Axle Problem 2015 182G - R-pod Owners Forum

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StephenH

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Topic: Axle Problem 2015 182G
Posted: 06 May 2021 at 12:48pm

I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes and seeing some pictures.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

offgrid

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Joined: 23 Jul 2018
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Posts: 5290

Posted: 07 May 2021 at 6:57am

There isn't really anything upscale in quality in an rpod. If you want a high quality trailer get something like a Bigfoot. Tons more money and weight.

Weight is a key criterion in the design of the rpods. FR sells these things to folks with little 3500 lb tow rated SUVs (now there is a bad business practice for you, and dangerous). They can't keep the weight and cost low without giving up something, which is strength in this case.

I ordered my ubolts. They weren't available at hardware stores. The link is in my write up, good folks to deal with. Be sure to get your dad to camber the angle to mate up with the recambered axle. The proper crown dimension is discussed in the write up, run a string line along the bottom of the axle end to end and measure the gap in the center, with load off the wheels.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

furpod

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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
Location: Central KY
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Posted: 07 May 2021 at 2:48pm

Light-cheap-strong.. pick two.

SC for Huskers View Drop Down

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Location: Goose Creek, SC
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Posted: 07 May 2021 at 3:59pm

Offgrid, Do you think the 5" U bolts would be long enough, or do you think go like you did with the 6" and cut them off. Confused

Another one please, did you use lock washers or the flat ones that come with the bolt as a kit?

Thanks

Happy Traveling,
Tom
2017 172pod
2011 F150 STX

offgrid

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Posts: 5290

Posted: 07 May 2021 at 4:23pm

The longer ubolts were helpful because it made it easier to get the nuts started. The angle being slightly bent doesn't initially push up tightly against the axle with the first ubolts. It all comes together fine once you get all the ubolts on and start tightening them. I think if you used a floor jack in the center shorter ones would be ok, I was holding the angle up by hand which made it a bit awkward. No need to cut them off if you use the long ones, they're not in the way of anything. You need a long reach socket though.

The ubolts I got were fine threaded with heavy washers behind the backing plate. They didn't use or need lock washers. There was a specific torque setting for them IIRC.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Olddawgsrule View Drop Down

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Location: New Hampshire
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Posts: 1014

Posted: 07 May 2021 at 4:34pm

Originally posted by furpod

Light-cheap-strong.. pick two.

LOL Ain't that the truth..

Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander

offgrid

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Jul 2018
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Posts: 5290

Posted: 07 May 2021 at 5:52pm

Originally posted by furpod

Light-cheap-strong.. pick two.

Is there one that's cheap and strong?

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Blitzkrieg3002 View Drop Down

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Joined: 30 Apr 2019
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Posts: 19

Posted: 07 May 2021 at 7:03pm

So, just got done temp fixing the pod. Turns out the axle is okay. We’ll sort of. The problem was a bent spindle. We started off by hooking a dial indicator up and measured about 50 thousands of flex in the edge of the axle jacking up the pod and lowering it back down. Nothing too crazy to us. We then pulled the tire off and could clearly see the bent spindle.

We grabbed an old leftover bent wheel, a BFH, a straight edge to check our bend and progress, some jack stands to brace properly and went to town correcting the bend.

I didn’t get a ton of pics but here’s what I got.

Before

Putting some force on the wheel

BFH time

After

I had to replace the brake shoes as well. The drum was so cockeyed it wore the rear brake shoe down to metal. I’ll likely order a new axle, but being so long out with shipping. (Quotes over a month wait) I’m happy with fix for the time being.

I really don’t know what I must’ve hit to cause this. Truly puzzling. the amount of force required, one would think I would’ve noticed. Guess it’s just these California roads.

offgrid

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Posted: 08 May 2021 at 6:07am

Very interesting and thanks for the report and the temp fix. I'd worry about putting a lot of side load on the frame with the bottle jack though.

I was wondering when we'd get a bent spindle here. When you said your axle hadn't lost it's crown that was a good clue. Unfortunately you can't replace a spindle, they assemble them by compressing and freezing the rubber, insert the spindle, and let it thaw. No way to reverse that.

In the end a 3500 lb axle is just too light for a heavily loaded rpod on the kind of roads we have in a lot of the country. If you're having to replace brake assemblies as well as the axle it wouldn't be much more $ to upgrade to the heavier axle.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

lostagain

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Posted: 08 May 2021 at 6:26am

Blitz, good thing you didn't tow your Pod across Indiana on I-80. The bend in the spindles would likely have left your tires touching the trailer on the top side. Ouch

Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost