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gpokluda View Drop Down
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Joined: 11 Nov 2018
Location: NM
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Posts: 417 		Post Options Post Options   Quote gpokluda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: List Your Mods:
    Posted: 24 Oct 2024 at 7:53am
Originally posted by Starchild

My best Mod that I have done to my 2020 195 is to have the fridge not run on gas while traveling.  My wife and I have heard many stories about RV'rs units catching fire while driving, so we tied the inverter into the electrical so that when the 7way plug is hooked up to our tow vehicle, it it charging the onboard batteries. This in turn will allow the fridge to run on 110v while traveling.  Saves on propane and gives us peace of mind.


Unless you have an inverter that is turned on, you are most likely running your fridge on 12v, not 110v. Also, assuming you have a 3-way (110v, 12v, gas) fridge, running on 12v or 110v is hugely inefficient. Unless there have been some serious modifications made to the tow vehicle charging system including running a thicker gauge wire from the alternator to the camper, there is no way the TV can meet the charging demand caused by running a 3-way fridge on 12v mainly because the light gauge wire used in the stock vehicle wiring harness and the distance from the alternator to the rear of the vehicle is too great to be effective. If running the fridge on 12v gives your peace of mind, then by all means do so but you do run the risk of arriving at your campsite with a depleted battery which would not be good especially if you are boondocking.

We have towed near 100 thousand miles with our 3-way fridge running on propane while traveling. I believe it to be perfectly safe as long as certain precautions are followed:
  • Heed all warning that prohibit propane use such as tunnels and where open flame is prohibited
  • Turn-off the propane feed to your fridge when filling up at gas stations
Safe travels
Gpokluda
2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023)
2022 Escape 5.0TA
2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB
Kawasaki KLR650
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JR View Drop Down
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Joined: 31 Aug 2018
Location: Manistee, MI
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Posts: 389 		Post Options Post Options   Quote JR Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Oct 2024 at 10:40am
You may have found a solution to your situation, but be aware that the voltage being input to the trailer's batteries may not be enough to offset the power required to operate the fridge.  So on long trip you my be depleting the energy in you trailer's battery bank.  When you get to your destination your trailer's batteries may have little or no power left in them. It would be good to analyze your power requirements and the power supplied by the tow vehicle, keeping in mind that about 20% of the available power in the batteries will be used by the inverter to convert the 12 volt power to 120 volts. Hope this helps.
Jay

179/2019
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Starchild View Drop Down
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Joined: 21 Oct 2024
Location: Ohio
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Posts: 3 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Starchild Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Oct 2024 at 10:08am
My best Mod that I have done to my 2020 195 is to have the fridge not run on gas while traveling.  My wife and I have heard many stories about RV'rs units catching fire while driving, so we tied the inverter into the electrical so that when the 7way plug is hooked up to our tow vehicle, it it charging the onboard batteries. This in turn will allow the fridge to run on 110v while traveling.  Saves on propane and gives us peace of mind.
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2732 		Post Options Post Options   Quote GlueGuy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Nov 2023 at 10:29am
Originally posted by Kee

I added a small aluminum box to the rear bumper for all the sewage hoses, sidewinder and clean out parts.  Now I have to relocate the spare tire.  Wanted to put in a undercarriage stow away, but that puts the spare to close to the ground.  Any other clever ideas?

Thanks,
Kee 
We put our spare under with a hide-a-spare. It was a tight fit, but it has the added benefit of supporting the floor in the wide spot under the kitchen. It does not hang down any lower than anything else.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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jato View Drop Down
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Posts: 3378 		Post Options Post Options   Quote jato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Nov 2023 at 8:59am
There is a spare tire holder that easily mounts to the a-frame.  With the added weight of the spare tire and mount, as well as spare battery(s) and propane tank(s) you want to make certain you don't go over on tongue weight as per limits on your tow vehicle.
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."
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Kee View Drop Down
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Posts: 5 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Kee Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Nov 2023 at 7:24am
I added a small aluminum box to the rear bumper for all the sewage hoses, sidewinder and clean out parts.  Now I have to relocate the spare tire.  Wanted to put in a undercarriage stow away, but that puts the spare to close to the ground.  Any other clever ideas?

Thanks,
Kee 
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Posts: 6463 		Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Nov 2023 at 1:38pm
Thanks. I'll have to try that with the monitor that I have.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Grandpa Hiker View Drop Down
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Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Location: Martinsville, V
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Posts: 143 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Grandpa Hiker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Nov 2023 at 1:14pm
I use 2 narrow strips of elastic velcro that wraps around the monitor & mirror on the left & right sides. The monitor has a narrow frame around the perimeter. So the velcro does cover the monitor frame & a little bit of the monitor screen, but not enough that it blocks what I need to see.
Rob & Becky
2014 Ford Explorer 3.5 SOHC V6
2015 R-179 Pod aka Piddle Pod

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain!!"
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Posts: 6463 		Post Options Post Options   Quote StephenH Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Nov 2023 at 10:39am
I like that idea. How do you attach the strips to the monitor? I would think that running them around the front would be annoying as they would be in the way of the picture.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
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Grandpa Hiker View Drop Down
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Joined: 04 Jan 2015
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Posts: 143 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Grandpa Hiker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Nov 2023 at 7:02am
I also use the Yakry from Amazon. I use two elastic velcro strips to attach the monitor to my rearview mirror. The mirror is useless when towing (all I can see is the front of my camper) so that is a great monitor location for me. 
Rob & Becky
2014 Ford Explorer 3.5 SOHC V6
2015 R-179 Pod aka Piddle Pod

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain!!"
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