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Topic ClosedR*Pod HRE (Hood River Edition)

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Direct Link To This Post Topic: R*Pod HRE (Hood River Edition)
    Posted: 28 Sep 2010 at 12:45pm
I just posted Pictures and more Information at:
 
 
They are due to ship Mid October.  I have an east coast dealer checking to see if they can order them. 
 
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Mar 2011 at 9:03pm
I am a new member and have been browsing posts. We haven't purchased an rpod, yet, but yesterday we looked at the HRE of the 177 and loved it. We have a 1998 Toyota Sienna )with towing package)with nearly 200,000 miles on it and will be having a mechanic check it out before actually towing it. Does anyone have experience using a Sienna for pulling an rpod? We've pulled horse trailers before, but have never done anything with a travel trailer before. We are excited about the possibilities, being retired and almost retired. We live in California.
I'd appreciate any recommendations and/or advice!Smile

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Mar 2011 at 12:18am
  We had a Dodge Caravan with a 3.3 liter engine and a 3 speed trans. with overdrive to pull our 171, it did OK on the flat land but was little light on power when it came to the hills going and coming back from Arizona. I don't know what size engine you have in the Sienna but if it's larger than the 3.3 that we had you might be in better shape for the hills that you have in Californa.
      Goose
Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Mar 2011 at 9:30am
I have a 2003 Sienna and I would say it is marginally powered for the job.  For our usual 1-hour-away weekend trips its good enough, and for our 4-hour trip to the beach each year since that is mostly flat.  I have two big trips coming up this year @ 10 and 17 hours one-way, each.  I'll probably be the one in the right lane holding at 50 mph on the big grinds.  I would upgrade but the thing is paid off and barely over 100,000 miles.
 
I highly recommend getting a weight distribution hitch, the soft suspension on the Siennas is not designed for towing.  The ride quality is greatly improved with one in place.
 
Welcome!
 
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Mar 2011 at 9:34am
Thanks to both of you for your advice. The dealer said that the unit they put on is a combo sway and weight distribution. I guess we'll have to think about upgrading at some point. It would be nice to be able to just go with what we have for the time being, if the poor Sienna isn't just plain tired with all the miles on her.

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Mar 2011 at 9:36am
I forgot to mention that our Sienna is a V6, and the book says it is 2995 cubic cm. Don't know how that translates into liters!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Mar 2011 at 11:03am
I believe that translates to 2.995 liters. they probably round it off to 3.0 liters. I know what you mean about staying with the van that you have. Good luck,  Goose
Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
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