Heat Loss when bunk end down? |
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retiredtraveler
Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Status: Offline Points: 12 |
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Posted: 29 Jul 2011 at 10:04am |
Hello. I'm new to forum. I'm presently an experienced popup camper.
I'm taking a really hard look at Rpods, in particular, the 176T. I have a somewhat odd question. As you probably know, in a pup, if it's 40 degrees outside, it's 40 degrees inside. We have an onboard heater, but never run heater overnight. Has anyone noticed if Rpod models with bunk ends retain heat with the bunk end open. Because there is only one bunk end, and the rest of the unit is hardsided, I thought it might be that the unit stays relatively warm. Or, maybe with the bunk end open, it's like opening a door to the outside. I'm asking as staying warm is one of the major reasons for looking at a small TT. I realize that the unit can be slept in with the bunk end closed too. Thanks. Modifying Post: Thanks for responses so far. To be clear, there are two of us camping. Most of our camping is in national parks, without hookups, so we will not use heaters for sleeping as we'll only have enough battery power for taking off the morning chill. I refuse to camp with a generator, but have solar panels (that can only do so much). We're interested in the 176T because the slideout gives more room on the floor. Space is a major trade in considering an Rpod. I have a 12 foot pup, with slideout dinette. It has 12 foot of totally unobstructed 'hallway' and is 25 feet long with bunk ends opened. No small trailer gives us that kind of space. |
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pepperpod
Senior Member Joined: 01 Oct 2009 Location: Central KY Status: Offline Points: 1420 |
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I know, from talking to owners of the T model, that the bed is cold because of the airbed and open concept. Some have put heated mattress pad over the mattress. Is there a reason you are looking at the T model? We were also popup campers for 25 years. I wanted to get away from the tent material. Although the T model is more open, you really have no more sleeping space than you would have in the 172, which we have. I think the mattress extends over the couch in the T model. I sleep in the upper bunk and husband in the lower one. My only wish is that we had gotten one with the slide out. However, the 176, with the slideout, has very narrow bunks. The Pod is very well insulated. We use a small cube electric heater, and it has been good for temps down to 40 degrees. I am sure someone will reply to this post and help you out. Good luck.
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Pepper,Coach,and Henry (a very brave little Maltese)
R Pod 172 The rewards of the journey far outweigh the risk of leaving the harbor...unknown |
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Butterfly_Lee
Senior Member Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Location: Corpus Christi Status: Offline Points: 1131 |
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IF it's just YOU, then I wouldn't want the a T-model, more to mess with. A 172 gives you the most enclosed sleeping area, 2 42X74 bunks, plus the 58X74 queen dinette (171 is second). Several owners use the Top bunk as storage, sleep in the bottom and leave the dinnette up. The Pod heat works well, but so does a small cermic heater. I've NEVER been cold in Podterfly, but then I haven't taken her very far North, but I do remember a post last year where someone got snowed in and he seem to be happy about the r-pod performance. Do an advance search on "Snow" with "any date" selected, I think it was late fall 2009 or early 2010. Good luck on your shopping.
Lee
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Still a work in progress, lots of pictures.
http://podterfly.blogspot.com/ |
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retiredtraveler
Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Status: Offline Points: 12 |
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We can't use heated mattress because we primarily dry camp. That's the reason for asking how well heat is retained in the unit when there is only one bunk end to be opened. I realize the bunk end will be chilly, not sure about rest of unit. As I said with pup, if it's 40 degrees outside, it's 40 degrees inside. I didn't know if Rpod would retain any heat through the night.
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retiredtraveler
Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Status: Offline Points: 12 |
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Thanks for response. I'm only concerned with heat retention. Heater would only be used 1-2 hours a day, at best. A popup, when using heater, stays warm about 20 minutes. I was hoping the Rpod wouldn't lose temperature as quickly. As I modified my original posting, we dry camp so trying to retain heat is a question for considering the rpod.
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retiredtraveler
Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Status: Offline Points: 12 |
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The bunks are a big question for us until we spend some time sitting inside an Rpod. We're both around 60 years old. Just how easy, or difficult, is it to get in/out of bunks. I have visions of falling off, or hitting my head if I were on the bottom.
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Heidi
Senior Member Joined: 16 Jul 2009 Location: Cicero NY Status: Offline Points: 285 |
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I would think that the T models will lose heat not as rapidly as a pup but nearly so (like the open door) If you are concerned about moving space you might want to look at the 175 or 177 with the slides. We have a 175 and it retains the heat rather nicely most of the night. We can dry camp with heat using to warm the pod up before bed and in the AM in the fall for a week. Mind that is not using the water heater and using lights sparingly. We do change the propane tank once. There is enough space to get around each other easily although it does get a little crowded when the 100 lb dog is added to the mix and want to be in the middle of everything.
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we R-pod people
175 ,2 peeps and one small horse |
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retiredtraveler
Newbie Joined: 27 Jul 2011 Status: Offline Points: 12 |
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Does the dinette convert to a bed on the 175 or 177?
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pepperpod
Senior Member Joined: 01 Oct 2009 Location: Central KY Status: Offline Points: 1420 |
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Pepper,Coach,and Henry (a very brave little Maltese)
R Pod 172 The rewards of the journey far outweigh the risk of leaving the harbor...unknown |
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R&T's Pod
Senior Member Joined: 18 Jan 2010 Location: Landis, NC Status: Offline Points: 424 |
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There is no dinette on the 175. The slide-out has a fold out couch. The rear area is a "short" queen bed. Rob
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