179 Axle Issues

Originally posted by SandD Anyone have axle issues with rpod178 or is it only the 179?

I think all of the 2800+ pound pods toe the tires out at bottom. This gives the visual appearance that the axle is bent. It is at the capacity rating for the axle they use which doesn't leave much of a safety buffer, but isn't technically a problem. It will probably cause excessive tire wear, but I don't believe it is going to be recalled unless units start failing. I don't think we have any examples of an axle failure. Nearly all our camping is local, so I won't put enough miles on my tires to wear them out before they need to be replaced from age. This is probably what Forest River is betting on for most buyers also.

All should be more concerned about checking the lug nut torque before each trip and every 500 miles, we do have some examples of wheels falling off due to lack of proper torque. On our second trip, I got half a turn out of nearly all lugs. They were 100 pounds and tight from the dealer, so those aluminum wheels WILL loosen them.

I have a "heavyweight" 'pod, I've never experienced any axle problems.  When I pull it, it is always near Forest River's suggested maximum weight.  I do check the lug nut torque and tire pressure before every trip.

Hey guys, just seeing this forum. So I have a 2013 RPOD 176. I noticed after no more than 2000 miles, that I had bad tread wear on the outside of the tire, opposite of slide out. My RV dealer took measurements provided by Dexter, and the wheel was forward about a .5 centimeter I think it was. They are testing it this week and will have more details to see if they are covering this under warranty. Needless to say, I was unable to take my camper LAST MINUTE to Colorado for the 6 weeks I was there. So I was furious, after putting on new tires for the trip and finding this. And no, I have never carried a full tank of water anywhere. I filled up and took it down the road one time, which was a 2-3 mile trip down the road at 30mph. Definitely no habit. The way it was bent or out of alignment, I would have to be hauling butt backwards and hit something to make it bend forward. I am positive it is 'defective' because I have never hit anything, never had it off road, etc. I was looking at selling it and getting the 179, and now I'm afraid to get one because of all the axel issues!

Welcome.  Personally I would have taken it with me to CO with the original tires and taken care of fixing it when I got back.  The tire was already damaged so nothing worse would have happened to it for one trip, and the axle wouldn't have been unsafe.  Would I have taken it on a 5000 mile trip, no.