R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Floor failure!!!
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedFloor failure!!!

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 13>
Author
Message
Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Floor failure!!!
    Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 6:02am
I could believe my eyes when I saw this yesterday! I have always thought the slide tire fender was closer than the door side, but yesterday as I went out to re-grease the bearings, it was a lot closer..

Under I go. The frame does not extend to the outer wall and from the frame to the outer wall (just in the area of the axle) I have about 1 inch of sag (photo attached).


Wondering who else has had this and how it was remedied? 

This is on a 2017.5 182G (picked up 4/2018)

I have a inspection setup to see if my extended warranty will cover this..
Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander
Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 6:58am
Yikes!

Can you tell if the frame rail is bent upwards or the floor of the trailer has moved downwards? Have you hit any large pot holes on that side recently? 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 7:24am
Originally posted by offgrid

Yikes!

Can you tell if the frame rail is bent upwards or the floor of the trailer has moved downwards? Have you hit any large pot holes on that side recently? 

Now that is a very good question! I'd hadn't thought of checking that! Duh...

Frame is what's bent! Wall has a minor bow downward, but frame has a much greater on upward!

As far as pot-holes, ya I've caught a few on the highways around the major cities in the USA. I tend to avoid these and use the by-ways, but at times you can't avoid.. You would think the tire would blow from that kind of stress before the frame would bend.. Weakest point.. or so you'd think!
Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander
Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 7:43am
Is the frame bent up about where the back end of the axle attachment bracket is? That is a weak spot because when you hit a pothole the axle torsion rod rotates up until it can't go any further and then the bracket will try to bend the frame up at the back and down in the front. 
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:06am
Originally posted by offgrid

Is the frame bent up about where the back end of the axle attachment bracket is? That is a weak spot because when you hit a pothole the axle torsion rod rotates up until it can't go any further and then the bracket will try to bend the frame up at the back and down in the front. 

I'm going to string it and determine. The bend is definitely at the axle mount as my eye sees it. I see no deflection forward or aft of that area after a couple feet in the floor, telling me the bend is at the axle mount.
I'll confirm later this morning.
Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander
Back to Top
Toyanvil View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 15 Feb 2019
Location: Bakersfield
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 157
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:09am
A good frame shop can fix that.
Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:14am
The most common failure folks see from an axle overload (if that’s what this is) is a bent axle so you might want to check for that too. If you run a string line along the bottom of the axle tube it should show a slight crown in the center, like about 3/16 or 1/4 inch or so. If it’s not the the axle tube has probably been bent too. You can also look for the wheel on that side having negative camber (splayed out at the bottom).
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
Olddawgsrule View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 20 Sep 2017
Location: New Hampshire
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1014
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:14am
Don't have to string.. Frame is buckled and cracked at the axle mount! 
Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander
Back to Top
GlueGuy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2624
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:19am
Originally posted by Olddawgsrule

Don't have to string.. Frame is buckled and cracked at the axle mount! 
Ouch! Sounds like you may need to visit a frame shop!
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
Back to Top
offgrid View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Aug 2019 at 8:20am
Yeah you definitely need to get the frame straightened and reinforced. Easier than if the floor and wall was damaged, as Toyanvil says find a good frame shop.

Check out your axle too, usually it bends before the frame does. See my last post on that.

You might also get a weight on that axle and see how close you are to the 3500 lb max.

Good luck!
1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 13>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz