Latest Mods ...
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=2727
Printed Date: 24 May 2025 at 6:25am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Latest Mods ...
Posted By: Footslogger03
Subject: Latest Mods ...
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2012 at 5:18pm
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Even though it's a holiday, the forest fires in the area have us pretty much hunkered down. So, I thought I'd go ahead and knock out some mods in our 177.
I divided the area under the dinnette seat on the driver's side so that half was for electronics and half was for storage. Added an intake grate for inflow of air and one for outflow on the side of the seat near the top of the seat cabinet. Gave us loads of new storage room. While I was under the seat and near the electronics ...I went ahead and added a 12 VDC outlet. Mounted the outlet on the side of the cabinet (seat base) near the current 110V outlet. Wired it directly to the same lines that feed the propane detector, so it's HOT all the time. Stuck a little digital volt meter in the outlet for the time being so that I can monitor battery activity. Installed a slimline flat panel TV plate to the existing door of the entertainmnent unit cabinet over the bed. Ofset it a bit to one side so that when the 22" TV is mounted and running we can easily see it from the dinnette area. Just to be on the safe side, before I used the new TV mount I took 3 pieces of moulding, liquid nailed it to the ceiling of the Pod (this is all INSIDE of the entertainment center) and then screwed those pieces of moulding to the entertainment center frame. With the TV attached to the mount the entertainment center showed NO sign of sagging or pulling away from the ceiling. Nice thing about mounting it there was that there is power and a cable TV source. Mounted some of those 3M Organizer trays on the walls around the bed so that the wife and I would have a place for our reading glasses, cell phone and anything else we'd need during the night. All for now ...time to light the grill and pour myself (and the wife, of course) a cold adult beverage. Happy 4th everybody !! 'Slogger ------------- Livin' the Dream ...'Slogger |
Replies:
Posted By: Diamondgirlz
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2012 at 9:05pm
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Could you post pictures, please? thanks ------------- USAF retired x 2 |
Posted By: Footslogger03
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2012 at 9:07pm
======================================= I'll take some pics and post them in the morning ... 'Slogger ------------- Livin' the Dream ...'Slogger |
Posted By: dsmiths
Date Posted: 04 Jul 2012 at 9:57pm
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good Post Foot Slogger, sounds like you got a lot done. ------------- Dane and Donna Smith 2011 RP-172 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4 lift kit prodigy wireless brake controller |
Posted By: Footslogger03
Date Posted: 05 Jul 2012 at 11:36am
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Here are some photos of the latest mods I've made to our 177. Sorry that some of them are out of sequence - had some problems during upload ...
Here's the underseat mod with the lids open/off. 
Here's what the 22" flat panel TV looks like in place and ready for viewing from the dinnette area. 
This is an "off the shelf (no pun intended) shelf made by Rubbermaid that I got at Ace Hardware. I mounted the shelf upside down so that there would be a "lip" to hold things back. We use small bungees to keep everything in place while traveling. 
Here's what that seat cabinet from above looks like with the lids on. The lid over the electronics is screwed down to avoid accidental access. 
This is an "off the shelf" cutting board from K-mart. I just added legs with rubber feet that fit tightly around the edges of the cooktop. I also added a towel bar. 
In the upper left and lower right (on cabinet surface) are the 3M organizer trays. 
Here's the bracket that supports the 22" flat panel TV. I reinforced the entertainment center cabinet with molding that I attached to the ceiling with Liquid Nails and then screwed to the existing frame (all of this was done INSIDE of the cabinet for aesthetic reasons. 
This is the side of that seat cabinet where I installed the input/outflow vents and the 12V outlet. 
------------- Livin' the Dream ...'Slogger |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 05 Jul 2012 at 2:23pm
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The vents look like a good idea. ------------- 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: Diamondgirlz
Date Posted: 05 Jul 2012 at 5:33pm
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Thanks for the photos Footslogger03! So you have both the flip-down tv and the bigger one? We just took our 1st trip with our 177 and are now trying to figure out the best way to add storage--thanks for the ideas! ------------- USAF retired x 2 |
Posted By: Footslogger03
Date Posted: 05 Jul 2012 at 5:56pm
========================== Yes ...the little flip-down TV isn't bad when we're back in bed. But generally, if I put my head on the pillow it's "lights out" so to be honest we really don't watch it much. Nice to have it for a DVD/Movie sometimes. 'Slogger ------------- Livin' the Dream ...'Slogger |
Posted By: Racer|X|
Date Posted: 05 Jul 2012 at 10:38pm
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Awesome job! Noce mods. ------------- |
Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2012 at 7:59am
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For the shelf and the towel rack, how did you do the mounting to the wall surface? Did you know there are studs there to attach to or did you use something special for mounting?
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: Footslogger03
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2012 at 8:55am
====================== I used the "tap and listen" tecnique to determine whether the wall was hollow or not. Then I drilled holes and insterted small gray screw anchors that I got at Walmart (<1" long). Worked like a charm. 'Slogger ------------- Livin' the Dream ...'Slogger |
Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 06 Jul 2012 at 9:52am
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OK, thanks.
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: RPodWeGo
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2012 at 8:04pm
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Thanks for the ideas, I'll be busy this "off" weekend working on the electrical cabinet and adding a 12volt like you did. Additional storage is an ongoing quest. ------------- RPodWeGo RPod 177 04 v8 Toyota 4Runner |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2012 at 11:21am
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Welcome! ------------- 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: RPodWeGo
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2012 at 7:21pm
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Hey Ray, to mount things to the walls including the interior/ exterior wall I used the smallest (#46 I think) wall anchor I found out Home Depot. The interior of the walls are foam core, drill carefully as to not drill through, lightly push in anchor, screw into it and the "wings" spread forming a relatively strong an anchor. BTW, thanks for the suggestion on dinette storage with vetalaton and 12vdc plug, completed mine this weekend. ------------- RPodWeGo RPod 177 04 v8 Toyota 4Runner |