R-Pod 178 axle
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=11438
Printed Date: 27 Apr 2024 at 9:45am
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Topic: R-Pod 178 axle
Posted By: sclayton
Subject: R-Pod 178 axle
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 7:53am
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We just bought a 2014 R-Pod 178 and need to replace the axle but the sticker giving the model for the axle is missing. We need this to order and can't get the answer from Forest River with out the axle sticker information. Should be a V000??? Does anyone have this information? ------------- Sandy |
Replies:
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 7:56am
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If you contact the factory, not FR corporate, with your VIN, they can tell you the axle specs. Why do you need to replace the axle? ------------- |
Posted By: sclayton
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 8:11am
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We just bought it used and after we got it home we noticed the inside of tires worn and looked toe out. We took it thinking probably axle and that's what we were told. We have never had a camper before so are totally ignorant. The person helping us at the dealership and I have both called with the VIN and no go. Lippert says all they can do is send a build sheet to be filled out. ------------- Sandy |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 8:43am
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OK.. that hasn't been my experience, but that is OK. When I say "factory" I don't mean the axle factory, I mean the R-Pod factory... But.. anywyas.. camping season is coming up so.. Get the build sheet sent from Lippert and fill it out. No biggie. Note: IF I was was doing a new axle, I would do a 5K pound build. ------------- |
Posted By: sclayton
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 8:59am
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Thanks. I just passed the 5K info to the dealer.
------------- Sandy |
Posted By: sclayton
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 9:24am
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Would all same make and model come with same axle? ------------- Sandy |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 10:11am
FR has used both Lippert and Dexter axles. ------------- |
Posted By: sclayton
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 10:16am
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Would they have used both in 2014 on 178 ------------- Sandy |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 10:32am
It's possible. But, if you are ordering an axle, it doesn't matter what's on there now, only that you fill out the form properly and are accurate on your measurements. ------------- |
Posted By: sclayton
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 12:20pm
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The dealer will be filling out the form. I was hoping someone with the same unit would have the info on their axle and I could use that.
I guess I'm just impatient and I think the dealer doing the build sheet will take forever. ------------- Sandy |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 2:45pm
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I absolutely second the #5000 recommendation. The original axles, #3500 I think, were marginal on the larger Pods and led to bent axle problems (should have been dual axles anyway). If you order a Dexter torsion axle you also have the option of specifying the downward angle. Increasing the angle above the original OEM angle can increase ground clearance and reduce the possibility of tire to fender contact. I hesitate to make a specific recommendation by remote control but I would consider 5 degrees more than the original. FR can tell you what was originally on your Pod if you give them the VIN. The question is will they. Others on this forum, possibly @furpod, may have some thoughts. It might be instructive to talk to the engineering folks at the Oregon RPOD factory about what axle they use on the Hood River models. At least one other person on this forum has replaced the axle. Search the archives and PM them for ideas. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 20 Apr 2018 at 6:50pm
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sclayton,
I have a 2015 178, I recall the axle sticker was on it. I seem to recall removing it and putting it in my book, I will check tomorrow. Will pass that to you if I do have it. Give me some time to answer. Stand by. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 3:28pm
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I did remove it and it was in my book. So mine says - Forest River, Surveyor - 37, DEX# 2049469, S/N 121897435, Capacity 3500 lbs. I do not have a dog in the fight about 5K axles, only can say I have had no issues with mine - Knock on Wood. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Happy Tripping
Date Posted: 21 Apr 2018 at 5:43pm
I sorta hesitate to put in my 2 cents worth, but this has been discussed before. I had a bent axle, after 'out of warranty' of course, not having gone over anything bad that I knew of, but of course knew that FR would just say, "you bent it." and I couldn't say, "no". As far as I can see, 3500 lb axles are 'industry standard' for all R-Pod class trailers. I could easily be wrong, it's just what I found when I investigated it awhile ago. If someone makes a trailer with a heavier one, it's a good reason to buy that trailer, everything else being equal. If anybody ever starts a class-action lawsuit, I will not only eagerly, but happily join in, not that I think it ever will. |
Posted By: Sherbert
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2020 at 11:21am
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I have a bent Axle on a 2020 rpid rp189
Forest river say of all the axles in the world I have to choose from theres are the only ones that will work. Has anyone else changed there axles with a generic axle |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 20 Oct 2020 at 12:41pm
There aren't any "generic" axles. You might have to weld up some new frame attachments but I'm sure you can get a torsion axle from a different manufacturer that would have the right dimensions. But why is your axle bent? Can you make a warranty claim because you have a new rPod? You would likely have to make that claim to Lippert if that is the axle manufacturer on your trailer, since FR excludes the axle/frame from their warranty. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Toyanvil
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2020 at 8:48am
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There is a difference between a bent axle and one that has lost it's camber. If your axle is flat across the middle it is a good chance it has just lost camber and can be realigned. Overloading is normally what causes this, and most people don't weigh their trailers and just go by the factory decal. My 178 shows something like 2750 lbs on the factory decal, but weighs 3200 lbs at the scales ready to camp. So am only 300 lbs under the max axle rating, add in a WDH adding around 100 lbs to the axle, bad roads and extra water in the tanks and your axle will flatten out over time. Remember the math, I keep my trailer under 3400 total lbs at all times and try to slow down for bumps. Just look around for a good frame or trailer shop in your town and have them align it, It's like having your car aligned. I see people buying new axles and it will just happen again. A 5000 lbs axle will start new problems you didn't need, and will be a lot more money.
