Aggravations

I have owned my RP189 for a couple of weeks.....really love it.  My aggravation is in the company's dry weight listing.  From what I have been seeing on this forum a fair number of folks want to pull r-pods with mid size SUVs.  I researched dry weight - 2773 lbs and tongue weight 281 lbs and felt I was within range of pulling with my 2017 Ford Escape with towing package rated at 3500 lb.  It has a 245hp turbo 4 cyl.  I knew it was somewhat marginal.  Well actual weight was 3050 and tongue weight was about 475.  Most of this was due to the original owner putting two #30 propane tanks at the front.  I have reduced it to one tank and now the tongue weight is manageable.  I pull it with all water tanks empty.  I am taking out the folding table because it is really heavy and pretty useless.  We are using folding TV trays.  I guess my aggravation is I bought the Escape specifically because it got good mileage and would tow 3500 lbs.  It was my understanding that R-Pods were designed to be a step up from teardrop campers that would give you more amenities and room......and were light.  My Escape will easily pull the 189 at 60 mph and I have been getting between 15 and 16 mpg.  If FR was honest about the dry weight it would have at least made my research more accurate and possibly made me take a different direction.  Just needed to spout off about this because it has caused me a lot of aggravation.

I have brake controller and it works. I am purchasing a Hayes sway control. The engine has 245 hp and doesn't labor pulling, very seldom over 1800 rpm.....I have been in foothills not mountains so I know that will be the test.  The weight 3050 was weighed by FR before delivery which is 300 lbs or 10% off.  If they gave a weight range it would make more sense to me.

Believe me I get what you are saying.  I didn't go to this site when researching.  I wanted a vehicle that got good mileage when not towing which the Escape does.  If the actual dry weight was as advertised I wouldn't be having this issue.  Once you have purchased a TV you the cost for changing is not small change.  So far the way I am using it I am within specs but just barely so the dry weight discrepency is significant.

For now I am just making short camp runs.  We are going to the Eastern Shores next week....only about an hour drive.  I am getting ready to order the Hayes unit.  I really haven't felt uncomfortable towing but I haven't been in any bad conditions.  I think they do a disservice to newbies to not explain it better because you pretty much have to have a battery and propane.  I may get another TV if I find that it just doesn't work out but for now I feel like it is working.

You really should get a heavier tow vehicle. Both the trailer manufacturers and TV manufacturers mislead you. You now know about the empty weight nonsense. The tow vehicle nonsense is the way they rate them. They are empty of everything except a skinny driver. Together the two forms of exaggeration become just plain dangerous.