RDome channel
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2941
Printed Date: 22 May 2024 at 5:09pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: RDome channel
Posted By: Paige
Subject: RDome channel
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 7:57am
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On our first outing this summer to test out our "new" rPod, I wanted to put the RDome up in the evening instead of waiting til the morning. It was such a struggle getting the dome through the channel. It kept getting snagged. We finally were able to do it. We are going to the NE RoundUp and so we have been fine tuning mods and adding some things as we plan to be out for about a week. I studied the dome channel and was stunned to see all the rough edges to it. FR put in large screws and the heads of these screws are bigger than the channel opening! So every screw they put in, gouged the channel! Then they had to paint over the gouge, leaving paint drips that were also an issue. So this week I took a Dremel and filed down the gouges as much as I could and carefully reprinted those areas. We located screws with smaller heads that won't cut the channel. We plan on replacing all the screws that FR put in because they are large and square and poke into the channel so they also impeded the dome from going through. I don't understand why FR chose to use screws that did so much damage to the channel and also poked into the channel afterwards, making it difficult to slide the Rdome through. It just seems like common sense to use smaller head screws.
We also added some strong tensil strength strips to each end of the RDome plastic channel thing so we can pull on them instead of the RDome fabric. ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents 
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Replies:
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 8:23am
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The biggest issue I found with mine was not so much the size of the screws but the fact that the screws are Phillips head and and they were driven with a power screw driver so the heads of the screws were burred a little. I will never understand American fascination with Phillips head screws. In Canada the square drive or Robertson head screws are more popular. They go on a driver easier and don't burr. Even torx head screws would be better. It is my understanding that the newer Pods have a different track on them that the old ones maybe that is why Forest River went to the new track to solve these issues. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 8:35am
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Ours were not Phillips, but square head, so there was no burring. But many of the screws were put in crooked so they would stick out and not be flush with the rPod. Just not quality work. Ours was built in 2010 but is considered a 2011. I really hope they have improved the channel with the newer ones! ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 10:49am
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Unfortunately a common issue across all the models and years. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Podsible Dream
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 9:13pm
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Ditto, Paige. Our 2010, manufacturer early 2010, late 2009, had square drive screws driven every which way in the track. I noted that the result of pushing the screw heads thru te Chanel edges was a burr that seemed to cause some paring of the dome plastic edging, but there I also damage due to the screw heads. I just replaced all 28 screws with brass flat head screws, and tried to get the heads flatter than the original screws. I will report later this weekend on the result. BTW the add of the alum pull bracket make a huge difference in installing the dome!
Walt ------------- Chris and Walt '10 RP-171 'Free Spirit' '13 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 L Hemi V8 |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 9:16pm
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What is an alum pull bracket? Can you take a photo of it? ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents
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Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 9:31pm
  ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 10:49pm
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Thank you for posting the photo! Did you buy that from Forest River? ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents
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Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2012 at 11:03pm
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No: I made it myself. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: Podsible Dream
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 7:03am
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I made a similar one, actually a set of two, using flat 3/4x1/8" aluminum bar (my Home Depot didn't have any large diameter rod).
I used afile to round the ends, drilled two holes for machine screws and nuts and counter sunk them for the screws, and a single hole at the end to run a line thru. Put them at both ends so we could pull from either end. ------------- Chris and Walt '10 RP-171 'Free Spirit' '13 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 L Hemi V8 |
Posted By: coopercdrkey
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2012 at 10:39am
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When putting up our R-Dome for the first time, I found that the screen skirt was the hardest part. I guess if you are using the 'Dome just for shade, you may never even be concerned about the skirt, but a major benefit of the 'Dome for us is an area for the Campin' Cocker Spaniels to roam around in, and we'd just as soon they were unable to escape into "nature". Aside from the requirement to cut slits in the fabric to clear the axel and stairs, (thank you all very much for guidance in that regard), the addition of fender-mounted running lights on newer models has resulted in a pair of wire conduit covers that must be by-passed under the fender, and which make pushing / pulling the skirt into position a real challenge. You have to pass them on the proper side or the fabric bunches up and becomes impossible to advance. Once I got the skirt in place, the rest of the 'Dome went up in about 15 minutes! ------------- Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71 |
Posted By: Oma and O pod
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2012 at 1:24pm
| I have a 2010 171 but didn't get the rdome with it. I bought one from a private party and didn't try to put it up until recently. The plastic thing is too big for the track. I spoke with the dealer and he told me Forest River changed the size of the plastic on the rdomes and the metal track on rpods and made them both bigger in 2010. But with the newer models, they went back to the original size. My dilemma: Do I sell my bigger plastic rdome and buy a smaller plastic rdome to fit my smaller rpod track? Or change out the track on my rpod to a bigger track to fit my dome? I'm curious as to why Forest River went back to original size track and plastic piece? I would need to sell my rdome to someone who has the bigger track? Most importantly, which one works better? |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2012 at 2:14pm
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Welcome. I haven't heard of any advantages or disadvantages to either, but my guess at the time was the larger track would be easier to pull the welt through. Hadn't heard that they went back to the smaller track. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 09 Nov 2012 at 2:19pm
From what I heard they changed to the bigger track, because the r-dome after a while pulled out of the smal track. I am not talking about pulling out on either end but in the middle. Have not heard that they went back to the smal track. I have changed mine to the bigger track to fit my r-dome. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2012 at 1:32am
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Oma and O you might be able to have the correct size bead sewn on to the R-Dome that you have, just check with a local tent and awning shop. I would think that maybe less expensive than trading your R-Dome for a new one. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: Oma and O pod
Date Posted: 10 Nov 2012 at 1:42pm
| Good suggestion Goose. I'll look into it. The guy at the dealship told me they went back to the original smaller track. I don't know if it's true or not. I would like to look at the Hood River Edition. Our closest dealership is about 70 miles away. |