Bent axle

Hello all,

I have noticed more than a few podders over the years that have suffered from the border line proper weight axles on are r-pods.

I have an early 2017 179 with about 25000 miles on it with the driver side wheel tilting in at the top. I have never hit any thing not do I over load the r-pod. Though I am very careful to adjust my speed according to the asphalt conditions I suspect that the quality of the roads (frost heaves) here in alaska and the border line axle weight have taken there toll.

Has any one successfully had an axle rebent? I don't know of any shops up here doing that.

Has anyone purchased a new axle from say lippert or dexter? If so how did you communicate the mounting hardware and location?

Or is the best option to go to forest river? It so is there a good contact person to get with to minimize a lot of run around?

Thank you for any information.

OK thanks fellows,

I have followed most of your previous posts and have seen the mods on reinforcements. I will take all into consideration.

I found a sticker on the axle (paper) about a year ago and anticipating future need wrote the numbers down in my log book. Some of the numbers were already not very legible so questionable. A metal tag would have been wiser.

I don't think I won't the hassle of dealing with FR for warranty, so I will try your suggestions of writing an axle company with the numbers I got off the axle tag and see where it goes.

Yes, that is what I need. First picture looks very similar to mine. I sent an email off to Dexter for their opinion. Our nearest town is 100 miles and next town that might have that type of shop is Anchorage 330 miles, but I am going to take your advice and make a few phone calls to see if I can locate anyone that can tweak the axle. To get a new one, shipping alone is going to be extreme.

The Lippert torsion axles are shipped crowned in the center giving them a bit of positive camber. This flattens out a bit under load. My very simple approach to reinforcement is to add a piece of 3/16 or 1/4 steel angle under the axle clamped to the axle with two square u bolts mounted at 45 degree angles at each end. No welding is required. The angle should be crowned in the center to mate up to a properly crowned axle tube.

To determine if you axle is properly crowned run a string line from one end of your axle to the other and measure the gap in the center. If should be around 1/4 to 3/8 inch. Less is an indication that the axle is bent.

If the gap is ok then your negative camber issue on the drivers wheel might not be the axle tube. It could be the spindle or the rubber cords in the torsion assembly, in which case a new axle is the only practical fix.