Newby
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14973
Printed Date: 03 May 2024 at 9:25am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Newby
Posted By: Subee
Subject: Newby
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2021 at 9:07am
|
We pick up our R Pod 196 in a couple of weeks, but I wanted to say hi. Any advise on things to look for during the walkthrough would be appreciated. Right now we are working thru WDH type. TV is a 2017 Suburban. If I’m close on camperspeak, it’s due to obsessively reading this forum. Thank you for already being a huge help |
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2021 at 10:37am
|
Hello and welcome! Congratulations on your new R-Pod. I hope you have many fun adventures and make many great memories in your travels with it. Things to look for: Fit and finish: Make sure all drawers work and align properly; make sure all doors work properly and are secure (I don't recall if the 196 has a sliding door or not). Make sure all locks work smoothly. Hopefully, the dealer will have vacuumed out the manufacturing sawdust from inside the cabinets and behind the drawers. Verify operation of the slide-out. Plumbing: Make sure all faucets work. There has been a problem with plastic residue from installing fittings clogging the faucets. Make sure the person conducting the walk-through demonstrates the winterizing valve operation, operation of pump, and operation of water heater, both on propane and electric. Make sure water heater is full before turning on the heat, either gas or electric. Have them show you how to make sure that it is full. Also, have them show you the anode rod and explain about removing and replacing as needed. Heat and AC operation: Have them demonstrate the thermostat and operation for heat and cooling. Verify operation of both AC and furnace. Have them show you how to set the thermostat for fan on Auto, Hi, or Lo. If you have been reading, you already know why you want to know that. Refrigerator: Make sure it works, not only on electric, but also on gas. Ours had a mud-dauber nest in the flue which caused problems. Make sure they show you the outside panels and let them show you the operation on gas so you know what the flame should look and sound like. Does your Suburban already have a brake controller built-in? If not, you will need to install one. If it already has the round Bargman 7-way connector, it will be easy as there should be a connector under the dash for a brake controller. I don't know what type of WDH you are gong to get. Whichever one you get, remember that the initial set-up by the dealer will likely need to be adjusted once you get the R-Pod loaded. Your dealer should verify that all lights work properly once the trailer is hitched. Do a search (may need to use the advanced search) for Brake Burnishing. Your brakes will need to be burnished before they will perform adequately. Last, if you can, bring a camera and take lots of pictures and notes. Or, you could shoot a video. Best is to have one person taking notes, paying attention to the walk-through while another person shoots video. It is hard to catch everything when one is trying to shoot video. I think you are already off to a good start. I hope this helps. The 196 is a nice layout. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: Subee
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2021 at 11:31am
|
Thank you so very much. This is a great list. |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2021 at 1:00pm
|
The 196 really is a great floorplan. I just took delivery about a month ago on a 2022 196 and have had it out on one camping trip thus far. It's a significant improvement on the 179 from which I upgraded, addressing most of the shortcomings of the 179 that my wife and I addressed ourselves.
------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: Pod_Geek
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2021 at 1:29pm
Do the newer 195/196s have the bathroom pocket door like our 2020 195? If so, be sure to support it at its base when on the road (to the OP and anyone else it may concern). They like to pull off their upper attachments.
------------- 2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River 2018 RAM 2500 6.4L |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2021 at 1:35pm
They still have the pocket door, but I haven't checked to see if FR has stabilized the bottom. ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: Subee
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2021 at 1:57pm
| It had everything we wanted in a size that we could manage. I am so over looking at campers. |
Posted By: Pod_Geek
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2021 at 3:03pm
If there's still a gap (ours is maybe 2") between the bottom of the door and the floor that's where the issue is. The door wants to pull off the rather flimsy upper hardware support. We wedge a pool noodle (cut about in half) under the door when on the move. ------------- 2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River 2018 RAM 2500 6.4L |
Posted By: dagnome
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2021 at 8:21pm
| I am also a newbie in this forum. We picked up our 2017 R Pod HRE,179 last Saturday and are planning a maiden voyage next weekend. Question: Are there different size WDH's, and if so which is used the most with my 179. TV is a 2012 Chevy Traverse (with factory Tow Pkg.) Haven't had an RV for 14 years and not sure what has changed & what's the same. Not real sure I posted this correctly, if not, my apologies. Any help would be appreciated! |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2021 at 10:09pm
|
The Equalizer 600 lb tongue weight, 6,000 lb trailer weight is what I have. You really don't need anything heavier for a 179. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: dagnome
Date Posted: 19 Oct 2021 at 10:14pm
Thanks, appreciate the info...
