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TEDDY
Groupie
Joined: 22 Oct 2017
Location: Arkansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 94
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Topic: CHANNEL HOOKS for AWNINGS Posted: 20 Mar 2018 at 2:27pm |
My 178 came with the 1/2" channel rather than a roll-up awning. The devices available to fit that channel seemed expensive to me - so I went to a local welding shop and had them make me some stainless steel plugs with hooks.
The 1/2" plug slides easily in the channel - I had the shop mill an 1/8" flat on the round plug surface so that it would slide beyond the screw heads holding the channel to the camper. The plan is to use three telescoping aluminum poles on the outer edge of any tarp material I choose to use, and plastic tarp clamps by SE between the channel plug hooks and the tarp. The tarp clamps are SE part # 9615RB12 - Amazon, I think.
The local welder charged $15 per plug/hook, and the hook (also stainless) is about 1/8" diameter, welded to the plug. The plugs are 1-1/2" long, made from 1/2" round stainless stock and, again, about a 1/8" flat on the surface opposite the hook.
Good luck!
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Teddy
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voisj
Senior Member
Joined: 19 Jul 2016
Location: San Luis Obispo
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 471
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Posted: 20 Mar 2018 at 6:16pm |
Teddy, I use these sailboat slug sliders, Cheap and work perfect. Love your moxie though! rgds John
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SLOPODMODS
John&Sue,SLO,CA
2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost
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lostagain
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2595
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Posted: 20 Mar 2018 at 8:01pm |
It's amazing how much sailboat stuff can be repurposed for a Pod. I just suggested using through hull fittings yesterday for a hole that penetrates all the way through the floor. Last fall I put line cleats at various points around the bottom of our Pod to tie down a flexible 100 amp solar panel so it won't blow away. And the post we use for table(s) is what I had on my Newport 30 and my Ericson.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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voisj
Senior Member
Joined: 19 Jul 2016
Location: San Luis Obispo
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 471
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Posted: 20 Mar 2018 at 9:17pm |
Originally posted by lostagain
It's amazing how much sailboat stuff can be repurposed for a Pod. I just suggested using through hull fittings yesterday for a hole that penetrates all the way through the floor. Last fall I put line cleats at various points around the bottom of our Pod to tie down a flexible 100 amp solar panel so it won't blow away. And the post we use for table(s) is what I had on my Newport 30 and my Ericson. |
Lostagain, Couldn't agree more! I have my sailboat bbq and mount that i use for the pod + lots of other things, It's basically a TT on water. But I sold my Ericson and got the pod with the proceeds. No more "hole in the water that I poor money down" and it turns out that there are so many cool things to see on land! But I do still miss the boat. rgds John
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SLOPODMODS
John&Sue,SLO,CA
2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost
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Wood River Pod
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Sep 2016
Location: Wood River, ID
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Posts: 153
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Posted: 20 Mar 2018 at 10:14pm |
+1 I use rubber sail stoppers to block off the ends of the rail so things don't slide off the track. Also I have both size of sail slugs for hanging from the upper and lower rail. Thanks Jeff
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lostagain
Senior Member
Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
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Posts: 2595
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Posted: 21 Mar 2018 at 8:24am |
John, yes, I still regret selling my Newport 30, but the Ericson was too costly to maintain and I was glad to be rid of it, a very nice boat though.
I would get another boat, but my wife wouldn't go near it. She likes our Pod and since I like to hang out with her, it makes traveling much, much nicer. And besides, i'm too old and have had too many broken bones to be dancing on the bow of a sailboat in snotty weather; much better to be sitting around a nice fire enjoying a cup of Chȃteau Thames Enbankment.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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TEDDY
Groupie
Joined: 22 Oct 2017
Location: Arkansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 94
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Posted: 21 Mar 2018 at 9:34am |
Couldn't find goodboatgear.com on the net, so I ordered some from Amazon - thanks for the tip. I'm sure the plastic will be lighter than the stainless steel I had made. I'll have to see which I like better - my ss plug/hook comes with a hook - and I'd need a SS S hook to use the sail slides - but the weight hanging on the channel would be less. Also, I use a fitted cover over the rPod in winter, and the SS hooks hanging in the channel might be a problem - lots of things to consider.
Thanks.....
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Teddy
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john in idaho
Senior Member
Joined: 04 Nov 2014
Location: Eagle Idaho
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Posts: 611
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Posted: 21 Mar 2018 at 10:18am |
so--- which one - the 3/8" or 1/2" - fits in the track?
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Wood River Pod
Senior Member
Joined: 30 Sep 2016
Location: Wood River, ID
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 153
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Posted: 21 Mar 2018 at 1:53pm |
Both will fit in the large track. 3/8 has more wiggle, but it wouldn't come out of the gap. On my 2017 179 Green, I use the 1/2 inch on the door side on both the upper and lower tracks. On the track connected to the gutter over our slide, I use the 3/8's. It's a tight fit. Want to use these to come us with a makeshift slide cover. See the link below. You can find on amazon as well I'm sure.
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voisj
Senior Member
Joined: 19 Jul 2016
Location: San Luis Obispo
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 471
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Posted: 21 Mar 2018 at 3:34pm |
Teddy, JohninIdaho, The 3/8 ones work but they slop around a little and get caught up while pulling the tarp over. Not a big deal as i use a tent pole to slide them along. I used 3/8 sliders because that's what I had a bunch of. If anyone used the 1/2 sliders let me know how they well they slide with a tarp attached,(2016 Pod).
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SLOPODMODS
John&Sue,SLO,CA
2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost
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