R-Dome
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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=4594
Printed Date: 19 Aug 2025 at 5:42pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: R-Dome
Posted By: davidjones
Subject: R-Dome
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2014 at 9:45pm
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I have a question for the experts. I have a 2011 171. I am interested in getting an R-Dome, but I can’t find one used anywhere. I would just buy a new one, but the guys at R-Pod parts store are telling me they only sell a new version that won’t fit the brackets on my 2011 model, so I would have to buy a new bracket additionally. I guess I have three questions. First, is there anywhere I can buy a 2011 or older R-Dome model? Second, is there a way to make a newer R-Dome model work without having to buy new brackets? Finally, from those with experience, is the R-Dome worth the $650 in parts and shipping to get the new R-Dome conversion? Thanks for the help.
Dave ------------- 2011 171 + 1997 Toyota 4Runner |
Replies:
Posted By: Jdub
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2014 at 10:34pm
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Depends upon what you want it for. If you just want an awning, there are lots of easy cheap,alternatives that can provide shade from the run and protection from the rain. We got a flexible tent rod to feed into the C clamp, and use it to hold a piece of awning material with three poles for support. Works great for us and cheap. We haven't even seen an rdome so maybe we don't know what we are missing.....
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Posted By: Elkhart
Date Posted: 14 Apr 2014 at 11:21pm
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depends what kind of camping you do and duration. for us if we are only camping for a night or two we don't set it up, but if we are camping for a week we will set it up it really does give you more living space as a add a room used as a bug, rain, storage, privacy, shelter. once you set it up a couple times it goes pretty quick. is it worth 650, well we got ours with the camper, does sound a little pricey. ------------- Keith & Kelly 2012 171 Pod 2013 Ford F150 TV |
Posted By: wingnut2312
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2014 at 8:15am
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That sounds a lot pricey. Ours also came with the camper. We set it up everytime. It's nice, but offers little sun protection and not a ton of shade. They are great at keeping bugs out. The sides do roll up to allow for plenty of airflow.
We bought the silver reflective material and just made a "sheet" to go on top of the dome. Keeps the sun out for hot days. ------------- 2014 rpod 182G Ford Expedition |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2014 at 9:11am
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If you use it.. It's worth it.. we use ours almost all the time. Your 171 has a "small" keeder rail, and the new ones have a large keeder, so they won't interchange either way. Replacing the keeder track would be no big deal, and my *guess* is, less than $20. Unless you take it to a dealer and pay retail for the parts and service time, then a couple hundred.. It's literally going to be "unscrew old, screw on new".. ------------- |
Posted By: P&M
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2014 at 9:44am
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If you are going to use it, it is always worth having it in my book. We use ours every time we do any camping, except for single-night stays. However, that price seems awfully high compared to what they were going for a year ago. ------------- P & M ... and Comet too! 2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod 2018 Ram 2500 |
Posted By: Goose
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2014 at 10:07am
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You might try a Tent and Awning shop, they might be able to replace the keeder with the correct one for your POD at less cost. We have had ours for 4 years now and it came with our POD but to buy it at that time was around $400. Goose ------------- Mother Goose's Caboose..2011 RP171..07 Grand Cherokee 
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Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2014 at 10:50am
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I've had a dome since day one of our Pod, if I had to replace it tomorrow I'd pay whatever it cost because it is literally the Pod's biggest room. And you would be hard pressed to find an old dome with the small keder unless it were here on this forum. Seeing as FR can no longer provide them, there stock of them is gone and Dometic must not make them that size anymore. ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2014 at 11:56am
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I think the dome is definitely worth having and using. It is invaluable for adding additional space as well as shade , rain protection and privacy. I have seen several domes for sale on this forum and the other r pod forum-perhaps you can find a less expensive dome in the classifieds. good luck Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2014 at 12:21pm
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We used our Dome for the first time on our new 178 this past weekend. It took a little figuring out & we ended up watching Tink's video on Youtube. But we did it. It held up very well to the winds that we had all weekend too. We were even able to fold it up & get it back in the original bag!! ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 15 Apr 2014 at 11:20pm
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650$ is cheep up here there asking between 800$ and a 1000$. ------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: PanamaMitch
Date Posted: 16 Apr 2014 at 8:51pm
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Although it is nice for longer stays, it really is a pain to set up. It is cheaply made. The material tears easily. The design of the screen section running along the bottom of the rpod is poorly thought out, requiring the owner to cut it into sections to work. If I had known what I was getting when I purchased it, I would have saved a bit of money and had a local sailmaker sew me up an awning that slides into the same track. With that said, if your willing to put up with the downsides, it does provide significant additional room. ------------- R-Pod 176T + Jeep Wrangler Unlimited |
Posted By: NormanHill
Date Posted: 25 May 2014 at 11:54am
| We used a dome that came with our camper purchase this weekend and I'm a little disappointed in the quality. Ripped in a corner first day and the zippers are terrible. It also seems a a little narrow for the 178 and short for the 178 with a rise kit. Do they make different sizes of these for rpods? On the plus side it kept the area under it dry when it rained. |
Posted By: sammycamper
Date Posted: 25 May 2014 at 1:05pm
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Yes. I think it's worth the $650 price. We have a 2012 173 model, and I don't know if that's the old or new style. If I had to replace ours, I'd be more concerned about whether the conversion is difficult than the $650 price for parts.
