R-Dome: Yea or Nay
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Topic: R-Dome: Yea or Nay
Posted By: EmptyNesters
Subject: R-Dome: Yea or Nay
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2013 at 7:03pm
| We just ordered the 178 model pod, and I am wondering what current pod owners have to say about the R-Dome. I like the idea of the extra space but am wondering if it's more hassle than it is worth. |
Replies:
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2013 at 7:16pm
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We chose not to get one. Lots of folks love theirs.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2013 at 7:58pm
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+1 for yay. They are no hassle at all, the extra room rain, wind, or shine they help in lots of way. Nice shade in the warm months, great when it rains and you don't want to be stuck in the Pod, and in the colder trips it takes a very small heater to keep them warm. ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: Racer|X|
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2013 at 8:09pm
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Long trips...yes. Short....I bought a visor. ------------- |
Posted By: GArpod
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2013 at 8:14pm
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We have a 182 and love our rdome, sometimes our campsite is to small or multi level and it will not fit. But otherwise it is used often. ------------- 2013 182G 2010 Ford Expedition |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2013 at 9:54pm
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I say yay. We stay in AZ. for four weeks so the shade is great, we do have to get it rolled up before the wind gets to strong. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: coopercdrkey
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2013 at 6:20am
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We found the 'Dome to be one of the major selling points for the 'Pod. We set it up every outing. I have it down to about a 15 minute procedure if I have help, (my wife!), or 20 if I have to go it solo. The biggest hassel for me is the screen mesh skirt, but even that goes better with practice. ------------- Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71 |
Posted By: Meriflower
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2013 at 8:27am
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We'll be purchasing an r-Pod this coming spring and am on the fence about the dome. I like the idea of having the extra room to hang out in but I would be afraid to leave it out each night in case a bad storm rolls through. I would not want to have to put it up/take it down each day. How do these weather storms? Someone posted they roll it up in winds? Thanks!
Nancy
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Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2013 at 9:33am
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The Rdomes ability to handle storms depends on how well you stake it down. All zipped up with some good 6 inch nail spikes holding it down at all locations and it will hold up as well as you'd expect any tent to. That's not to say that that one freak gust of wind won't sneak through and pop your poles on top out of their holders though. ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: coopercdrkey
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2013 at 10:05am
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We have never had a problem anywhere except directly oceanside at one of the Florida State Parks that has the sites perched atop the primary dune, and virtually no vegetation, (other than grass), to help block the wind. That night a front rolled through, and I ended up taking the R-Dome down for its own protection. ------------- Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71 |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2013 at 11:29am
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It depends... If is cold or rainy and we're camping with 6-8 friends and will need someplace to gather, then I'll put up the dome. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2013 at 1:46pm
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We do the same as Outbound. Most weekends it stays in the bag and two EZ-ups work fine. ------------- 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: bhamster
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2013 at 3:40pm
Reminds me of one of the few times we used ours: we were camping in Yellowstone and a gust came by an FLIPPED IT OVER THE ROOF. Luckily no damage, but we didn't use it the rest of the trip because of the wind.
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Posted By: EmptyNesters
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2013 at 1:41pm
Thanks everyone, we went ahead and ordered the R-Dome as well as the bike rack and axle lifter for our R-Pod. I can hardly wait until it arrives in late April. We had a combo awning and screen room on our pop-up years ago but when we upgraded to a large travel trailer we went without and I have always missed that outdoor area. |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2013 at 3:16pm
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We love the dome.. in fact we had a sticker made up that says: The Dome is Home.. We are currently looking at a slightly larger TT, and one of the MAIN problems we have with it is... no dome. ------------- |
Posted By: coopercdrkey
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2013 at 5:06pm
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+1,furpod I actually like the Visa concept, plus the "next size" FR, (I forget the model name), primarily because of the walk-around queen beds. BUT the R-Dome is our reason for getting back into this stuff! ------------- Bob and Joyce Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels RP 177 "Key Pod" Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71 |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 22 Feb 2013 at 5:07pm
Well, if its anything like the awning/screen room we had on our pop-up, you'll be very happy with how quickly and easily the r-dome goes up. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: wildflowerz
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2013 at 10:12am
| I love the dome room. It is a must with dogs. Opening the door of the trailer and letting the dogs out into the dome made life easier. We didn't set it up on a one night stay, only two or more nights. Easy to set up once you get the hang of it. |
Posted By: tsunami123
Date Posted: 23 Feb 2013 at 10:54am
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I am of two minds about my R-Dome. It's great for the extra room, especially when it's raining but you don't want to sit inside. On the other hand, some people have found that it is not very robust if a sudden wind storm comes up. (See other comments)...others have had the R-Dome collapse over the door in a wind storm, where they couldn't get out easily because the dome roof had draped over the door. Check the dimensions of the Dome and you will see that the Dome extends quite a ways from the Pod. I have encountered campgrounds/sites where the Dome would not fit within the dimensions of the site. I ended up buying a PahaQue Visor...which only extends five feet from the Pod and has tie down straps rather than breakable aluminum tent poles. It goes on quickly and has withstood some really strong winds (which would have ripped the Dome apart). However, it only covers a small area compared to the Dome. 1) Use the Dome when you are going to be in one site for more than a couple days 2) Use the Dome where/when you know there won't be any high winds...especially if you are going to be gone from the Pod for a while 3) Use the Visor for a quick, small shelter from the sun/rain and you won't be in one place very long. |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 7:46pm
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We are in the Absolutely Yes category, and other than our very first time out we have set it up and used it. In cold weather you can heat it up with a portable heater (we use a propane catalytic), warm weather you can open it up and have some shade, and in rainy weather it keeps your entry area much drier. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 8:32pm
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We love our RDome! It is a great extra room,,,it is wonderful for bike storage during rain and a great room extender on nice days. We also set up a dog pen that allows our pugs a little more room to wander around. ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents 
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Posted By: Rugby8
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 11:51pm
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Do the radomes come with stakes? ------------- 2013 grand caravan 2010 176t pod Wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever. Can life get any better |
Posted By: Rugby8
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 11:52pm
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Rdomes not radomes darn auto correct I don't even know what radomes are!!! ------------- 2013 grand caravan 2010 176t pod Wife, 2 boys, and golden retriever. Can life get any better |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 7:20am
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Yes, stakes come with the RDome, but they are the skinny metal things that I think are useless. So we bought the thick orange plastic ones which stay in the ground even under lots of pressure. A stake puller can also be a good addition to the stake bag. ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents
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Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 10:07am
Yes absolutely replace your stakes with real ones. ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 7:01pm
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Example of a radome (radar dome). ------------- 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: Paige
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 7:21pm
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Haha ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents
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Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 9:19pm
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Techntrek, love it , When I took my FCC License exam I went for all, I failed the Radar Endorsement but got my 2nd radio telephone license, but I know what a radome is ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 10:24pm
 ------------- 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: GaRedneck81
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2013 at 4:29pm
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Love the r-dome; doubles the usable area of the r-pod. Takes me 10 minutes to put it up solo, 5 to take it down. Put it up every trip. Have yet to camp on cement or gravel. Dry camp only in the North Ga mountains beside a trout stream. ------------- GaRedneck81 USN Retired RP-172 |
Posted By: Podsible Dream
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2013 at 4:49pm
Hey, can I tow that thing behind my xxxx with a yyyy engine? Do I need a WDH?  ------------- Chris and Walt '10 RP-171 'Free Spirit' '13 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 L Hemi V8 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2013 at 6:30pm
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Most definitely need the WDH for that thing!
------------- 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: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 14 Mar 2013 at 7:23pm
And a WIDE road! ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 15 Mar 2013 at 11:52am
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No. You need the zzzz engine.
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