rpod 178 axle |
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joe W
Newbie Joined: 11 Sep 2013 Location: chestertown Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
Topic: rpod 178 axle Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 9:09pm |
Picked up our rpod 178 in Lansing MI during June this year and covered 3000 miles so far. No problems
until last week. Camping at the National Seashore of Assateague Island we got stuck in the sand and had to do some manouvering to get going again. Once back home, I discovered that the rear axle was bent. Never thought my F 150 Ford with 2 wheel drive could do such harm. Anybody has an idea what the replacement cost could be and where to get a new one? Thanks, Joe
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happy wanderer
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 11 Sep 2013 at 9:44pm |
Welcome. In what way is it bent? I've seen some which have a natural arch upward - but I don't know if the two versions used on the pods have this. Its dark out so I can't go check mine.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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marwayne
Senior Member Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Location: Edmonton AB Can Online Status: Offline Posts: 1002 |
Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 12:08am |
I have the Dexter axel it has an arch.
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If you want something done right, do it yourself.
2011 RP172, 2016 Tundra 5.7 Litre, Ltd. |
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kymooses
Senior Member Joined: 01 Aug 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky Online Status: Offline Posts: 1807 |
Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 9:21am |
^ same!
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 9:52am |
If it appears to be bent "up".. that is the way they are made.
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joe W
Newbie Joined: 11 Sep 2013 Location: chestertown Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 2:14pm |
What a nice gang of frogs. Thanks for your interest and suggestions. Right now it is 91 degr. outside,
but will go and check tomorrow. My left wheel , just as my right, was perfectly centered under the fender, now it is almost three inches closer to the front edge and very visibly out of center. When I looked underneath, it appeared as if someone had put a jack underneath the tube and tried to raise the trailer. It is arched up and it appeared as if there was a tiny kink in it. Thanks. To be continued.
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happy wanderer
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 2:45pm |
Its possible the bolts holding the axle to the frame have come loose and you just need to recenter it and retorque the bolts. If you have the risers the holes allow for adjustment front-to-rear.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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joe W
Newbie Joined: 11 Sep 2013 Location: chestertown Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 3:09pm |
Flickering hope. Took a quick look, braving the heat and looming severe thundersorm. The arch
is too perfect to be accidental and my risers were installed Friday PM by a crew anxious to start the week end. Torque wrench?? Tomorrow - the day the truth will be known. Thanks. tbc.
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happy wanderer
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 12 Sep 2013 at 8:20pm |
That was a wild storm front that came through earlier. I was near Westminster at the time. No power at home for 2 1/2 hours. Sounds very likely they didn't install it right, one way or the other. |
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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joe W
Newbie Joined: 11 Sep 2013 Location: chestertown Online Status: Offline Posts: 5 |
Posted: 13 Sep 2013 at 7:30pm |
Happy ending. Checked all bolts. ok. checked for any movement of risers. ok. measured both fenders
from the rear.ok. measured wheel rims (horn) to frame forward and aft on both wheels. ok Used carpenters level to check trailer - listing to the left. With spindle center above axle center, the left wheel moved closer to the front of the fender because of the trailing arm radius. Conclusion: the arch of the axle beam had me in a panic. The left wheel being closer to the front of the fender seemed to confirm my suspicion. My bad adventur in the State Park made it abvious. Not unusual - I always start out assuming the worst, to be prooven wrong. Thanks for all your help, particularly the arch fact. For what it is worth: After the first 1000 miles I removed the spare wheel and bracket. Mounted it to the tongue. Trailer was a little nervous on the Turnpike and I do not want to install a stabilzer. Keeping any loads behind the axle to a minimum and moving the spare wheel made a difference. Installed mud flaps for the pod and my Ford F 150. Highly recommended. Switching off the overdrive on my truck (V8) a must through hilly terrain. ATF gauge moves towards the red quickly going up a long incline. No difference in MPG, cool running transm. and no strain on engine. Adds only appr. 750 rpms to engine speed. Love our rpod.
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happy wanderer
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