New Mission
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Camping Adventures
Forum Discription: Post your camping adventures here for all to share
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7151
Printed Date: 06 May 2025 at 8:18pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: New Mission
Posted By: sammycamper
Subject: New Mission
Date Posted: 26 Oct 2015 at 9:39pm
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In its 3rd full season, we found a new mission for our rPod. It has become increasingly difficult to reserve campsites in our favorite parks; so, I jumped on an opportunity to buy a 2-acre lake lot in Northern Wisconsin last Fall, and that’s where our camper spent most of its time this year. We have the RP-173 model, which was discontinued after 2012, the year we bought ours new at about the end of the season. It has a nice U-shaped dinette at one end, and a sofa at the other, with no actual permanent bed. To remedy that, we semi-permanently opened the sofa into its lumpy bed state, put a thick and long foam piece in the space between the back of the sofa and the wall, and then placed a 2”-thick full-size memory foam mattress over the whole thing. That makes a reasonably comfortable bed, but things are a bit snug.
This Spring, I had a 10’x16’ barn-style lofted shed built and placed on the lot, then partitioned off a porta-potti room to make it into a bunkhouse. So, we use the bunkhouse for sleeping, and the rPod for storing refrigerated and frozen food, cooking, cleaning dishes, showering, and indoor eating. That allows us to leave the sofa back in its upright position, which makes the whole camper feel a little more spacious. The lot has no electricity, drinking water, or septic; and that’s where the easy towing and large tanks of the rPod come in handy. When the tanks need re-filling and dumping, I simply tow it to a nearby campground dump station. Unfortunately, that makes the rDome impractical, due to the time it takes to take down and setup. So, I bought a large EZ (for you to say) canopy with two fold-up side panels. That allows me to raise one panel to its highest position over the door side of the rPod. Then, I can just pull the rPod out from under, and pull it back under again after dumping and re-filling the tanks. Of course, now the rPod is winterized, and we have that long, sad wait until we can team it up with our bunkhouse again next year.   ------------- 2012 rPod 173 2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6 |
Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2015 at 9:21am
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Nice. ------------- 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: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2015 at 10:34am
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Wisconsin, and I assume the rest of the upper mid-west, had a record year for camping this year. I heard the numbers yesterday and I can't recall what they were but it was above 300,000 nights in the state campgrounds. That is great, but it makes it hard to find a campsite. I like your idea of having your own. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: sammycamper
Date Posted: 27 Oct 2015 at 11:34am
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The year 2015 has already made its way into my personal record book as the standard bearer for good Upper Midwest weather. The Spring, Summer, and early Fall have been terrific. Even the farmers aren't complaining! No wonder the campers have been out in great numbers.
Any of us who have lived up here for a number of years feel completely entitled. I love having our own campsite. By park and commercial campground standards, it's huge. The lot is not on the lake, but has a nice view of it and deeded access that's easy walking distance away. We primarily use the lake for canoeing, kayaking, and getting the dogs wet. I love the location - about midway between Cumberland and Shell Lake, near a nifty little town called Barronett. ------------- 2012 rPod 173 2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6 |
Posted By: Unclewillis
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2015 at 1:45pm
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What a great idea. We are actually looking to do the same thing but in the utah high country.
looks great you guys!! ------------- Daddy, Mommy and Daughter. BlackJack & Keno (boston Terriers) Rpod 176T 2015 Nick: ouR-pod |
Posted By: SNO4ME
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2015 at 3:01pm
It's been a good year for camping but I have to contest that "Northern Wisconsin" description a little.  It would take me at least 2 1/2 hours on my snowmobile to get that far south via a rail trail.  We are about 80 north of your campsite by Pod Road. A little trivia to test everyone's historical knowledge. I grew up with the nephews and nieces of Richard "Dick" Bong, Army Air Corp/ US Air Force "Ace of Aces". ------------- Bruce & Donna in the Sno Pod (and Brewer too) 2011 RP 177 |
Posted By: sammycamper
Date Posted: 29 Oct 2015 at 11:32pm
We plan to make a true north jaunt this weekend. After work tomorrow, we'll head 3 hours NORTH to our campsite and spend a chilly night in the bunkhouse. Then travel another 2-1/2 hours NORTH to spend Halloween in Bayfield. That may be closer to your place. Wonder if there's any action at Tom's Burned Down Cafe on Madeline Island this late in the Fall. ------------- 2012 rPod 173 2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6 |
Posted By: SNO4ME
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2015 at 12:09am
Yup, that's getting up north. You still won't be as far north as the northern most Post Office in Wis but you'll be close! Have a great trip! We are west of Bayfield, 20 miles east of Superior. Haven't been to Madeline Island for some time. We have camped at the Town of Russel Campground. (West of Bayfield by the Apostle Island Lake Shore Visitors Center) More trivia: I grew up with the nephews and nieces of Richard "Dick" Bong, "Ace of Aces" That's a dead giveaway. ------------- Bruce & Donna in the Sno Pod (and Brewer too) 2011 RP 177 |
Posted By: sammycamper
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2015 at 12:40am
Winterizing our camper is about the saddest annual task that I undertake. This year, it's even worse than usual. I missed my chances to store our rPod inside. So, I towed it out to our campsite, wrapped it in it's brand new jacket, and snugged it down as tight as I could to spend the whole Winter outdoors. Poor thing.
  ------------- 2012 rPod 173 2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2015 at 4:24pm
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Looks like your neighbor does the same thing - camper with an out-building?
You might consider some anti-theft precautions. Maybe take the spare and 1 wheel, leaving it on jack stands on the 1 side. Wrap heavy chain around the axle and weave it through the remaining wheel, using a heavy lock. ------------- 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: sammycamper
Date Posted: 02 Nov 2015 at 10:25pm
That neighbor has more of a conventional setup - a big camper with full hookup, and an outbuilding that they use more as a storage and utility shed. Our arrangement relies on the rPod for its battery electrical system, water and waste tanks, kitchen facilities, refrigerator, shower, dinette, and propane system; then, the bunkhouse is for comfortable sleeping. I do have a portable propane heater in the bunkhouse, and a portapotti that i dump into the rPod toilet before hauling the rPod to a dump station. We also have a 10'x10' steel framed vinyl tarp shed (Shelterlogic) to store a used garden tractor, yard tools, life jackets, paddles, etc. Electric is available at the entrance to our lot, but I don't plan to hookup any time soon. Thanks for the security suggestions. I'm tempted to tell my wife that I did all of those things. That would probably give her enough peace of mind for both of us. ------------- 2012 rPod 173 2008 Trailblazer 4WD V6 |