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bent axel on a 2015 196

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Printed Date: 25 Nov 2025 at 12:45pm
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Topic: bent axel on a 2015 196

Posted By: CAPTKIDD
Subject: bent axel on a 2015 196
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2023 at 12:00pm

I had a bent axel on my 2019 Rpod 196. it was replaced at about 6000 miles and the replacement was a Lippert axel which got bent less than 600 miles later. I also had a bent axel on my 179. This seems to be a common problem on Rpods. I don't want to go with another lippert axel. Has anyone had better luck with some other brand?

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CAPTKIDD

Replies:

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2023 at 9:41pm

You have a choice of Lippert or Dexter. Without reinforcing the axle, it is almost inevitable that an axle will bend. You can search for various methods people have used to add resistance to bending. Use the advanced search so you can search posts that are older than six months. I detailed in my mods how I did mine. There are other methods that may be better, but my method was simple.

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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: CAPTKIDD
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2023 at 9:40am

can you e-mail me what you did? was it lippert or a dexter axel?

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CAPTKIDD

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2023 at 10:08pm

Lippert axle. I took a length of angle iron and using a hydraulic jack and chain, bent it to match the bend of the axle. I then attached it to the bottom of the axle with heavy-duty square U bolts. The pictures went AWOL in my write-up, but there should be other people's mods that you can find with a search. We are traveling, so I can't really do anything about the pictures until we get home.

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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: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2023 at 11:35am

The main issue with the axle on most, and especially older Rpods is the cantilever designj of the attachment to the frame. The problem is that the frame attachment is roughly a foot inboard of the wheels, and this puts an enormous strain on the axle.

There are a number of remedies; none of them perfect. One is, as StephenH mentions is adding an angle iron to the axle (pre-bent to match the arc in the original axle) and clamping it to the axle.

You can also "extend" the support outboard of the frame. You can add a frame extension, or do some kind of brace up to the bottom of the outer wall of the trailer.

The choice is yours.

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

Posted By: ppine
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2025 at 9:28am

I suspect my axle on a 177 is slightly bent. It pulls straight however, and the tire tread wear seems even. I plan to just live with it.

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Forester

Posted By: JR
Date Posted: 25 Nov 2025 at 10:04am

Looking at the axel from the underside there should be a sight upward deflextion in the axel's cross member which is built in. The easiest way to determine if the axel has had a failure from its original design is to check and see if the tires are parallel to the body of the trailer with no side to side pressure on the tire (like going around a corner). I found that viewing through your rearview mirrors you can easily determine this. If the camber is off on one or both of your tires then there is a problem with the axel. If there is no problem with your tire wear, then there is probley no problem with your axel. Hope this helps.

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Jay

179/2019