Looking for the right pod for my truck.
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Topic: Looking for the right pod for my truck.
Posted By: camby
Subject: Looking for the right pod for my truck.
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 10:23am
Hello everyone im looking to buy a pod but need advice on whats best safest for my truck to pull. I have a 2009 ford ranger 4.0 v6 auto (factory tow package) with a tow max of #6000 lbs and tongue max of #600. I know those numbers dont mean much because that is for something towed with a front of 50 sq ft. I wanna be conservative with what I tow and know the pod front is much bigger than 50 sqft. Would i be fine with any of a 171 172 176 or a 177? My preference is a 172 or a 177 and ive seen a 2015 172 locally with a shipped weight of 2600 lbs. Can my truck safely tow these? I live on vancouver island and it only has a few big hills which are passed in 15 mins and most my trips would be 200 kms or less. Also it would be 3 people in the truck my wife young son and I. Thanks in advance for any info.
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Replies:
Posted By: jan demarinis
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 10:35am
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Seems to me that you would have no problem pulling any of the Pods with that rig. I pull a 178 behind a BMW with a tow rating of 3500# with no problem. BTW-Vancouver Island is beautiful. Lucky you.
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 10:49am
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Should be no problem. I towed a 172 with a Honda Pilot 4WD 3.5L rated at 4500# with little problem. I limited my selection to the 172 because we spend time in the Colorado mountains at 10000' and gas engines suffer at altitude. With the 4.0L you should be fine with the 172, 177, etc. My 4.0L Tacoma handles a Camplite 21RBS with a dry weight of 3500# plus lots of add-ons. Plan on using a WDH; you'll want it.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 11:09am
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Ditto you shouldn't have any problems. We tow our 171 with a Dodge Grand Caravan and have towed up and down the east coast without any problems, we are rated for 3,600 pounds ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 11:27am
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------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: hogone
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 11:29am
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oops!!! (on above post) curious camby, your 09 ranger has a larger towing capicity than my v8 4.6 f-150. ------------- Jon & Pam 2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
Posted By: camby
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 12:11pm
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Posted By: camby
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 12:26pm
 here is the tag on my hitch
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Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 12:54pm
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The r-pods will slow you down you will know its back there, I agree your truck will tow the r-pods just a little on the slow side. Trucks are made for working so durability should not be a problem. ------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: camby
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2014 at 1:20pm
Im used to going slow my last rig was a 1982 toyota motorhome. 4 cylinder on hills would only do 35mph. It was fun but my it was gutless. |
Posted By: camby
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2014 at 10:33am
| I went and looked at 2015 172 and liked it but it felt a bit camped probably do to bunk beds and no pop out. Im gonna try to go look at a 2012 177 used this weekend. The only other one near me for sale is a new 177 2014 but cant see it for a few weeks. Im in no hurry to buy one and might even wait till the winter in hopes of getting a better deal. Would like to see a 176 as well but none for sale in my area at the moment. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2014 at 11:44am
I love those little Toyota "Class C" truck/camper things.. maybe C-, but I do like them. See one around here every once and a while. I think you will find your ranger will pull OK, won't be fast or quick, but should get there fine. A 171 and a 177 are the same floor plan with/without a slide.. If you don't need bunks, I sure wouldn't buy them. Unless you are handy and want to convert that area in some manner. ------------- |
Posted By: camby
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2014 at 12:52pm
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Posted By: Old Dingo&Mrs.Dingo
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2014 at 7:26pm
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Camby, I had a 1991 Toyota class C, it had a great coach, but the chassis left something to be desired. We bought a V6, thinking it would be much more powerful than the 4 cylinder, one trip through West Texas proved us wrong! Thirty five mph on a hill wasn't bad, our's would only do about sixty in top gear, (on the level) and only saw ten mpg doing it. It would keep up with traffic in third gear, (four speed auto) but the mileage dropped like a rock! You'll love a 'pod no mater what you pull it with. ------------- Old Dingo and/or Mrs. Dingo 181G 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee |
Posted By: Tri-Pod
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2014 at 10:17pm
Check out the Lil Snoozy saw one on vacation and they are a neat camper. Can pull with almost anything.  ------------- 2010 PR 176 sold 2012 replaced with 2013 SP 240 w outside kitchen 2012 Toyota Tundra Crew Max 4x2 5.7L V8 Me, My Honey, and Max our GSP |
Posted By: camby
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2014 at 11:20pm
| That is a cute unit but I think I can tow the lighter pods fairly easily especially since most my trips will be weekenders. My first choice is 171/177 but im flexible and might wait till fall for more used ones to pop up. |
Posted By: camby
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2015 at 10:03am
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So its a year later and I decided in the winter my ford ranger wasn't gonna cut to haul my family so I decided to upgrade my vehicle before getting a rpod. I now have a 2014 supércrew f-150 which will tow any r-pod without breaking a sweat. I now have to wait longer to get the rpod though which sucks but I didn't like the new 2015 f-150 so I made the decision.
------------- Buying a Pod by 2015 season so my son can have the great memories of camping my wife and I have. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2015 at 10:40am
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You'll be hauling a 25-footer now! ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: camby
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2015 at 11:56am
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I have the ability to for sure I have a tongue weight if 1550 and a max pull of 9800lbs. I just don't know if I wanna pull a big rig. I'm renting a pioneer 24bh for a week to see how that goes. ------------- Buying a Pod by 2015 season so my son can have the great memories of camping my wife and I have. |
Posted By: Podster
Date Posted: 13 Jun 2015 at 4:45pm
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I currently tow a 178 with a Ranger. It's moot now, but last year the posted tow rating is for the hitch, not the vehicle. ------------- Cliff & Raelynn Ranger 4.0/178 (1/2 ton 5,800lb tow capacity) |