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Almost 15 year anniversary |
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techntrek ![]() Admin Group - pHp ![]() ![]() Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
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Almost 15 years ago in 2009 I joined "the other" forum, and a few months later I became the lead admin on this forum. I stopped participating full-time in 2017 due to a large kitchen remodel I was doing mostly myself, and then a divorce. Life happens. I've still stopped in from time to time to take care of spam and approve new members.
I'm now in a long-term relationship, and I introduced her to travel trailer camping. She tent car camped in the past. We bought a 30-foot 5th wheel camper and F150 pickup in September. In anticipation of a 3-week road trip we then took in April to Texas to see the eclipse. Life is good. I have moments when I miss my old 171. We were scoping out remote campsites at a state park on Sunday and our site options will be very constrained with our 5th wheel. We would have more options with something like the 171. But I was happy to get more room including a slide-out with my prior 26-foot camper for big 4-week family trips we were taking 10 years ago. And our new camper is still fairly small as 5th wheel campers go, but also has plenty of room for the long road trips my girlfriend and I are planning on. Life is definitely good. I hope everyone is still enjoying their pods and podmods.
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Tars Tarkas ![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447 |
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Good to hear from you! It definitely sounds like you're on a nice little upswing! TT
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser |
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Leo B ![]() podders Helping podders - pHp ![]() Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4516 |
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Doug,
Great hearing from you!!Happy things are going well! Take care Leo B |
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Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
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gpokluda ![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: 11 Nov 2018 Location: NM Online Status: Offline Posts: 314 |
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Great hearing from you and so glad you took time to let us know how you are doing. I often wonder about frequent posters who all of a sudden stop posting; Offgrid comes to mind.
My wife and I moved on from our 2015/2016 179 about a year and a half ago to a small fifth wheel and a F150. So glad life is on the up and up for you.
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Gpokluda
2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Kawasaki KLR650 |
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Pod People ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1075 |
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Happy to hear that you are still RV'ing-even without the pod I gained a lot of knowledge and info from you when we first joined in 2011. thanks for your time and continuing efforts with the forum. It's still a great forum--with old and new members/posters Vann
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StephenH ![]() podders Helping podders - pHp ![]() ![]() Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6315 |
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+1 We no longer have our RPod 179 either but are still enjoying travel with our Grey Wolf.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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jato ![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3250 |
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Thanks for an update from the #1 ADMIN. on this forum for many years. Great to hear updates on what is going on in your life. Recently saw the advertising of the 2025 171. I guess it will be good news for many yet I found 4 major "dealbreakers" IMHO. #1 front window, I have heard of many complaints of this breaking, even when sitting still. Has this now been remedied? My parents had a 1966 Shasta with a front window; at least that company did its homework and placed a protective panel in front that would protect the glass from breakage while in travel mode. #2 central vacuum Really? For a 171 that has minimal floor space (like my 177) it would be quicker just to sweep up and throw it out the door. I would prefer the extra storage space instead of a vacuum that isn't necessary. #3 No slide - enough said on that one, ours has been flawless for 13+ years. #4 120v only fridge. I NEED PROPANE I realize for most this will work nicely but for those of us that boondock for a couple weeks at a time where there may be no sun for the majority of the time, it won't. My only option would be to purchase lithium batteries ($$$), yes, I know solar panel is included on the roof, a generator ($$$$) and then carry a can of gas for the generator ($). Not a really good option for someone in my shoes. I hope the 177 that has been so good to me since March 2011 will continue to be dependable as it has been.
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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techntrek ![]() Admin Group - pHp ![]() ![]() Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
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Awesome to hear from many familiar people! And happy to see that everyone is still camping.
jato I agree that several of those things are non-starters. Especially the lack of gas operation on the fridge (what?!). And give me a broom instead of taking up storage space for that vacuum.
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gpokluda ![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: 11 Nov 2018 Location: NM Online Status: Offline Posts: 314 |
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Add me to the list of folks that don't want slides. Even if they work flawlessly (our failed on our second trip and took two months to fix under warranty) you still have seals and maintenance. Personally, I'd rather not. The 120v fridge is also a deal breaker for us, but unfortunately they are getting harder and harder to find. As a data point from the Escape forum where absorption fridges are no longer available, you need at the very least 200watts of solar and 200ah of lithium battery (400ah lead acid) to effectively run a compressor fridge and still have capacity and headroom for other electrical needs.
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Gpokluda
2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Kawasaki KLR650 |
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