Dome Tent
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=2425
Printed Date: 24 May 2025 at 8:24pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Dome Tent
Posted By: Bill-GA
Subject: Dome Tent
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 12:03am
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I opened my Dome tent for the first time. ... Purchased from prev owner. No instructions found. It seemed to go up fairly straight forward having had some tent experience. But I have two question 1. The bottom screen that slides onto the bottom of camper ... How should it fit over the wheel and steps? I was thinking of cutting some slots in the screening ... No going back! 2. The sides of the tent looks like it should ATTACH to the exterior wall with snaps, but nothing is there ... Does it just lay against the side? Am I missing parts? I was happy it wasn't to hard to put up ... Need to buy some stakes to keep the skirt of tent to ground. Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. ------------- Bill & Bev 13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa' 2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out) 2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 7:20am
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We've never used the screen, but others here have cut it like you said. There are plastic tabs that screw into the pod that match up with the metal rings but I don't suggest using them. Ours have always been a huge pain (hard to snap on/off, and some don't hold well) and I've seen other methods tried successfully such as suction cups. ------------- 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: Bill-GA
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 9:43am
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Suction cups sound good ... If I can find them. If not, I know I can get some white Velcro buttons -or make them and it will probably do the same, I think. Also, thanks for confirming the need for the slit cut in the bottom screen. ------------- Bill & Bev 13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa' 2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out) 2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2012 at 5:47pm
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Yes, the bottom screen goes behind the tire. You'll have to make a vertical cut to fit it around the axle. As far as the step, your instinct probably says to make a horizontal cut - don't - instead, make two vertical cuts, one at either side of the step that goes as high as the step. That way, you'll have a piece of screen which slides behind the step. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Bill-GA
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2012 at 11:08pm
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Another comment on the tent ... When I put the ribbed edge of the Dome tent into the slot over the door, my first inclination was to pull it along with a pair of pliers. That turned out near impossible and instead I PUSHED it in and was surprised how easily it went into the slot. The only downside was that I noticed some 'shaved' inch+ pieces of the plastic rib at my feet. I think I will take a small file and round off sharp edges of the slot oppening to prevent this next time. Has any tent owner experienced this too? Is there a better method? The prev owner said he sprayed some silicon in the slot to make it slide better. ------------- Bill & Bev 13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa' 2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out) 2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2012 at 9:51pm
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I've seen shavings, which I think come from the screw heads inside the track.
------------- 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: furpod
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2012 at 1:40pm
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Spray the track with silicone spray.. ours pushes through smooth as glass. We found the stakes that came with the dome to be useless, went to wally world and bought two packs of real stakes for about $6. I have pounded them into packed gravel with no problem. ------------- |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 12 Mar 2012 at 9:58pm
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We did 2 things to help make the slide easier--I used a small file and smoothed/rounded the cut edges at the end of the track and I used a burr bit on the end of a battery powered drill to smooth the heads of all of the screws inside the track. another podder showed an attachment to the leading edge of the tent slider that one can use to pull it along the track. It was a piece of nylon webbing that was riveted or sewn into the slider material to make a "leash" to pull with. we also have the 3 snaps screwed onto each side of our rpod to hold the rdome tight against the sides-they are stiff, but will not come loose in a wind or storm. we love our rdome Vann Evans Pod People |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2012 at 7:21am
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Is there a lubricant spray that can help slide the rdome through the track. It took both of us, pulling and pushing to get it through. This was our first outing in our "new" RPod. The edges were frayed from the previous owner. The rdome kept snagging at regular intervals along the track. It took longer by far to get it through the track than to set it up the rest of the way. ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents 
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Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2012 at 11:18am
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First go along the track and set the screws down tight, sometimes the factory does not do this and it makes a big difference. Second buy a can of silicon spray to lub the track and the bead on the R-Dome. Any hardware store, camping store, Walmart should have it, one can goes a long way. The difference is night and day. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: Iteach5th
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2012 at 6:20pm
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Instead of using suction cups on the ends I tie it down with some parachute chord to the spare tire and the hitch. The suction cups just don't work, I cut the screen into two parts one for infront of the tire and one behind it, It's long enough to put over the steps. ------------- "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 |
Posted By: The E Train
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 6:51pm
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Anyone else have this problem, or is it just my 176T.... With the dome up, I cannot open the door past 1/2 way (straight out) because it hits the dome. If I try to open it up more, it would rip through the dome roof. ------------- "What happens in the POD, stays in the POD." 2002 Dakota (pulling a) 2012 R-Pod 176T |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 9:12pm
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We tried our rpod dome for the first time and I thought I had placed it wrong because the door hit the side roof truss and we couldn't open it all the way. Guess we are not alone? ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents
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Posted By: The E Train
Date Posted: 28 Aug 2012 at 9:35pm
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With the dome off, I opened the door all the way and looked at it. The top of the door extends over and past the roofline as the roofline curves downward. There may be no way around it for some models. ------------- "What happens in the POD, stays in the POD." 2002 Dakota (pulling a) 2012 R-Pod 176T |