Dealer Reviews and Comments: 176T Modifications

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176T Modifications - removing tent?

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Printed Date: 23 Apr 2024 at 9:48pm
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Topic: 176T Modifications - removing tent?

Posted By: PhoebeTheDog
Subject: 176T Modifications - removing tent?
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2020 at 2:50pm

We are very interested in purchasing a new 176T. We like the 176T model instead of the 176, not so much for the tent or the additional bed that comes with it, but that the back side completely opens up.

We are thinking of removing the tent and the fold out "floor" of the tent and just being able to close and open the back side while sitting in the dinette with the back door completely open. Has any one else done this? Also, since the back side does not have a window on this model we were thinking of putting an after-market window in where the 'tire' is (keep the tire in our truck) Any thoughts/ideas on this would be appreciated!

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Christopher & Robin
2013 Honda Ridgeline
New 2020 R pod 176 owner!
Mill Valley, CA

Replies:

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2020 at 4:04pm

If you want to make a major change like that I'd suggest starting with a used trailer. Hybrid trailers appeal to a specific group of customers and you would be basically eliminating them as resale customers if and when you wanted to resell your trailer. Also, perhaps anywhere but certain areas of the West Coast, folks wouldn't consider doing what you are suggesting because the trailer would be full of bugs eating you alive all night....A hybrid really opens up very nicely even if you leave the flexible walls and screens intact, why not try that first and see if it meets your needs for having an open to the air camping experience? Or you could also consider getting a rdome which you can set up as an open air environment if you want to.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 10:37am

As rare as 176Ts are.. I would not want to do anything not "returnable to stock", so to speak.

I know of no one who has done such a thing as you are suggesting, but most definitely agree that the dome option should give you everything that it seems to me you are looking for.. but of course only you know what you are trying to accomplish.

That said, I also agree that finding a used one to start is probably the best idea, though when it comes to 176Ts.. taking any one you can find may be your only real option...

Posted By: PhoebeTheDog
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 10:39am

Thanks for your reply! Yes i get it that the resale value may not be there, bit frankly not concerned about this. You raise some good points. We are on the west coast north of San Francisco and are fortunate enough not to have bugs, however when camping elsewhere we would create some kind of screen to use. We really like the idea of being able to open up the entire back for the view and fresh air. Do you know how easy/difficult it may be to just remove the tent? How is it secured? Thanks for any feedback!

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Christopher & Robin
2013 Honda Ridgeline
New 2020 R pod 176 owner!
Mill Valley, CA

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 10:47am

The tent is held on by keder rail and snaps, as I recall.. I have worked on, or helped with hundreds of Pods over the years, only 2 176Ts that I recall. No one wanted to remove it, generally trouble with the keder rail insert at the top.

As was said above, the dome may get you what you want..

The dome is, to most, fairly easy. It took me about 10 minutes, solo, to put it up or take down.

A few years ago my wife just sat and videoed me setting it up. Usually takes the dogs for a walk while I set up camp, once in place and leveled up...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l03M5OWxufE&feature=youtu.be - Dome set up..

Posted By: PhoebeTheDog
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 11:11am

Thanks for the suggestions. We definitely dont like the dome as what we are looking for is a dinette in the back with the opening there, not a tent setup. Interested in what you are saying about the “keder rail at the top” though. If i understand we could unscrew the keder rail, unsnap the snaps and it would come off?
Ideally we couls go to a dealer and see one but there are none in stock anywhere close to is so i appreciate your
Feedback.

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Christopher & Robin
2013 Honda Ridgeline
New 2020 R pod 176 owner!
Mill Valley, CA

Posted By: PhoebeTheDog
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 11:14am

Here is a pic of a tiny Happier Camper that shows sort of what we are looking https://www.google.com/search?q=happier+camper+open+back&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiagdmvtvzoAhUXg6wKHWy1BLkQ2-cCegQIABAC&oq=happier+camper&gs_lcp=ChJtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1pbWcQARgAMgIIKTICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAOgUIIRCrAjoECB4QCjoHCCEQChCrAjoFCCkQqwI6BggAEAUQHjoECAAQGDoGCCkQBxAeOgQIKRADOgQIKRAYOgQIKRBDOgQIABBDUMmmAViyigJgipICaA1wAHgCgAGHAYgB2CCSAQUxMS4yOJgBAKABAbABWA&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-img&ei=62ygXtrfBZeGsgXs6pLICw&bih=619&biw=375&prmd=sivn#imgrc=KDsumZXDKM66rM

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Christopher & Robin
2013 Honda Ridgeline
New 2020 R pod 176 owner!
Mill Valley, CA

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 12:49pm

Yeah, some parts or Norcal might be OK for bugs much of the time, but even there you can have problems. Even at the beach you can get tons of kelp fies sometimes. When I lived in Santa Cruz and had a Westy bus I still used a screen in the rear hatch.

If the tent is held in by a keder rail then it should slide out. Then, unscrew and remove the hinge for the bed bottom. Leave the keder rail in place and you could sew up a flat screen to slide into the rail in place of the tent. Save all the stuff and put it back when you sell. Should work.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: PhoebeTheDog
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 2:37pm

Awesome! Great thoughts. I just wanted get other's opinions and thank you for yours. Last q: Any ideas who to contact at Forrest River to verify how the current model is configured (i.e.tent and tent bed). Also I was thinking it seems like a tent could need to be replaced so I figure there must be a relatively easy way to remove. Sorry for so many questions! Maybe this info is on this forum elsewhere

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Christopher & Robin
2013 Honda Ridgeline
New 2020 R pod 176 owner!
Mill Valley, CA

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 2:46pm

If you go to http://forestriverinc.com/rvs/travel-trailers/r-pod-west-coast?RegionSelected=1 - FR's website , they have a listing of all current models and specs.

Looking though.. it appears the 176T is out of production, which isn't surprising considering how little demand there was for them.

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 2:47pm

Originally posted by PhoebeTheDog

Awesome! Great thoughts. I just wanted get other's opinions and thank you for yours. Last q: Any ideas who to contact at Forrest River to verify how the current model is configured (i.e.tent and tent bed). Also I was thinking it seems like a tent could need to be replaced so I figure there must be a relatively easy way to remove. Sorry for so many questions! Maybe this info is on this forum elsewhere

The search function is not always intuitive. For example, when you search, the default for results is posts six months old and newer. If you select the "Advanced Search" option, you can expand the search range to include older topics. This is handy to find information that may have been mentioned sometime in the past, but not within the past six months.

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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

Posted By: PhoebeTheDog
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 2:47pm

ruh roh....

Thank you!

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Christopher & Robin
2013 Honda Ridgeline
New 2020 R pod 176 owner!
Mill Valley, CA

Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 2:51pm

Honestly, for what you seem to want, you might look at one of the smallest toy haulers. I have seen them down in the 19 foot length. The NoBo has a couple, they are made in the same facility, and by the same people, as R-Pod.. My wife and I have looked pretty hard at the 10.6

http://forestriverinc.com/rvs/travel-trailers/no-boundaries - NoBo..

Posted By: PhoebeTheDog
Date Posted: 22 Apr 2020 at 2:52pm

Hmm..interesting. Will check them out

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Christopher & Robin
2013 Honda Ridgeline
New 2020 R pod 176 owner!
Mill Valley, CA

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2020 at 6:24am

If you want to tow with your Ridgeline then you'll need to stay with a trailer that is well under 5000 lbs fully loaded. This is where FR's (and the other manufacturer's) specs are very misleading. Their NoBo 19 series states "under 5000" but that is empty, no way you can safely tow one of those with your Honda.

I have a Highlander, same tow rating as your Ridgeline, and my 179 weighs in at about 3800 fully (but carefully) loaded. I wouldn't tow anything heavier. Note that the 5000 lb ratings on the tow vehicles are with nothing else except a driver in them.

The 176T falls within the Ridgeline's capabilites too, if you load carefully and don't try to take a ton of stuff with you in the truck. The 16 series Nobo's are heavier than the 176T so I doubt you'll be comfortable towing that with your current vehicle.

There appear to be some 2020 176T's around so you should still be able to get one, and don't be afraid of getting a used travel trailer. So many of them are used only once or twice but long enough to get the workmanship bugs sorted out (TT's are notorious for workmanship issues), so for thousands less you can get an essentially new vehicle that's better than when it left the factory.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: PhoebeTheDog
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2020 at 1:35pm

Thanks and yes. The weight issue is the reason we like the rpods. The nobos are not what we are looking afor. Yes i did verify the 176 t’a are out of production but we are going to see a new one still at a lot near us, so i suspect that will answer a lot of our questions!

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Christopher & Robin
2013 Honda Ridgeline
New 2020 R pod 176 owner!
Mill Valley, CA

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 23 Apr 2020 at 8:24pm

Furpod, Most impressive video setting up the r-dome. I have been doing mine for almost 9 years and I guess i must move slower than you, my time is closer to 15 minutes. Maybe I am taking 5 minutes to hook up the 6 suction cups, not!

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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2020 at 9:00am

Originally posted by PhoebeTheDog

Thanks and yes. The weight issue is the reason we like the rpods. The nobos are not what we are looking afor. Yes i did verify the 176 t’a are out of production but we are going to see a new one still at a lot near us, so i suspect that will answer a lot of our questions!

It sounds like you have thought this through. One thing to watch out for on the 176t is that the gray and fresh water tanks are behind the axle. As water is very heavy, that makes it easy to end up with too much weight in the rear of the trailer. That is very dangerous as the tongue weight winds up too low and you can get sway. especially with a light tow vehicle. I would be careful never to fill both the fresh water and gray water tank at the same time. And if you buy one, load it including water and get a tongue and total weight so you know what you have. Don't go below 10% on the tongue weight,. preferably higher.

Do take a close look at whether you can slide the tent out of the keder rail and also how the bottom is hinged so you can remove that without having an unsightly mess. If you don't want to make up a screen yourself my suggestion would be to find a company that makes up custom screens and windows for boats and see what their thoughts are.

Good luck and hope to see you back on the forum soon!

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2020 at 9:02am

Originally posted by offgrid

Good luck and hope to see you back on the forum soon!

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: PhoebeTheDog
Date Posted: 24 Apr 2020 at 3:41pm

Thank you! We are now leaning towards a 176 not a 176T. This is all good info!

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Christopher & Robin
2013 Honda Ridgeline
New 2020 R pod 176 owner!
Mill Valley, CA