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'14 3.6 V6 Subaru Outaback/R-Pod 171 compatible?

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bobka7914 View Drop Down
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    Posted: 07 Feb 2014 at 2:56pm
I am looking to purchase a R-Pod 171...  Dry weight around 2400.
In your opinion, would a 256 HP V-6 2014 Subaru Outback be capable of pulling/handling a R-Pod 171?  The Subaru is rated for a 3000 lb towing capacity. 
 
Also, we are winter campers- Would there be a way to keep the water tanks from freezing provided there are electrical connections at the campgrounds?  We winter camp (4 season XWT Cabelas tent) at Algonquin Provincial Park/Mew Lake campground in Ontario Canada.
 
Thanks, Bob
(new to this Website Forum- 1st post!)
 
 
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furpod View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote furpod Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Feb 2014 at 4:48pm
I would not tow that combination. Your actual camping weight on the 171 is going to be VERY close to the subi's max, and I personally don't like that at all. Plus it's a pretty short wheelbase tow vehicle, again, wouldn't make me happy at all.

As far as heated tanks and lines and hoses.. doable, yes. And not real real expensive, though tank heaters and insulation etc add weight..
BUT, and thats a big but, the problem with heated tanks, lines, etc is that once you break camp.. you cannot keep them heated. That means you must winterize before breaking camp every time.

Again.. doable, but a pain in the.. well... butt.
Mark, Susie, Micah, and The Maggie.
'11 RP177(sold) '17 Lance 2295FurPodsMods
'17 Ford F250 CCSB
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headcold View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote headcold Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Feb 2014 at 6:56pm
I'll be heading out in April with my Pod 177, towed by my new used 2010 Tundra, which with its tow package has a tow limit of 8000 pounds - at least a three thousand pounds difference between the weight of the Pod and the truck's capacity.  I hope this difference means that I will speed up the hills and passes a little more robustly than with my 3.4 L, V-64-Runner, which did the job, but not all that well in head winds and on passes. 

On winter camping in the Rocky Mountain, I dry camp before June and after the end of September.  Otherwise, you are worrying about frozen lines when the temp drops to 35 F.  They won't freeze at those temps, but you're getting pretty close.  I've kept water in my lines at 20F when caught in a freak cold snap in Jackson Hole in June, and I had to run my furnace all night to keep the lines from freezing.
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Kenn View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kenn Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2014 at 8:12pm
There are 12V tank heaters available out there. Check out Ultraheat. 12V heaters, mean that you can have your tanks heated while on the go.

2010 RPOD 176 (Silly-POD), 2011 Forest River Stealth 2612, and 2014 Forest River XLR 380AMP
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headcold View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote headcold Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Feb 2014 at 9:36pm
Any one out in Pod-olia ever install one of these holding tank heaters?  Pros and Cons?

http://www.amazon.com/Ultra-Heat-Holding-Heater-AM-3600/dp/B0064E7MHK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1391999626&sr=8-3&keywords=Ultraheat.+12V+heaters
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RandyB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Aug 2014 at 11:52am
Towed mine from Calif. to Canada and back with an 08 Outback w/3.0 and while it had the horsepower to pull it, it didn't really have enough torque to hold it so was down shifting allot when going up even a mild grade or going into a strong headwind. mpg was 9-11. Just bought a Dodge Ram 1500 with the Hemi and am getting 11-15 mpg, Happy Boy.... 
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