trailer tilt |
Post Reply | Page 12> |
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malkbean2
Groupie Joined: 31 Jan 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 80 |
Topic: trailer tilt Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 9:00am |
Does anyone know the maximum amount of trailer tilt before corrective measures are necessitated under guarantee. ie trailer tilt while setting on flat ground without slide out.
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rpod 178
Grand Caravan |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 2:55pm |
Do you mean how high one side is vs the other? 1/2 inch difference isn't unusual. I'm assuming the slide side is lower?
You might have a bent axle if one side is significantly lower than the other. That is more of a concern than just a difference between the two sides. Do your wheels have negative camber (wheel tilted inward at the top)? Run a string line along the bottom of the axle from one side to the other. You should have a gap in the middle (axle crowned upwards) of about 3/16 inch or thereabouts. If you have noticeable negative camber or no crown in your axle then its bent.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6283 |
Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 4:02pm |
Or, what would be much worse, look at the floor of the trailer from underneath, sighting from one end. Does the floor look level all the way from front to back or is is sagging anywhere? If it is, that is a bigger problem that needs to be resolved before it gets worse. I added two outrigger supports to our 179 because I noticed it was sagging a little under the slide-out. If this is the problem and you don't have the capability (equipment or ability) to add outriggers yourself, you may want to contact Forest River about the problem. If moisture has gotten into the floor, it could have weakened it which would be a likely cause. However, the design is partly to blame also. There is just too much cantilevered floor outside the frame. That is one of the risks of minimizing weight.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 4:25pm |
Good point. Here's a question, not having seen a trailer with a sag in the floor, does a sagging floor look like the whole trailer is tilted to one side? Or does it appear as level trailer with sagging wall/slide on one side? I would have thought the latter?
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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Tars Tarkas
Senior Member Joined: 14 Jan 2013 Location: Near Nashville Online Status: Offline Posts: 1446 |
Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 4:32pm |
All kinds of possibilities here I suppose, but the first thing to check is the simplest. Are the tires aired equally? TT
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser |
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419 |
Posted: 31 Aug 2020 at 4:38pm |
When I experienced a saggy floor, the trailer never exhibited a tilt. The floor sagged and separated. I would look at frame and suspension, not floor, first, if trailer tilts.
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Mike Carter
2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
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malkbean2
Groupie Joined: 31 Jan 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 80 |
Posted: 17 Sep 2020 at 3:03pm |
Thanks for the comments. According to information obtained from Forest River, for the 178 Rpod with the slide in "The unit should not be tilted at all. It should be level. " To answer some above inquiries. The slide side is lower by about 1" measured at the rear in various locations. There is no visually noticeable camber issue at the wheel. Tires are inflated at 50 psi equally. The floor looks straight (as much as can be seen without removing the tanks). From a simple eyeballing view the axle appears to be slightly crowned upward in the middle.
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rpod 178
Grand Caravan |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 17 Sep 2020 at 5:47pm |
1 inch is a bit high. I'm surprised that FR would say that the height on both sides should be exactly equal. I've seen other reports that they allow around 3/4 of an inch. It would seem to me that they would be picking up an unwanted warranty liability by stating that they should be equal. For reference my 179 is about 1/2 in lower on the slide side.
You might want to get under there and measure the actual axle crown to be sure its really there.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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Toyanvil
Senior Member Joined: 15 Feb 2019 Location: Bakersfield Online Status: Offline Posts: 157 |
Posted: 17 Sep 2020 at 5:49pm |
I would measure at the wheels, ground to frame to check suspension. The best way to check camber is with a 24" bubble level, wheels should be plumb with sides of the trailer.
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malkbean2
Groupie Joined: 31 Jan 2017 Online Status: Offline Posts: 80 |
Posted: 24 Jan 2021 at 10:34am |
Final resolution for trailer tilt: Axle was bent. Extended warranty (American Guardian) was useless. New axle with brakes etc ~$375 Shipping ~$130
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rpod 178
Grand Caravan |
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