Hitch Wheel
Printed From: r-pod Nation
Category: Forest River r-pod
Forum Name: Maintenance Issues, Tips and Tricks
Forum Description: Have you ever wondered how something works? Found a good way to do something? Discovered the hard way what NOT to do? Share them here.
URL: http://www.rpodNation.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1068
Printed Date: 16 Apr 2024 at 5:46pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.0 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Hitch Wheel
Posted By: Larry
Subject: Hitch Wheel
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 2:33am
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So I read here in this forum how some looked for campsites that were easy to back into, and when I purchased my r-pod it came without a hitch wheel, so I purchased a hitch wheel, which also came with a lynch pin, and now I can push my r-pod around with my hands, and believe me I’m a 62 year old diabetic who is not very strong. The point I’m trying to make is that the hitch wheel made a big difference in me being able to maneuver my pod by hand and not be concerned about backing into places. The r-pod is actually pretty light when you put a wheel on the hitch; I don't know if some of you already had a wheel on your hitch when you purchased your pod but mine had none; the hitch rested on a block of wood. I used to also maneuver my previous pop-up tent trailer around with my hands, pushing it here and there, and the rpod feels about the same when I push it around with my hands. |
Replies:
Posted By: popgoesweasel
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 9:48am
| Please provide source and price and model of unit you installed and if possible a picture. |
Posted By: PodPatrol
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 10:37am
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Ours came the same way. I have no issues with backing it up, but
a wheel or foot would have been nice. I believe going with a wheel would reduce the clearance, but there is a mod for that. I think we may be considering the mod for us since we plan on adding alittle weight to the tongue with battery & LP mod. The hitch wheels that fold up are an interesting possibility. |
Posted By: R&T's Pod
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 11:00am
I Googled (what did we do before Google?) "trailer jack wheels" and got several good results. Then I went outside to feed the birds, shovel snow  , take the trash bags which had piled up on the deck down back to the trash cans, and crank wife's car which has been sitting since friday. (Got some cabin fever going on here!) I had walk by and check out the Pod, I did notice that the tongue jack on mine is pre-drilled for I would guess the locking pin for a wheel. Think now I may order one. Rob ------------- 2010 R-Pod 175 2007 F-150 Super Cab http://www.rtspod.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow - R&T's Podding Blog 
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Posted By: PodPatrol
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 11:17am
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Yes, they are pre-drilled. An attendant where we store Astro said it's best to get
something (wheel/foot) sooner than later due to the shaft becoming damaged and then not bein able to insert a wheel or foot. |
Posted By: Larry
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 12:24pm
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The link below shows what I’m talking about and where I purchased it, and for me it made all the difference in the world for unhitching the rpod from my TV and and maneuvering it by hand. http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/bal-tongue-jack-caster-wheel/17978 - http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/bal-tongue-jack-caster-wheel/17978
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Posted By: tsunami
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 12:28pm
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Most 'after-market' jack caster wheels will NOT fit your tongue jack! After getting my R-Pod...I realized that it was very hard to move the Pod around. I measured the inner diameter of the A-frame jack and bought a caster wheel for it. After inserting the wheel's sleeve...I found that the wheel wobbled badly. The jack's sleeve was slightly narrower than the jack's inner diameter. The heavy tongue weight accentuates the mis-fit. I returned the caster wheel. After stopping at several other trailer parts dealers and all of them telling me that their wheel would fit the tongue jack. I ended up having to return all of them. A real waste of time and money. I looked at the tongue jack and found that my jack was made by DOMAR trailer products. I found them on the web: www.domarproducts.com. They have a heavy-duty tongue jack caster wheel(Model HDC-01) for $11.30 plus shipping. I ordered one and got it three days later. It fit perfectly...no wobble. The caster wheel sleeve has a hole which fits the pin hole in the jack sleeve to lock the two together, so you can remove the wheel when you are traveling or want to set the tongue down without the Pod rolling. So I recommend that you check to see if your Pod's tongue jack is made by Domar. If so, you will save time and money buying the caster wheel directly from Domar. ------------- tsunami |
Posted By: Larry
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 12:50pm
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The caster wheel I purchased, which is the exact one shown in the link, fits my jack post very snug and I am pleased with it. I had a similar type of wheel on my previous pop-up tent trailer and had no problem with it for the six years I owned that trailer. I think that the key is getting the right fit and the 2” fit shown in the link fits my r-pod just right; now I’m not going to say what this caster wheel will do for others; purchase it at your own risk, but you can return merchandise to Camping World within a given period of time and get a full refund if you find you don't want it. The other thing about this particular caster wheel is that it is suitable for tongue weights up to 1,000 lbs. and the base tongue weight of the rpod is about 181 lbs.
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Posted By: PodPatrol
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 1:15pm
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Here are some specs listed @ RV Nation for our 177.
Sleeps 4 Water Capacity - Black 36 Water Capacity - Fresh 36 Water Capacity - Grey 36 # Air Conditioners 1 GVW 2,436 Hitch Weight 240 # of Slideouts 1 |
Posted By: Larry
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 2:12pm
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Well I guess they are all different because here are the specs for my r-pod 171, as previously noted the dry hitch weight is 181 lbs, and I do consider that to be without the battery or LP bottle: http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?location=rv&unittype=&page=floorviewertt&model=RP-171&choice=rpod&nav=rec&name=1170&series=RPODTT - http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?location=rv&unittype=&page=floorviewertt&model=RP-171&choice=rpod&nav=rec&name=1170&series=RPODTT
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Posted By: Larry
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 2:18pm
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Thought I’d share another heads up here: The jack on my rpod tongue only goes up so far, and in order for me to get the caster wheel on, or off, of that tongue jack I have to place my car jack up under the ball on my tow vehicle and jack it up and inch or less so that there will be room for me to either take the caster wheel off of the rpod tongue jack or put it on the rpod tongue jack. The rpod tongue jack is just very low to the ground even when it is jacked all the way up. You may or may not have this problem if you use a caster wheel on your rpod jack, but I thought it was worth mentioning. I need to somehow find out if my rpod jack can further retract which would give me ample space between the jack and the ground to either place or remove the caster wheel without jacking up the tow vehicle. It only needs it retract about and inch or so more to better accommodate my putting the caster wheel on or taking it off. Once the caster wheel is on the rpod there is no problem. I’m going to have risers installed on the rpod and maybe that will give me the space I need on the tongue jack to be able to readily place or remove the caster wheel. I know you folks love pictures but I have yet to read here how to post them, but I will get around to eventually doing that. Larry
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Posted By: Larry
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 2:24pm
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PodPatrol, it seems Forest River lists the r-pod 177 at a dry hitch weight of 232 lbs. http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?location=rv&unittype=&page=floorviewertt&model=RP-177&choice=rpod&nav=rec&name=1173&series=RPODTT - http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?location=rv&unittype=&page=floorviewertt&model=RP-177&choice=rpod&nav=rec&name=1173&series=RPODTT
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Posted By: PodPatrol
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 2:42pm
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Thanks Larry !! They're exactly the same #s that are @ RV Nation !
Good to know...... |
Posted By: PodPatrol
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 2:48pm
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Larry ..... There is a procedure to post pics here, it's located in the
Miscellaneous / Off Topic near the top of the topic list. Hope it helps you out !! http://www.rpodnation.com/how-to-insert-pictures-to-rpod-nation_topic869.html |
Posted By: Larry
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 4:03pm
| Thanks; I'll give it a try in a few weeks after I finish most of my mods so that I can share pictures of the mods I've done here. |
Posted By: PodPatrol
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 4:28pm
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Your welcome !!
Please do post some pics when ya can !!! We LUV pictures here !!
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Posted By: yizit
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2010 at 6:02pm
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Being able to push Rbug around was one of the first questions we asked when we saw it. We noticed right away it didn't have a wheel and one would be needed. Fortunately for us we had one from our last TT. At our last house we were not able to just back it in using our vehicle. Unhitching it and pushing it back into the parking space was the only way we could get it there. Sometimes we can attached the wheel while it is hooked to our SUV. When we can't, we too have a small 2 ton jack that we use. Being able to push Rbug was a number one priority when we were shopping for a TT. It is very easy to push around and we did the same thing with our pop-ups in the past.
------------- Former owner of 2009 Rpod 172 Darlene & Jim, Ewok our Lhasa Roada our 2004 Roadtrek 190P Conversion Van |
Posted By: yakers
Date Posted: 16 Feb 2010 at 10:16pm
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One note of caution, if you have the hitch wheel installed, you need to be sure to block the wheels and the hitch wheel. I have been told that a very strong gust of wind can move any camper around if it is parked on pavement. You can purchase a small hard rubber tub at most RV stores that the wheel fits in and this will help to keep it from moving. The rubber tub blocks the hitch wheel in all directions which can be a problem when trying to block a pivoting wheel. |