Things you should NOT do!
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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=4104
Printed Date: 17 Jun 2025 at 6:23pm
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Topic: Things you should NOT do!
Posted By: Bill-GA
Subject: Things you should NOT do!
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2013 at 8:07pm
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I thought it would be interesting to list the somewhat silly or downright dumb things we've done with our RPODs. I'll list a few up front to break the ice. This could become a easy way to pass some knowledge onto newbies. ------------- Bill & Bev 13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa' 2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out) 2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV |
Replies:
Posted By: Bill-GA
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2013 at 8:18pm
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Don't forget the stabilizers! ... And wheel stops. On my first long trip in 2012, we pulled into a campground late at night and I was tired from driving. I unhooked the hitch then jumped into the Pod to pop the tent. I felt the back of the camper tilt down then I felt us rolling forward ... Bang! I jumped out, realizing I didn't set wheel stops or the stabilizers. In the morning I examined my TV and saw that the only damage was that the trailer tongue had pushed in my plate/tag about 3 inches. I had to hammer it out flat! Took about 10 minutes. ------------- Bill & Bev 13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa' 2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out) 2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV |
Posted By: Bill-GA
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2013 at 8:25pm
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Here's a water classic! I've done this about 6 times. We pull into a campsite. About 1 hour later wife says "Water is not working, so I had to turn pump on and run from the tank". I'm thinking ... Is the filter clogged, is a Pod value stuck? After 5-10 minutes of thinking about this ... I go outside and see I forgot to turn the water on at the tap. ------------- Bill & Bev 13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa' 2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out) 2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV |
Posted By: Bill-GA
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2013 at 8:30pm
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Level side-to-side is job one! I pull into the site, unhitched the Pod. Crank it up or down at the hitch to level it front to back. Then I realize I forgot to level side to side! Gotta hook up the Pod again to the TV, get the leveling pads out and start all over again! ------------- Bill & Bev 13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa' 2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out) 2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV |
Posted By: Bill-GA
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2013 at 8:48pm
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NEVER open the cap to the sewer pipe without making sure the value is closed! This only happened to me ONCE. Or .. ALWAYS close the sewer pipe value after a dump! .... enough said!
------------- Bill & Bev 13 yr old dachshund 'Elsa' 2010 RP-176T (tent & slide-out) 2011 Toyota Tundra 2WD TV |
Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2013 at 9:58am
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First time out I was using the tongue jack to level the pod. Robin kept saying the level bubblewasn't moving very much. I'm starting to break a sweat and new curse words are coming to mind. Suddenly I notice that the hitch is still attached to the tv! Awesome to know that the tongue jack will lift a 6000# vehicle as well as the pod!! ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2013 at 11:45am
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Turn off the breaker at the service pole before plugging in AC cord and hooking up to Pod. Remember to turn breaker back on or nothing works ... "The Oven still isn't working! Stupid Oven ... oh yeah, wait a minute"
After turning off water and disconnecting, make sure to open cold tap on sink to relieve the residual pressure in the system. Otherwise you may get to next destination and find that it has leaked, especially if one of the handles gets bumped. Really bad when the cover is on the sink and it then just splashes all over. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: juzdon
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2013 at 2:25pm
make sure your extension cord reaches to your rPod before you level, block, unhook, and stabilize. 
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2013 at 8:54pm
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Check and double check to make sure the lock for the hitch is in the DOWN position. About 2 months after we got our new pod I was literally creeping (about 3 mph) moving the pod out of the barn when all of a sudden I heard a whoomph. As I looked behind in my rear view mirror, I noticed the pod was 6 feet behind me. Not only did it come off the hitch but I also smashed the plastic holder for my poop pipe. At least I didn't get a ticket and no one else knew about it, until now!
------------- 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: HuronSailor
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 7:26am
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Do not get pod leveled up, awning attached, lawn chairs set up, etc., then realize you forgot to fill the tank with water on the way in.
