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Frames and axels |
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offgrid ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posted: 25 Nov 2022 at 8:33am |
+1. In the meantime you can import foreign manufactured vehicles if they're over 25 years old without them meeting federal standards. Beware your state requirements though. The Japanese ones I'm looking at are very practically designed, fiberglass coach work, high on quality and low on unnecessary frills. They also tend to be well maintained and have low odometer readings. Very robust 4wd diesel truck chassis, don't think bent frames and axles are a problem. But they won't win any races for sure. Don't know about importing towables.
Examples: https://www.elismotorsjdm.com/rvcamper.html
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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David and Danette ![]() podders Helping podders - pHp ![]() ![]() Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1222 |
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I finished installing the new leaf springs the springs now have a nice arch and I guess it may have raised the camper about 1 1/2 inches. I feel a lot safer now that the springs will not break and have more clearance for the wheels around the wheel wells it was money well spent. Would like to add the Unijack we just bought worked great and I think it would be a good jack for a r-pod or any small camper.
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2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
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mjlrpod ![]() Senior Member ![]() ![]() Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 1221 |
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I have heard of the cracks on the outer and inner walls from several people. The cracks predominately happen over the door, in the top left corner. Although your case may be different, It's possible the cracking has nothing to do with the axle. If you look at the crack, it might be apparent that it was caused by "upward" force. The culprit being the stabilizer jacks. The door opening in the rear leaves a very thin strip between the door, and the rear of the camper. The stabilizer is able to put quite a bit of force lifting the back end of the camper with (for lack of a better term) a "hinging" effect. The rear corner being supported only at the top of the door. I noticed that on mine, the rear passenger area was easy to actually lift that corner with minimal effort. There was plenty of support for downward force, but virtually none for upward force.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
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Scuba Steve ![]() Newbie ![]() Joined: 13 Nov 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 11 |
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Thanks for the reply, however the frame has a 3 inch crack horizontally at the point where it attaches to the axel. Also at that point there is a buckling of the steel going vertical the length of the frame at the same spot.. The axel was definitely undersized and that was replaced after it was found to be broken 1 year ago. The crack above the door appeared as the frame started cracking and buckling. The crack is definitely from the frame cracking and downward movement and Forest River has seen this before. There is presently over 40 units waiting to be brought back to the factory for repairs. Who is paying for this, I do not know but Lippert in involved.
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Steve
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offgrid ![]() Senior Member ![]() Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
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It's the axle imposing stress on the frame at that point. Well understood effect of torsion axles. You can see a finite element analysis showing the high stress location here:
https://mechanicalelements.com/trailer-axle-springs-torsion-axle/
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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