R Pod Model RP-179 Departure Checklist |
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PodWa
Newbie Joined: 11 Oct 2016 Location: Cheney, WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 36 |
Topic: R Pod Model RP-179 Departure Checklist Posted: 05 Dec 2016 at 11:10pm |
We were only able to use our new RP-179 twice before having to prepare for winter. I never owned or operated a travel trailer before, so I thought it might be wise to develop checklists for departure and arrival. So far, I only have the departure checklist completed. I am posting the departure checklist here in the hope that you more experienced RVers might take a look and tell me if I missed any items. Feel free to copy my ideas and adapt them to your own R Pod if you desire. Here is the checklist:
R Pod Model RP-179 Departure Checklist 1. Propane Supply
Valve – As Required 2. Water Heater
Electric Switch – Off 3. Black Water –
Discharged (As Required) 4. Black Water Tank –
Flushed (As Required) 5. Grey Water –
Discharged (As Required) 6. Sewer Conduit –
Drained and Stowed 7. Potable Water
Level – As Required 8. Television Cable –
Disconnected and Stowed 9. Water Line –
Disconnected and Stowed 10. External Shower
Compartment – Closed and Locked 11. Windows – Closed
and Latched 12. Television –
Stowed and Secured 13. Table – Stowed
and Secured 14. Fan Vent Cover –
Closed 15. Slide Out –
Retracted 16. Refrigerator –
Battery or Propane (As Required) 17. Entry Door –
Closed and Locked 18. Hand Hold –
Stowed 19. Stairs – Stowed 20. Electrical Power
Cable – Disconnected and Stowed 21. Stabilizer Jacks
(4) – Retracted 22. Trailer – Hitched
and WDH Assembly Checked 23. Safety Chains,
Emergency Brake Cable, Electrical Pigtail – Connected 24. Exterior Lights –
Checked 25. Chocks – Removed
and Stowed 26. External Storage
Door – Latched and Locked 27. Trailer Brake
Controller – Green LED On When Brakes Applied |
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M&M
Groupie Joined: 19 May 2016 Location: Middletown, NJ Online Status: Offline Posts: 80 |
Posted: 06 Dec 2016 at 7:38am |
Good Morning PodWa, We're newbies too. We only had our 179 out 4 times this year (we picked her up in August) I've been meaning to put a list like this together. Thank you very much! Can't wait until Spring! Happy, Safe Travels.
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2017 179 "Big Sexy"
2012 Honda Pilot |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 06 Dec 2016 at 11:32am |
The list looks pretty complete. On Item 27, the lights will depend on the particular controller. On my Hopkins InSIGHT Flex Mount controller, a red dot is present when the pigtail (item 23) is plugged in. Numbers representing the amount of brake force applied appear when the brake pedal is pressed.
For item 16 (refrigerator), I recommend putting the refrigerator on propane while towing. It draws so much power on battery that you risk arriving to your destination with a battery insufficiently charged. The cause is that the wire supplying power from the vehicle to the trailer is usually too small to carry sufficient current to both charge the battery and run the refrigerator. You can search the forum for other post threads discussing this issue. Welcome to the forum and to R-Pod 179 ownership. We are really enjoying ours since purchasing it last year. We have had long and short trips with it. We have another long trip coming up soon, which will be the first time traveling dry (no water in the fresh water tank). That should be interesting. I've also made a number of modifications to our 179 which have been very useful. Some of them may be of use to you also. |
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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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PodWa
Newbie Joined: 11 Oct 2016 Location: Cheney, WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 36 |
Posted: 06 Dec 2016 at 11:33pm |
You will have to adapt Item 27 to your brake controller. I appreciate the hint on operating the refrigerator on propane while traveling. How much propane does the refrigerator consume when operating in that mode?
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 07 Dec 2016 at 12:21am |
The refrigerator does not consume much propane. The furnace, stove, and water heater are the biggest users of propane. You could run the refrigerator for weeks on a tank of propane if none of the above items were being used. If you take the outside cover off and look, you can see how little the flame is when it is operating.
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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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birderdiane526
Senior Member Joined: 08 May 2016 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 320 |
Posted: 07 Dec 2016 at 1:41am |
Thanks PodWa for your list! One item for us is to check the ground under the trailer before pulling out to ensure nothing is left behind. A seemingly no-brainer until you leave something behind! (Speaking from experience!!)
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Diane and Michael
2016 179 "PIP" (PODDING IN PARADISE) 2007 Toyota Tundra BLOG:Podding in Paradise, birderdiane526.blogspot.com |
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PodWa
Newbie Joined: 11 Oct 2016 Location: Cheney, WA Online Status: Offline Posts: 36 |
Posted: 07 Dec 2016 at 10:18pm |
Great idea! I will add an "area clear" step to my checklist.
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TheBum
Senior Member Joined: 26 Feb 2016 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 1407 |
Posted: 08 Dec 2016 at 10:58am |
Make sure nothing can get behind the panel below the fridge. You might want a setup checklist that includes checking there for objects before extending the slide.
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Blue Highways
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 20 Sep 2016 Location: NC mountains Online Status: Offline Posts: 84 |
Posted: 08 Dec 2016 at 11:30am |
Good point, Bum! While towing, we had a kitchen drainer rack tumble from the counter into that very cavity once. When I began to extend the 179's slide, the kitchen drainer started pushing apart the panel mounted below the fridge. Took me a few more seconds to figure out the heck what was going on. Some damage occured.
I had to fix and remount this dummy panel with stronger screw connections. For this accident, I was glad for once that the factory had not mounted this panel with very strong screw-bites, and the far right side screw was misaligned, missing its grab entirely. So FR's haste actually lessened the damage. Now, before extending the slide each time, I get down on my knees with a pocket LED to retrieve any stowaway objects behind there. It's become a routine. This is a "must-add" warning item for owners of the 179 floorplan, at least. Thank you for mentioning this, B!
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IdSummitGirl
Newbie Joined: 31 Mar 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 12 |
Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 1:55pm |
Hi PodWa!
Love your departure checklist. I image an arrival checklist might include the reverse of a lot of these items, but i wondered it you had a chance to get your thoughts together on this one? Newbie looking to learn from others, Thanks!
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The Journey Matters....
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