Setting up trailer alone |
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AZ Hiker
Newbie Joined: 04 Sep 2016 Location: Arizona Online Status: Offline Posts: 7 |
Topic: Setting up trailer alone Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 3:07pm |
Hi Jewel59! You will do great! I am 51 and just purchased a 177 and immediately went for a 2 week adventure with my dog from AZ to Teton National Park. First time towing an RV. Like anything else - practice is the key! I went to a local high school and practiced backing up - I also bought a portable back up camera for the Pod. I have a back up camera on my 2011 Jeep GC - which I tow with. That camera helps a ton for hitching as it even has a ball "line" for exact alignment. However - you do need to make sure the trailer tongue height is correct first - and if the sun hits your car rear cameras - the glare can make them useless. I found that the folks in the RV parks were super helpful - especially as a solo woman! People are more than willing to assist you backing up / hitching / or general advice.
One mistake I made was with leveling the Pod and unhitching. I leveled the low side tire on some of the plastic lego leveling blocks - all good! But could not figure out how to chock that tire since it was on blocks. So I figured I was ok since the other tire was chocked. I also put my slide out before unhitching - for some dumb reason. So when I unhitched from my Jeep the Pod was ok for a few seconds - but then fell sideways off my tongue jack blocks. The jack was in the dirt and since I did not have a "foot" on the jack at the time - I was toast. Luckily a super nice guy came by and helped me picked the Pod back up hitched back on the Jeep. I felt really stupid - but its part of the learning - and luckily I did not get hurt nor did my Jeep! So lesson learned! Have both wheels chocked on all sides and get everything level and un-hithced before putting slide out! I left my Jeep hitched to the POD a lot at night. Maybe because of my experience above and I was afraid the POD would slide off again - but I found the POD super stable hitched up - and I slept much better!! Also - have good checklists and go thru them every time methodically. It will become habit eventually. Practice and Have confidence. You will do fine. Enjoy!!
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R Pod 177
2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland 1 Awesome Therapy Dog |
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MDPaddlersPod
Senior Member Joined: 06 Jul 2016 Location: Maryland Online Status: Offline Posts: 135 |
Posted: 26 Jul 2016 at 11:18am |
I always hook-up solo. I have found from hauling my cargo trailer through the years that the telescopic yellow balls with a magnetic base work well for me. They are cheap (around ten dollars) and easy to find at either Harbor Freight or Walmart in the trailer sections.
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MDPaddlersPod
2017 RPod 179 2002 Silverado1500 |
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Netter
Newbie Joined: 03 Dec 2013 Location: Alabama Online Status: Offline Posts: 8 |
Posted: 26 Jul 2016 at 11:06am |
You'll be fine! I'm 48 with back issues and I can do it with no problem. After a few times you will get into a habit of what to do in what order. Pod on!!
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The Therapod
North Alabama 2014 178 2013 F-150 |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 25 Jul 2016 at 10:22pm |
A lot of the new cars come with a backup camera. We got one with our 2016 Ford Escape SE. It has been extremely valuable. I had often thought of adding a camera. Now that I have one, I would not want to be without it. I thought about the yellow balls, but with the camera, I don't need them.
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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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Keith-N-Dar
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 03 Apr 2011 Location: Mayville, WI Online Status: Offline Posts: 1447 |
Posted: 25 Jul 2016 at 6:45pm |
I still have to get out and look but the yellow balls help me get close. Lots cheaper than the TV camera. |
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Keith-N-Dar
Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
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Leo B
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4517 |
Posted: 25 Jul 2016 at 3:51pm |
It's like backing the trailer up..............practice
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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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MDPaddlersPod
Senior Member Joined: 06 Jul 2016 Location: Maryland Online Status: Offline Posts: 135 |
Posted: 25 Jul 2016 at 3:40pm |
The R dome is a little painful the first time or two. I have only set mine up three times and on the third time I cut my time in half and found it pretty easy. Don't let it frustrate you the first time.
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MDPaddlersPod
2017 RPod 179 2002 Silverado1500 |
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ChetC
Groupie Joined: 17 Jul 2016 Location: Las Vegas, NV Online Status: Offline Posts: 43 |
Posted: 24 Jul 2016 at 9:37pm |
As someone who hitches and unhitches a lot, I have one helpful tidbit of advice. Go to your local hardware store and purchase a cordless "driver" gun. Looks just like a cordless drill, but if designed to drive screws, bolts, etc... With that, get a socket adapter (it may come with one) and a 19mm socket to fit. Use this driver to run your stabilizer jacks up and down. Much faster and easier.
The only time I don't use the driver for the jacks is if I arrive at a campground late or leave early. They are a touch loud and I don't like to disturb my neighbors.
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Former 2017 rPod 180 owner
Now in a 2019 Little Guy MAX Full timer who logs more than 35,000 miles per year. |
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TheLoneRanger
Newbie Joined: 21 Jun 2016 Location: Utah Online Status: Offline Posts: 13 |
Posted: 23 Jul 2016 at 10:10pm |
To help line up the trailer to the tow vehicle I purchased this $10.00 solution from Harbor Freight.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=trailer+alignment The 1st time I tried it I still had to get out and check it was aligned a couple of times. However, I am sure after some practice I will be able to get it aligned correctly the 1st time. |
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Capt Kidd
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 18 Aug 2015 Location: Chico, CA Online Status: Offline Posts: 212 |
Posted: 20 May 2016 at 11:13am |
You might want to consider getting an electric jack in place of the hand one on the trailer. As I get older I find this to be a nice, not too costly, up grade. Makes it much easier to get on and off the ball.
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The Pirate's Pod
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