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Topic ClosedGVWR>GAWR and Stabilizer Issues
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: GVWR>GAWR and Stabilizer Issues
    Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 2:03pm
Yep. But as you've had your 172 for awhile and knowing that its a lighter rPod, and you keep it light, and have no uneven tire wear to date, I don't think you really have any pressing need to do any axle reinforcement. 

 
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 2:39pm
BTW, I think the reason that FR/Lippert appear to be deliberately derating the axles on the lighter rPods could be to mitigate the risk of a customer encountering trailer sway. It's going to be difficult to load a lighter rPod's axle to anywhere near 3500 lbs without also winding up with low tongue weight as a percent of total trailer weight. 

There is quite a bit of evidence that rPods with tongue weights at or below the industry standard minimum 10% figure can sway. To load a 172's axle to 3500 lbs and still be at least 10% on the tongue the trailer would gross out at at least 3889 lbs and have a tongue weight of 390 lbs. That's a crazy huge load on a trailer with a dry weight of 2338. There's just no sensible way or reason to load a 172 like that I don't think. On a 179 that's not an unusual load at all. By limiting the axle to 3000 lbs the gross weight is 3333 with a tongue weight of 333 to keep within the 10%. Much more sensible on a 172. 
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lostagain View Drop Down
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 3:15pm
No, I am not planning on any axle reinforcement any time soon.  At least not until I discover gold on one of our trips and have to haul out giant nuggets.  I'm sure that will happen eventually, but I'm realistic enough not to count my nuggets before they're found.  

And since the dry weight on our 172 is only 2259# I'd have to carry some of the gold on the tongue to keep it all balanced.
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 3:48pm
You might need to remove your battery to make room for the gold. Changing lead into gold would make you a modern day alchemist. But do let me know when you've got that gold sitting on your trailer tongue. Sounds like it would be a good time for a midnight campsite visit....
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 4:27pm
It was a sad day when science discredited alchemy.  My favorite was phlogiston.  

You would be most welcome to drop by when I've loaded the trailer with gold.  I'll need someone to help me calculate the trailer and tongue weight ratios.  
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 4:50pm
Be happy to help. I've even volunteer to take some gold off your hands to reduce that tongue weight to a more reasonable level...
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Posts: 1222 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 4:54pm
   Has anyone visited the Dexter or Lippert website for axle specifications. Would you be able to find the axle that is on the r-pods and compare a 3,000 lb axle to a 3,500 lb axle to see if there is a difference, perhaps they would list the weight of each axle. At one time I was on a website comparing their axles and I believe it gave the weight. I would think a 3,500 lb axle would be heavier than a 3,000 lb. axle if they are the same weight then it may be true they are same axles just labeled different. But if they are different in weight there must be something different in their construction not just labeled different. Does all this make any sense.
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 5:18pm
Yes it makes sense, and I tried to find Lippert axle weights because I wanted to know how much more the 5200 lbs ones weigh. I couldn't find anything on their website. 

I'm pretty confident that Vikingr's and mine/StephenH's have the same actual load capacity because the part numbers are identical except for the one set of digits that defines the starting angle of the torque arm, which shouldn't effect load rating at all. And, if I was FR I wouldn't want to state the 172 axle rating any higher than 3000 lbs anyway, for the reasons I mentioned above.

Anyone can feel free to call Lippert and ask. Frankly, after I got two different answers to my question from them on two phone calls I'm not going to waste my time anymore. 
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Posts: 2702 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Jan 2019 at 8:22pm
Originally posted by lostagain

It was a sad day when science discredited alchemy.  My favorite was phlogiston.  
I carry a bunch of unobtainium in the back of our RP-179. It has negative gravity, and ensures I don't have a heavy tail (so to speak).
bp
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Posts: 6417 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Jan 2019 at 2:27pm
I was able to get outside and measure my axle with a string and tape measure. There is a definite 3/8" crown to the axle. This is with the wheels on the ground but only partially loaded (no water, groceries, clothing, etc.) with only non-perishable items such as dishes and cookware. I don't really have a good way to lift it up off both tires at the same time to measure that way.
StephenH
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