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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Mods to our 173
    Posted: 20 Aug 2013 at 10:27pm

I retired about a year ago and we immediately purchased our R Pod 173.  My wife is an avid photographer and we love to travel. We love our R Pod and have used it on several long distance trips. We have been out as long as 6 weeks.  Our next trip(leaving in 2 weeks) will be a 2 ½ month roundtrip voyage from North Carolina to Colorado, Utah, Arizona , New Mexico and California.

 

I am an avid woodworker and general tinkerer, so the R Pod offers a great place for me to modify.  Over the past 2 years, I have read this forum (and many others) and gotten a huge amount of information and knowledge-thanks for all of the ideas and inspiration.

 

Here are some of our major modifications:

 



3” PVC tube with end caps-strapped to the A Frame behind the battery boxes.  Holds all of the R Dome poles

 




5” PVC Fence post with ends bolted to the frame –holds all of the sewer hoses and fittings.  The clear box next to it holds the Hydroflush.

 



I installed 3 12 volt computer fans in the refrigerator vent/exhaust area. The one at the bottom blows up, the middle one(not visible) blows up under the cooling fins, and the top one blows out.  They are connected to a lighted switch inside on the microwave/refrigerator cabinet.  I also installed 2 wooded baffles(not visible)-one at the bottom and one at the top.

 




I added another set of brake/tail lights to the rear.  We use a rear bike rack and I thought the lights were marginally obstructed/visible.  I ordered the same units as originals.

 




 

This is a folding countertop extension on the right side of the stove/sink cabinet




This is a removable countertop extension for the left side of the stove/sink cabinet.  It attaches to the cabinet on the left side with a simple screen door hook.  On the right, it has a folding leg that rests on the seat of the futon.

 



This is an electric fan. It blows toward the dinette/bed area when needed.

 





This is a folding desk top that is mounted to the side of the refrigerator/microwave cabinet.  There is a lso a GFI outlet strip above for computers, phones and an LED clamp-on desk lamp.

 



I added an end and cargo netting to the area above the microwave.  This gave us secure storage. The red switch at the top operates the fans in the refrigerator venting bay.

 



Added a second shelf and cargo netting to the cabinet above the sink.

 



I added a 750 watt inverter(red box) and attached a black outlet strip for use when boondocking.  I also added an additional 12 volt outlet and a 110 multi-outlet .  All of the water pipes have been wrapped in foam to suppress noise.  I also mounted the water pump on a 1” foam base for noise suppression.  I also relocated the table locator pin to the opposite side to avoid any more shin cuts and bruises.


I hope this helps or inspires other owners to  personalize their Pods.


I will keep making more changes thanks to the constant input and ideas from our fellow podders and RV'ers. I enjoy doing it.


Vann

      

 

Here is a list of all of the mods so far:

 

R Pod Modifications Completed

 

 

5”x5” PVC Fence post for sewer pipe holder

3” PVC pipe for R Dome poles

Installed 750 watt inverter, tied directly to battery and battery disconnect switch

Install surge protected outlet strip –connected to inverter

Installed 12V outlet at dinette

Installed 12V junction box with 10Amp fuse in mechanical bay

Relocated spare tire to trailer tongue

Added 2 stabilizing jacks to front

Fabricated butcher block top for cooktop

Fabricated side mount for butcher block

Fabricated left side counter top extension

Fabricated right side counter top extension

Install 5 Command hooks in bath

Relocated 110V electrical outlet from front of sink to right side of cabinet

Fabricated and installed paper towel holder

Added 2nd battery and cut-off switch

Fabricated toilet paper holder

Fabricate heavy duty 110 v extension cord

Isolate water pump on foam bed

Install foam insulation on water pipes

Swivel aerator for sink

Add bungee to secure tv screen

Add bungee to secure table legs when folded

Fabricate jack pads and tire blocks

Fabricate storage box for jack pads and tire blocks

Change cable connector to 90 degrees

Change tv plug to 90 degrees

Strengthen rear receiver for bike rack-welded gussets

Remove partition in lower cabinet and install continuous floor

Install new drawer glide brackets

Add screen wire to refrigerator vents

Modify jack for R Pod

Line shelves and drawers w/ non-slip rubber

Install interior bubble level

repaired R Dome and screen tracks-spray with silicone

Bungee cord retainer under futon

Install key hook in upper cabinet

Fabricate drawer dividers

Install surge strip for charging area

Fabricate divider for dinette bench storage area

Fabricate cabinet sidewall, dividers and elastic netting over the microwave

Install indoor/outdoor thermometer

Install clothes rod in bath room

Install plexiglass backsplash at stove/sink cabinet

Add net for shelf over the sink

Fabricate 2 prop rods for dinette storage area

Install 2 additional tail lights

Install red and amber side marker lights on each fender

Install reflector bar on rear

Removed false wall behind futon-moved futon 6’ back for more usable room

Removed front panel of futon for storage access

Installed metal braces on futon base

Fabricated wooden boxes behind futon for wiring covers

Install vinyl floor over hardboard subfloor under futon

Converted ceiling lights to LEDs

Modify screen door to include exterior handle

Installed accessory light at front door

Install new Maxxii tires  215/75R14

Add shelf to cabinet over sink

Add 3 12 volt computer fans and baffle to refrigerator vent/exhaust

Add battery powered fan in refrigerator

Built fold down desk attached to refrigerator/microwave cabinet

Add electric fan for dinette/bed area

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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 12:14am
Thanks for all the photos and ideas.  My favorite one is the hinged desk top.  I would never have thought of that.  Another great idea is how you store your Hydroflush.  Very innovative.

Bob
2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD)
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 6:40am
I like your mods. You are a lot more ambitious than me. You also seem to have more time. I have done some of your mods and I have plans to do some of the others. Did you paint out the cabinets or were they always white?
Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 9:28am
Our R Pod 173 is a 2009 that we bought used.  It came with the original white/gray cabinets.  when we were at the R Pod factory last year they told us that not many of the Pods came with the white cabinets. I've never seen another one like it. Are there others in the forum that have the white/gray cabinets?
Vann
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 9:51am
Great mods!  Definitely have given me some ideas for ours.
P & M ... and Comet too!
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Aug 2013 at 5:26pm

Definitely interested in the details of your trip, we'll be doing the same loop next year.  Yes, there are one or two more people here with the rare white cabinets.  I want to say that rpodcamper is one of them?  They were only offered for a year or two.  

Did your fridge not come with two fans controlled by a thermostatic control?  Maybe that is something they started after the first year.  My 2010 has them, and the baffle between the upper and lower areas. 

I love the fold-down desk, too.  And I definitely agree about adding higher brake lights, I had some added just below the recall light bar.

Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2013 at 9:35am
Our 2009 173 had no fans in the refrigerator vent area. There were no baffles as well.  I read a lot about the importance of the fans/baffles and added them.

we like the white cabinets-they make the Pod brighter  and are different.

Our western trip highlights-
leave NC, head to Rocky Mtn. Nat. Park, go to Moab, Utah for Arches and Canyonlands, head south to  Chaco Canyon, Santa Fe and Taos, then to Carlsbad Caverns, Tucson, finally to Calif(Bay Area for sister visit) then back to NC.---ambitious, but we're not in a hurry-plan on 2 1/2 months

I added the brake/taillights-took out the false wall in the rear behind the futon and all wiring was easily accessed.  I used 3/8" toilet supply tubes as wiring conduit-made a neat job.

Vann
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Aug 2013 at 3:04pm
Originally posted by techntrek

Definitely interested in the details of your trip, we'll be doing the same loop next year.  Yes, there are one or two more people here with the rare white cabinets.  I want to say that rpodcamper is one of them?  They were only offered for a year or two.  

Did your fridge not come with two fans controlled by a thermostatic control?  Maybe that is something they started after the first year.  My 2010 has them, and the baffle between the upper and lower areas. 

I love the fold-down desk, too.  And I definitely agree about adding higher brake lights, I had some added just below the recall light bar.


Yes we have the "rare" White Cabinets.  We love them!  The 2009 did not have fans on the fridge.
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