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Posts: 270 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: "Must Have" Mods & Fixes for the noob?
    Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 2:02pm
Originally posted by GLBCamper

Originally posted by JohnBG

Unless you have the Hood River Edition (HRE) or the 2" lift kit installed on the non-HRE-pods, the 2nd step will either be on the ground or just above it.

Good point. Being in Oregon I often forget you non-HRE folks!

We could use one up here in New England. It could be "The Platinum Pothole LTD".
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Posts: 270 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 1:58pm
Originally posted by JohnBG

If the T-Mobile is weak, maybe get a Verizon or AT&T Mi-Fi or other wireless hotspot, they use a lower frequency that has better coverage.  I have Verizon as my carrier and the phone has a "mobile hotspot" feature and it's worked great everywhere we have camped in Florida, but coverages can vary.   Gotta love streaming college and Monday night footballs in the dome to torment tent campers... Tongue

My sister had T-Mobile here in FL and once you got 20 miles out of town or away from an interstate highway, it was dead as a doornail for 3G/4G wi-fi service.

I have noticed T-Mobile seems to be more urban focused. Even in the MA suburbs the signal is weak depending on where you live, random unexplained dead spots.  My signal at home is garbage, I have to use a "wifi calling" cell router connected to the net, but I live on the far side of a granite mini-mountain with 200' of rise behind me.
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Posts: 190 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 1:53pm
Originally posted by Retroactive

  But I really like your idea of incorporating artwork, she was a dual major with art as secondary, maybe I will surprise her with some supplies to make some stuff for the pod while we are down there - art therapy. Best of luck to you as well.

Just be careful, if my missus had her way, it would look like someone hosed down the inside of the pod with Pepto Bismol and bubble gum and have it looking like a New Orleans cathouse in no time.  LOL

At least we compromised and went with some neutral colors, reds and browns. 
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Posts: 190 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 1:49pm
If the T-Mobile is weak, maybe get a Verizon or AT&T Mi-Fi or other wireless hotspot, they use a lower frequency that has better coverage.  I have Verizon as my carrier and the phone has a "mobile hotspot" feature and it's worked great everywhere we have camped in Florida, but coverages can vary.   Gotta love streaming college and Monday night footballs in the dome to torment tent campers... Tongue

My sister had T-Mobile here in FL and once you got 20 miles out of town or away from an interstate highway, it was dead as a doornail for 3G/4G wi-fi service.
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Posts: 274 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 1:45pm
Originally posted by JohnBG

Unless you have the Hood River Edition (HRE) or the 2" lift kit installed on the non-HRE-pods, the 2nd step will either be on the ground or just above it.

Good point. Being in Oregon I often forget you non-HRE folks!
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Posts: 270 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 1:25pm
Originally posted by JohnBG

If the goal is to make it more comfortable for the missus, then here's what I would suggest as this is what mine did to our interior.

Buy extra throw pillows to be comfortable while sitting at the dinette watching TV or lounging in bed reading.

Add decorations, pictures, and touches of home to the walls.  My wife found a large vinyl decal for the front wall at Hobby Lobby that says "Wherever we are together, that is home", they have a ton of others to choose from.  Help it to be a place of comfort where she can take refuge from the stress of dealing with a family member with cancer.

Install a wall mount iPad or tablet holder in the bedroom area, to watch movies or surf the net while relaxing.

Since it sounds like a lot of short trips, maybe skip the r-dome and go with a pop-up awning or clam enclosure that is easy and quick to put up and take down.  Include a few folding chairs to sit outside and enjoy the beach view.

All that being said I am a stage 3 Non-Hodgkins survivor myself.  I bought the camper about a year ago when I was going thru chemo.  My wife thought it was nuts, but it was on my bucket list for a long time and I wasn't sure how much time I had.  Worst case, I got a few good trips. Best case, a lot of good trips.  So far it's been best case.  I will say for sure that taking the missus camping helped relieve the stress of what she was going through with me.  Best of luck...


Thanks for all the thoughtful ideas. Many of your suggestions are in the direction of what we have been thinking, so it is great to get some first hand feedback. That is a good point about making sure she has iphone access somehow, if T-mobile isn't strong on the beach she will lose her mind. I am already planning to put a 12v LCD TV/DVD somewhere in the bedroom, so that she can turn it on for background noise during her afternoon naps (very noisy boardwalk). We were planning on skipping the R-dome, and just getting a nice portable screenhouse from Cabelas. But I really like your idea of incorporating artwork, she was a dual major with art as secondary, maybe I will surprise her with some supplies to make some stuff for the pod while we are down there - art therapy. Best of luck to you as well.
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Posts: 190 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 1:05pm
Unless you have the Hood River Edition (HRE) or the 2" lift kit installed on the non-HRE-pods, the 2nd step will either be on the ground or just above it.
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Posts: 270 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 1:02pm
Thanks for the idea about the steps! My FiL will be staying in the cottage, so stairs shouldn't be an issue. OTOH my wife is only 5'4" with short legs, and this actually might be "must have" so she doesn't sprain an ankle.
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Posts: 190 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 12:56pm
If the goal is to make it more comfortable for the missus, then here's what I would suggest as this is what mine did to our interior.

Buy extra throw pillows to be comfortable while sitting at the dinette watching TV or lounging in bed reading.

Add decorations, pictures, and touches of home to the walls.  My wife found a large vinyl decal for the front wall at Hobby Lobby that says "Wherever we are together, that is home", they have a ton of others to choose from.  Help it to be a place of comfort where she can take refuge from the stress of dealing with a family member with cancer.

Install a wall mount iPad or tablet holder in the bedroom area, to watch movies or surf the net while relaxing.

Since it sounds like a lot of short trips, maybe skip the r-dome and go with a pop-up awning or clam enclosure that is easy and quick to put up and take down.  Include a few folding chairs to sit outside and enjoy the beach view.

All that being said I am a stage 3 Non-Hodgkins survivor myself.  I bought the camper about a year ago when I was going thru chemo.  My wife thought it was nuts, but it was on my bucket list for a long time and I wasn't sure how much time I had.  Worst case, I got a few good trips. Best case, a lot of good trips.  So far it's been best case.  I will say for sure that taking the missus camping helped relieve the stress of what she was going through with me.  Best of luck...
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Posts: 274 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Mar 2016 at 11:50am
I would highly recommend switching to double steps. It makes it so much easier to get in or out! Especially someone who might be feeling a little weak. Search the boards for a link. I bought mine on eTrailer for less than $90.
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