Help Choosing a Tow Vehicle - R-pod Owners Forum

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Gypsiejanie View Drop Down

Newbie

Joined: 24 Oct 2020
Location: New Mexico
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Posts: 16

Topic: Help Choosing a Tow Vehicle
Posted: 01 Nov 2020 at 8:18am

Good info. Thanks.

GlueGuy

Senior Member

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
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Posts: 2629

Posted: 31 Oct 2020 at 10:49am

We own both a Tacoma (long bed, crew cab), and the F-150. They both pull the RP179 just fine, but the Tacoma will struggle at higher elevations.

The Tacoma is "sportier"; we sometimes refer to it as our sports car. It is more comfortable going through tight, twisty roads.

The F-150 is way more comfortable. If we're doing a trip of > 1 hour, we will choose the F-150 every time. It is smoother, quieter, higher, and just an all-around smooth vehicle to drive. It laughs at high altitude because of the turbos. You barely notice any loss of power at all at high altitudes.

Surprisingly, the F-150, despite being bigger, gets better gas mileage. Around town it is consistently in the 18-19 MPG range. On road trips it runs between 21-22 MPG, and on a recent trip to Tahoe and back, it ran 21 MPG going up to Tahoe, and 25 MPG coming back. The Tacoma seems to get about 18 MPG almost no matter what. They both get around 14 MPG pulling the Rpod.

If I had to choose one, I would pick the F-150. My sweetie would prefer her Tacoma.

bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Dirt Sifter View Drop Down

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Joined: 30 Dec 2018
Location: Right side OR
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Posts: 170

Posted: 31 Oct 2020 at 9:04am

Originally posted by Gypsiejanie

Yes, thanks for the link. Interesting. I think I'm settling on a Toyota Tundra.

Just re-read this and saw the Tundra. I like the comfort in ours. Whether you get a Tundra, Tacoma, or what ever brand - make sure it has a factory tow package, not just an added hitch and brake controller. And I agree that which ever tow vehicle you get, an equalizer 4, weight distributing hitch with sway control will make traveling/towing a lot more pleasant. So will put on/take off extension mirrors. All the best to you on your new adventures.

Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE
'07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages
1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff

BMJ

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Joined: 25 May 2020
Location: Virginia
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Posts: 24

Posted: 30 Oct 2020 at 2:36pm

We also pulled our 195 with a Frontier.. in the mountain terrain of SW Virginia, it pulled great... need good brakes😊

Dirt Sifter View Drop Down

Senior Member

Joined: 30 Dec 2018
Location: Right side OR
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Posts: 170

Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 12:53pm

Our Tacoma works just fine towing a 195. The only caution, and its a big one in my opinion, is a strong head wind will hold you back. On the freeways in the west that can be a problem. We could only get 55 mph on an 80 mph freeway, so had to pull off for the day to let the wind subside. Good luck in finding the right rig for YOU and welcome to the forum!

Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE
'07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages
1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff

Capt Kidd

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 18 Aug 2015
Location: Chico, CA
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Posts: 212

Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 10:30am

I bought my Dodge Durango my 2016 used from a Dodge dealer. It was a lease vehicle with 32,000 miles on it. I now have 90,000 on it and no real issues, Have towed both my 179 and now my 196 with no problems. It has paddle shifters which I had before and really like, If I let the car pick which gear it wants to use it uses 6th gear at 60 but I find I can use the paddle shifters and run in 7th gear at 60. By doing this I pick up to 2 mpg better mileage. It has the V6 motor and all wheel drive.

The Pirate's Pod

Gypsiejanie View Drop Down

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Joined: 24 Oct 2020
Location: New Mexico
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Posts: 16

Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 9:21am

Thank you! I will be sad leaving New Mexico but will return often to camp with the Grand kids!

offgrid

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Joined: 23 Jul 2018
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Posts: 5290

Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 9:21am

Nothing wrong with buying used. Lots of people keep their vehicles for only about 5 years at which point they might have 70-80K miles. That's nothing for a well maintained vehicle from a good brand these days. At that point they cost under half of new but have at least 2/3 of their useful life left. That is the sweet spot for me.

Both Toyota and Honda have very good reliability ratings. The Tundra or Sequoia would work for you, nothing in the Honda lineup would be capable of towing the trailer you've selected safely.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Senior Member

Joined: 31 Aug 2018
Location: Manistee, MI
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Posts: 344

Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 9:17am

Good luck in finding a TV for your 196. My wife and I have a 179 and recently got a "new to us" TV which is a 08 Pathfinder 4.0 L which has a 6000 towing capacity which is more than enough for our 179. We have not had any towing problems going from Michigan to Florida then to Rockhound State Park in NM. Really enjoy NM SPs if they ever reopen. I would recommend an anti sway / equalizing hitch as part of your setup. It makes the driving part of the trip much more enjoyable and safer. Have fun.

Jay

179/2019

Gypsiejanie View Drop Down

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Joined: 24 Oct 2020
Location: New Mexico
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Posts: 16

Posted: 29 Oct 2020 at 9:01am

Yes, thanks for the link. Interesting. I think I'm settling on a Toyota Tundra.