modifications

I so appreciate your forum- as some one new to RVing in general- let alone the RPod I just bought.
a few questions:
your modifications look great but how do you install shelves? how do you know where to screw? do you have to wait till after the warranty is expired to get away with this?

is it really $300 plus to purchase a replacement mattress? amazon the best source cost wise for bedding?

same questions for changing out the TV for a tilt holder

I have a 2016 179 - has the R dome slide been worked out or do I expect to have to clamp the opening as described?

it sounds like some people install a tube beneath the unit to put the septic line into= who does this and which line is less likely to trap material in its folds?
there was one that macerated on line- does that one work or is it even needed? thanks all in advance
Nanc

Hi.

WOW! helpful already
that slide show of rpod construction was very helpful and explained the shelves people were putting on the forward wall
the Super Slider hose carrier looks great too
thanks everyone
Nanc

Nanc, there are probably lots of ways to install shelves in Pods.  Since we also have a #179, I thought I would offer ours.  The only part of any real difficulty for someone with hand tools would be cutting the 45° angles.  I'll apologize now - I didn't take enough pictures in the early part - where the brackets are attached and that may be the hardest to describe.  Sorry.

The Pod is about 75" wide inside and we wanted to use one of Lowe's Allen and Roth 72" shelves.  We also wanted to make it so the shelf would slide forward a bit.  The idea here was to give a little more room for when we stack things a bit higher, or if we use bigger wicker baskets, but to be able to push it back when not in use. With this setup, someone lying next to the wall will still be able to view the TV set (more on that below).

First, I cut a 1 x 4 down to 3" by 48".  The 1" part is a long-standing lumberyard scam, as 1 x 4s have been only 3/4" thick for generations.  Then I cut it to 24" long at a 45° angle.  This angle matches the contour of the wall over the bed fairly well.  Then I ripped two more pieces, 24" x 1" x 3/4" and then trimmed one end of each at 45° to sit on top of those 3" pieces.  I fooled around with several stain combinations but finally settled on a medium walnut. 

Hind sight is that I should have taken some pictures here, but I didn't.  Sorry again.  I got four 1.5" L-shaped angle brackets to attach the wood to the wall above the padded valence thing.  First step there was to attach them  to what would soon be the underside, next to the top of the valence padding.  I used just one screw to attach each bracket four inches from each end. 

OK.  So those 1.5" angle braces now have about 3/4" of bracket (and one screw hole) sticking up above the 1 x 3.  I used the screws that came with the brackets and screwed them into the Pod wall. Some weight is supported by the valences and some by the brackets.  The shelf is light and we don't load with more than towels and some clothes - nothing heavy!  If bouncing down the road causes the screw holes to enlarge some day, we can always convert to hollow wall anchors.

Then the 1" wooden piece was attached to the 3" piece about 3/16" in from the edge next to the wall.  It effectively covers the brackets that are screwed to the wall. 

Matching that gap on the other support strip gives enough room for the shelf to slide.  The 1" piece allows the shelf to move forward if needed - without falling while on the road.  Finally, a screw through a faucet washer was installed about 3/4" in from the forward end to keep the shelf from scooting off the support. 

Hmm.  From this angle and with this lighting, the stain match isn't as good as I thought.  Maybe one more coat...?

Other thoughts:  (1) We had a 3" foam topper from our previous camper and we moved it to the Pod.  It's been all we have needed; no $300 mattress needed for us.  (2) We did get a tilty arm for the TV set for use when in bed - totally unnecessary for other viewing.  Most flat screen sets just don't view well from sharp angles.  The arm also has a joint in the middle, which helps a little.  (3) No Dome for us, so I won't comment on that.  (4) On the sewer line, dump the black water tank first, then the grey water tank.  The grey water will clean that "stuff" in the folds.  Be sure you have plenty of grey water though. 

great stuff thank you
N