179 Axle Issues

Maybe add mud flaps or lower the fenders? The angle of spray from that tire is gonna cover the side.

Definitely some serious lift.

pics!

New axle is in!   Will try to get pics up soon, but I'm very busy as our departure date for a long trip approaches.
Old axle was heavy, could barely lift it.
New axle I can't lift!   Thankfully my Kubota front end loader got it out of the cargo trailer I brought it home in.   I used my transmission jack to position it under the trailer, which was perched high on jack stands.
Brakes are massive compared to old axle, that will be nice in mountains as they will heat up less, and they will wear less. 
Rpod  is 3" higher than before, that is good as I always thought it was too low even with risers.  I hate dragging stuff on steep drives etc.

Dexter was a week late delivering the axle to the distributor and then they made it with the wrong mounting plates, I ordered high and they put standard on it.    Fortunately it all worked out as the rpod ended up plenty high, another 3/4" would have been getting near too much.  I had planned to make new risers anyway but ended up using the original.

Test drive later today

Huh... I would have used the trip to wear the tires badly and prove evidence to forest river and make them or dealer buy a new one while under warranty. I doubt you would encounter a catastrophic failure, so risk would be low. I agree that it is probably undersized and will wait for a recall or complain vehemently in 11 months.