Adding an awning to a Rdome ready POD

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   I ordered a 180 with an awning and after arriving at the dealers to pick up the new pod, discovered the pod they prepped came instead with a dome. Bummed at first and after fumbling setting it up for the first time decided I can do without it. In the bag it stayed for the first season. 
This season my wife talked me into trying it again and am glad she did.  Not just double the space of the pod, but when most of our outings this season where graced with punishing T-storms, including wind and heavy rain, instead of retreating inside where it was either sweltering or ear-splitting from the AC, we were relaxed outside with cocktails protected by the surprisingly strong (when properly staked down) dome.  Other campers had to scramble to retract their awnings... if they were lucky enough to be around when the winds came... otherwise what they returned to wasn’t pretty. 

A side benefit is the near tent-like nature when the skirt is added. Our 13-year old daughter (too tall to fit the ridiculously narrow dinette/bed in the 180) prefers to sleep instead in the dome with its space, privacy and relative security from critters provided by the skirt. 

So, I’m a convert.  There are some improvements Dometic might make, like using beefier zippers and providing better stakes. Instructions on customizing the skirt to fit your particular camper would help (wheel wells and steps). 

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4Papa Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 31 Jul 2017 Location: MA Online Status: Offline Posts: 62	Topic: Adding an awning to a Rdome ready POD Posted: 28 Aug 2018 at 7:41am
	I ordered a 180 with an awning and after arriving at the dealers to pick up the new pod, discovered the pod they prepped came instead with a dome. Bummed at first and after fumbling setting it up for the first time decided I can do without it. In the bag it stayed for the first season. This season my wife talked me into trying it again and am glad she did. Not just double the space of the pod, but when most of our outings this season where graced with punishing T-storms, including wind and heavy rain, instead of retreating inside where it was either sweltering or ear-splitting from the AC, we were relaxed outside with cocktails protected by the surprisingly strong (when properly staked down) dome. Other campers had to scramble to retract their awnings... if they were lucky enough to be around when the winds came... otherwise what they returned to wasn’t pretty. A side benefit is the near tent-like nature when the skirt is added. Our 13-year old daughter (too tall to fit the ridiculously narrow dinette/bed in the 180) prefers to sleep instead in the dome with its space, privacy and relative security from critters provided by the skirt. So, I’m a convert. There are some improvements Dometic might make, like using beefier zippers and providing better stakes. Instructions on customizing the skirt to fit your particular camper would help (wheel wells and steps).
	2017 180 2010 GMC 1500 Hybrid

backin15 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 26 Feb 2017 Location: Burnsville,MN Online Status: Offline Posts: 65	Posted: 03 Sep 2018 at 2:50pm
	You can get a small awning from PahaQue, it mounts in the Rdome track and is easy to put up. A bonus is that it is very light and doesn't take much storage space. We love ours!
	2015 179 2013 Xterra Pro 4X

4Papa Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 31 Jul 2017 Location: MA Online Status: Offline Posts: 62	Posted: 03 Sep 2018 at 7:07pm

	2017 180 2010 GMC 1500 Hybrid

4Papa Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 31 Jul 2017 Location: MA Online Status: Offline Posts: 62	Posted: 03 Sep 2018 at 7:07pm
	Very cool. And the price is decent, too. Kind of hard to see what kind of coverage you get, though.
	2017 180 2010 GMC 1500 Hybrid

backin15 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 26 Feb 2017 Location: Burnsville,MN Online Status: Offline Posts: 65	Posted: 03 Sep 2018 at 8:45pm
	Not a ton of shade, but keeps the chairs and shoes dry in the rain.
	2015 179 2013 Xterra Pro 4X

Marchhall Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 07 May 2017 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 50	Posted: 04 Sep 2018 at 4:00pm
	RDome is why I bought the RPod. We only sleep in fiberglass box and all living done outside at Camp. More than doubles living space. Sure it takes 10-15 minutes to set up and take down but so worth it, unless of course just camping for a quick night. Recently experienced 7 inches of rain falling while in Catskills. We were out in Dome entire time and living room stayed dry. Awning people were holed up in their fiberglass box all day...wonderful. Its so versatile. Can roll sides up completely for clear view. Roll screens down if buggy. Or completely seal in unsettled weather. I have even cooled and heated Dome by leaving Pod door open. THere has yet to be a storm that the Dome can't endure, however had to make a few modifications. 1. We crimped keder rail slightly with vice grips from one to other to make c channel tighter on Dome edge so now it can't fall out of keder. 2. Replaced stakes with real camping stakes and must hook all black loops into stakes firmly hammered into solid ground. 3. Replace stock suction cups with heavy duty ones. 4. Secure black flaps at bottom with weights if windy. We just use rocks from campground, but others use water jugs or other weights to secure it. We only do steps 2-4 if rain forecasted. Plus Dome becomes playpen for pets or kids and becomes a deterrent to any interest when away from Camp. Stepladder kind of necessary to reach peaks and to elongate the 3 top poles, but we have ladder anyway for tip out cleanoff and to hang globe lights. You should be able to negotiate for Dome for free from dealer as we did. Best thing yet as it gets small inside pod.
	Outdoorsy Marc 2016 Rpod 179 2017 Kia Sorento SXL

4Papa Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 31 Jul 2017 Location: MA Online Status: Offline Posts: 62	Posted: 04 Sep 2018 at 9:51pm
	Four or so 6" bungie cords are also handy to help the suction cups reach awkward places or used instead of the cups entirely, like to hook the lower grommets to the stabilizers.
	2017 180 2010 GMC 1500 Hybrid