creating an instruction & maintenance manual - R-pod Owners Forum

We see many of the same questions come up as new owners explore their 'pod, and the generic manual is mostly useless. I thought it would be a good idea if we, as a community, came up with essays on different topics that we could paste together as a comprehensive 'pod manual. Make it a sticky thread (like this one is, for now) so everyone can always find it. I've started a list of topics to cover below, please post new topics if you see one that isn't covered. I'm hoping people can volunteer to cover a specific topic they have experience with. We can use this thread as a working thread and I'll start a new "clean" thread with finished posts later. How does this sound?

Read this before you read anything else: Checking for a good ground (in-progress here)
Check your home RV outlet for correct voltage (here)
Winterization (in-progress here)
De-winterization (in-progress here)
Water heater (in-progress here)
Water pump & water tank & low point drain
Using the control panel
Battery maintenance (in-progress here)
Propane tank (gauges, hot water method, filling by the gallon vs. filling flat-rate vs. tank exchange)
Brake controllers (different types, proper wiring gauge) (in-progress here)
Bargeman connection (here [discussion on fridge use but directly related] and here)
Converter, breaker panel
Stove (tips for easy lighting at the start of every trip, cleaning, stove covers)
TV antenna & amplifier (some antenna info here)
TV/DVD player (Jensen owners manual here)
Microwave (here)
Fridge (in progress here and here and here)
Toilet, black and gray tanks (here)
Shower? (tip for using the water cut-off when soaping up to conserve hot water?)
Adding an outside shower (here)
Lights (replacing with LEDs vs. fluorescent Thin Lights vs. keeping as-is, amperage usage)
Furnace (using the thermostat)
A/C (low-voltage warning, inability to use this dry camping, possible alternatives and making it quieter)
Tires and lug nuts (pressure at max, check lug nuts often to at least 100 pound/feet, use of torque wrench)
Hitching/Coupling (gadgets and methods to make it easier, tips for getting the ball in the cup, adding coupler locks and hitch locks, using parking brake to keep TV from moving out of place, air bags vs. weight distribution hitch)
Towing (sway control and inclines/braking/gear selection and a video showing you why you need the right tongue weight)
Axle risers (in-progress here)
Axle bearing maintenance (here)
Brake pad replacement (here)
Appliance energy usage (in-progress here)
Packing lists, setup/take-down lists (in-progress here)
Dry camping (in-progress here)
Cleaning the A/C condenser and evaporator coils (in-progress here)
Backing up (in-progress here)
Staying at truck stops, Wal-Mart, etc. (in-progress here)
Converting the incandescent lights to LED (in-progress here)
Slide-out (here and here)
Generators (here)(Thoughts on home back generators here)
Info on crimping wires here
Warranty info here

Misc. stuff about the forum:

Uploading a picture, adding a signature (bonus, creating one of those colored maps)

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pmjensen Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 17 Aug 2010 Location: South Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 179	Post Options Post Reply Quote pmjensen Report Post Quote Reply Topic: creating an instruction & maintenance manual Posted: 12 Apr 2011 at 1:16pm
	I think it's a great idea especially as you said in light of the very generic Forest River manual. I've got one for hitching/coupling gadgets. thttp://www.rpod-owners.com/uploads/618/Hitch_Alignment.jpg
	2011 R-176 Nuestro Pod 2014 Silverado

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059	Post Options Post Reply Quote techntrek Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 Apr 2011 at 10:03am
	We see many of the same questions come up as new owners explore their 'pod, and the generic manual is mostly useless. I thought it would be a good idea if we, as a community, came up with essays on different topics that we could paste together as a comprehensive 'pod manual. Make it a sticky thread (like this one is, for now) so everyone can always find it. I've started a list of topics to cover below, please post new topics if you see one that isn't covered. I'm hoping people can volunteer to cover a specific topic they have experience with. We can use this thread as a working thread and I'll start a new "clean" thread with finished posts later. How does this sound? Read this before you read anything else: Checking for a good ground (in-progress here) Check your home RV outlet for correct voltage (here) Winterization (in-progress here) De-winterization (in-progress here) Water heater (in-progress here) Water pump & water tank & low point drain Using the control panel Battery maintenance (in-progress here) Propane tank (gauges, hot water method, filling by the gallon vs. filling flat-rate vs. tank exchange) Brake controllers (different types, proper wiring gauge) (in-progress here) Bargeman connection (here [discussion on fridge use but directly related] and here) Converter, breaker panel Stove (tips for easy lighting at the start of every trip, cleaning, stove covers) TV antenna & amplifier (some antenna info here) TV/DVD player (Jensen owners manual here) Microwave (here) Fridge (in progress here and here and here) Toilet, black and gray tanks (here) Shower? (tip for using the water cut-off when soaping up to conserve hot water?) Adding an outside shower (here) Lights (replacing with LEDs vs. fluorescent Thin Lights vs. keeping as-is, amperage usage) Furnace (using the thermostat) A/C (low-voltage warning, inability to use this dry camping, possible alternatives and making it quieter) Tires and lug nuts (pressure at max, check lug nuts often to at least 100 pound/feet, use of torque wrench) Hitching/Coupling (gadgets and methods to make it easier, tips for getting the ball in the cup, adding coupler locks and hitch locks, using parking brake to keep TV from moving out of place, air bags vs. weight distribution hitch) Towing (sway control and inclines/braking/gear selection and a video showing you why you need the right tongue weight) Axle risers (in-progress here) Axle bearing maintenance (here) Brake pad replacement (here) Appliance energy usage (in-progress here) Packing lists, setup/take-down lists (in-progress here) Dry camping (in-progress here) Cleaning the A/C condenser and evaporator coils (in-progress here) Backing up (in-progress here) Staying at truck stops, Wal-Mart, etc. (in-progress here) Converting the incandescent lights to LED (in-progress here) Slide-out (here and here) Generators (here)(Thoughts on home back generators here) Info on crimping wires here Warranty info here Misc. stuff about the forum: Uploading a picture, adding a signature (bonus, creating one of those colored maps)
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual