R-pod Owners Forum : Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks https://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : Last 10 Posts Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 20:12:43 +0000 Fri, 17 Jul 2026 01:56:40 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 30 https://www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_topic_feed.asp?FID=2 R-pod Owners Forum https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.rpod-owners.com/ Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : Fresh water tank vs on-road handling https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16467&PID=155639#155639 Author: jato
Subject: Fresh water tank vs on-road handling
Posted: 17 Jul 2026 at 1:56am

In our case, a 177, the FW tank is behind the axle.  For 15 years we always leave with a full FW tank as we usually boondock and love our sweet well water.  As long as there is at least 10% of your loaded trailer weight on the a-frame (tongue) you are good to go.  A friction bar is utilized for added safety.]]> Fri, 17 Jul 2026 01:56:40 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16467&PID=155639#155639 Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : Fresh water tank vs on-road handling https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16467&PID=155625#155625 Author: enaltrebor
Subject: Fresh water tank vs on-road handling
Posted: 11 Jul 2026 at 2:21am

Thanks]]> Sat, 11 Jul 2026 02:21:47 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16467&PID=155625#155625 Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : Fresh water tank vs on-road handling https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16467&PID=155624#155624 Author: Rpod-Couple
Subject: Fresh water tank vs on-road handling
Posted: 10 Jul 2026 at 9:58pm

Your fresh water tank should be 30 gallons, which weighs about 250 lbs. When the tank is full, it really can’t slosh much. And your trailer is probably 3000 lbs+. The water is less than 10% of the trailer weight. I tow with my fresh tank full with a mid-size SUV and haven’t had any issues with the water contributing to side-to-side sway. If anything, it adds weight on the tongue which makes for less side-to-side trailer sway.


]]> Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:58:50 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16467&PID=155624#155624 Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : Fresh water tank vs on-road handling https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16467&PID=155623#155623 Author: enaltrebor
Subject: Fresh water tank vs on-road handling
Posted: 10 Jul 2026 at 1:52pm

Hi, we are taking our 2024 RP116 on its first boondocking outing soon. We routinely empty the tanks on the way out of RV parks. We want to fill the FW tank at home for this next trip.

I didn't see baffles when looking through the translucent FW tank wall. Fluids slosh when cornering. (40 gal of gas in a retrofitted tank, with no baffles, can destabilize a light pickup.)

• Is sloshing of 250 gallons of water, low to the road, even a problem?
• If a problem, will the hitch stabilizer help? (It's a size up from the minimum required.)
• What other gotchas await us?

Thanks, ]]> Fri, 10 Jul 2026 13:52:51 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16467&PID=155623#155623 Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : Sagging floor and outriggers https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15071&PID=155616#155616 Author: MeekCutoff
Subject: Sagging floor and outriggers
Posted: 29 Jun 2026 at 8:58pm

I recently purchased a 2019 rpod 190... Love it!  Great layout for kids.
Tow it behind our 2014 Nissan Frontier - no problems.

Very important to check for any floor sag under the slider.
Here is some background info & possible fixes to this issue.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYB4qL7va2I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8UTG5t-cJM

It can be corrected - but takes some work.
The support brackets that FR sells, and I bolted to the frame failed immediately - bent out of shape on my first trip on a rough forest service road.

So I then had much stronger brackets locally fabricated -  and then welded to the frame to support the side wall.
That cost me $600 - A very successful fix.
Contact www.groundedwelding.com - they will fabricate & ship brackets.]]> Mon, 29 Jun 2026 20:58:05 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15071&PID=155616#155616 Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : Attaching steps https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16353&PID=155603#155603 Author: jhlee730
Subject: Attaching steps
Posted: 19 Jun 2026 at 10:30pm

I have those steps on my rpod as well. however my issue is not the bolt falling thru. my issue is the bracket breaking at the bolt underneath.   I was wondering if you had found a replacement step that had the one bolt on each side and the screw that attached the steps to the frame underneath I can't find who even made these manual steps. doesnt appear to be lipert.
thanks
jim]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2026 22:30:43 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16353&PID=155603#155603 Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : 2016 RP-179 SOLAR https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16462&PID=155602#155602 Author: gpokluda
Subject: 2016 RP-179 SOLAR
Posted: 19 Jun 2026 at 7:18am

Welcome and congratulations on your pending R179 purchase. They are great little campers. As for living full time in Jackson, WY in an Rpod, that is going to be a challenge. The Rpod is not a four season trailer, but you can make it work with some effort. You'll have to skirt and insulate the bottom and seal any entry points to keep mice from entering as it gets cold. You'll also need to insulate your pipes really well. Even with all of that, it's going to be hard to keep it warm in the winter. Your walls are barely an inch thick and the windows are single pan. I live in Idaho Falls and I know how long, dark and brutal winter can be.

As for solar, I strongly suggest you watch some YouTube videos about off grid solar power. The videos will help you visualize what you need to do. In your location, you will need a large battery bank and plenty of solar panels to capture enough sunlight on the short winter days with low sun angle. Again, this is going to be a challenge but can be done. There is a lot of solar knowledge on this forum, so come back and ask questions, but do some homework first so you will have a general knowledge of what is involved.

With regards to the composting toilet, I have an Airhead in my camper and love it. It's pretty simple, but needs a fan to run to ventilate the composting chamber. Composting toilets separate urine from solid waste. You will have to empty the urine tank every couple of days. The medium in the composting chamber will last about a month with regular use. We use a mix of peat moss and coconut coir. Another thing about composters is their compost is not suitable for use in any food gardening situation. To be safe, it needs to be buried, or bagged and disposed of as biowaste.

Good luck and let us know how it's going.
]]> Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:18:45 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16462&PID=155602#155602 Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : 2016 RP-179 SOLAR https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16462&PID=155600#155600 Author: carollamp
Subject: 2016 RP-179 SOLAR
Posted: 18 Jun 2026 at 4:44pm

Hey all! 

I am buying a 2016 Forest River R-Pod Model RP-179 to live in my friends yard in Jackson, WY. (check rent prices out and you'll understand why)

I want to make it solar powered. I was reading some forums on it but they went WAY over my head. I need someone to explain exactly how, what I need to buy etc. Act like I am in kindergarten haha! 

Thank you so much in advance!!!!

Also - has anyone changed out the toilet for a compostable to eliminate the black water need? 
]]> Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:44:53 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16462&PID=155600#155600 Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : List Your Mods: https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=842&PID=155597#155597 Author: Tulefog
Subject: List Your Mods:
Posted: 15 Jun 2026 at 3:52pm

Hockey puck support brackets for Thule awning. ]]> Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:52:21 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=842&PID=155597#155597 Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks : Power from Inside https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16459&PID=155593#155593 Author: gpokluda
Subject: Power from Inside
Posted: 14 Jun 2026 at 8:09am

Personally, I would avoid the double ended for the reason stated above, it is not safe. There are a couple folks on the fiberglass forum that have Scamps and small Casitas that have had internal wiring done to plug in a portable power station like a Jackery. Here are a couple of things to consider. First is space. You already have a small camper, now you have a good sized box taking up valuable room. Second, to do it right, You will need to wire in a male plug from a transfer switch so you bypass the converter and simply provide power to your outlets. The converter will rob you of power by trying to charge the battery.

My guess is this is a 2-3 hour job, probably $300.00 work by an electrician who knows RVs.
]]> Sun, 14 Jun 2026 08:09:48 +0000 https://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=16459&PID=155593#155593