Greasing the Grooves - R-pod Owners Forum

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mountain mist View Drop Down

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Joined: 25 May 2010
Location: Gatlinburg Tenn
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Posts: 426

Topic: Greasing the Grooves
Posted: 14 Jul 2011 at 7:21am

What is and how small is the fridge fan? Very little room in there, but I run on coldest setting all the time and start the fridge 2 days before I drive out and insert already cold and frozen stuff when I fill it.

I am going to check in on what some of the suggestions are, but so far I am not displeased with the results of doing the above. And I never drive with the propane on, state law or not, just gives me the creeps to think of possibles.

As I stated, I saw the little lights, used on the ground and looking like runway lights! Sudtle. I am not shy of having the twinky ones, kind of like the festive. Just have to have something to string them on. Getting there

I figured by the end of this season I will have it the way I want finally, then on to some new thing that will take a while to put into effect. Like most things, using and practice makes one more efficent and I wonder if we ever set back and say DONE, I am content. Too hot to get in an uproar, I need to quite tinkering ......

Putting snap beans into the freezer and corn off the cob for creamed corn this Winter. Hit the ground running, time a' wasting to get tomatoes canned too. Have a month before I go out again, so should get it all down and still be standing.

'11 Forest River r.pod 171
'10 Ford Edge
ESCAPE POD
Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers
change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley

Pawpod

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Joined: 10 Jan 2011
Location: Regina Sask
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Posted: 14 Jul 2011 at 3:41am

I bought a little fridge fan that curcleates the are inside the fridge. Went from slitly cool to cold. Well worn the $15.

Ready to pod around!

techntrek

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Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 10:59pm

Keep in mind that the 'pod fridge already has 2 12 volt fans, thermostatically controlled, in the rear compartment. I had to add a 12 volt fan to my popup, I was happy to see - and hear - those fans already in place when I bought it. While my popup fridge barely stayed cold enough (we always carried a compressor-style dorm fridge for sensitive foods like dairy and meats), the one in the 'pod stays very cold even when its in the 90's outside. You may need to get the "stack" cleaned out.

We always had "tacky lights" with our popup, but only put them up a few times with the 'pod. This trip we tried something new we both like a lot. Its called "electro luminescent wire", usually called "EL wire" online. Very cool stuff, easy to put up and has a neat glow to it. This will give you an idea of what it is, but we didn't buy from this place (we got ours on closeout from IKEA a while ago).

http://www.elbestbuy.com/

Hodge - don't worry about using the propane, it isn't illegal in any state, just in some tunnels where it is clearly marked. Most big rigs only have 2 way fridges with no 12 volt option and can only use propane on the road. The tanks have several safety features which prevent accidents - I've seen videos of them on Mythbusters where even sitting in a fire the worst they do is vent. No explosion.

Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Hodge-PODge View Drop Down

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Joined: 11 Apr 2011
Location: Calhoun, GA
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Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 10:23pm

Thanks David. I might just consider that little doo-hickey. Both the reviews attested that it worked. I just have to figure out if I want it bad enough to spend nearly $90.

I've had my RPod fridge cooling all day and I am making sure all items have been chilled in my household fridge before I put them into the Pod fridge when I leave tomorrow. I plan on traveling with the 12 volt option on. I would prefer to use the propane, but I'm too afraid of what would happen in a collision if the propane was lit. And I know in some states it is illegal to travel with the propane lit. Don't know if that applies to Georgia and North Carolina though.

Diane

2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge
2011 Mercedes ML350
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."

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Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 8:09pm

The mod I'm thinking of is probably a little more involved than either of you would like. You might want to think of something like this:

http://www.campingworld.com/browse/skus/index.cfm?skunum=47888&cartsrc=WEBREC&rewrote

I should offer this caveat - I have not used this product and can't offer personal experience with it.

I like the option one of the product reviewers wrote about - being able to run it off of 12 volts.

The fridge vent is, well, vented to the outside. Plus it (the fridge) is generating it's own heat. Combine these two and, when hot/humid, it is going to operate less efficiently. For what it is worth, I found much the same with mine and typically ran it at the highest setting.

kymooses

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Location: Louisville, Ky
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Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 7:55pm

Originally posted by mountain mist

Mercy me. I would have been laughed out of the car if I had suggested, EVER, taking a dorm frig. tent camping. Times sure have changed. I have to tell my son this when I see him. He always said I took the kitchen sink with me, but not until we had a motorhome. He was the AT kind of person. Had to keep the windows down, even in Winter, when he and friends came down to be picked up.

Yup we used to pack up my old Thunderbird to the max, bungee cords holding the trunk down on the way. I was always a very prepared tent camper! We were almost at the point of buying a small AC unit to take along in the summers, but the Pod changed that for us!

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mountain mist View Drop Down

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Joined: 25 May 2010
Location: Gatlinburg Tenn
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Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 6:32pm

What is the mod for improving behind the frig(is this on the outside of Pod?)

I run on electric when I have full hookups, propane when dry camping and battery when traveling.

While I have not problem, if there is/are mod suggestions , I would like to hear them. Thanks

'11 Forest River r.pod 171
'10 Ford Edge
ESCAPE POD
Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers
change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley

Hodge-PODge View Drop Down

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Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 5:40pm

David, I've tried the fridge on all 3 options - 12 volts, 120 electric, and propane. The performance is pretty much the same no matter which option I use. It's cold enough - but my complaint is that it is BARELY cold enough. I'm convinced that you are right about the ambient temperature because it has been very hot weather every time I've camped. I hadn't thought of the area BEHIND the fridge, though. But I have tried to keep the temperature inside the RPod cool to help out the fridge.

2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge
2011 Mercedes ML350
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."

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Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 4:33pm

Originally posted by Hodge-PODge

Speaking of the fridge -- I know you were talking about your fridge at home -- but I'm not really pleased with the one in the RPod. I have mine on the highest setting but it doesn't get as cold as any fridge I've had before. I put in a fridge thermometer and the temp is barely in the acceptable zone. So I put in a battery operated recirculating fridge fan from Camping World but it doesn't seem to make any difference. Does anyone out there have a suggestion for improving the cooling performance of the fridge?

Diane

Are you running your fridge on 12 volts, 120 volts or propane? I have found them to perform best on propane. Removing heat from the area behind the fridge will make a big difference and there is a mod or two to do this. The warmer the ambient temperature (and the area behid the fridge) the less well they operate.

mountain mist View Drop Down

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Joined: 25 May 2010
Location: Gatlinburg Tenn
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Posted: 13 Jul 2011 at 3:33pm

The frig. at home is limping along, almost empty. Does not look like my house!

Parts are due to be put in tomorrow or if I am lucky, tonight.

I am just grateful if the problem has been found, if not I could buy a small car for what a replacement would cost. NEVER build in (and I have done it TWICE). Have found only 2 that would fit the space or I may have to do the trash thing and have a fridge on the back porch! Sorry, anyone, if you have one on the porch, they probably have fancy ones now for that very purpose

I guess in the outside fireplace and kitchen they do.

'11 Forest River r.pod 171
'10 Ford Edge
ESCAPE POD
Trudi and Austin mini-schnauzers
change here, Trudi has gone, Austin now has a small black schnauzer buddy, Bentley