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Topic Closed179 Axle Issues
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Plantguy View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Mar 2015
Location: Calistoga, Ca
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Posts: 102 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: 179 Axle Issues
    Posted: 18 Aug 2016 at 1:17am
Isn't 3 enough? How many don't make a comment or are not in this owners group. Are you trying to say that there is not an issue with this axle? Just curious.
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Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Aug 2016 at 7:03pm
Originally posted by Plantguy

Kymooses,
I have "an issue" with my axle as do many members of this forum. 
Plantguy


How many?  Counting you I think of three.  out of now many members? 
Keith-N-Dar
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David and Danette View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 Nov 2009
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Posts: 1215 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2016 at 7:35pm
  The Forest River Vibe had a issue with bent axles then the last year they were made they increased the axle capacity by 900 lbs. The Division V-Cross Vibe is no longer a RV manufacturing division of Forest River. But I never heard of forest river replacing the axles on the earlier made Vibes. I don't know the truth of why V-Cross Vibe doesn't exist anymore but could only guess the axle problem may have had something to do with it.
2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-              
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019)
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Keith-N-Dar View Drop Down
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Joined: 03 Apr 2011
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Posts: 1447 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2016 at 7:01pm
Originally posted by Plantguy

Hi Budward,
I also have a 179 with a bent axle. I have had no help from FR or the axle manufacturer. My trailer weighs out at 3450 lbs. almost empty of my things and very little water. I have come across my Rpod owners with axle problems. My axle is rated at 3550 lbs. I don't think that axle is strong enough for the 179 unit. I am going to the Department of Transportation and look for their regulations concerning axle to weight requirements. I am not a lawyer but think this could become a class action case. I would like your help in contacting other owners in order to get as much support as possible. Also, I just picked up my trailer from a FR certified repair shop. I was hung up on while trying to get some information about the axle twice by the owner and called a jerk. Customer service??? Please let me know if you want to help.
Plantguy


Another class action threat.  Go figure
Keith-N-Dar
Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers)
2011 R-Pod 177
2010 Ford F-150
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Plantguy View Drop Down
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Posts: 102 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Aug 2016 at 12:10am
Hi Budward,
I also have a 179 with a bent axle. I have had no help from FR or the axle manufacturer. My trailer weighs out at 3450 lbs. almost empty of my things and very little water. I have come across my Rpod owners with axle problems. My axle is rated at 3550 lbs. I don't think that axle is strong enough for the 179 unit. I am going to the Department of Transportation and look for their regulations concerning axle to weight requirements. I am not a lawyer but think this could become a class action case. I would like your help in contacting other owners in order to get as much support as possible. Also, I just picked up my trailer from a FR certified repair shop. I was hung up on while trying to get some information about the axle twice by the owner and called a jerk. Customer service??? Please let me know if you want to help.
Plantguy
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kymooses View Drop Down
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Posts: 1807 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2016 at 2:10pm
Originally posted by Plantguy

Kymooses,
I have "an issue" with my axle as do many members of this forum. 
Plantguy

I've never said you or anyone else can't have a problem with an axle.  Anything I've stated is only that it is not some widespread problem with the R-Pod travel trailers as a whole.
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Plantguy View Drop Down
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Posts: 102 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2016 at 10:01am
Kymooses,
I have "an issue" with my axle as do many members of this forum. 
Plantguy
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Plantguy View Drop Down
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Posts: 102 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2016 at 9:58am
I have the same problem. FR sent photos of axle to axle manufacturer. Not covered as they claim it was driver error. I am not so sure about that. Pothole? I had just bought the 179 and while at a friends house nearby, we notice the chamber being out of line. I just found this forum and am starting to wonder about FR's concerns for their customers. 
Plantguy
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Plantguy View Drop Down
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Posts: 102 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Aug 2016 at 7:05pm
Hi Budward and other axle problem people,
I thought I had bent my axle when I hit a pothole going at low speed. Now, from what I read in this forum, the chamber bends in at the top when the Pod is parked. When being towed, the wheel straightens up. From the rear, the axle looks bent. I have had a difficult time with FV, the axle manufacturer and the service company. Angry I think I will tow it like it is...
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Appocalexx View Drop Down
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Joined: 01 May 2015
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Posts: 77 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 May 2015 at 9:36pm
Originally posted by Budward

New axle is in! Will try to get pics up soon, but I'm very busy as our departure date for a long trip approaches.
Old axle was heavy, could barely lift it.
New axle I can't lift! Thankfully my Kubota front end loader got it out of the cargo trailer I brought it home in. I used my transmission jack to position it under the trailer, which was perched high on jack stands.
Brakes are massive compared to old axle, that will be nice in mountains as they will heat up less, and they will wear less.
Rpod is 3" higher than before, that is good as I always thought it was too low even with risers. I hate dragging stuff on steep drives etc.

Dexter was a week late delivering the axle to the distributor and then they made it with the wrong mounting plates, I ordered high and they put standard on it. Fortunately it all worked out as the rpod ended up plenty high, another 3/4" would have been getting near too much. I had planned to make new risers anyway but ended up using the original.

Test drive later todaySmile

I know this is an old post but a good one.
Been searching all day for a post like this one on the web and finally found someone with the same issue i am having with dragging things on the ground. Planning on doing some boon docking and this type of mod i feel is well worth the time and $$ plus you can add more things to your load when traveling. Unfortunatley this will have to wait till i get back to the lower 48.
If your still around the forum, have you thought about adding a leaf kit, either under axle with the set up you have or over axle without the block or smaller block?
Also any update on this new axle and how it has held up for you?
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