About Millie

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About Millie

Millie is a 2021 R•Pod, RP190. We bought her new and towed her home to the Chattanooga area, from Trenton, Ohio, in late January of 2021. The concept of the "millipod" was inspired by our grandson's passion for millipedes and their vague resemblance to an R•Pod. That evolved into the name "Millie", as in "Millie" the millipod.

On our way home from picking up Millie, we stopped at a rest area south of Cincinnati (right). This is our first photo of Millie.

Floor Plan

Millie's floor plan includes a queen-size bed (RV short queen), a dry bathroom with a small shower, a modest kitchen area, and a dinette with seating for 2 to 4 people that converts into an additional bed. The kitchen includes a sink, a stove (propane), and a refrigerator (propane/110 AC). It originally included a microwave/convection oven that we removed. This floor plan suits us, a retired married couple, very well, although the bed is difficult to make and one of us has to crawl over the other.

Weights and Dimensions

As she left the factory, Millie weighed in at 3,188 lbs (1,446 kg), substantially more than what is indicated on the spec sheet. Compared to her GVWR of 3,800 lbs, Millie's modified dry weight of 3,258 lbs leaves only 542 lbs for cargo. The modifications that added 70 lbs to her dry weight are described below.

Fully loaded for an extended trip, but with empty water tanks, Millie weighs in at 3,780 lbs (weight from CAT scales).

By actual measurement, Millie is 21' 11" in length, from the back of her spare tire (rear factory mount) to the forward edge of her coupler. Without the spare, she's 20' 10" long. To the top of her roof-mounted 15K air conditioner, Millie is 9' 10" tall. She's 8' 4" wide, between the outside edges of her tires (Goodyear Endurance ST225/75R15), though the shell of the trailer is only 6' 5" wide.

Tank Capacities and Associated Weights

Millie's fresh water, gray water, and black water tanks are each 30 gallons and her hot water tank holds 6 gallons. At 8.34 lbs/gallon, contents of any of the 30-gallon tanks could weigh as much as 250 lbs. and water in the hot water tank adds 50 lbs.

With our conservative habits, we only use about 5 gallons of water per day. At this rate, 5 days of dispersed or dry camping (without city water connections) requires about 25 gallons of water.

In interest of weight and water conservation, we commonly do not fill our fresh water tank with a hose. Instead, we use a 3-gallon water jug to fill it more precisely with the volume we anticipate using. By this strategy, we also know more perfectly how full our gray and black water tanks might be.

Modifications

Modifications that most significantly impacted Millie's dry weight include a tongue box (+24 lbs), a 140Ah LiFePO4 battery (+28 lbs), a foam and spring mattress (+38 lbs, 38 lbs more than original foam mattress), high-density foam in 2 of the dinette cushions (+8 lbs, 8 lbs more than original foam), 20 lbs of propane (+20 lbs), and removal of the microwave/convection oven (-48 lbs). Collectively (net effect), these modifications added 70 lbs.

Other modifications, described below, had little effect on Millie's weight.

Screws fastening the original, rather flimsy, dinette cushion retainers pulled out after our first use of the dinette. Replacements are made of solid oak and are fastened with more substantial screws (right).

We found that the dinette table was heavier than necessary, that it lacked a trimmed corner for easier access to the driver's side bench seat, and that the receivers for the pedestal tubes on the underside of the table were somewhat misaligned. We fashioned a custom replacement table out of cabinet-grade plywood (right).

We also found that the original cabinet over the sink in the bathroom was only marginally fastened to the wall. Screws on the entire right side of the cabinet missed the intended stud in the wall. The cabinet was destined to fall while traveling, as other owners have experienced. The cabinet was also heavier than necessary. In its place, we installed a set of shelves.

images: original cabinet and its replacement (left) and its replacement (right)

We converted the wardrobe to shelves, which better serve our needs. Our shelves have no fasteners or glue. The sides, with shelf supports, are held in place by the shelves, all of which can be readily removed.

We added a bracket for our Apple TV (device), made of materials salvaged from other modifications.

We installed large hooks on the inside and outside of the bathroom door.

images: hooks on the outside of the bathroom door (upper right) and on the inside of the bathroom door (lower left)

We replaced brackets for black- and gray-tank drain pipes with heavy-duty exhaust-pipe hangers and clamps, as many others have done.

images: original hanger (left) and exhaust-pipe hanger (right) for gray-tank drain pipe

We replaced the original vinyl trim (left) with Steel Rubber Products, dense extrusion trim, 7/8" insert molding (right), but only after replacing the original screws with stainless and sealing them with a dab of Dicor sealant. Unlike the original trim, the new trim fits over the edge of the track, making it more effective at shedding water. The new trim is also sufficiently robust to stay in place without end caps, leaving the ends open to drain any water that does get in. End caps on the original trim retained water.

We replaced the original USB ports under the TV with a panel that includes USB and 12V ports and a volt meter. The outlets are controlled with a rocker switch. The volt meter is controlled by a momentary (push-button) switch.

As originally configured, Millie had minimal storage space. We made several modifications to address this issue, as shown below.

For one thing, we removed the microwave/convection oven, from under the stove, and the original bulkheads that limited the available space under the sink.

The space under the stove was converted into 2.6 cubic feet of storage with 110 AC and USB outlets.

The original 0.5-cubic-foot storage area under the sink was extended to the outside wall of the slide, adding 1.6 cubic feet to its capacity. The original storage area was 18 inches wide and just a few inches deep.

In the end, the front face of the cabinet under the sink and stove looks like this. The slip-in doors for the storage area under the stove were originally made of white cutting board material. We favored the appearance of wood. The large drawers below the refrigerator are explained below.

We removed the central vacuum and, in its place, installed a set of drawers. The 2 drawers provide 1.8 cubic feet of additional storage.

images: removed vacuum (left) and drawers (right)

We expanded the rear pass-through storage locker slightly and otherwise modified it to provide easy access to part of that space from inside, through hatches under the dinette cushions.

We also expanded the forward storage locker slightly.

images: original bulkhead (left) and reconfigured bulkheads (right) in forward storage locker

Electrical Power

Storage of Millie's electrical power has evolved from a single 12V marine/rv battery, provided by the dealer, to two 6V golf cart batteries, wired in series, to a single 12V 140Ah LiFePO4 battery. The original battery was limited in terms of capacity (80Ah). At 220Ah, the 2 golf cart batteries had sufficient capacity for our needs, but were remarkably heavy (120 lbs). Also, these conventional lead-acid batteries could only be drawn down to about 50% without risking damage, limiting their effective capacity. The lithium battery is rather ideal. It only weighs 28 lbs; it can be completely depleted without damage, such that all 140 amp-hours can be used; it's protected by a built-in battery management system (BMS); and a Bluetooth app monitors its state of charge, rates of discharge and recharge, balancing of cells, and status of the BMS.

With our conservative habits, we only use 10 to 20 amp-hours per day and can easily go a week without recharge. We also have no need for AC electricity when we're off grid. Hence, we have no generator and no inverter.

Although Millie's lithium battery will recharge to 90% or more by her original WFCO converter and by the tow vehicle's 200A alternator, we prefer to use our 100W solar suitcase, with its controller set for lithium. We also have a 20A lithium battery charger for when we have shore power. A complete charge, by either of these means, causes the BMS to balance the cells.

image: two 6V golf cart batteries (top) were replaced by a single 12V LiFePO4 battery (bottom), housed in the tongue box we added

Related to power, we also replaced the original 30A inlet (L5-30R) with a SmartPlug.

Propane

Millie's propane needs are provided by a single 20-pound propane tank mounted on her tongue. On average, we use about 1 lb of propane per day. On a recent 35-day excursion, with no connections for 21 of those days, we used 22.6 lbs. On this trip, we used propane to cook all 35 days, to run our refrigerator for the 21 days that we had no connections (no shore power), to operate our hot water heater for 12 to 15 minutes each morning, and to run our furnace briefly on 12 particularly cold mornings. For when we run out, we carry a full 20 lb bottle in the bed of the truck.

Towing Experiences and Habits

At the time of this writing, we have towed Millie 30,000 miles with our current tow vehicle, a 2021 5-Liter F150. Considering that the truck's towing-related capacities far exceed Millie's weights (GVW and tongue weight), it tows Millie with ease. Before the F150, we towed her approximately 1,000 miles with a 2007 Tacoma.

Gas mileage while towing is strongly influenced by driving habits. Limiting ourselves to 65 mph on highways and using the truck's tow/haul mode, we get 13.3 mpg with the F150, averaged over 30,000 towing miles. This is considerably better than the 10 mpg we got with the Tacoma. The truck's tow/haul mode also does an excellent job of controlling speed on steep downhill grades, minimizing the use of brakes.

Being very conscious of weight, we travel with empty tanks (fresh-, gray-, and black-water). With this in mind, we dump our gray- and black-water tanks as soon as possible after leaving a campsite. If we have city water connections at our destination, we even partially drain the hot water tank to offload some of that weight.

If circumstances warrant, we carry as much as 24 gallons (200 lbs) of water in 3- to 7-gallon jugs in the truck, forward of its drive axle. Our heaviest items (tools, inflatable kayak, cooler, propane, etc.) are also carried forward of the truck's drive axle, such that the trailers axle carries little of this weight.

We use a Fastway E2 weight-distributing hitch (WDH) with trunnion bars rated for 600 lb/6,000 lb (tongue weight/trailer GVWR), despite it being a controversial practice among R•Pod owners and despite towing with such a capable vehicle. Having also towed for short distances without a WDH, it's striking how much of a difference it makes. In our opinion, towing with a WDH feels more controlled and is a better experience than without it.

At our most recent visit to a CAT scale, we measured three sets of weights: (1) trailer and tow vehicle with WD bars in place, (2) trailer and tow vehicle with WD bars removed from the hitch and put in the bed of the truck, and (3) truck only with WD bars in the bed of the truck. The trailer and tow vehicle were fully loaded for an extended trip, including 24 gallons of water in the truck and 6 gallons of water in the trailer's hot water tank; 30-gallon tanks (fresh-, gray-, and black-water) in the trailer were empty. Results are shown below.

(1)
(2)
(3)

STEER
3240
3180
3400

DRIVE
3480
3580
2820

TRAILER
3280
3240
0

GROSS
10000
10000
6220

NOTE
with WD bars
without WD bars
truck only

These weights indicate that the WDH redistributes 100 lbs from the truck's drive axle to its steer axle (60 lbs) and to the trailer's axle (40 lbs), that the trailer's GVW is 3,780 lbs (10000-6220), and that the trailer's tongue weight is 540 lbs ((3180+3580)-6220). The tongue weight is an appropriate fraction (14.3%) of the trailer's GVW to reduce sway. Considering that CAT scales weigh in 20-pound increments, the redistribution due to the WDH may be closer to 50/50 (steer/trailer). Weights for the truck and its axles are well under their ratings, as is the weight on the trailer axle. Despite our efforts to reduce the trailer's weight when loaded, it is only slightly less than its GVWR. The GVWR would be substantially exceeded if we carried water or waste in Millie's 30-gallon tanks.

Tools

In interest of being prepared, we carry a fairly extensive (and heavy, 60 lbs) tool set, much of which is shown in the image (right).

Special purpose sockets include 1 7/8" (2" ball), 1 1/8" (E2 hitch), 1 1/16" (anode rod), 3/4" hex (lug nuts and E2 hitch), and 21mm hex (TV lug nuts).

Special purpose wrenches include 1 1/16" (E2 hitch) and 19mm (E2 hitch).

Other tools and supplies, stored elsewhere (not shown), include multimeters, fuses, wire, crimp connectors, electrical tape, 20A lithium battery charger, 30A plug adaptors (dogbones), 100W solar suitcase, 8mm socket on 1/4" driver handle (AC bolts), square driver (common RPod screws), claw hammer, short-handled shovel, 4-foot step ladder, 1500A jump starter battery, scissor jack and accessories from TV (F150), and tools for stabilizer jacks, E2 bars, the tongue jack, and the awning.

Many of these tools have come in handy on several occasions.

Camping Preferences

We've camped with Millie in a variety of settings, from dispersed camping on public land to RV resort parks, and in a variety of environments, including the Pacific coast, northern forests, plains of the mid-west, and deserts and mountains of the west. From these experiences, we've developed preferences for BLM, national forest, and national park campgrounds and for dispersed camping on BLM and national forest land. With our America the Beautiful pass, federal campgrounds are half price, making them very affordable, and dispersed camping is free.