Axle Riser Kit
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=3725
Printed Date: 01 Jun 2025 at 5:38pm
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Topic: Axle Riser Kit
Posted By: Sleepless
Subject: Axle Riser Kit
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2013 at 1:57pm
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I have read several posts praising the benefits of the FR axle riser kit for R-Pods. Unfortunately, the price seems steep for such a simple kit. Does anyone know of an aftermarket kit or has anyone fabricated a set for their R-Pod? Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Replies:
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2013 at 2:14pm
You could definitely fab your own if you have a decent welding and fab shop. they are just made out of heavy C channel steal with cross bracing welded in and holes drilled in the right place but I did not have the welding skills to complete the work myself. This is not a good picture but it is the only one I have now.
 ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2013 at 3:17pm
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Scrape off a couple of jacks and you will have paid for the risers. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: TerryM
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2013 at 3:30pm
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I would love to see someone on here start making and selling these things. There is nothing to them really. If I had the tools AND skills I would do it. I think someone could make them, mark up a profit margin and undersell FR with no problem. Plus there would be a market for them. Terry ------------- RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4 Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
Posted By: Craneman
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2013 at 4:34pm
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Liability,liability, liability. That's what we pay for Moe ------------- Jo and Gary, 2010-174,2011 F150 
Jo and Gary 2010 174 2011 Ford 150 |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2013 at 4:50pm
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Yep.. my very insurance minded wife points out there only about a thousand or so things that could go wrong with them, none of which were a "failure" of the part, that you could/would be sued for, from the recipient dropping the heavy box on their tow, to the installer dropping the trailer off the jack stands.. etc etc etc etc etc. see: pyroclaw disclaimer. BTW: one of the FR/Pod reps that checks in on the FB group says 90% of pods come with them.. ------------- |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2013 at 6:57pm
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Thanks everyone for the photo and the comments. I agree, fabrication would be a simple task, if you have the necessary equipment and steel stock. I no longer have my welder nor do I have the steel stock, but I do have the skill and the cutting and boring equipment required. Add in the cost of SS hardware, I doubt if I could replicate the FR product less expensively. Just a few observations. My use of the term "axle riser" was inappropriate. The risers are simply a pair of spaces between the axle and the trailer frame. The rise is in the framework and body of the pod, not the axle. As for liability, personally installing risers is no different in terms of liability to installing a trailer hitch. If FR risers should fail, FR could claim the failure was due to faulty installation, product abuse, etc. Personal injury before or during installation is the installer's liability. As furpod said, the manufacturer is only responsible for defects in design, material or manufacture. Since the risers are only spacers, there is really no reason why they have to be 4" high. From what I have been reading, perhaps a 2" or a 3" height would be better. When I posed my question, I was hoping an after-market product might be available, but apparently that is not the case. Can someone tell me what FR charges for the axle kit and shipping cost to the pod owner? I am assuming all the necessary hardware is included. Bob |
Posted By: Craneman
Date Posted: 11 Jul 2013 at 7:36pm
------------- Jo and Gary, 2010-174,2011 F150
Jo and Gary 2010 174 2011 Ford 150 |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2013 at 12:28am
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Personally I wish they were 6" instead of 4". ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2013 at 10:04am
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Right on, Doug. I just spent a week at an Alabama state park in which the sewer pipes were elevated on concrete pads and the camp sites had been slightly washed out. That was fun. Could only empty the gray tank half way until water flow ceased. Even in the "mountains" of Alabama water will not flow up hill. Maybe if the Pod had been built on an 18 wheeler flatbed chassis.  ------------- 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: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2013 at 1:42pm
We camped in Colorado a couple years ago and to finish draining both tanks I had to let the hose fill up, rise it up to let it drain, then let it fill again. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2013 at 2:13pm
Back to my last question, does anyone know what the FR price delivered to the owner for the riser kit is? Just one other point. I began camping over 40 years ago when campgrounds were often either poorly designed or poorly maintained. I never hesitate to ask for another site if I notice problems in the one I was assigned. Back then, many of the state, county and Federal campgounds left much to be desired. My first choice in recent years has been the PassPort America CGs, but even then I check the Woodall's directory rating before stopping. Bob |
Posted By: Podsible Dream
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2013 at 5:25pm
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Two years ago I paid $75 for the riser kit and $15 for shipping direct from FR. A local small RV shop charged me $160 to install them, along with another minor job. They have kept me from scraping on exit from a standard city driveway to street level. Walt ------------- Chris and Walt '10 RP-171 'Free Spirit' '13 Dodge Durango Crew 5.7 L Hemi V8 |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2013 at 5:28pm
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I paid 110 dollars for mine from a dealer. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Jul 2013 at 10:51pm
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Mine were $75 from FR a few years ago, too.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2013 at 8:49am
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Thanks for all of the responses. Those prices are more reasonable than I expected so Monday I will be calling FR to see if I can order directly from them. I received a large package from Susan yesterday. It contained the new front decals she offered to send me last week. I can't say enough good things about her. She is a real asset to FR. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2013 at 9:17am
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"We camped in Colorado a couple years ago and to finish draining both
tanks I had to let the hose fill up, rise it up to let it drain, then
let it fill again." Exactly what I did. Fortunately I had a fresh water hookup so I could fill and flush the black tank before I had to resort to the hose trick. Even so I brought several gallons of waste water home. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |