This shouldn't happen!
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Camping Adventures
Forum Discription: Post your camping adventures here for all to share
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=14854
Printed Date: 17 Jul 2025 at 2:06am
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Topic: This shouldn't happen!
Posted By: JandMA
Subject: This shouldn't happen!
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2021 at 7:39pm
 Driving up to Loon Lake CA, the nearside wheel of our 171 went over the edge of the road with an almighty bump. On arriving at the campground the host checked us in but remarked "you may want to check out your A/C unit." Turns out that of the 3(!) bolts holding it in place 2 had sheared and one had simply pulled out. The only thing keeping the unit on the roof was the wiring. Then began a long saga. FYI Loon Lake is 25 miles up a winding road with no cell service. Our savior was camp employee hero of the moment Les who not only went down to the nearest hardware store for new bolts but fixed the unit back on much better than our !@$#⁄⁄!! dealer had done in the first place... WARNING these units are not directly attached to the roof but only to the inside part of the unit. Thus they are held in place by pure friction generated by the bolts being tight enough.. one breaks, the rest follow and the unit is free to go its own way. We were lucky! ------------- John and Mary Ann 2015 R pod 171 Hood River 2019 Kia Sorento AWD v6 |
Replies:
Posted By: Aboopoo
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2021 at 9:30pm
| Wow that’s crazy! I have an rpod172 and was working on the vents one day when a bolt head dropped down. I discovered by accident that one of the bolts had sheared off just as yours did. I have no idea how the unit didn’t leak through the roof. I replaced the sheared off bolt. I will assume the same thing, that they break when they bounce around on the logging roads. Three bolts is a lame design. |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2021 at 6:45am
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Before reading your post and observing the picture I thought, oh no lightning strike! Must be the shadows when pic was taken making that effect. I learned something new today about the A/C unit and how it is attached, thanks for sharing. Ordered our 177 back in January 2011 without the A/C unit (no regrets) and do enjoy the extra light that comes in through the roof where the A/C unit should have been. ------------- 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: JandMA
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2021 at 7:05am
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Yeah, we hardly ever hook up to 120v and use the thing anyway... it's heavy and must cause more drag.. ------------- John and Mary Ann 2015 R pod 171 Hood River 2019 Kia Sorento AWD v6 |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2021 at 8:16am
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Heavy, yes. Causes more drag than just a skylight, yes. Used, Lots! We visited our daughters in Arizona and Utah this spring. The AC was very, very nice to have when the temperatures were 100+F during the day. It may be that the lighter 'Pods allow more force on the bolts. I have not noticed anything like that on our 179. However, the trade-off is that our 179 is more likely to have a loss of camber in the axle than the lighter 177. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |