Check This Bolt!
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
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=12953
Printed Date: 29 Apr 2024 at 11:50pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Check This Bolt!
Posted By: Monemkr2000
Subject: Check This Bolt!
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 5:11pm
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So we are on backside 4k mile trip from NC to CO. So far the trip was going great until yesterday. Running some backroad in Texas I look back and see what i thought at first was smoke. Heart rate through the roof I hastily pull over get out and see nothing as I look up. So as I come around the side of the Pod I look down and there is Blackwater pouring everywhere! The ONE bolt that hold the pipe from the black tank to the valve had come loose and disappeared. Causing me to drag the pipe and valve down the road which opened the valve ( still not sure how that happened ). Ended up having some Zipties in the Pod and that's what is currently holding it for the next 600 miles home. Please keep us in your thoughts and GO check that bold right now! 2019 R-Pod 190 ------------- "We must always be aware that suddenly and unexpectedly we may find ourselves in a role where our performance has ultimate consequences." |
Replies:
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 5:19pm
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Long time, many time addressed issue on this forum. Personally I modified hangers years ago. So have many others. Glad you could get it secured for trip home. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 5:39pm
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Now there are probably 2 dozen Texas pickups with VERY dirty windshields! Yuck...  ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: Monemkr2000
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 5:49pm
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Hahahah yes at least one!! ------------- "We must always be aware that suddenly and unexpectedly we may find ourselves in a role where our performance has ultimate consequences." |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 6:55pm
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You know, I have been kinda looking at mine occasionally and your thread reminded me to go look and sure enough the bracket is broken! The bolt is fine but the thin sliver of metal has snapped. So now, I also have the dreaded r-pod 'poop-chute droop'.... So, I'm building a new bracket as we speak. Sure glad I saw this before I head out in a couple of days!  ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: Monemkr2000
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 7:11pm
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Yeah Im going to build something after I get the warranty department to replace it. Mind posting some pic's of what your building? Im gonna do both the black and grey tanks. ------------- "We must always be aware that suddenly and unexpectedly we may find ourselves in a role where our performance has ultimate consequences." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 7:13pm
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That happened to mine also.  In my case, it happened once but the valve did not open. I strapped it up and had to replace the spigot end. When it went to the factory for repair, a second hanger was installed. Both of them came loose on our long trip last year and this time, the valve came open, emptying the contents on the Interstate. I'm sure there were a number of irate drivers. I was hailed by a passing driver who alerted me and we pulled off at the next exit where I strapped it up again (it is a good thing that sunshine is a good disinfectant). When we got home, I determined this was never going to happen again so I fashioned a new hanger (see my mods) which is not physically clamped to the pipe, but goes around it and is fastened to the frame. That way, the pipe can move and not work nuts and bolts loose. I showed my work to some factory reps at the Kentucky Mini-Mini/10th Anniversary RPod Rally last year. They told me the engineers were working on a redesign of the hanger to prevent this from happening. Even if something is done, I don't think FR will retrofit all the existing RPods. We just got back from a trip to Florida. Again, I did not need to be worried that it would cvome loose because my design is much stronger than the factory design even though it is very simple--just a piece of strap aluminum wrapped around the pipe and attached to the frame with two of the self-tapping screws like FR uses for the factory hangers. Bottom line for this is go ahead and fix it before it breaks. ------------- 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: Monemkr2000
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 7:17pm
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Awesome thanks for the info! I will check out your work. ------------- "We must always be aware that suddenly and unexpectedly we may find ourselves in a role where our performance has ultimate consequences." |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 16 Jun 2019 at 9:24pm
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Pics are in the link below. You can see the busted factory bracket, then the heavy gauge steel bracket I built: Bent, drilled, painted, then attached to the original clamp, reversing the attachment point to go UNDER the sewer discharge. This should allow slightly more 'flex' along the length of the new (and longer) metal bracket, reducing metal fatigue at the stress points. Plus it reduces 'tension' on the smaller clamp-to-bracket bolt. That's my theory and I'm sticking to it! I attached it at an existing body-to-frame bolt, rather than reuse the light duty screw in the side of the frame channel. I simply used a similar nut, attaching the new bracket onto the existing stud. It does not have a full 'purchase' on the threads, but with a lockwasher in place I believe it should be sufficient. The entire assembly is very sturdy. I think it should be fine now. http://photos.app.goo.gl/RtvF3BRfdFc8s5kN8 - https://photos.app.goo.gl/RtvF3BRfdFc8s5kN8 ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: Jeepinator
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2019 at 4:08pm
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Sooooo, I was kicking this around with some fellow Podsters at the N’oreast Pod rally and we agreed that we might be equally concerned that if we made the bracket too strong, and we hit something with the pipe, the pipe might break instead of the bracket. In other words, perhaps it is better to repair a snapped bracket then a snapped black pipe? I do agree the bracket has to be inspected regularly and replaced if it is failing. But I’m torn with replacing it with something stronger. Thoughts? ------------- 2018 Jeep Wrangler Willys 2017 179 |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2019 at 5:53pm
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I'd go with the stronger hanger. If the pipe/tank breaks, there is big trouble in River City regardless of what the hanger does. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2019 at 6:12pm
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+1 ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2019 at 7:16pm
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If you hit something substantial with the discharge valves or tubing, it's gonna break hard parts, with, or without, a sturdy bracket. ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 18 Jun 2019 at 7:41pm
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Yep, that bracket is the least of the worries if you drag the bottom. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Monemkr2000
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 2:55pm
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Made it home with the zip ties still holding! So it looks like I'm going to have to replace the whole valve because the notched connector part is glued to the valve. Anyone know what kind valve comes on the pod or are they pretty much interchangeable? ------------- "We must always be aware that suddenly and unexpectedly we may find ourselves in a role where our performance has ultimate consequences." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 3:31pm
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These are what I used last year. After removing the bolts, the old valve pops off and the new one can be bolted in place. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000BGK22E/ - Valterra Bladex 3 inch Waste Valve Body . Along with it, you will need a bayonet Flange like the https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006MRRHQ/ - Valterra T1009 Flanged Valve Fitting . Finally, you will need a new cap like the https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006N5RW2/ - Valterra T1020 Black Termination Cap . The actual replacement isn't hard as long as the tube from the tank to the valve is not damaged. You could use a little plumber's silicone grease to lube the O rings before assembling. That won't cause the rubber to deteriorate. I chose the Valterra model because it has a metal and not a plastic handle. Yes, they are pretty much interchangeable. Some are a higher quality than others. You can get a piece that attaches to the valve and a glue-on bayonette fitting if you want to extend the end farther out than the part I used allows. For me, it was not significant enough to spend the extra money. ------------- 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: Monemkr2000
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 4:22pm
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Dude thanks I was about to get the Bristol Valve because I think that is what was on it. But after seeing your post I bet I can just get the Flanged Valve fitting and Cap. If they can be interchanged that should work! Thanks again for the help! ------------- "We must always be aware that suddenly and unexpectedly we may find ourselves in a role where our performance has ultimate consequences." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 5:02pm
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Glad to be of assistance. The first time I was able just to replace the flanged fitting and cap. The second time, the valve was damaged and needed to be replaced also. With my improved suspension, there should not be a third time!
------------- 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: podwerkz
Date Posted: 19 Jun 2019 at 5:08pm
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Put about 300 miles on the pod and some of the roads were kinda rough....new bracket still holding. Came up to 6000 feet and it's STILL hot! But camping is free and electricity hookup is only $5 a day. Yay! ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: Trotwood
Date Posted: 15 Jul 2019 at 6:08pm
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Thanks for posting! Had the exact same failure at some point during our last trip. I'll try something similar to your repair. For what it's worth, I've done stress analysis on aircraft my entire life, and I have to say that your intuition regarding stress and fatigue is pretty good!
2016 Rpod 180 2019 Ram 1500 |
Posted By: Gebaldwin1
Date Posted: 16 Jul 2019 at 6:58am
| Have an RP180 that suffered the same stress cracks at the bolt hole as pictured by Podwerkz. Discovered that the night before leaving for a cross country trip. The 180 has 2 brackets like that - 1 each for the gray & black tanks. Made this discovery in February - imagine my displeasure doing a jury-rigged fix the night before leaving in the dark lying in the snow. Terrible design - I think the original bracket hanger was made from recycling pallet strapping! After my return fabricated a new hanger from 1/8" flat stock. |
Posted By: wthoms2000
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2019 at 10:01am
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https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipM1Fp0zfcw6-7aW0dnOu4HPvpp8G3Rigmj4sZYo/photo/AF1QipMmwzGJQlESlWYkWylJ3m8ykWqtzs9Vu0td9w48 - https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipM1Fp0zfcw6-7aW0dnOu4HPvpp8G3Rigmj4sZYo/photo/AF1QipMmwzGJQlESlWYkWylJ3m8ykWqtzs9Vu0td9w48
hope the link works... ------------- Porta Poddy Wil and Luz, Orange County, CA 2017.5 179 HRE 2021 Ranger XLT FX4 REDARC Brake Controller |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2019 at 12:17pm
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: wthoms2000
Date Posted: 27 Jul 2019 at 8:59pm
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Ok, working now... ------------- Porta Poddy Wil and Luz, Orange County, CA 2017.5 179 HRE 2021 Ranger XLT FX4 REDARC Brake Controller |