Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Axle falls off rv

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Axle falls off rv – nearly finished repairing

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Topic: Axle falls off rv – nearly finished repairing

Posted By: Happy Tripping
Subject: Axle falls off rv – nearly finished repairing
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2019 at 1:13pm

As far as I can tell, I’ve now sorted out the damage done when my R-Pods's axle fell off in our driveway, however one thing remains –a screw holding up the wiring bundle going to the right wheel has pulled out and the bundle is now loose. It screwed into the’ material’ lining the bottom of the trailer between the frame and the side. I say ‘material’ because I don’t know what it is, it is like cardboard that has been ground up and made into a sheet. Unfortunately, I cannot find a stud behind this to screw into for support, I don’t think there are any.

So, my question is - What is the best ‘fix’ for this? Seeing how flimsy the ‘material’ is, I’m not excited about just screwing into it, like Forest River did, but maybe (probably?) I’m wrong and the stuff is really quite durable.

Any suggestions are very much appreciated.

Replies:

Posted By: Our pod
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2019 at 2:18pm

Affix the wiring harness screw too a thin metal plate and epoxy that to the weird underlayment.

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Life is good.

Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2019 at 5:30pm

Happy,

I have spent considerable time on the bottom. One thing I noticed is frequent use of sheet metal screws into a composite. You can't over tighten, it just doesn't make sense. I use a regular wood screw and some kind of sealant. Like Liquid Nails or a good adhesive caulk, sheet metal screws don't do well in composites. Move your new attachment point away from the original point. Good luck.

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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2019 at 9:04am

Depending on where the harness came loose you could also use SS self tapping screws into the frame or cable tie the harness to the axle or something else solid under there.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2019 at 3:10pm

Originally posted by offgrid

Depending on where the harness came loose you could also use SS self tapping screws into the frame or cable tie the harness to the axle or something else solid under there.

I just finished installing our E-go, and I can say for a fact that self-tapping screws into any part of the frame was an exercise in frustration. Any self-tapping screws had to be pre-drilled. We ended up using cutting oil and progressive pilot holes for all the through-bolts.

There were numerous spots where I was able to use heavy-duty UV-stabilized tie wraps though.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: Motor7
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2019 at 4:30pm

Originally posted by GlueGuy

There were numerous spots where I was able to use heavy-duty UV-stabilized tie wraps though.

That's odd, when I installed my under hanging spare tire carrier I used some large self tappers and they went right into the frame with no pre-drill and no issues. I must have used half a dozen per side.

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2016 R-Pod 176T

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2019 at 6:11pm

Originally posted by Motor7

Originally posted by GlueGuy

There were numerous spots where I was able to use heavy-duty UV-stabilized tie wraps though.

Interesting. When we did the hide-a-spare we drilled through holes for some 5/16 SS bolts. That also required cutting oil and progressive pilot holes. We only needed 4 of them though.

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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 25 Jul 2019 at 8:44pm

Not all self-tapping are self-drilling, and although they may seem like one is the same as the next, I find that TEK is a good brand of self-drilling screws.

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r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 26 Jul 2019 at 4:22am

+1 The Tek brand is to self drilling fasteners as Kleenex is to facial tissue. Good stuff, especially if you have lots to install. If you only have one or two pre drilling and using self tappers is fine too. Self tapping screws have a pointed tip, self drillers will have a fluted tip.

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold