some years ago after camping in tents for 17 years,(husband was DONE with the hassle, his words, not mine) Went out and bought a 3 man tent since I intend to continue camping, one way or the other. Brother in law had been in 5th wheels for years, got himself a Rialta (and he is willing to take care of the problems that come with them), the husband started looking at some himself, almost got one, but backed out at last minute. He said he would fix me up with something(within reason) that he could read up on and check out. I started with the teardrop, but did want to stand up. Saw the T@B, then happened onto the web site of the Pod. Love at first sight. Goggled to find a dealer near me, found out the one that had sold us our motorhomes for years now carry them. We looked and bought in the same DAY!, Unheard of in our household. I saw all models. Since most of the time it will be just be me and the dog, the 171 fit the bill. I wanted to hear if any problems had arisen with slide-outs, they have to be good ones so leaks don't occur. Did not need that extra room. Was driving an Audi A3 at the time with a Forester in the garage, neither was good for comfortable towing. Traded the Forester in for Edge, without the extra weight of the slide out, the Edge is good.

And I LOVE the POD. I had not believed or paid attention to the PR about the attention it attracts!

I think Pod People must be extraverts. Women think it is soooo cute, men are curious.

Like anything else, there are things we would like to see attended to, but for the most part, it is great.

And I took on learning to hook-up , tow, dump, etc. all at once. Never had done any of it, took care of inside of motorhomes, drove only on interstates. This is a learning curve, if done with care, makes an older person like me proud, my children amazed and the grands Wowed!!

I love the looks of the vintage campers, I have to give the Sisters a large hand at what they do. And the most wonderful ideas and fun.

'11 Forest River r.pod 171
'10 Ford Edge
ESCAPE POD
Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers
change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley

rpodcamper.com View Drop Down

Admin Group - pHp

Joined: 26 Nov 2009
Location: Reading, Pa
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3990

Posted: 24 Aug 2010 at 12:07am

Welcome back Visit often!

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Brewsterivy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 22 Aug 2010 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Topic: Returning to R-Pod Posted: 03 Dec 2010 at 6:21am
	Well, yesterday I went to check out the new 177 and loved it!! The slideout and 6 windows made the trailer seem spacious and I especially like the bathroom with a small sink and also the new graphics on the outside. What I did not like was the TV hanging down from the ceiling over the bed - very odd since the other models did not have that arrangement. One question I have is about the r-dome: Apparently the 2011 has a groove on the bottom to attach it. I am planning to get the raised axle and wondered if that will affect it. I may try to negotiate without the dome since I travel alone most of the time, and I doubt I would be able to set it up. Also - does anyone know what the "r" stands for? No one at the dealership seemed to know. The items I believe I need to get are : class 2 hitch and sway bar (I currently have a class 1), raised axle, and electric brakes on my car. Is there anything else I will need to negotiate or order specific to the rpod?? Is the raised axle necessary?? I heard of it from this site, and seeing how low the pipes were, I could understand how they could bottom out. Are these things I should get done at the dealer or elsewhere? I am totally not able to do that type of thing! I know those items will jack up the price considerably.... Thank you!

uphillracer Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 30 Sep 2010 Location: Mobile AL Online Status: Offline Posts: 21	Posted: 05 Oct 2010 at 1:33pm
	You sound a little like us. We are picking up our NEW 171 on Thursday. Take a look at the "NEWEST" 2011 171. I thought I LOVED the little tweaks and improvements: bathroom sink, 3" risers, easier to use dome..... The price we got with every conceivable feature included from Jeff Couch was only $300 more than the previous 171 model without the tweaks. I thought that was VERY attractive. We will tow with a 2008 Land Rover LR3 as we are planning to boondock too and love to get WAY OFF road. Good luck.
	Uphill, Di, Tracer & Jorja 2011 171 2008 LR3

mountain mist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 May 2010 Location: Gatlinburg Tenn Online Status: Offline Posts: 426	Posted: 01 Sep 2010 at 2:41pm
	Yes, I use the bathroom vent fan , but have never turned it on more than the low speed. Might need to try that too.
	'11 Forest River r.pod 171 '10 Ford Edge ESCAPE POD Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059	Posted: 01 Sep 2010 at 1:47pm
	Do you have the bathroom vent fan on while you cook?
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

mountain mist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 May 2010 Location: Gatlinburg Tenn Online Status: Offline Posts: 426	Posted: 31 Aug 2010 at 6:07pm
	Amazing little things. We have had people point and laugh, saying "look at that". Some have been caught looking and then just have to ask about it. Again, I think Pod People will have to be outgoing folks because we are calling attention to ourselves with the rig. An Englishman wanted to know if I was a sales rep And the Pod is not inexpensive by any means. I always thought that a trailer got you more bang for your buck than our motorhomes. Why we see so many. Some people may be saying"you paid WHAT what THAT little thing. But it fits a nitch for sure. I had 2 grands with me in it and it was fun for a bit, but topsy turvy all the time, just don't see how a couple and several children can do it. I have gotten past the " patient" time of my life, I want order and lazy. On the dog food storage.....still wonder what kind of "gas" this makes in our little friends if it sets the alarm to chirping And speaking of alarms chirping. Here you have both hands full, the griddle full and the darn alarm over the bed chirps. Anytime I see a little puff of "smoke" come off the griddle I head for the alarm with a pot holder. Now, I am going to try, only while cooking, putting one of the shower cap things that go over leftovers, over the alarm. If it still chirps I am going to insert a coffee filter in it to see if that helps. Any other suggestions?
	'11 Forest River r.pod 171 '10 Ford Edge ESCAPE POD Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059	Posted: 31 Aug 2010 at 10:31am
	Interesting. We don't keep the dog food in that area but its good to know in case we do in the future. As for the size of the 'pod, I agree that many are looking to downsize or just not go so BIG as they might have 3 years ago. Sunday one 5er that passed us as they left the campground actually were pointing and laughing (while we were standing there!), but I thought about how much $ they have invested in their rig and have to spend every trip on gas/diesel and I had the last laugh. They have been the exception though. Most people, including several this weekend, ask to see it and ask questions.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

mountain mist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 May 2010 Location: Gatlinburg Tenn Online Status: Offline Posts: 426	Posted: 31 Aug 2010 at 9:53am
	Let me relay this story, might be interesting for some and save time and some money. This was in connection with the PROPANE GAS DECTECTOR Our "check-out" man for the Pod told this to us. One of their customers, with a Pod, was having the cherp, brought the Pod in, the dealer replaced the part. Few days later the same man called to say it was cherping again. He was told not to touch a thing that was in the Pod, not to move anything out, just bring as it was, cherping. Come to find out it was the dried dog food stored in that area. It was emitting something(and this goes into our animals). When Winter came and they were not covered up with work, they did some experminting with dried dog food on other motorhomes, etc. Sure enough, CHIRP I don't even FEED my dog under the table near that dectector. Would surely put her off her feed if it chirped in her face. She gets "spooked" here in the house when the dust zapping unit in the basement gets over zealous. Must be something about the high pitch that hurts the ears. It was fun to look through all the models, And yes, there is no pressure to sell because they are selling themselves. While there are a % of first time rv's buying, we in America are starting to downsize on many things. In Europe you seldom see a huge motorcoach, all caravans, light weights. Seems to be something for all in the Pods. The bunk ones intrigue me, not for sleeping, but for making space for something else, since it will be just 2 of us at most, but mostly just me and the dog. Tink is one example of great use of the slide out. The Mods on the Pods are wonderful. I, for one, plan to use mine as a get away, in my yard, when football season starts. This way I can even THINK when I am reading or writing or painting at that time. Our house is an open floor plan and the noise carries all over! Escape Pod
	'11 Forest River r.pod 171 '10 Ford Edge ESCAPE POD Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley

FuzzySproket Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28 Jun 2010 Location: CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Posted: 31 Aug 2010 at 1:58am
	We bought our 174 from Hemlock Hill RV in Southington CT From Peter. We had gone there to look into renting a pop up. They had the R-Pods on the lot so we were able to look at a bunch of different models, we checked out Pop ups and several bigger trailers, but at the end of the day we really liked the R-pod as did a bunch of other people, there was a lot of traffic checking them out. We went with the 174 cause of the slide out and the couch / bed. We didn't like the bunk beds and I'm not crazy with the canvas sides of the other units. I really like them there was no pressure on the selling end and the office staff was excellent helping us with the financing paper work. Picking up the unit was great as they covered all the items on the check list and answered all our questions. On the service side I had a bad CO detector in the unit kept chirping even after two battery changes, I called them and they said I could bring in the trailer or detector which ever I was comfortable with and they would fix it. I would recommend them with no problem.
	Tom & Cindy 2010 174 RPod 2013 Ford F250

mountain mist Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 25 May 2010 Location: Gatlinburg Tenn Online Status: Offline Posts: 426	Posted: 30 Aug 2010 at 2:29pm
	I have the 171 pulled by Ford Edge. Came out of diseal pusher with slide outs some years ago after camping in tents for 17 years,(husband was DONE with the hassle, his words, not mine) Went out and bought a 3 man tent since I intend to continue camping, one way or the other. Brother in law had been in 5th wheels for years, got himself a Rialta (and he is willing to take care of the problems that come with them), the husband started looking at some himself, almost got one, but backed out at last minute. He said he would fix me up with something(within reason) that he could read up on and check out. I started with the teardrop, but did want to stand up. Saw the T@B, then happened onto the web site of the Pod. Love at first sight. Goggled to find a dealer near me, found out the one that had sold us our motorhomes for years now carry them. We looked and bought in the same DAY!, Unheard of in our household. I saw all models. Since most of the time it will be just be me and the dog, the 171 fit the bill. I wanted to hear if any problems had arisen with slide-outs, they have to be good ones so leaks don't occur. Did not need that extra room. Was driving an Audi A3 at the time with a Forester in the garage, neither was good for comfortable towing. Traded the Forester in for Edge, without the extra weight of the slide out, the Edge is good. And I LOVE the POD. I had not believed or paid attention to the PR about the attention it attracts! I think Pod People must be extraverts. Women think it is soooo cute, men are curious. Like anything else, there are things we would like to see attended to, but for the most part, it is great. And I took on learning to hook-up , tow, dump, etc. all at once. Never had done any of it, took care of inside of motorhomes, drove only on interstates. This is a learning curve, if done with care, makes an older person like me proud, my children amazed and the grands Wowed!! I love the looks of the vintage campers, I have to give the Sisters a large hand at what they do. And the most wonderful ideas and fun.
	'11 Forest River r.pod 171 '10 Ford Edge ESCAPE POD Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley

rpodcamper.com Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Location: Reading, Pa Online Status: Offline Posts: 3990	Posted: 24 Aug 2010 at 12:07am
	Welcome back Visit often!