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171 owner has 177 envy

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tedbear View Drop Down
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    Posted: 03 Jul 2010 at 4:21pm
When I stopped by my dealer yesterday to get a spare pin for the breakaway switch on my 171, I stepped inside the 177 they had in the showroom, the first time I had ever been in one.  I was immediately jealous of the extra room the slide-out provides and had to admit to myself that for as much as I love my 171 I may have gotten a 177 had they been available at the time I made my purchase.
 
One thing that would make the 171 feel more open would be a window over the stove/sink area like the 177 has.  I searched the forum and found a few posts about people having their dealer install windows for them, but has anyone here done that themselves?  I am confident in my ability to do the work myself and am mostly interested in how to go about acquiring the rectangular window like the 177 has in its slide-out.
 
Anyone?
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Ratdog View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ratdog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2010 at 5:00pm
Ted - One of the complaints we had about the pods when they first came out was that they were dark like a cave. So we didn't buy one back then. We bought a 177 a couple of months ago once we saw how bright and open they were on the inside with their 6 windows.
 
Adding a window to your 171 is an interesting idea. It would definitely brighten up the inside. Before cutting, you might want to determine where the vertical support members are located indide the wall. 
 
If it will help you any, I'd be happy to go out to my pod and get the window dimensions for you.
 
-- Steve

Steve, Anne, and Paige the Rat Terrier
2013 Lexus RX 450h Hybrid AWD
2011 RP-177 (aka: The Circus Wagon)
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tedbear View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tedbear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2010 at 5:10pm
Having the dimensions would be helpful - thanks.
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Ratdog View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ratdog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2010 at 6:05pm
Originally posted by tedbear tedbear wrote:

Having the dimensions would be helpful - thanks.
 
Ted -
 
The inside measurements (edge-of-glass to edge-of-glass) are 21-1/2" W x 16" H
 
The outside meaurements (outside edge of frame to outside edge of frame) are 25-1/4" W x 19" H
 
The cutout dimensions for the window would be somewhere between those 2 measurements.
 
The window manufacturer is "Cleer Vision Windows" (their incorrect spelling, not mine) as are all the other windows in the pod (at least in our pod).
 
Maybe you could get a schematic of that wall section from Forest River so you'd know what's back there.
 
-- Steve
 

Steve, Anne, and Paige the Rat Terrier
2013 Lexus RX 450h Hybrid AWD
2011 RP-177 (aka: The Circus Wagon)
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tedbear View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tedbear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2010 at 6:28pm
Thanks for the info.  Cleer Vision is, not surpringly, located in Elkhart, IN - I emailed them asking for information.  I may end up getting it through my dealer, but we'll see.  Also, since there really isn't any load-bearing to consider like when cutting into a wall in your home, I can't imagine that this would be a problem, and I don't think there are any wires in that area of the wall on the 171.
 
As you stated, this would go a long way toward opening up the 171 with more light along with the added convenience of being able to vent cooking odors out the window... now if I can just figure out how to get a window on the front of the camper.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ratdog Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2010 at 6:48pm
Originally posted by tedbear tedbear wrote:

... now if I can just figure out how to get a window on the front of the camper.
 
Now, THAT would be a hat trick.
 
-- Steve

Steve, Anne, and Paige the Rat Terrier
2013 Lexus RX 450h Hybrid AWD
2011 RP-177 (aka: The Circus Wagon)
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Outbound View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Outbound Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 03 Jul 2010 at 7:22pm
Phil H spoke with the Forest River engineer about putting a window in the kitchen area of his 171.  It sounded like it wouldn't be much trouble.  PM Phil H and ask him for more details.
Craig :: 2008 Mazda Tribute :: 2009 r-pod 171, The Johnnie Ray
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tedbear View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tedbear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jul 2010 at 10:57am
Originally posted by Ratdog Ratdog wrote:

Originally posted by tedbear tedbear wrote:

... now if I can just figure out how to get a window on the front of the camper.
 
Now, THAT would be a hat trick.
 
-- Steve
 
One hat trick comin' up...
 
... no, I didn't really do this - I got the design from the Chalet XL line of folding campers and then used good ol' Photoshop.  Seeing it like this is making me think this isn't so far-fetched.  This design allows for about a foot of camper and a foot of space on either side of the window, which is basically two feet long by a foot and a half high.
 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PodPatrol Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Jul 2010 at 11:03am
Whoa .... Excellent proto-type design. Send it to FR immediately !!!
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