Warranty, Service and Recall Bulletins: Axel risers

Axel risers

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Forum Name: Warranty, Service and Recall Bulletins
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15521
Printed Date: 09 May 2025 at 3:20pm
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Topic: Axel risers

Posted By: Scuba Steve
Subject: Axel risers
Date Posted: 20 Nov 2022 at 7:13pm

Looking for help.

When I purchased my 2020 r pod 195 I had axel risers installed by the dealer I purchased it from, Couches RV nation.

I am having severe frame issues meaning 3 inch crack in my frame right at the spot where the axel riser mounts to the frame which is exactly where the axel would have mounted to the frame meaning the plate that is on the axel for mounting to the frame is the same exact size as the axel riser.

I have concerns that the frame manufacturer might find this as a reason to void the warranty on the frame repairs or replacement.

Have other owners had any experience with this.

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Steve

Replies:

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2022 at 3:32am

Were the installed axle risers a factory part? On the older 179s they were, so as long as they were installed properly it's reasonable to expect the factory to honor their warranty. If not a factory item then yep you've probably voided your warranty in their eyes. You might have recourse with the dealer though for installing an improper part, unless that was disclosed at the time of purchase.

And yes risers for sure increase the stress on the frame at that attachment point. That's because they create a longer lever arm trying to bend the attachment point backwards and upward when you hit a curb or your tire hits the front edge of a pothole. This rotational force (called a bending moment) combines with the moment created by the torsion axle rotating back and up, and the g forces from the rest of the trailer being pushed up, to place severe stress right on the rear of the riser mount where it's attached to the frame. That's were your crack is I'm guessing.

BTW leaf spring axles put a lot less stress on the frame in a pothole or curb impact event than a torsion axle does, so getting a trailer with leaf springs is another way to try to avoid this kind of problem.

Also, don't put heavy stuff in storage compartments located behind the axle, don't load bikes or other gear I the rear bumper. All that stuff back there is the worst thing you can do when loading a trailer with a torsion axle. It also makes the trailer more prone to sway. Put all your heavy stuff in the tow vehicle or leave it at home. If you absolutely have to put it in the trailer put it as far forward as possible.

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

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2022 at 11:13am

I wonder if it would be feasible to replace the swing axle with a leaf spring axle in our RPod given that we did have an issue of bent/cracked frame. To be sure, we hit a rough, rutted area unexpectedly at highway speeds, so I can't call it a Forest River problem, but it was a LNBTW problem on my part. Still, I'm not ready to give up our 179, but would sure like something that can take unexpected stress better.

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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 Nov 2022 at 3:08pm

Might be possible but you could end up really high to accommodate the spring travel. Probably easier since you already have the torsion axle just to reinforce that. I was considering doing that when I had my 179. The plan would have been to jack up the pod, remove the risers, weld a 3 or 4 ft piece of the same 4x2 frame material under the existing frame, then reattach the axle to the new "subframe". You'd end up 1/2 inch taller, I think the risers are 3.5 inches. That would quadruple the frame strength in the critical area (section modulus of a rectangular beam increases with the square of it's height.

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

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2022 at 3:11pm

Right now, it is an interesting idea. Hopefully the repair that was done will be sufficient.

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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: seafans
Date Posted: 02 Dec 2022 at 7:36pm

Scubasteve,

I had a set of 3" risers made and installed a set on my 192. Made a nicer towing trailer by doing this and either end of the trailer does not hit bottom any more. Lippert does say that the warranty is voided when spacers are added between the axles and the trailer. The insurance company asked about modding the suspension also. I used grade 8 bolts,nuts and washers and torqued them to 150Ft/lbs. I have also checked the torque a couple of times since installation. If you crunch some geometry numbers on the risers you will find initial the shock of hitting a pot hole is absorbed by the tire and the swing-arm increases torque in an ark. Applying the brakes sharply and for a length of time transfers more torque to the frame than a pot hole. Next time you apply the brakes look at the trailer rotating on the center line of the axles. As for cracks,I have not seen any. The spacers I had made were 9" long and the width of the frame. The bolt holes aligned with the existing holes in the frame and axles. I think I have a drawing of them if you are interested for comparison.

Posted By: Scuba Steve
Date Posted: 03 Dec 2022 at 10:24pm

Thanks for the reply, The axel spacers where installed by the dealer upon pickup of the trailer when it was purchased new so I can only hope they will honor the warranty. As of right now my trailer is supposed to be picked up and brought to FR and Lippert is going to take a look at it and come up with a plan. Fingers crossed

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Steve

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 04 Dec 2022 at 12:38pm

"Applying the brakes sharply and for a length of time transfers more torque to the frame than a pot hole."

That is a very surprising result considering that hitting a pot hole or curb will impose both an upward and rearward force on the structure. These forces can be in excess of 2gs, while braking action is well under 1g due the the friction coefficient between the tire and road. Besides, in my experience you cant even lock up the brakes in an rpod at full brake controller gain they're that weak. Can you share your math demonstrating this?

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