Just Purchased New Rpod 171 - R-pod Owners Forum

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jato

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Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
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Posts: 3223

Topic: Just Purchased New Rpod 171
Posted: 28 May 2016 at 6:35am

Sounds great. You should have ample supply of battery to support your electrical needs, unless you have multiple days of nimbostratus or cumulonimbus cloud cover. Since I still work full time I don't get an opportunity to test how long my batteries will last under ideal summer conditions however when I do go for 2 weeks at a time (early spring or later in the fall) I normally get 3-4 days out of each of my 12 v. group 24 deep cycle marine batteries and that is using them quite a bit using the furnace to keep things cozy inside. And that is w/o using solar to help bring the charge back up as well.

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."

Rustler

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Joined: 07 May 2016
Location: S. Oregon Coast
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Posts: 100

Posted: 28 May 2016 at 1:35am

Originally posted by jato

As many have mentioned before me, it is always good to have more power with your TV when pulling. Weight is one thing, wind resistance is often overlooked and when you look at the numbers, you are pushing a lot of wind by the sheer size of the front area of the pod. Towing over relatively flat areas won't be any problem but I would want more power in my TV if I plan on towing through mountainous areas like what you will encounter out West.

Yes, there is a lot of wind resistance along with the weight being towed. The Hood River Edition of my Rpod 171 is 4 inches higher adding about 4% to the cross sectional area of the camper. That might reduce the fuel mileage by a similar percentage. I'm sure that going over the Siskiyou mountains on my first trip (to the Golden State Star Party) will be in lower gears in the slow truck lane. But my rig does have the larger radiator and transmission cooler. I'll just keep the speed down and watch the coolant temperature. The air conditioning can be switched off if necessary.

Someone on this forum mentioned a great feature of Google Earth that helps in planning an Rpod trip in the mountains - route elevation profile. The steps are as follows:

Click the "Get Directions" button in the left panel.
Type in starting location and destination in the two boxes.
Click the other (blue) "Get Directions" button in the left panel.
On the map right click on the travel route shown and choose "Show Elevation Profile".

This displays a profile of the route. You can point the cursor at any point on the profile to display the elevation and road grade at that point. There is a corresponding arrow pointing to the map location of the point in the profile.

Using this tool I see there are several grades in my route that will test the tow vehicle's capability:

South of Ashland, Oregon on Interstate 5 going from 2200 ft. to 4385 ft. (Siskiyou Summit), 7-1/2 miles at around 5.5% grade. Coming down the other side into California is a longer but less steep grade to be ascended on the trip home.
From the junction with Interstate 5 on Hwy. 89 at Mount Shasta City, California going from 3460 ft. to 4440 ft., 4-1/2 miles at 4% grade.
East of McArthur, California on Hwy. 299 going from 3325 ft. to 4595 ft., 5-1/2 miles at 4.5% grade.

There are numerous other short grades to be traversed. But those three are the worst.

So now in preparation I'm continuing to learn how to used the appliances in the Rpod 171 and coming up with a packing list for the trip. My Spreadsheet for Rpod & Tow Vehicle Loading has been most useful in determining how to load the camp trailer and tow vehicle. Today I determined that my 185 watt, 36 volt solar panel will not fit on the queen bed when traveling. It just can't be maneuvered into that space without running into the walls or ceiling. So it will ride on the dinette area bed in travel position. The panel can be secured using the nylon strap that is normally used to secure the table when not folded down.

Since I'll be camping without AC power hookup, the solar panel's 13 amp charge current will come in handy. That should keep the Fantastic vent fan operating during the heat of the day and power my telescope at night. I'll parallel connect my portable 100 amp-hour deep cycle battery with the Rpod's battery. While the amp-hour capacities of these batteries are different, their voltages under charge will be the same. Each will accept its share of the current at that voltage. Both batteries are flooded cell, deep-cycle. The Morningstar SS-MPPT-5L charge controller being used is a maximum power-point tracking design. This harvests more total energy than the cheaper pulse-width modulating designs. The maximum power point is at around 36.5 volts, with the controller converting the voltage to between 12 and 14.7 volts, depending on the battery's state of charge.

I was pleased to learn that all of the lights, Fantastic Fan, water pump and Jensen entertainment system function on 12 volts. Of course the refrigerator will run on propane. It all should work well dry camping with solar power. I'll keep you posted as to how my trip turns out.

Russ
2009 Toyota RAV4
V6 w/ tow package
2016 Rpod 171 HRE

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Joined: 04 May 2016
Location: Portage, MI
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Posted: 17 May 2016 at 8:40pm

That would not have been me. I'll be up that way later in the summer, but not now.

Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — My RPod YouTube Videos

jato

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Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
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Posts: 3223

Posted: 17 May 2016 at 8:26pm

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."

jato

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3223

Posted: 17 May 2016 at 8:22pm

Welcome Rustler and PilotPoddler. Question for you Pilot, did you happen to be camping at the state park in Traverse City last week? As we drove by we saw a pod in there but didn't have time to stop in and say "hi."

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."

Rustler

Senior Member

Joined: 07 May 2016
Location: S. Oregon Coast
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 100

Posted: 17 May 2016 at 6:54pm

Thanks for your reply with that good point. I'll lock it in the closed position for some additional protection. I know measures such as this are not 100% foolproof. I have a friend who had a trailer stolen that had a lockable ball inserted in the connector. I've considered wrapping a chain around the Rpod axle with the other end secured to the metal frame of my carport. I just would hope a potential thief would notice that and not try driving off with the trailer. It's not that my neighborhood is bad for theft. But with epidemic of drugs and people needing to fuel their habit, I don't want to be an easy mark.

Russ
2009 Toyota RAV4
V6 w/ tow package
2016 Rpod 171 HRE

hogone

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Joined: 09 Apr 2013
Location: St. Louis
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Posts: 1042

Posted: 17 May 2016 at 6:54am

rustler: one thing caught my eye. why do you have the coupler padlocked in the unlocked position? i guess my thought would be one could still lower it on a ball (although not locked), rig something up and still drive off. i lock mine in the down (locked) position. just something that caught my attention. i may be thinking about this all wrong. hogone

Jon & Pam
2013 RP177
2010 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
2009 HD Lowrider
CHEESEHEAD

Rustler

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Joined: 07 May 2016
Location: S. Oregon Coast
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Posts: 100

Posted: 17 May 2016 at 1:49am

We picked up our new Rpod 171 a few days ago. I'll need some more practice in backing the trailer, since it took a bit to get it backed into my driveway. I was concerned about the possibility of the trailer hanging up since I would be backing down a slight grade into a rising grade driveway at 90° to the road. No problem with the Hood River Edition having the extra clearance. The closest item to hanging up was the bottom of the tow hitch, which cleared the curb by several inches. The Rpod is actually parked on a lawn to the side of the driveway. So to ease getting over the curb I placed some boards on the road next to the curb.

I had been concerned Ouch

with the possibility of legal problems exceeding the tow rating for my 2009 Toyota RAV4, V6 (269 HP). I had assumed that I didn't have the tow package, which would limit the tow rating to 2000 lbs. and 200 lbs. max. tongue weight. Our Rpod 171, having 2475/250 lbs. would be over these limits. But on reviewing some information kept with the owner's manual, I came across the original sales sticker that came from the car's window in the dealer's lot, giving the vehicle options, pricing etc. Much to my delight Star

it does mention the optional "Towing Prep Package - V6, 3500 lbs. Towing (includes upgraded radiator, fan coupling and alternator)". It doesn't mention a transmission cooler. But I did have one installed at a local transmission shop.

In any case the trailer towed home quite easily. Without any cargo, there was minimal need for tension on the Husky Centerline TS weight distributing hitch. But when adding cargo, including 250 lbs. of fresh water, I'm sure there will be some more tension needed. The sway control feature will be of use as well. The trailer sticker mentions cargo capacity of ~750 lbs. So after adding water, I will have around 500 lbs. for other cargo before reaching the 3225 lbs. GVWR. I hope to stay well below the GVWR. But things add up quickly.

Before towing on our first outing I will be having the vehicle's fluids changed - automatic transmission, 4wd transfer case, rear differential, etc. Under normal usage, these fluids would not be up for changing. But at 75,000 miles with the severe service of trailer towing ahead, it is time to get them changed. We're looking forward to some camping trips this summer.

In the meantime I'm learning how to use the Rpod's appliances. I have secured the battery with a chain and lock. Also the trailer coupler is padlocked in the unlocked position. The propane bottle along with the spare tire will be stored in the garage out of sight. I'm sure these measures won't stop a determined thief. But I don't want to make it easy for someone.

Any comments would be welcomed.

Russ
2009 Toyota RAV4
V6 w/ tow package
2016 Rpod 171 HRE

Leo B

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 13 Jan 2012
Location: Lyndonville, VT
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Posts: 4508

Posted: 08 May 2016 at 7:46pm

Pilotpodder, welcome to the group!

Leo & Melissa Bachand
2017 Ford F150
2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk
Previously owned
2015 Rpod 179
2010 Rpod 171

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Posted: 07 May 2016 at 7:31pm

A V-6 and the Tranny Cooler mod is 90% of the battle. And yes, go with the "severe duty" intervals at least for oil and tranny. The Rav-4 is a little on the light side, a WDH and Sway setup is probably advisable. 171 owners unite!