This is the problem with the way R Pods are built, your axle is 89.5 inches from center of hub to center of hub and 59.25 inches frame mount to frame mount = 15 inches of over hang on each side, the R Pod frame should have been about 15 inches wider making it only 7.5 inch over hang. If you call any axle company and tell them you are building a trailer with frame rails 59.25 inches apart and you want hubs 89.5 inches apart they well tell you don't do it. That is why I did this two years ago with no more problems, but there are easier ways to support it on this forum. Or just have it aligned and keep an eye on the weight.  Before  After  |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2020 at 9:37am
When we say a steel (or other metal) structural element has been "bent" we need to try to be clear what is meant. So, lets define a term here.Yield Strength"Yield strength is the maximum stress that can be applied before it begins to change shape permanently. This is an approximation of the elastic limit of the steel. If stress is added to the metal but does not reach the yield point, it will return to its original shape after the stress is removed. When the stresses exceed the yield point, the steel will not be able to bounce back. Yield strength represents the upper limit of the load that can be safely applied to the metal, which makes it a very important number to know when designing components." So, when an axle becomes decambered it is because it was subjected to one or more events where it received stresses in excess of the yield strength and did not return to its original shape. In that sense it is "bent". I did the calculations for rPod axle loads and found that the steel axle tube reaches the yield point at a load a bit less than 2x the 3500 lb rated axle load. That might sound like it should be fine but its not, because many rPods like mine and toyanvil's are running near their max axle loads, and because moving vehicles are subject to bump loads that can frequently be higher than 2 g's. No one in the trailer or vehicle manufacturing industry will say what their frames and axles are actually designed to, but general guidance is to be at least 2.5 to 3 g. So rPods are less than that, they are very lightly built. As toyanvil says, just because an axle is decambered doesn't mean it can't be bent back to its original shape, and I agree this is a better approach than simply getting a new axle of the same rating, assuming that the axle tube has not been severely damaged. A good trailer frame shop can tell you. Then, unless you keep the rPod light and stay off of rough or potholed roads, reinforce it using one of the methods you can find doing a search on this forum. As toyanvil points out, it is the inboard mounting points that cause the axle to experience much higher loadings than would be the case if the axle to frame mountings were out nearer the wheels as they are in most other trailers. This all applies to a decambering axle failure. There are other ways an rPod axle can be damaged besides being decambered, although that seems to be the most typical thing that happens in rPods. So, back to the original question, what has actually occurred that makes you say your axle is "bent"? ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Sherbert
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2020 at 1:06pm
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Its used i got it at an auction.
The previous owner backed into something and pushed down and bent the axle. Just trying to have something new for a used price |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2020 at 1:36pm
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Ok, just a straight up damaged axle. If you can't straighten that one and need a new axle you should just get a direct replacement for what you have, which is (probably) from Lippert. They don't really get cheaper than that or FR wouldn't be buying them in the first place. To save money assuming the brake assemblies are good you can just swap those to the new axle. If you do that you're probably looking at about 700-800 $ IIRC. You should be able to bolt the new one right up. Get a riser kit while you're at it if you don't already have one, gives you more clearance so less likely to damage something under there in future. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: SC for Huskers
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2020 at 6:40pm
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I also have a bent axle, both sides, outside the frame. I emailed Lippert and asked about upgrading from 3000# to next size. Their reply sort of caught me off guard, I have to change the wheels to a 6 lug pattern with a 4000# axle. They gave me this number which I cant find on their website. LCI35H-DTBSA-89.5-59.25-ID-22D-LPIB-L-655-CAP 4000# Toyanvil has the fix and I wish that young fella would punch or cut a bunch of those metal pieces out and sell them, I'll be first in line. ------------- Happy Traveling, Tom 2017 172pod 2011 F150 STX |
Posted By: Toyanvil
Date Posted: 21 Oct 2020 at 9:23pm
| I wish I had the time to build more, I have a habit of over building stuff. There are some great ideas on this site that work and are easier to build. If I were you, I would add the angel iron fix that some have done on this site and have a local shop align it, then go camping and have fun. P.S. the P/N means 89.5 inches center of hub to center of hub 59.25 inches frame mount to frame mount -22 degree swingarm angel CAP 4000#. This is the problem, 30 inches of total over-hang, 15 on each side and by the axle manufactures own website it should not be over 7 to 8 inches. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 22 Oct 2020 at 12:05am
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This is the link to the specific axle modification that I did. It is much simpler than the one pictured above. I don't have the tools or the skills to do that one. Nor am I friends with a machine shop that could fabricate it for me. http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712&PID=124418&title=our-escapod-mods#124418 - http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712&PID=124418&title=our-escapod-mods#124418 ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 22 Oct 2020 at 6:00am
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No welding is necessary to reinforce the Lippert axle. The objective is to increase the resistance to bending of the axle tube along its entire length, as the stresses on it are the same everywhere between the support points and reduce to zero along the axle tube outside the supports. That's why the axle becomes decambered along its length under heavy loads rather than just bending at one point. With all due respect to folk's welding skills here, from a structural standpoint a simple continuous reinforcing element is a better approach and does not impose additional torque stress on the rpod frame. Here is what I did along with a more detailed discussion of the structural issues: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12591&KW=reinforcement&PN=1&title=axle-reinforcement ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: Natgaseng
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2020 at 11:23pm
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Toyanvil, Do you happen to have drawings or other photos that show the individual parts of your camper adjustment fabrication? Looks like a turn buckle with two nuts to lock. I am certain I can fabricate but need more information. Thanks
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