R-Dome trials and tribulations
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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=2056
Printed Date: 14 May 2025 at 4:07pm
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Topic: R-Dome trials and tribulations
Posted By: Iteach5th
Subject: R-Dome trials and tribulations
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2011 at 10:40am
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I finally tried out the R-dome this weekend. I have mixed reviews. On the + side: Kept us dry in some pretty heavy thundershowers Felt like another room Cozy and private Cool looking, got lots of looks and comments On the - side suction cups are annoying could be a pain putting away wet skirt screen- do you cut it? What about the tire and steps? Vinyl skirt stays wet and muddy difficult to set up solo Ventilation is difficult On the Neutral side Wasn't too difficult to set up with a partner fold or stuff into a duffle bag for storage?? Wish list for me I wish it could roll up and stay on the pod during transit Permanent clips instead of suction cups I'll use the dome, only if we'll set up for at least 2 nights. On this past trip we took it down the evening before we left, because I didn't really want to put it away wet from the morning dew. My old PUP awning was easy to dry out once home. The dome not so easy. ------------- "Whether you think you can or think you can't, either way you are right"- Henry Ford 2011 RP-177 2009 Jeep Cherokee 1982 Coleman Redwood pup |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2011 at 12:10pm
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I have a set of the permanent clips.. they screw into the side of the trailer.. we are going to give the suction cups a try before putting the screws to the furpod.. We just let the stakes hold it against the camper last time. We had to put up damp.. just pulled it out when we got home, spread out on deck, wiped down the worst spots, folded/rolled up and put away when dry. We ran the net behind the wheel and just used a folding step to get into the trailer (leaving the trailer step folded/stored) most cut a slit for the step to pass through. We got MUCH better stakes to use. The one that come with it won't reach if you are on a unlevel spot.. ------------- |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2011 at 1:31pm
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Yes, its great for weekends where you know its going to rain. We, too, don't put it up for trips of 1-2 nights unless we know its going to rain. A pup awning is much easier to deploy - and dry. Ours has the screw-in anchors, but they are a pain, too. Often its very hard to get some of them to snap on, and then later snap off, but once on they all hold tight even in heavy winds. The material stains easily, ours looks like its been used for 2 years straight when we've only had it up maybe 20 days out of the last 2 years. In the sun it does get very hot.
Most of the time we just use 1 or 2 of our EZ-ups. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Hodge-PODge
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2011 at 4:06pm
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I'm with you, Teach, and the other Podders who think the R-Dome is only worth setting up if you're staying for more than a couple of nights. It's worth it though - it kept us all dry and gave the grandchildren a place to sit and eat during about 3 days of rainy weather. ------------- 2011 RP 177, the Hodge-PODge 2011 Mercedes ML350 "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it." |
Posted By: Damour
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2011 at 9:28am
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I love my R-Dome
It's a big part of our R-Pod for us. ------------- rp 171 , from Québec with not a good english writing lol |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2011 at 4:15am
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I only use it when it is supposed to rain or if the front side is facing south. Then it stops the direct sun from hitting that side. When I do put it up I usually put a picnic table under it. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: Damour
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2011 at 8:21am
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Under our R-Dome we put a table , our chairs , our cooler .
When we have a light rain we can stay under .
When the sun is too hot and our camping spot have no trees .
We will also use a fan to make the air circulated to be able to stay in when it's too sunny and hot .
And it gives us intimity when our door stay open. ------------- rp 171 , from Québec with not a good english writing lol |
Posted By: Zilbub
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2011 at 4:44pm
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Compared to an EZ-Up, the R-Dome takes a lot more work but it is a great place to provide shade, kick back and read a book. I love it.
------------- Jon & Bette 2010 R-Pod 151 2007 Chevy Colorado |
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2011 at 5:42pm
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Keeps everything dryer during those big rain showers too. Love my Ez-up but not having to put chairs and stuff up if a big storm rolls through is great! ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: g4royce
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2011 at 11:52am
We have a love/hate relationship with out r-dome as well.  To make it easier to put it up solo, we marked the rods with a sharpie when they are fully extended. So we just slot the end to the curved rod, then push until we see the mark, insert the ball end into the rivet, and lock it in place  We are short people, and found this to be the easiest. I've also tried making the r-dome cooler in the sun by wrapping emergency foil blankets across the top. It did work, when it stayed up  But was crinkly and noisy and drove G up the wall. I will be looking into that silvered-nylon material to make into a tarp of sorts for next year.T ------------- ChaiPod 2009 RP152 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.5L V6 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2011 at 2:19pm
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If you are referring to "radiant barrier" (one trade name is Reflectix), be careful because it will rub off into gray streaks - think movement due to wind - that won't come off. I did this on my popup's bunk ends. Its really just thick aluminum foil with either nylon or bubble wrap inside for support.
Many people use Cabela's Sportsman's Blankets on their pup ends, I never tried this but I was going to until I got my pod. Same radiant barrier properties but more rugged and no rubbing off.
http://www.cabelas.com/outdoor-safety-survival-sportsmans-space-blankets.shtml - http://www.cabelas.com/outdoor-safety-survival-sportsmans-space-blankets.shtml
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Cay
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2011 at 5:55pm
| We used our RDome for the first time last weekend. First time we used our RPod too! I had mixed feelings about it at first, but my husband loved the extra space and privacy it provided. The suction cups worked great once we cleaned and dried the part of the camper they needed to stick to. It took about 20 minutes for us to set up the first time. We do need to get a step so the screen doesn't rest on top of the fold out step that's on the RPod. My only questions are, how water-proof is it, and how well does it hold up in windy conditions? We are thinking of waterproofing the seams, but there are a lot of seams on that thing! We had some breezy conditions the morning we left camp, (maybe gusts to 15 mph), and it held up great. Not so sure about anything stronger. |
Posted By: Podsible Dream
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2011 at 5:59pm
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We had our dome in a 3" in two hours storm this summer- stayed dry and snug. It rained so hard that the ez up was actually leaking thru the fabric, but the dome was fine. ------------- Chris and Walt '10 RP-171 'Free Spirit' '13 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 L Hemi V8 |
Posted By: Cay
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2011 at 6:11pm
| Thank you. That's great to hear! Because I really, really don't want to waterproof all of those seams if I can avoid it. |
Posted By: Zilbub
Date Posted: 24 Sep 2011 at 6:39pm
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I have thought about getting some "tent water proofing spray" just to make sure. We also bought a mat that we lay down first and put the R-Dome up on top of it. We also took the under trailer screen and put in two slits so we can use the R-Pod step. Works great. Now for some fall camping. ------------- Jon & Bette 2010 R-Pod 151 2007 Chevy Colorado |