Time on the road
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Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3294
Printed Date: 18 May 2024 at 7:03am
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Topic: Time on the road
Posted By: Rita520
Subject: Time on the road
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 7:59pm
| Has anyone stayed out on the road in their R-pod for more than a month? What's your longest time out? We just got our 178 last week and are searching for containers that will fit under the bed and in other storage spots. There will be three of us heading out on our first trip March 29th. It seems the big challenge is to figure out how to travel with the just the bare necessities. This first outing will only be for a week, but after I retire we hope to do some long trips. We are really looking forward to this! |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 8:29pm
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Welcome.
------------- 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: Goose
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 8:50pm
We (Mama and Me) stay out for 5 weeks every year in Sept. and Oct. Mama has 3 Sterilite tubs that fit under the bed in the back and I get 2 tubs under the bench on the passenger side. The tubs are the 10 Gal. size that measure 14 inches wide x 20 inches long x 12 1/2 inches high. We have gotten ours at Dollar General. I have 2 tubs but really could get by with just one, I don't like to get dressed up on vacation so any good clothes stay home and we windup doing laundry once every 7 to 10 days anyway. I did get Mama to cut way back with what she brings and I think that she could cut back more but that is like talking to the spare tire.  Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: LarryK
Date Posted: 04 Mar 2013 at 10:22pm
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Goose, Does Mama read your posts? Lol ------------- 2012 R Pod 177 2006 Toyota Tundra Access Cab 4.7 Liter V8 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 12:44pm
If she does, he'll need to duck...
 ------------- 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: Goose
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 12:58pm
The funny thing is that see was standing over me when I was chicken pecking on the keyboard and wanted to know why I use Mama. From now on it is only to be Mother Goose!!!!  Now for the rest of the story... see had cataract surgery yesterday morning and her vision was still kind of fuzzy as I was typing so I don't think see saw the spare tire reference at the end. That is why I am still here to type this now.  Goose------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
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Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 9:54pm
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Goose you got lucky that time, but I bet when her eyes clean and she reads the posts you may have to live in the pod for a while. what the heck that could be fun ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 05 Mar 2013 at 10:12pm
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We have been in the pod for up to two weeks,,,until now. We are camping outside of Jacksonville for two months while my husband receives proton therapy. We made several modifications in anticipation of this time. We found a large wicker basket that fits perfectly under the bed,,,that is for my clothes. My husband made a cabinet over the window on the bed side, that is for his clothes and then we hang many clothes up in our car. We have learned to do without and have used lots of hooks as well as a shelf over the table to hold lots of clutter. It will be a challenge, especially since our two geriatric pugs love to be underfoot. We do have a cheat, as we plan to head back to Ft. Myers every few weeks for laundry and to see our friends. The RDome is an essential room addition. It makes such a big difference! ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents 
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Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 3:08pm
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Paige, I hope that your husbands therapy goes well. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee
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Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 8:43pm
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Thanks, Goose ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 06 Mar 2013 at 9:54pm
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+1
------------- 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: morningstarrising
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 7:04pm
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My wife and I also purchased a 178 6 weeks ago and have been on the road since then and plan God Willing to stay here fro a while. We reduced down so we thought to the bare minimums and still need to carry less with us as in maybe one suitcase in our truck so you have room for your necessities "Not Much" in the trailer. We found the mattres to be just horrible and it won't hold up long term Meaning 6 months. The kitchen table wobbles and I can't seem to see how to fix that and the railing where you sit you rear comes apart like it is only tacked in like upolstery. Done very poorly and not for long term. The Heat and Air work pretty good as well as it pulls behind our truck like very very good. Anybody out there who can add to my concerns is very much appreciated. We are so very Blessed to be able to be on the road permanetely and are Not murmuring just sharing some concerns with you R-pod owners. Have a Great Day and may He Bless you All with His Light. Sincerely, Mark & Cariol James
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Posted By: morningstarrising
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 7:15pm
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Yes Amen on the Proton beam therapy. Also on the rdome can you tell us how easy it goes up and is taken down and will it hold up in the wind say 30-40 miles per hour. Does anyone know of other options? We are looking for the added space also and would like a secure area for our puppy who is expanding quite suddenly or the trailer is shinking. Be Blessed as you are being though about in my prayers here is So. Ca. for a healthy procedure and distruction of All foreign matter.
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 7:34pm
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The edge on the seats seems to have given many of us trouble. I replaced the wood screws with machine screws with washers and nuts so it stays put. Our table doesn't wobble at all, and I think we were blessed with the only good mattress FR ever put in a pod. We have no complaints about that at all. We did have to pare down our belongings when we travel, and it took a few trips to see what we really needed. And we also put a bag or two in the truck. We didn't get the R-dome so can't help with that, but i have seen them up and wouldn't think it would keep a puppy secure for any length of time at all! Even an old dog could escape if he wanted to, and puppies are far to active to stick around without walls. You will learn how to best use your pod in short order. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: morningstarrising
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 7:46pm
| Thank you Keith-n-dar How is it you have a good mattress? Can you point us to a good buy on NEW ONE? Thanks again! |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2013 at 9:13pm
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Ours is the one that was in the Pod when we got it (new). Can't help you with that.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 7:55am
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Well we have been in the RPug for a week,,,haven't broken our record yet of 11 days. Knowing that we were planning to be in our little home for a long time, we made some modifications to make things a little less cramped. We put up a shelf system on the wall to the left of the bathroom door. It holds little things like pill bottles, matches, small flashlights. It works great! Before we headed out, we also replaced the flimsy bench guards with wooden ones. Very sturdy, such a difference! Once we set up here in Jacksonville, we realized we wanted less clutter on our small counter space, so we found a two tier wire shelf and mounted that on the left wall of the kitchenette. And since we are here for a while, we replaced our tiny old TV with a nice flat 24 inch TV and it sits on our table. The RDome is wonderful for all that extra space. We bought a plastic container that locks. we leave it in the RDome and we put bulky things like pretzel bags. The campground is wonderful. We are indeed the tiniest RV in it. Many of the residents are full time and they have big Class A's and Fifth Wheels. So we are quite the oddity. We fit nicely into their smallest lot toward the back of the campground, along side a pond and a path through the woods. We really like it, except for the fact that the WiFi is spotty. But we are dealing with that. As for the reason we are here, Proton Therapy, we can't say enough good things about the University of Florida Proton Therapy facility. So this chapter in our lives is turning into quite a positive one! ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents
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Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 8:05am
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Oh, RDome question from morningstarrising... The RDome works wonderfully, but it does have some problems. We were in Orlando on a large concrete pad,,,no staking there. The wind came up one night and blew the RDome up and over the Pod! Amazingly, there was no damage. So now we stake it down. But with any awning,,,winds 30-40 mph...most people put their awnings away. And if we were anticipating such a condition,,,we would choose NOT to put up the RDome. While we are here for two months,,,we will probably choose to really stake it down as securely as possible, but we are also tucked into a protected area so it hopefully will not be an issue. We sewed a cloth like rope, (for pulling electrical wires through a conduit) onto each end of the plastic ridge of the Dome. We first spritz the Dome channel with silicon and then one of us pushes and the other pulls on the rope and it goes up very smoothly. ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 2:02pm
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One option for areas where you can't stake out, is water bags or sand bags. Probably only need two permanent sand bags, but then you have to lug them around. Water bags you can empty between trips. I've seen them specifically designed for tent tie-downs but I can't find any one line right now.
I hope all goes well with the proton therapy! ------------- 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: tango287
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 10:26pm
As far as mattress comfort, we bought a Memory Foam 3" mattress topper. We use this at our cabin as well and it makes a great difference. We got ours at Kohls but you can find them at a lot of different home goods stores. Pleasant Dreams!
Tom, Rita & Jer ------------- Tom, Rita & Jerry RPod 178 2013 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: Rita520
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 10:38pm
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In anticipation of our first outing on the 29th (which will only be a week) we began stowing some of our gear and added a memory foam to the mattress. Found a nice over-the-door hanger with five hooks on it (for towels) in the bathroom and hung a mesh hamper bag. Had a panic attack in the bathroom when just testing sitting on the toilet. We figure most places we will stay will have nice bathrooms and showers... really only need this bathroom for middle of the night. Do you guys really use this bathroom? I really hope we can deal with this, as we hope to be on the road in warm climates for several months during the winter next year. Please give me some reassurance. Rita |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2013 at 10:54pm
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The longer you live in your RPod, the more modifications you will figure out that you need. And even though the bathroom is minute,,,it is a bathroom. We don't use the shower as we always camp where there are bathrooms. ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 6:06am
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We are full sized Amaricans and use the bathroom and shower. It helped me the first few times to leave the door open, but now that isn't a problem. I like having more room at home, but you will get used to the small bathroom. Often, if the campgrounds has a good bathroom/shower available one of us will use that and the other stay in the Pod first thing in the morning. If not we are fine in our little trailer. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: morningstarrising
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 11:23am
| Yes we actually Live in our pod full time and if you have a desire to loose weight forget about weight watchers or the Marie Osmond preservative filled food diet...... This trailer will have you losing pounds where you actually think the bathroom is getting bigger but as both my beautiful wife and I can attest to we are both looking better to each other all the Time and that in itself can produce exersize to realize even more weight loss. Loving it in our New Found bodies both INside and Out. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 7:36pm
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Welcome Rita. I dislike the close quarters in the bathroom, but still think having a shower and toilet is one of the best things about having a camper. We didn't use the bathroom we had in our popup at first, but as our kids got older we started to use it. The one in our popup had a shower curtain all around which really opened it up - no bumping elbows on anything hard, and I do miss that. But I'll take the water closet (literally) in the pod over a 3 am run to the bathhouse in cold rain any day. Someone here did an interesting mod which I've considered. They installed a curved rod which extends out of the opening above the bathroom door and then back in, with a shower curtain suspended on it. It allows taking a shower with the bathroom door open, giving more room because the curtain hangs outside the doorway (but is inside at the bottom), plus like my popup the curtain is soft on the elbow. ------------- 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: dsmiths
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 8:11pm
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Goose, thanks to you I think I have finally been able to reduce my avatar size to 50kb and post it, I am so clumsy with computer stuff, I used the resize website and I think I have done it. There is hope for me after all. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 8:18pm
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Well, I said I did, and the site said I did and then I looked and I did'nt. I think I am going to go back to pencil and paper, I am a lost cause. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 8:56pm
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Goose, I think I figured out the down load, select 64 pix, blab blab , here goes I think I updated our avatar. fingers crossed. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 13 Mar 2013 at 8:57pm
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nope, dang it I am done for the night. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |