Dometic Cabana R Pod Screen Room Awning

[crowelle]

The R Pod has a similar "canned ham" shape as the early Shastas. For under $175 you get a light weight awning with screen room and privacy flaps. I'm going to try one. Just have to figure which size as it seems that awning channel length is critical.

Here is an image of one attached to an R Pod

[boandsusan]

I like that! I think its cool for older children who may want to sleep outside in sleeping bags.

[cowcharge]

I may have to get one of those for next winter.

[vikx]

Yes, this is really interesting.

[crowelle]

Well, the Cabana arrived and I put it up yesterday. It seems like a great option. Here is a pic.:

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[crowelle]

Here is another...

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[crowelle]

And one from inside...

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[westend1530]

Thanks for the photos there great!

Did it take long to set up?

What does it attach to?

What size did you get?

Thanks

[momydomy]

Marti, here from Marti's Awnings, I love this and have many calls for this type of thing.. Do you have a link to this where I might send customers? thanks

[westend1530]

A link would be great. I did a quick google search and did not come up with anything.

[marsfrie]

There's two dealers on EBay now, just search on R Pod awning.

[crowelle]

I purchased the Cabana on EBay. Mine is an 11 Ft wide model. You have to be pretty careful and not go too big (wide) or else the awning will not fit. Better to err on the smaller side. I have it on a 14 ft. Shasta Airflyte. It took about 10 minutes to set up. Very easy. Took it down today and it was a 5 minute task. I am pleased with my purchase. I bought from Bannerbeeze (yes, that is beeze, not breeze) on EBay for $159 which included free shipping. I got it in 3 days. I would highly recommend. I did not get a picture of the cabana with the arch side open, but it completely opens in the front and you can store the unzipped front panel when you are looking more for an awning experience.

[crowelle]

Oops... Forgot one answer. The cabana slides into the awning channel at your roof line. It comes with additional poles and parts that help it hold the shape on the part not attached to the camper.

[Hamlet]

It looks like it'd be too wide for the Compact. Dang. It'd be nice to have a 6x8' one.

[safetybruce]

Marti...you are so talented, why not design a competitor and offer them in the much cooler canvas colors and patterns you have for your terrific awnings.

That being said to support those that like awnings...I don't want to toss a spanner into everyone's euphoria, these are very useful, but darn it, you still can't get around the fact that you can no longer appreciate the lines of our campers when any of these are attached. Of course I live in Mississippi and have come to terms with the skeeters and other bugs...those that bite but don't kill me are my friends, so who needs a screen room...send the kids out to find 2 trees with a jungle hammock.

[vikx]

Here's Marti's wonderful awning...

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[crowelle]

I do love the classic look of your awnings Marti, and would also encourage you to create your own version! I was glad to at least be able to match color of my '60 but it be really cool to have the look of your awnings with the design of the Cabana. I am also glad that the awning can be completely removed so that the lines of the Shasta are not compromised. I have the awning/screen room when I want it, but the great looks when I don't -- and, the price was right. Not much more than I would have spent on a tent for the kiddos.

[thetreeplanter]

Love this idea! I have a 19'. I'm wondering if I can fit the r-pod 16' awning/tent! Have to measure this weekend.

[crowelle]

Jun 20, 2012 12:48:49 GMT -5 thetreeplanter said:

Love this idea! I have a 19'. I'm wondering if I can fit the r-pod 16' awning/tent! Have to measure this weekend.

I think that the crucial measurement is from the beginning to the end of your awning channel. I have a 14 foot camper, but found that the 11 foot awning was perfect for the length of my awning channel, which is shorter than the total length of the camper. That being said, I did not take the screen room all the way to the end of the channel in the front (it was about 9 inches from the end). So if anything, you want the cabana awning to be a bit shorter than the length of the channel. This way you can kind of "center" the whole thing where it fits best on the outside of your camper. Too long of a cabana screen room would simply not work because you would not have anything to support it on the camper side.

[thetreeplanter]

Thanks for the tip on size. Are you actually using an awning rail with this "tent"? Doesn't look like your awning/tent has a bottom?

[LittleVintageTrailer]

Those are pretty neat! I have one of Marti's awning rooms and we just love it! Here are some pictures if anyone wants to see it.

littlevintagetrailer.com/2012/03/new-awning-add-a-room-by-martis-awnings/

[crowelle]

Great point Chris. You nailed it. Here is a interior picture where you can see the connection to the camper via the awning c-channel.

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[thetreeplanter]

Thanks for the info. Now I just have to decide if I'm going to go for utility (& lower cost) or one of those beautiful awnings made by Marti.

I admit I was all set to go the utility route until I saw my husbands reaction to it. I didn't realize he was so "proud" of how the trailer look! He immediately said, "you don't want that, you want one of those cut stripped awnings."
Funny since he is the one who suggested a tent room/ awning for the kids to sleep in and I was feeling proud to have found an inexpensive solution, thanks to you

Marti any chance of adding sides to one of your beautiful creations? Perhaps with a Velcro on/off option?

[thetreeplanter]

Guess I should have looked at the link first! Very nice and just what I think we are looking for! I'll show it to the hubby when he is in a good mood!

[crowelle]

Jun 20, 2012 20:19:23 GMT -5 @chris2620 said:

Mine came with screen panels that would slide into a rail under the bottom edge of the camper, and help close it in.

Chris -- I have been trying to figure out how to incorporate that bottom screen section -- have you done that with yours? I don't really want to put another c-channel rail on the exterior. Suppose I could try to put something along the bottom edge -- trying to do what I can to enclose the space to make it a second sleeping area and keep out bugs -- as Minnesotans our state bird should really be the mosquito and the blasted things can find the smallest holes to get in...