Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: thule awning

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thule awning

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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=9584
Printed Date: 17 May 2024 at 1:39pm
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Topic: thule awning

Posted By: zappapod
Subject: thule awning
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 10:03am

Hi fellow podders, Just took delivery of a 2017.5 178 with thule awning. Noticed that the awning lock mechanism which holds the extension rods in place does not lock. Am I missing something or do I have a defective unit (both lock mechanisms fail to hold awning supports in place). Unfortunately, the manual that comes with is pictorial only and not very helpful. Not sure where to get manufacturer assistance.

Thanks. Jim

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2017.5 178 (Blue Bell)
2005 Tundra Double Cab
Outer Banks Bound

Replies:

Posted By: Subzilla
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 12:14pm

Yes! The manual is useless. Trying to figure out also... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9487&title=thule-awning-arms-on-179

Are you talking about when you tuck the legs back into the main awning to close? When you put the leg ends in, go the other (outer) ends and push the snap lock into place. This seems to keep everything in place. Or are you talking about locking the extensions? Pull/push the lock tab all the way in one direction or the other...like 180 degrees from where it is unlocked. Don't know if that makes sense??

Don't bother looking on the Thule website...I scoured it for more info. Their videos are also about as useless as the picture book. Don't understand why they use NO words to help explain.

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Mark
Concord, NC
2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4

Posted By: JamieViolette
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 12:15pm

The manual is not helpful at all. Here is a helpful video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9s9vHTjek8 You have to flip the locking mechanism up, but it won't lay completely flat...more like 150 out of 180 degrees. You're going to think you're breaking the clip by pushing it in that direction because it doesn't want to go at first, but I promise that's the trick.

Posted By: zappapod
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 12:34pm

thanks guys. watched the video, had thought about pushing that clip but didn't want to break. will try again. Noticed that the manual appears to show that the awning should only be extended three feet before deploying the extension arms, while the guy in the video apparently send it all the way out. He also doesn't touch on the bottom extension with the little bevel button that you push in to extend further. Took me a while to figure that out. Any thoughts on the two accessory bags, "filling fixation bag" and "mb 5200 pitch control". The first contains plastic flanges with screw on base and the second contains two screws with four washers respectively.

thanks again, I don't know how we'd get help with this stuff without this forum!

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2017.5 178 (Blue Bell)
2005 Tundra Double Cab
Outer Banks Bound

Posted By: Subzilla
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 2:05pm

I saw those bags also. The plastic flanges are to be mounted to your location of choice to hold the crank handle in storage. Looking at the installation instructions, the pitch control has something to do with the angle at which the awning cranks out. Again, the instructions are not clear. I'm off on the maiden Pod voyage this weekend and plan to learn all about my awning! (and Podzilla).

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Mark
Concord, NC
2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4

Posted By: zappapod
Date Posted: 30 Mar 2017 at 2:58pm

thanks again. Have fun on your trip!

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2017.5 178 (Blue Bell)
2005 Tundra Double Cab
Outer Banks Bound

Posted By: Subzilla
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 7:26am

So I did experiment this weekend. Did what the Thule pictures showed for set up (not what I was told at the dealer). Seemed to work well....extend the legs to the ground at an angle with the awning cranked out 3 or 4 feet, crank all the way out and then attach legs to side of pod. There are no support braces as shown in another Thule model but there the teeth for that brace!?! Wonder if it is an add-on. I do feel more comfortable with it now.

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Mark
Concord, NC
2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4

Posted By: zappapod
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 7:38am

Glad you had a good trip. Where did you camp?

The pics with the awning manual show a diagonal brace which is described as optional. Now we just have to wait for the optional screen room!

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2017.5 178 (Blue Bell)
2005 Tundra Double Cab
Outer Banks Bound

Posted By: Subzilla
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 8:21am

And I bet a very expensive screen room knowing Thule....

We were right up at the VA line at Merchants Millpond SP.....a really cool place. Campground had no hookups but the Podzilla had no troubles with that! It is a very well maintained State Park with hiking trails and the main attraction of canoeing through the swamp or pond....thousands of Cypress trees and turtles and one very big gator! I'm sure there are more.... You can rent canoes there. We would go back in a second but it was a 5 hour drive from Concord, NC. Stopped for some mandatory Eastern NC BBQ on the way.

Very eager to get to OBX for a long weekend! Got this thing I call a job so time is limited........

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Mark
Concord, NC
2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4

Posted By: zappapod
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 9:35am

Merchants is a favorite of a friend of mine. I've never made it down but plan to. I hear it is beautiful and have seen many beautiful photos.

I think the screen room is going to be about $800. Someone else checked on this site and I've talked with FR and they are in the process of negotiating with Thule re: selling the item through their dealerships. Hopefully soon!

See you in the OBX this summer. I favor the lower islands, Hatteras and Ocracoke.

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2017.5 178 (Blue Bell)
2005 Tundra Double Cab
Outer Banks Bound

Posted By: Subzilla
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 9:46am

Yes, the true Outer Banks are further South! Kitty Hawk and Nags Head, while still a neat place to go, are too commercialized and touristy. Have you done any camping there yet? We've tent camped at a few...Camp Hatteras (very nice but busy in the summer), Rodanthe Watersports Park (space way too tight), and Ocracoke NPS campground. Looking for a good place to Pod and there are many other CG's....

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Mark
Concord, NC
2017 RP 179 "Podzilla"
2011 Silverado 1500 4X4

Posted By: zappapod
Date Posted: 04 Apr 2017 at 9:51am

Been camping the obx for forty years. I'm from coastal sc, not too far from your homebase. NPS is great if not too hot and humid, if you've got a camping box you cook without ac. Teeter's is great in Ocracoke for hookups and close bicycle/walk access to the village.

Buxton has Cape Woods, close to the lighthouse and the Buxton Maritime forest. There is also frisco campground which has hookups as well. All great places. A little crowded in the summer so reservations are good. Happy camping!

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2017.5 178 (Blue Bell)
2005 Tundra Double Cab
Outer Banks Bound

Posted By: BigSkyPod
Date Posted: 26 Aug 2021 at 11:19am

Does anyone know the model # of the Thule Omnistor awning. I need to order some parts for it and Thule asked for the model #.

Thanks in advance!

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2017 RPOD 180 Hood River Edition