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Topic ClosedR-Pod 178 axle
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: R-Pod 178 axle
    Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 2:45pm
I absolutely second the #5000 recommendation. The original axles, #3500 I think, were marginal on the larger Pods and led to bent axle problems (should have been dual axles anyway).
 
If you order a Dexter torsion axle you also have the option of specifying the downward angle. Increasing the angle above the original OEM angle can increase ground clearance and reduce the possibility of tire to fender contact. I hesitate to make a specific recommendation by remote control but I would consider 5 degrees more than the original. FR can tell you what was originally on your Pod if you give them the VIN. The question is will they. Others on this forum, possibly @furpod, may have some thoughts. It might be instructive to talk to the engineering folks at the Oregon RPOD factory about what axle they use on the Hood River models.

At least one other person on this forum has replaced the axle. Search the archives and PM them for ideas.
Charlie
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OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Location: Greenbrier, TN
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 6:50pm
sclayton,

I have a 2015 178, I recall the axle sticker was on it. I seem to recall removing it and putting it in my book, I will check tomorrow. Will pass that to you if I do have it. Give me some time to answer. Stand by.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 3:28pm
I did remove it and it was in my book.    So mine says - Forest River, Surveyor - 37, DEX# 2049469, S/N 121897435, Capacity 3500 lbs. I do not have a dog in the fight about 5K axles, only can say I have had no issues with mine - Knock on Wood.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Happy Tripping View Drop Down
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Posts: 473 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 5:43pm
Originally posted by CharlieM

I absolutely second the #5000 recommendation. The original axles, #3500 I think, were marginal on the larger Pods and led to bent axle problems (should have been dual axles anyway).

I sorta hesitate to put in my 2 cents worth, but this has been discussed before. 

I had a bent axle, after 'out of warranty' of course, not having gone over anything bad that I knew of, but of course knew that FR would just say, "you bent it." and I couldn't say, "no". 

As far as I can see, 3500 lb axles are 'industry standard' for all R-Pod class trailers. I could easily be wrong, it's just what I found when I investigated it awhile ago. If someone makes a trailer with a heavier one, it's a good reason to buy that trailer, everything else being equal.

If anybody ever starts a class-action lawsuit, I will not only eagerly, but happily join in, not that I think it ever will.
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Sherbert View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2020 at 11:21am
I have a bent Axle on a 2020 rpid rp189
Forest river say of all the axles in the world I have to choose from theres are the only ones that will work.
Has anyone else changed there axles with a generic axle
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Oct 2020 at 12:41pm
Originally posted by Sherbert

I have a bent Axle on a 2020 rpid rp189
Forest river say of all the axles in the world I have to choose from theres are the only ones that will work.
Has anyone else changed there axles with a generic axle

There aren't any "generic" axles. You might have to weld up some new frame attachments but I'm sure you can get a torsion axle from a different manufacturer that would have the right dimensions.  But why is your axle bent? 

Can you make a warranty claim because you have a new rPod? You would likely have to make that claim to Lippert if that is the axle manufacturer on your trailer, since FR excludes the axle/frame from their warranty. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
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Toyanvil View Drop Down
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Posts: 157 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Oct 2020 at 8:48am
There is a difference between a bent axle and one that has lost it's camber. If your axle is flat across the middle it is a good chance it has just lost camber and can be realigned. Overloading is normally what causes this, and most people don't weigh their trailers and just go by the factory decal. My 178 shows something like 2750 lbs on the factory decal, but weighs 3200 lbs at the scales ready to camp. So am only 300 lbs under the max axle rating, add in a WDH adding around 100 lbs to the axle, bad roads and extra water in the tanks and your axle will flatten out over time. Remember the math, I keep my trailer under 3400 total lbs at all times and try to slow down for bumps.
Just look around for a good frame or trailer shop in your town and have them align it, It's like having your car aligned. I see people buying new axles and it will just happen again. A 5000 lbs axle will start new problems you didn't need, and will be a lot more money.
This is the problem with the way R Pods are built, your axle is 89.5 inches from center of hub to center of hub and 59.25 inches frame mount to frame mount = 15 inches of over hang on each side, the R Pod frame should have been about 15 inches wider making it only 7.5 inch over hang. If you call any axle company and tell them you are building a trailer with frame rails 59.25 inches apart and you want hubs 89.5 inches apart they well tell you don't do it. That is why I did this two years ago with no more problems, but there are easier ways to support it on this forum. Or just have it aligned and keep an eye on the weight.

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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Oct 2020 at 9:37am
When we say a steel (or other metal) structural element has been "bent" we need to try to be clear what is meant. So, lets define a term here.

Yield Strength

"Yield strength is the maximum stress that can be applied before it begins to change shape permanently. This is an approximation of the elastic limit of the steel. If stress is added to the metal but does not reach the yield point, it will return to its original shape after the stress is removed. When the stresses exceed the yield point, the steel will not be able to bounce back. Yield strength represents the upper limit of the load that can be safely applied to the metal, which makes it a very important number to know when designing components."

So, when an axle becomes decambered it is because it was subjected to one or more events where it received stresses in excess of the yield strength and did not return to its original shape. In that sense it is "bent".

I did the calculations for rPod axle loads and found that the steel axle tube reaches the yield point at a load a bit less than 2x the 3500 lb rated axle load. That might sound like it should be fine but its not, because many rPods like mine and toyanvil's are running near their max axle loads, and because moving vehicles are subject to bump loads that can frequently be higher than 2 g's. No one in the trailer or vehicle manufacturing industry will say what their frames and axles are actually designed to, but general guidance is to be at least 2.5 to 3 g.  So rPods are less than that, they are very lightly built.

As toyanvil says, just because an axle is decambered doesn't mean it can't be bent back to its original shape, and I agree this is a better approach than simply getting a new axle of the same rating, assuming that the axle tube has not been severely damaged. A good trailer frame shop can tell you. 


Then, unless you keep the rPod light and stay off of rough or potholed roads, reinforce it using one of the methods you can find doing a search on this forum. As toyanvil points out, it is the inboard mounting points that cause the axle to experience much higher loadings than would be the case if the axle to frame mountings were out nearer the wheels as they are in most other trailers. 

This all applies to a decambering axle failure. There are other ways an rPod axle can be damaged besides being decambered, although that seems to be the most typical thing that happens in rPods. 

So, back to the original question, what has actually occurred that makes you say your axle is "bent"?
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Sherbert View Drop Down
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Posts: 4 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Oct 2020 at 1:06pm
Its used i got it at an auction.
The previous owner backed into something and pushed down and bent the axle.
Just trying to have something new for a used price
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offgrid View Drop Down
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Oct 2020 at 1:36pm
Ok, just a straight up damaged axle. If you can't straighten that one and need a new axle you should just get a direct replacement for what you have, which is (probably) from Lippert. They don't really get cheaper than that or FR wouldn't be buying them in the first place. 

To save money assuming the brake assemblies are good you can just swap those to the new axle. If you do that you're probably looking at about 700-800 $ IIRC. You should be able to bolt the new one right up. Get a riser kit while you're at it if you don't already have one, gives you more clearance so less likely to damage something under there in future. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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