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Storage found. 180 Elec panel move & drawer

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10106
Printed Date: 29 Jun 2025 at 3:43pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Storage found. 180 Elec panel move & drawer
Posted By: voisj
Subject: Storage found. 180 Elec panel move & drawer
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2017 at 12:22am
After looking for more storage options in the 180 I decided to move the electrical panel and add a drawer.
Here's the rats nest under the seat. And what I did with it. The drawer is 14" x 20"
 I moved the Electrical panel to face toward the entry hall, and cleaned up the wiring. I didn't cut, disconnect or shorten any of the wires, I just cut a new hole and swung the box over, grouped the wires and remounted the ground bar & 12v Fuse? Then I took the drawer out of the other dinette seat and re-installed it in the space that I gained with the move. Next I'm making a new drawer for the other side that will be 20" x 22". Like a true electrician I did it hot.  
 
This all started when I removed the knee knocking, toe stubbing, awkward table base to install a pedestal mount and got really annoyed at the wasted space under the seats. The small drawer under the front dinette seat fit perfect in the new space, And with new larger drawer in the front dinette seat the missus will have a useful pot drawer!  (180 challenges)
 I made slots in the seat trim that supports the table when in the down position, to store the table when not in use, and have a short post for when we need the bed option. Note; use a stud finder from the bottom side to locate aluminum floor joists if your drilling for the flush mount base.




http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9426&title=all-my-180-mods-johnsue - All my 180 mods


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http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9426&title=slopod-180-mods-johnsue - SLOPODMODS
John&Sue,SLO,CA
2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost
 



Replies:
Posted By: moseyman
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2017 at 7:01am
Man! Have u given me ideas for my 180!
Thanx.


Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2017 at 7:08am
Monitor the temps in there.. as I remember the WFCO install manual gives a minimum cuft area requirement for heat dissipation of the converter.

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Posted By: Dirt Road Warrior
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2017 at 7:18pm
I'm impressed with the pedestal mount, voisj. What a great idea! Where did you get the pedestal?

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Dirt Road Warrior
2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited or
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2017 Rpod 179 Hood River


Posted By: voisj
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2017 at 8:30pm
DRW,
I got it at my local RV dealer. The 31" pole was $12 and the base and table bracket were $6 each. I used the flush mount bracket on the floor, be aware If your doing it on the 180 if you center it perfectly in the space you will remove 1/3 of the aluminum floor joist that is there. I should have used a surface mount bracket, If you drill towards the back 1.25" you will miss the joist. 
rgds John


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http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9426&title=slopod-180-mods-johnsue - SLOPODMODS
John&Sue,SLO,CA
2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost
 


Posted By: Hutch
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2017 at 4:43pm
Now I can't wait to get rid of that table! Thanks for the pedestal mod. Seems like it should have been obvious, but couldn't think of how to solve it. Did you look at putting a rail on the fronts of the seats to eliminate the short post need when converting to a bed? I'm hoping a cleat around the space might work.
Thanks SLO-Pod.

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2017 Rpod 180, gen green
2016 Toyota Tacoma


Posted By: voisj
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2017 at 6:42pm
Hutch,
Ya, this one seems like a no brainer once done, so simple and cheap. The cleats that the table top sits on when lowered are still there and I added a few screws to it for strength , we really never use it as a bed and don't foresee needing the short post, but the short post was only $6 so i bought it.
 I cut 7/8" off the wall side of the cleat to slide the table in against the wall for storage. It's nice having it out of the way when it's not needed. Also I centered the post 1/2' towards the wall with felt bumpers on the edge of the table so it pushes against the wall a little making it so it doesn't wobble hardly at all, with out this it would wiggle a bit. And the felt bumpers against the floor means it doesn't sit directly on the floor.
rgds John       http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9426&title=all-my-180-mods-johnsue -  All my 180 mods


Did this one while i had the tools out. (wife saw it on the rpod facebook site) Moved the radio up into the empty space above and made the lower space a small cabinet, all the wires come down from the ceiling so the upper part couldn't be captured as a cab space.Still need to make a door.  (every cu in counts!:)




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http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9426&title=slopod-180-mods-johnsue - SLOPODMODS
John&Sue,SLO,CA
2016 180 HRE, 2013 F150 Eco Boost
 


Posted By: Dirt Road Warrior
Date Posted: 06 Jun 2017 at 6:45pm
Thanks, Voisj, for the info. BTW, I have a 179 so the floor will have a different framework. I'll take your advice, however, and look underneath to see what I might cut into and consider two surface-mount brackets.

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Dirt Road Warrior
2013 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited or
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee
2017 Rpod 179 Hood River


Posted By: jimandclare
Date Posted: 07 Jun 2017 at 8:24am
Nice job moving the radio john.  Just finished similar mod on our 178.  Surprised how much extra space I found moving the rats nest of wires.

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Jim & Clare
2016 R-pod 178
2014 Ford Edge



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