R-pod insulation
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9573
Printed Date: 19 Jun 2025 at 6:35pm
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Topic: R-pod insulation
Posted By: richardd
Subject: R-pod insulation
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2017 at 9:07am
| Does anybody know if R-pods are insulated? Can be used in winter weather? thanks |
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2017 at 9:48am
|
The R-Pods are insulated. The side walls and floor are block foam insulation fitted into the aluminum frame and the ceiling is batting glued in place (From the video I saw, it could be fiberglass or rock wool. I couldn't tell which one). Forest River's site states the side walls are R7 and the floor and ceiling are R9. We were using our R-Pod this past winter. We stayed in it (dry camping) when the weather was down into the low single-digits with significant wind chills. It used quite a bit of propane, but we did stay warm. What is not insulated are the fresh, gray, and black water tanks with some of the plumbing. Unless you use electrical heating blankets for your tanks, they will freeze up in other than overnight freezing temperatures. We carried an 8 gallon water jug for drinking water and for cooking needs and used disposable utensils and plates for the trip so we would not have to wash dishes. We got some Certainty Adult Washcloths, Walgreens item 501201 to wash up with since with no water onboard, showers were not an option. The year before, we also made a trip during the winter, but stayed far enough south so that we did travel with water. We encountered overnight freezing temperatures, but daytime temperatures were above freezing so we did not have any problems. The key is to consider the conditions in which you expect to use it and plan accordingly on whether you have to dry camp or whether you can take water in the tank. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: richardd
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2017 at 1:50pm
| Stephen, thanks for sharing that info. I notice you're in NC. What part? Since you seem to be knowledgeable and handy about R-pods, I have some other concerns maybe you can help me with, as I am contemplating a purchase. |
Posted By: marwayne
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2017 at 3:17pm
|
One correction StephenH, the flat part of the ceiling has aluminum framing and than it is doubled up with another layer of wood framing. In other words the flat part has a double ceiling. https://postimg.org/image/e13upyww5/">  https://postimage.org/ - image sharing sites
------------- If you want something done right, do it yourself. 2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
Posted By: fwunder
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2017 at 5:05pm
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If your asking if the R-Pod is a true 4-season camper, the answer would be no. There really are very few true four season campers. That said, base camp facilities on Mt. Everest don't have the creature comforts afforded in a R-Pod. fred ------------- 2014 RPod 178 => https://goo.gl/CV446f - MyMods and Buying Habits 2008 4Runner Limited 4.0-liter V6 Yes, those are wild ponies dining on grass while dumping tanks! |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2017 at 5:16pm
Thank you. I did not know that. It does not really show on the construction videos. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 6:16pm
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moving thread ------------- 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: jato
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 7:10pm
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Greetings richardd. We have done limited camping in cold weather from mid 30's at RMNP in Colorado to mid-teens in Michigan. We were fortunate when in CO that temps always stayed above freezing so no frozen water lines. When in Michigan we carried our water in 5 gallon containers as we knew using the water system was not an option under those conditions. Yes, like StephenH we stayed warm but you do run through a fair amount of propane to reach those results. Even under those mid-teen conditions we found it necessary to crack a couple windows open a smidge to keep the condensation issue under control. ------------- 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: StephenH
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 7:25pm
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No matter which way you look at it, the R-Pod is better than a tent for cold-weather camping. In my 26 years in the U.S. Army, I have spent a number of nights under canvas in freezing temperatures.
------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2017 at 7:56pm
|
Indeed, Stephen. When my son got back from Afghanistan he told me "no more camping for me, I've had enough of that in the Army." That was 8 years ago.
------------- 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: richardd
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2017 at 6:19am
| Thanks, and AMEN |
Posted By: Dahuntsr
Date Posted: 16 Nov 2021 at 1:58pm
| I've watched many YouTube videos on cold weather camping. Two common points that they all referenced were the benefits of using skirting and how much less they got out of their propane tank(s). Like tank and pipe heating pads, propane tank warming blankets are available. They're much more expensive than tank heating pad do to the circuitry https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00PKKHC2Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1 |