Sam ------------- 2012 rPod 173 2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6 |
Posted By: sammycamper
Date Posted: 25 May 2014 at 1:15pm
The rip is definitely disappointing. My first impression was that the nylon of our dome was thin; but it has proven to be remarkably strong, and I have no complaints about the zipper. I hope they haven't downgraded materials in the newest ones. Not that it will restore your confidence in the dome, but I would expect warranty coverage for the rip. Sam ------------- 2012 rPod 173 2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6 |
Posted By: sammycamper
Date Posted: 25 May 2014 at 4:00pm
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I'm sorry, but I have to reverse my earlier suggestion. I just browsed around Dick's Sporting Goods, and there are lots of canopy/screen/wind cover options that would leave you plenty of change from $650. The rDome has the advantage of providing a direct cover from the rain when you open the door, and double protection from bugs getting inside the camper. It's not terrigle to setup, but I can't say it's quick; and I definitely wouldn't want to do it multiple times during a week-long stay. My wife and I don't coordinate well when it comes to such things, so I always setup the rDome alone. Maybe that's one of the reasons I regard it as a chore. The rPod is so easy to trailer that I might want to yank it over to the dump station once or twice. I can't do that with the rDome attached. The EZ-up canopies would allow that kind of mobility, and they're probably much simpler to erect and take down in the first place. I don't know how complicated they get when you attach screening or wind protections; but I doubt it's that bad.
So, I guess I would not spend $650 for an rDome or to replace the one we have.
Sam ------------- 2012 rPod 173 2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6 |
Posted By: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 25 May 2014 at 7:56pm
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We really like ours after having set it up 3 times in the last month. The first time, it fit poorly. The second time, we adjusted the strap across the end a little tighter & ground a taper into the ends of the channel. Everything seemed to fall into place then. This time it took about 15 minutes while we moved at a leisurely pace. My wife helps bow the aluminum rod & attach the end strap. Other than that I pretty much do it on my own. No rips, No runs, a few errors at first. I threw the "stakes" away that came with the Dome. Then I bought some 12"tempered aluminum military surplus stakes off Ebay. Now I can tie down the dome & everything stays put. I also use a couple of bungie cords on the tie down loops at the lower edge by the camper.
You can have my Dome, when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.... ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 26 May 2014 at 3:44pm
 feel the same way. going into the 4th season, 3 trips so far this year, still no tears or damage I wouldn't expect from an item of this type thats been put up about 50 times. Use good stakes, get the poles tight. ------------- |
Posted By: Hairy Podders
Date Posted: 26 May 2014 at 7:17pm
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The first time that we put it up, I watched the Youtube video that someone on here posted. It helped a lot, but didn't show adjusting or staking it down. ------------- Darryl, Julie & Lindsey Cooper & Libby- Devoted Canines 2014 RP178 2006 Wrangler Unlimited Rubicon |
Posted By: JKPOD
Date Posted: 15 Jun 2014 at 10:14pm
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Hello panamamitch & others, Can any member that has a newer R-dome tent room please measure the O.D. round size of the welt portion that slides into the curved "c" extrusion rail that is attached to the side of the Pod? We want to have a local awning business make us an awning for our 2014 R172. From the other posts some have said that the round opening is 0.563" or 14mm. This makes sense to me because a piece of 1/2"(0.50") stainless steel tubing fits inside the channel and slides back and forth. So, just looking for someone to measure the welt for me. Thanks, John & Kathy M. from Southwest Pa. ------------- 2014 R-Pod 172 2007 Ford F-150 |