Our First Essential 176T Models
Printed From: r-pod Nation
Category: Forest River r-pod
Forum Name: Modifications
Forum Description: Mod your Pod....then post your pictures
URL: http://www.rpodNation.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3812
Printed Date: 19 Apr 2024 at 4:02am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.0 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Our First Essential 176T Models
Posted By: PodBlogger
Subject: Our First Essential 176T Models
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 11:47am
Added identical 2nd battery
------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Replies:
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 11:59am
T10 BA9S 36SMD LED Light Kit------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 12:00pm
Replaced all interior lights with T10 LED light kit.------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 12:14pm
Side view of cherry railing for upper bunk.------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 12:18pm
Front view of cherry railing. The railing slips over the horizontal mattress rail and is only friction fit. It takes seconds to install or remove and quite frankly should be offered by Forest River as an option as the upper bunk is quite dangerous for little ones to sleep on. Just my humble opinion though.------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 12:21pm
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We don't have bunk beds in our 171, however, that's a neat and simple fix for probably a large number who travel with small children that sleep in the bunk beds. Nice Job. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 lb.) Mini Dachshund 2013 Rpod 171HRE (Pods-of-Luck) 2005 Chev. Tahoe |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 12:26pm
Got rid of the knee knocker table base and replaced with base and pedestal. Pretty wobbly though as the floor flexes and the base location is directly above the black water holding tank so I can't easily access the undeside of the floor to add support. Any ideas anyone?------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 12:38pm
Fabricated maple cutting board to cover cooktop. This one is a "must have" as the counter top space is nill without it. ------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 12:47pm
Removed useless reciever and made removeable the back jackstands for additional clearance. Even with the axle risers I was concerned with clearence issues on the back jack stands. I am in the process of fabricating a 4"x4"x 1/8" tube steel bumper with a much sturdier reciever and will post the pictures when I have it installed. As for the jack stands I just put them in the bed of the pick-up truck while on the move. ------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 12:55pm
Removed the tailgate whacker (OEM tongue jack) and installed a side mounted tongue jack that pivots to a horizontal position when in transit. If you pull with a drop tailgate vehicle this one is a must if you want to keep a dent free tailgate. It is not "if" someone drops the tailgate is is "when". I learned that with my last trailer and this was the first mod I did to our POD. Plus- when it is hooked up to the T.V. it is a lot easier to shimmy over the neck while setting up or fueling because the jack is stowed in the horizontal position.------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 12:59pm
Replaced the cheese ball OEM shower head and hose with a high quality, low flow R.V. shower head and stainless steel hose. ------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: Camper Bob
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 1:00pm
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We added a similar jack, however ours had a wheel on the end that makes it very easy to "jockey" into whatever position we need it to be, such as dropping on the ball for towing. Thanks for sharing. Safe Travels. ------------- Camper Bob and Camper Sue Gracie the Wonder Dog (12 lb.) Mini Dachshund 2013 Rpod 171HRE (Pods-of-Luck) 2005 Chev. Tahoe |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 1:19pm
We have also found that space is an absolute premium in the POD and have made every effort to cube out the available spaces with containers and totes. We would like to thank 3m for inventing removeable hooks . They are scattered around the POD and more are coming. We have a few more essential mods to our Pod and they include installing an inverter (A perfect spot is in the cubby where the speakers are located with a remote cut-off switch to kill the inverter). A mirror on the bathroom door. Paper towel holder. Shelves above the window valences. A hinge that keeps the door open on the cab above the sink (Argg!). Memory foam matresses to replace the worthless matresses that come with the Pod. An exterior gas connection for the portable gas grill we have. A single 50lb LP tank to replace the single 25Lb LP tank (This is a much cheaper, easier and lighter fix than to convert to two 25lb LP tanks). Rhino line the bottom 18" of the front of the POD (we bought the POD to get way off the grid and drycamp- not stay in an RV Park). Convert the dual gray/black water dump to a single dump and probably many more ideas as more and more people share their wonderful ideas on this forum. Cheers everyone and happy Podding!------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 1:28pm
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One last thing- I am absolutely going to add round windows in the bunks and in the entry door. Can't wait to get on that mod but sadly it is much lower on the the priority list for this years projects as one has to eventially stop modding the Pod and camp in the Pod. Modding the Pod is addicting and contagious. :) ------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: Racer|X|
Date Posted: 04 Jun 2013 at 7:16pm
| Looks good, nice mods. |
Posted By: fallsrider
Date Posted: 05 Jun 2013 at 5:03am
------------- '05 Suburban 1500 2WD Searching for a TT |
PodBlogger wrote:Posted By: wherestheyeast
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 6:14pm
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Hey PodBlogger, I'm interested in following your mods! Especially the windows! I have a 172T and found that the kiddos a burning up in the bunks without any airflow. I'm in Colorado also and dropped my Pod off at Ketelsen for some warranty work (see other forum) and asked about windows -- the service adviser gave a pretty grim response. Wouldn't estimate cost, but I'm guessing they've never done it (not sure I'd want to be the guinea pig). |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 8:57pm
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I'm not too sure about those guys. My first experience with them was when we were looking for a Pod. Totally unmotivated to sell us one and completely indifferent about not. Last month I went in to buy a hard start capacitor for the a/c and the guy asked me why I wanted it. I explained we dry camp almost exclusivly and use a generator to supply power. He asked me what type it was and I told him it was a Honda. I waited for his next question (which I thought might be what it was rated at) but instead the guy tells me I don't need the part and that the Honda will run the a/c just fine. THEN he asked me why I felt I needed the part. I told him I had read it on a forum and several people recommended installing the part. He just scoffed and told me I might do mysel a favor and stay away from forums. "Most of the people on them are idiots. My experience digressed from there.... I never even asked about the window. I'll buy it on-line and install it myself. ------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |
Posted By: wherestheyeast
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 11:04pm
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It's funny that the folks who work at these places seem to give absolutely no legitimacy to the opinions & experiences of people who participate in online forums. I have other hobbies (brewing as example) where the folks who man the supply shops have no idea what discussions and experiences people are having. A bit of topic, but I'm hoping for some decent service from them <fingers crossed>.
By the way, are there any local Pod clubs? |
Posted By: PodBlogger
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2013 at 2:28pm
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I don't know of any clubs here in Denver, or Colorado for that matter but I haven't really looked- sorry. ------------- Wyatt, Jenn, Holden & Tristan 2003 F-150 2013 176-T |