|
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2021 at 7:57am
|
If you get an Equal-i-zer or Fastway E2 or equivalent hitch, you may find this tool helpful: https://www.amazon.com/HitchGrip-HG712-Hitch-Coupling-Trailers/dp/B00HSO37B0/ - https://www.amazon.com/HitchGrip-HG712-Hitch-Coupling-Trailers/dp/B00HSO37B0/ You could look into the Andersen " https://andersenhitches.com/collections/wd-hitch - No Sway, No Bounce Weight Distribution Hitch ." if you are concerned about the weight of the hitch. The video on the web site would help you determine which one would be correct for you. Also, while all the ones I mentioned incorporate sway control, it is not infallible. There are still situations where the sway control of the hitch may not be sufficient to prevent an accident. I know. After that accident, I added the Hayes Sway-Master Electronic Sway Control which is plug-and-play. It sits inline and will activate the trailer brakes if sway is happening. Unfortunately, it seems to be no longer available. The good news is that there are two other options. Lippert and Tuson make electronic sway control devices as well. See the information on eTrailer for details. https://www.etrailer.com/s.aspx?qry=electronic+sway+control - https://www.etrailer.com/s.aspx?qry=electronic+sway+control ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: dagnome
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2021 at 8:10am
|
Thanks Stephen! |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2021 at 8:35am
I disagree. I would recommend 800 lbs. The WDH has to lift both the trailer tongue and the cargo in the rear of your tow vehicle. The tongue weight alone on a 179 can be 500 plus lbs if you fill the fresh water tank and have dual batteries. I had a 1000 lb rated wdh on my rig and it was fine. The only downside to a higher rated wdh is the potential to have a stiffer ride. My ride was fine with the 1000 lb hitch. 1000 lbs is certainly more than you need unless you really have a lot of stuff in the TV, which you can't do with a 5000 lb rated tow vehicle like the Traverse or my Highlander, hence the 800 lb recommendation. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2021 at 9:07am
|
Overdoing the weight could have other consequences. Too stiff a bar may be bad for the A frame. 800 lbs is likely okay. 1000 lbs, probably not so good. The 600/6000 lb model is what my dealer installed when I purchased my RPod 179. The Hensley Cub had 800 lb bars. That worked, but the hitch was such a pain to get hitched up and unhitched unless one were on level ground that I sold it back to the factory and went back to the Equal-i-zer. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2021 at 9:34am
|
There is only as much downforce on the a frame as you put tension on the hitch. So if the hitch is adjusted properly it will place the same load on the tongue regardless of the hitch and spring bar ratings. The difference is that that load can be near or over the hitch and spring bar rating for a 600 lb hitch.
------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2021 at 11:56am
|
I'm running an Equalizer 600/6000 with my 196 and it's been great thus far ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: Colonel Podder
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2021 at 12:56pm
|
Dealer sold me an Equalizer 1000/10,000 pound model for our 196. Works fine with our Yukon TV. ------------- 2021 R-pod 196 |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2021 at 4:12pm
|
A light wdh hitch will work fine...till it doesn't.
I had about 750 lbs tension on mine to bring the load on the front axle back to what it was without the trailer (which is the proper set up). WDH spring bars have a safety factor built in just like the frame of your tow vehicle and trailer do. That safely factor is there to handle extra downforce from bumps and potholes, which can be upwards of 2 g's. So what is the safety factor of wdh bars? Hard to find data on that. For my Reese Pro it looked like it was 2x, so that means my 1000 lb rated hitch could handle around 2000 lbs, or 2 g's at full load, or 2000/750=2.7 in my case. A 600 lb one ought to be able to handle around 1200 lbs, so if I used one with that rating on my rig I would only have a safety factor for bump loads of 1200/750 = 1.6. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |