Vogel RV, Ukiah, Cal. BEWARE!

Owner, Al, name caller and angry person.

My RPod was in his shop twice to repair a bent axle. The first time, last August, 2015, was to look at the problem, contact the axle manufacturer and replace the axle. I was told they would call with the estimate and set up the repair. They never called. After I brought the RPod to the Dallas RPod manufacturing site  Forest River told me , once again , to work with Vogel RV. I dropped off the Pod on July 14, 2016. I spoke with Al. He told me he would order a new axle. I waited for word that either they had an axle coming or one was ordered. After 3 weeks I had heard nothing from Vogel so I emailed and asked for a update. I was told to call Al. He said the axle would be in the first of the following week. I called again the next Tuesday. Al mentioned the wrong axle had been delivered and another was on the way. After almost a month I contacted Vogel and told them that I would be picking up my RPod. Al became very angry, called me a jerk and hung up the phone. My wife decided to call as it appeared Al was having trouble with me. She called and asked nicely what needed to be done. Al told her that she needed to "control" me and hung up on her. She called again and, once again, got scolded by Al and he hung up on her without any discussion of the axle. He told her he would cancel the order and would never work with us again and to pickup the trailer as soon as possible. I have yet to figure out what I had done to get this man so angry, to call me a name and hang up in the middle of a conversation with my wife, twice. When I picked up my trailer he again called me a jerk. We decided to look at Yelp for any reference to Al and Vogel RV. Turns out we are not the only customers to get treated so unprofessionally from Al. I had some minor warranty work that needed attention. It did not get done. I never received an estimate, was never updated on the progress of the repair and was never informed that the installed axle was not strong enough for the weight of the trailer. In short, because we did not buy the trailer from Vogel, I think we received very bad, very unprofessional service from Al and Vogel RV. We have looked up axle problems on these trailers and found many complaints from owners. This axle is spec' d at 3550 pounds. I weighed the trailer, almost empty of all our gear,  at a truck scale, 3450 pounds. I have driven a trailer similar in size and weight as my RPod 179 for over 20 years without any axle problem. This RPod axle bent after one month. This is a Lippard axle. Lippard would not warranty the axle. Forest River would not help with this problem. Forest Rivers local repair shop, Vogel, could not find an axle and treated us with no respect. Also, as an aside to all this, when we purchased the RPod in Brookings , Oregon, I was told it was a 2015 model. Turns out it was a 2014 model. All in all, I am beginning to have little confidence in Forest River and their affiliates.

                          Moe

  Brakes are clean and dry, but thanks for the thought.

                    Moe

Yes that is what they are thinking, I will make some accurate measurements when I get it home. Can't keep paying people to guess and be parts changers. I can do that a lot cheaper. These guys have done work for me before and and have a a + rating  just one of those things.

       Moe

Is is possible that the flange was not welded square to the axle? If so that should be fixable for less money than a new axle. 

           The brakes were backed all the way off when we bought it from PO  and when I replaced the wheel bearings and adjusted the brakes to where they should be when it started. Don't thing the axle guy is trying to sell me a bill of goods just told me facts today

        Moe

They shop that has been trying to fix the problem seem to think it could possibly be the flanges the backing  plate is bolted to. If I back the brakes all the way off all is good except I don't have brakes

My thoughts exactly. The axle just holds everything, it's pretty much passive. Could you have a bent spindle? When did the problem start?

                                  

                                                  Moe