Awning, Bike Rack. & power tongue jack
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10230
Printed Date: 29 Jun 2025 at 7:03am
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Topic: Awning, Bike Rack. & power tongue jack
Posted By: AmberKate
Subject: Awning, Bike Rack. & power tongue jack
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2017 at 2:18pm
Well at long last! My Fiamma Awning has been installed by my intrepid Son, of course - it was his Mother's Day gift to me! And here it is being showcased at campsite # 95 at Fort De Soto Campground! Love the awning it is easy to put up and take down in case of blustery winds or severe rain... I am careful not to leave it up if going away for the day I watched someone's van awning get twisted into a pretzel during a pretty rough storm! All the owners from Europe (where it was designed - although it is made here in the United States in Orlando, FL - currently accepting orders) are cautious on this front too. As a sad note, you may have read about the shooting at the Fiamma plant in Orlando...many of the people I dealt with were victims and I ask you take just a moment here in their memory. Thanks. But wait! There is more... thinking I wanted to take my bike with me, we also installed not only the Jack It bike rack from Lippert, but while we (  - well mostly he) had to take the tongue jack apart to do that, he also installed a power tongue jack! As to the bike rack...as you can see in the pix it can be very high off the ground... I couldn't carry the bike up the step ladder to put it up there (there are no instructions anywhere to be found on guidelines for doing thing) it was by trial & error I learned that my big bike had to go on the top - and I ended up having to readjust the stabilizing posts * foam guards several times to get them in the correct position. As to the height... my brilliant son suggested to me to just lower the jack as far as possible while I load the bike... DUH! but okay it worked and although I did have to get on the ladder still it was mainly to get the straps on! If you are wondering about the propane tanks, I was able to get the pliable cover off & on to change the tanks without having to remove the rack.As to the tongue jack... should have gotten one that wired directly to the battery instead of hooking to the 7 prong adapter...I am looking for instructions on how to adapt it as I understand there are some out there... having to back the TV in close to get power to the jack while I raise & lower it to get the bike on is bad enough, but the TV is so close that I have to unhook the jack, move the TV to make room to put the bike up/off and then move the TV back so I can raise the tongue again grrrrrrrr... live & learn!!!  ------------- AmberKate & RIP Little Tootsie - 
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Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2017 at 3:35pm
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Nice!! ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2017 at 4:08pm
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I like the look of that awning. Did you have the structure reinforced to hold the awning? I would be very curious if there are issues in that regard. And is that the F45 or the F65? The bike rack looks very interesting, but also a PITA to load and unload. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: AmberKate
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2017 at 8:21pm
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Hey Glue Guy (should we ask???) The structure is not reinforced... but my son was quite particular as to exactly where the mounting brackets should go. This is the F45S - 10 ft. We studied the factory tour videos and took in account stability going down the road - although we were told 2 sets of brackets would be fine, we choose to over-engineer as this not a cheap item & I didn't want to see it ripped off and laying on the side of the road - the peace of mind was worth the cost of the 3rd set of brackets. As to the bike rack - I am warming up to it once it is not such an ordeal to get the jack up & down, I am sure I will like it even better  . I do feel that the bikes themselves are pretty darn secure once you get them configured correctly and strapped down.------------- AmberKate & RIP Little Tootsie -
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Posted By: AmberKate
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2017 at 8:30pm
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I really like the awning! EZ up & down and then there is SHADE! ------------- AmberKate & RIP Little Tootsie -
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Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2017 at 8:55pm
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Great job on the awning Tootsie (is that being presumptuous? ;) ) The bike thing is just a bit too high for my comfort level. I can still bench press, but clean and jerk is just not possible. I went with https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Bike-Racks/Swagman/S64664.html?feed=npn&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2MjylLPa1AIVw19-Ch3cxAqAEAQYASABEgLFvPD_BwE - Swagman 64664 Hitch rack . Has worked out great for me mainly cuz I had the space on my hitch to put it. Also, nice job on the picture posting!! Do you play checkers on that carpet? fred
------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: AmberKate
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 4:09pm
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Fred, My doctor told me I need weight bearing exercise!
 Actually just running the tongue jack all the way down gets it to a point where I can get the bike down fairly easily...I just haven't figured out how to do that without getting the grease from the chain all over me! Little WD-40 gets it off every time!. Actually, my spare is on my hitch & I was told that FR says no to bikes on that hitch (one would think they would actually be lighter than the spare???) Anyway as to checkers... Tootsie has no opposable thumbs so she is really quite useless when it comes to board games... no matter how large they are!------------- AmberKate & RIP Little Tootsie -
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Posted By: voisj
Date Posted: 26 Jun 2017 at 11:04pm
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Nice!! ------------- 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 
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Posted By: breckhamiltons
Date Posted: 01 Oct 2017 at 11:07pm
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Great job on the awning. We have been looking closely at the Fiamma awnings for our 179. Can you please tell us what adapter mounts you used to mount yours? Any extra details (and pictures) you and your intrepid son can provide would be hugely appreciated.
(I have been scouring the Web for over a year hoping to find a post like yours.) Thank you! |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2017 at 1:04pm
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Very nice setup. both the awning and bike rack. I've been thinking about how to set up a bike rack and now I have some new ideas. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: AmberKate
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2017 at 2:11pm
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Dear B-Hamiltons, Here is the copy from the email I received directly from the folks @ Fiamma in Orlando re; the brackets: "It looks like the brackets they used were a combination of the "B" and "C" brackets (see attached drawings). They have used three sets however two bracket sets are enough for a 300cm (10') awning. The 02097-01- "C" brackets are $32.00 each and the 02437-01- "T" brackets are $19.00 each. You would need two of each unless you want to add the additional 3rd center bracket. We can be reached at tel:%28407%29%20672-0091 - 407-672-0091 to order." BTW - I am glad I put all 3 sets of brackets on instead of just the 2... just to let you know. ------------- AmberKate & RIP Little Tootsie -
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Posted By: AmberKate
Date Posted: 02 Oct 2017 at 2:14pm
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I have gotten smarter re: loading the bike (I have only taken 1 so far) in that I first hang the front wheel on the peg and then hoist up the rear wheel... instead of trying to muscle up both sides onto their respective pegs all at once... makes a world of difference! ------------- AmberKate & RIP Little Tootsie -
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Posted By: campersRus
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2017 at 3:11pm
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We just purchased our Rpod 179 ,2017 in November. So we are newbies. I love your awning and we were told that we couldn't add one. Did your unit have the strip for the dome and if so did you remove it? I looked up the type of awning you bought, and we really want to get one as well. I read all the other posts and am assuming you did not add any reinforcements other than extra mounting brackets , am I correct. ------------- Steve Kis 2017 179 Rpod Honda Ridgeliner |
Posted By: AmberKate
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2017 at 8:59pm
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Gee - I thought the 2017 came with the option of an awning or a kedder rail for the R-dome?? ------------- AmberKate & RIP Little Tootsie -
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Posted By: PilotPodder
Date Posted: 30 Dec 2017 at 9:16pm
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There is another self-made option that Patriot Dave put together if the awning doesn't work out. The link below will take you to my YouTube channel and the specific interview with him on this item he rigged... https://youtu.be/zoiIic8agBc - Dave's Canvas Porch Mod ~PP ------------- Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — https://johnmarucci.com/r-pod-video-list/ - My RPod YouTube Videos |