------------- .: Mark & Beth :: Silverado 5.3L :: 2018 rPod 180 :. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 12:54pm
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Do not get to camp, set up the chairs, then realize you forgot the pod. ------------- 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: rpodcamper.com
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2013 at 3:50pm
At that point just open aother Adult Drink as you have had too many to drive or really care  |
Posted By: Paige
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2013 at 8:49am
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Be careful, at 4:30 AM, when you are trying to quietly leave a campsite…especially when your water hose is connected to a PVC supply. Do not wrench it to the point where the PVC snaps and you suddenly have a geyser of water 15 feet high. It doused our neighbors tow vehicle. We had to locate the park manager,,,first we woke up the park owner,,,mistake,,,then we had to find the park manager. He was not happy, but he located the water valve and shut it off. We have not returned to that campground! ------------- Paige and Pete 2010 177 - RPug 2012 Rav (six cylinder) New York & Florida residents 
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Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2013 at 10:05am
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I hooked up the trailer and the chains and cranked up the jack. (This was before I got my WDH.) Proceeded to drive out of the drive. I am half on the road and half in the drive when I hear a thump. I get out and look I have forgotten to close the hitch and it has jumped the ball. Luckily for me the chains did their job and the tounge did not hit the ground. I jacked it up and put it back on the ball while my wife directs traffic around us. Wife was not happy.
------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2013 at 6:57pm
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One thing I have learned is never a good idea is anything that requires the phrase "hold my beer while I" before doing something. Frequently has a bad outcome. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: rphil70
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2013 at 7:15am
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Don't forget to release the pressure in your hotwater tank when winterizing. (There is a pressure relief valve) When you unscrew the anode plug you may get wet :) ------------- R-Pod 172 |
Posted By: ToddLat
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2013 at 2:07pm
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Dont forget to put the step(s) up/in before you tow away! Replacing/fixing bent step(s) is not fun! ------------- Todd and Beth 2013 RP 176 T 2013 Nissan Pathfinder |
Posted By: bakes99
Date Posted: 23 Nov 2013 at 9:28pm
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1.Two bottles of RV antifreeze right out the low point drains. 2. Bought beer for trip, left it home. ------------- RPOD 172 HRE & Ridgeline |
Posted By: unlblkrubi
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2013 at 8:20am
Did this very thing yesterday. 45* outside, made the rest of the work cold. ------------- Squatchpod 2011 171 2013 Jeep JKUR |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2013 at 10:05am
This is the first year I didn't get a facefull when winterizing. FWIW 9:05 and 12 degrees outside, but sunny! ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: EmptyNesters
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2013 at 2:03pm
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Make sure when setting up Rdome that the suction cups are in a safe place so DH doesn't step on them and crush them all.
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Posted By: escape2rpod
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2014 at 10:37pm
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Always remember to lock the fridge. opening up the pod to spilled Siracho(sp) sauce, makes you see red and your eyes water. Had to throw away the rug after 2 washings and a long stint outside, the smell never left. ------------- Brett and Jeni |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2014 at 8:18am
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Suggestion - I taped a checklist on the inside of one of the cabinets, of the things we need to do before we leave camp, and things we need to do when we get in camp. For instance, close all windows and the vent, double-check drawers are latched, etc. ------------- 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: davewg
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2014 at 2:14pm
Or that you're on the wrong site (that one hasn't happened to me...yet)
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Posted By: g4royce
Date Posted: 09 Jan 2014 at 6:02pm
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Don't try to dump uphill. You'll be covered in poo. Our first trip in an RV ever, the dump site was uphill from where the RV would stop for the dumping. We didn't clue in as to why there were (dirty) honey wagons around the hole in the ground behind the bathhouse. ------------- ChaiPod 2009 RP152 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe 3.5L V6 |
Posted By: Swhalen2
Date Posted: 12 May 2015 at 1:56pm
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On my first trip with our Pod, I hooked up everything, sewer, electric and water, then turned on the breaker and the water. My wife was in the tow vehicle on the phone. When she finished and went into the Pod, she started screaming"WATER EVERYWHERE, DO SOMETHING". I had forgotten to check to see if the inside valves were shut off. ------------- Wilderness does not have a compromise. |