Newbie questions
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=11524
Printed Date: 27 Jun 2025 at 7:22pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Newbie questions
Posted By: Tom A
Subject: Newbie questions
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 3:19pm
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We had a successful one night maiden voyage to a local State Park about an hour from home. So a few questions came up. How thick are the interior bathroom walls? I want to put up some towel hooks on the wall between the bath and the bedroom. Is there a way to find stud locations on exterior walls? The water heater did not come with instructions. I did getting working on shore power, but I've no idea how to fire it up with the propane. ------------- 2018 Sequoia--2018 RP 190 |
Replies:
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 3:47pm
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Your exterior studs can be found rather easily this time of year. On cool mornings the dew will often show the layout of the studs at first sunlight. As far as the water heater, look at the control panel that has the water pump switch, and the tank monitor lights. There is a switch that says water heater. make sure your propane is on and ofcourse there is water in the tank. Its better if you can be outside and have the wife turn it on while you watch. (HINT) don't get to close when it's lighting or you'll get singed by the exhaust when it lights (whooosh). Once the switch is pressed, you should hear a clunky noise (gas valve opens) then a series of clicking sounds as the igniter produces sparks. If it doesnt light immediately, it will make 3 attempts to light it. The "dsi" light next to the swith will light up if the attempts fail. If all 3 attempts fail, it will stop trying to light, and the dsi light will stay on. At that point, let us know.
------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 4:12pm
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Tom A,
The interweb is the best source of info on how to use your water heater on propane., recommend you start compiling an info book and copy print the various systems and how they work and how to operate. I have a 3" binder of info I keep with Pod. You will need it as issues arise. Pods don't have studs per say, they have aluminum framing, mostly around windows and door. You can use dew lines but hard to extrapolate from outside to inside. Best to buy a good stud finder that will locate metal and electrical. I have used a very small drill bit if in doubt, one I could easily hide any wall damage. Granted tee dew lines are very prevalent on outside walls. Lastly - I wouldn't use anything over 1" on the walls - anywhere. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: voisj
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 4:55pm
Dew lines, ------------- 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: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 5:00pm
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I use sheetrock wall anchors, the ones that look like this: https://lowes.com/pd/E-Z-Ancor-50-Pack-1-1-4-in-x-1-2-in-Standard-Drywall-Anchor/1042133 - https://lowes.com/pd/E-Z-Ancor-50-Pack-1-1-4-in-x-1-2-in-Standard-Drywall-Anchor/1042133 When using these in sheetrock, you just hammer them in to start them. However the Rpod wall is a thin plywood veneer over foam, so I predrill a small (like 1/4") hole before carefully driving these in with a screwdriver. Suggest just using a hand screwdriver, not power - it'd be too easy to drive these in too deep. Also be careful not to drill the hole deeper than 1 inch. Others on the forum have previously mentioned drilling too deep, and going through the wall.
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Posted By: Tom A
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 5:51pm
Thanks, I have used those anchors successfully in sheetrock walls, that's a good idea. But, are you talking about exterior walls? I still don't know how thick the inner partition walls are (bathroom). ------------- 2018 Sequoia--2018 RP 190 |
Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 5:54pm
yes, exterior walls. Not sure how thick the interior walls are (and cannot get out to TT right now) but should be fairly easy to tell by looking at the bathroom door area. Try a search on this forum, I would imagine something'll come up...
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Posted By: Tom A
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 5:56pm
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As far as the water heater is concerned, I did use the On/Off switch on the bathroom wall. When nothing happened I looked in the tank compartment and found another, unlabeled rocker switch down in the corner and flipped that-- got hot water right away and I assume that was from shore line electric power. Thanks folks. ------------- 2018 Sequoia--2018 RP 190 |
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 6:29pm
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You're correct on that switch in the water heater compartment. You just need to make sure there is water in the tank when you use the WH connected to shore power or it will blow the heater element inside the tank. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 7:05pm
Another newbie here with a follow-up question - do you have to flip the switch each time you go between shore and lp for the water heater? If so, I definitely want to move the switch. Getting under the bed each time seems like a real pain in the butt
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 7:12pm
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If you normally dry camp, just leave the switch off in the water heater compartment and turn the rocker inside the camper for the LP heater in the on position. Reverse that if you normally camp using 110 shore power. It doesn't hurt anything (as long as you have water in the HW tank) if you leave the switch in the water heater compartment "on" even though you are dry camping and using propane to heat your water. If using 110 shore power you can shorten the time it takes to recharge the hot water by having both switches in the on position.
------------- God's pod '11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
Posted By: Tom A
Date Posted: 06 May 2018 at 8:38pm
The second switch on the water heater itself is not under the bed on my Rp-190. I access the water heater outside with a flip down door. That second switch is out there. ------------- 2018 Sequoia--2018 RP 190 |