Axle troubles on our 2010, 177 - R-pod Owners Forum

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techntrek

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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Topic: Axle troubles on our 2010, 177
Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 9:13pm

thanks for the updated info, Megan, I'll update the other thread.

Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Craneman

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Joined: 12 May 2013
Location: Tokeland,wa
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Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 2:45pm

Talked to FR today and got the information I really didn't want to hear LOL

Take care

Moe

Jo and Gary, 2010-174,2011 F150

Jo and Gary
2010 174
2011 Ford 150

Megan

Newbie

Joined: 21 Jun 2013
Location: California
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Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 2:17pm

Thank you sooo much for the contact information. I was able to get the parts number based on the info. you provided. I wanted to share an updated contact name for parts with you.

Rodney Jarnagin, Surveyor/Rpod Parts Administrator, Plant 37

Phone : 574-642-3119, ext. 209 (that's the same number listed in the info you gave me)

Fax: 574-343-5942

Emai: rjarnagin@forestriverinc.com

My email was answered much sooner than my phone messages, so that might be the way to go.

Again, thank you! Even with our set back, we looked for a long time before deciding on investing in an Rpod, and are planning on many years of happy podding. At least after this, we know enough not to have any future axle disasters!

Take care,

Meg & Ken

Craneman

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Joined: 12 May 2013
Location: Tokeland,wa
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Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 9:53am

Thanks I'll try again, I have been talking to some axle shops about the problem I have and got some things to look at,hope I can fix it. Had a little surgery last Thursday and am out of commission for a week

Thanks

Moe

Jo and Gary, 2010-174,2011 F150

Jo and Gary
2010 174
2011 Ford 150

Megan

Newbie

Joined: 21 Jun 2013
Location: California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8

Posted: 25 Jun 2013 at 9:37am

Moe,

Try email! I wrote early yesterday afternoon and got a response this morning. Updated info is below:

Roger Jarnagin, Surveyor/Rpod Parts Adminstrator, Plant 37

Phone: 574-642-3119 (this is unchanged from the rpod forum info I was provided)

Fax: 574-343-5942

Email:rjarnagin@forestriverinc.com

I hope this helps,

Meg

Meg & Ken

Craneman

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Joined: 12 May 2013
Location: Tokeland,wa
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Posts: 387

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 at 10:54am

Good luck on the return call from forest river. I'm still waiting and it's been over a week, I also tried lippert and no response. My problem is the brakes not backing off and over heating the drum and bearings . Local R Pod dealers suggestion without seeing the trailer was replace the axle. Guess they need the business .

Moe

Jo and Gary, 2010-174,2011 F150

Jo and Gary
2010 174
2011 Ford 150

Megan

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Joined: 21 Jun 2013
Location: California
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Posts: 8

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 at 9:34am

Thank you for the number. I'm on it!

Meg & Ken

Megan

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Joined: 21 Jun 2013
Location: California
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Posts: 8

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 at 9:27am

I couldn't find a way to talk directly to Forest River. The web site makes a reference to a local dealership.

The transportation problem was huge! We were in an off road area in the High Sierras far from any town. The shop where the trailer is now is a AAA emergency road serve agent as well as repair shop (it had local recommendations, for what that is worth). On site, the mechanic was able to patch it together somehow to get it the 30 miles to their shop. To have hired a commercial transport to the valley 80 miles away was a couple thousand bucks! We would like avoid that if at all possible. I didn't get the impression that that the shop would resist us supplying the part, but I guess we will find that out real soon.

Meg & Ken

techntrek

Admin Group - pHp

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
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Posted: 24 Jun 2013 at 9:16am

Good advice above. Get your VIN number from your title and call Forest River. Numbers below. They have used two different axles over the years so it is likely the one they use now can be used as a replacement.

http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2747&title=misc-forest-river-contacts-and-other-info

Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Seanl

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Joined: 19 Sep 2011
Location: Fredericton NB
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Posts: 633

Posted: 24 Jun 2013 at 9:08am

Originally posted by Megan

Yes, the spindle was damaged. Apparently, the mechanics had to really work to get everything apart to even examine the spindle.

Thank you for the picture.

The original dealer of the trailer said the failure was likely due to a lack of wheel bearing maintenance. While I don't necessarily doubt that, we know the previous owners used that dealer for the recommended maintenance schedules. Interesting that they would say that. They added that wheel bearings need to be repacked each year, or after 5,000 miles. I was then given the Indiana number to call.

Right now I am in Ohio visiting family. Once California wakes up, I will try to track down the correct part through the service dept of the dealer (or might you have a recommended one that i could talk to?) and then call the mechanics up with what I've found. Hopefully, I can get to the bottom of this part issue today. I suspect it may take some time to get the part.

Even If you don't repack the bearings every year they should be inspected. If the seal failed grease would leak out or get contaminated leading to premature bearing failure.

(EDIT) Note that you do not need to put on the same axle that was originally on the Pod as long as it meets the same specs.

Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition