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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
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Topic: Dang, that was my favorite axle, too Posted: 04 Jun 2019 at 6:31am |
Originally posted by Happy Tripping
Our R-Pod is a 2014 171. We've been quite happy with it.
A question - I've been going thru tires at a 2X the expected rate. Years ago, a tire place told me the axle was bent. However, this axle shop, which presumably should know what they're doing, tells me its not.
So the question is -
?Could there be 'harmonic vibrations' or whatever, set up by the incomplete weld that would shake the tire and make it wear unevenly? If so, Forest River owes me some $$ for tires. |
I would think not. If you were getting that much vibration the weld would fail really quickly.
Can you describe what the tire wear looks like?
Is your axle shop saying the axle isn't bent even now, after it came off on the right side? That would be extremely surprising considering that you're saying that the tire hit the fender. Its hard to see how that would be possible unless the axle was bent or twisted.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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Happy Tripping
Senior Member
Joined: 27 May 2014
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Posted: 04 Jun 2019 at 6:17am |
Our R-Pod is a 2014 171. We've been quite happy with it.
A question - I've been going thru tires at a 2X the expected rate. Years ago, a tire place told me the axle was bent. However, this axle shop, which presumably should know what they're doing, tells me its not.
So the question is -
?Could there be 'harmonic vibrations' or whatever, set up by the incomplete weld that would shake the tire and make it wear unevenly? If so, Forest River owes me some $$ for tires.
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Happy Tripping
Senior Member
Joined: 27 May 2014
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Posted: 04 Jun 2019 at 6:09am |
Originally posted by offgrid
Sorry about the failure... I suggest that you go to your axle shop and take some detailed photos before all the evidence disappears. |
Thanks to all for responses.
Yes, I've asked the shop to take pictures.
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Happy Tripping
Senior Member
Joined: 27 May 2014
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Posted: 04 Jun 2019 at 6:06am |
Originally posted by marwayne
I'm sorry that happened to you, however I'm confused. There is only one weld ... |
Thanks. I don't know much about welds or where exactly the weld is, when I do I'll let the forum know.
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offgrid
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Jul 2018
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Posted: 04 Jun 2019 at 5:47am |
Sorry about the failure. From the hints you've been giving about what happened is not a surprise.
i suggest that you go to your axle shop and take some detailed photos before all the evidence disappears. Try to get photos of the broken weld, where it was and how the crack propagated. Also it would be good to have them confirm that the riser bolts were indeed tight (it they were) and not lose as apparently FR has already tried to claim.
From what you're describing, this failure likely wasn't sudden, (backing up a trailer at 1 mph isn't particularly stressful to the suspension system) so the crack has likely been there for awhile and has propagated along the weld to the point where backing up one final time broke it. That is typical with fatigue cracks in metal joints. If so, there might be corrosion on part of the crack but also a section which is fresh and doesn't show corrosion, so you might be able to tell where the crack started and ended.
Since Lippert makes both the axle and the frame of the rPods (at least on mine) either way its probably on them. The risers do increase stress on the frame and on the frame bracket welds because they create a longer moment arm (think lever length) between the wheels and the frame, so that could be a contributing factor.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold
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podwerkz
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Joined: 11 Mar 2019
Location: Texas
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Posted: 03 Jun 2019 at 9:52pm |
Wow.....I hate when that happens....
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r・pod 171 gone but not forgotten!
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marwayne
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Joined: 25 Oct 2011
Location: Edmonton AB Can
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Posted: 03 Jun 2019 at 8:45pm |
I'm sorry that happened to you, however I'm confused. There is only one weld and that is the bracket on to the axle and if that is the weld that failed yes FR should cover that under warranty. However if the riser was welded to the axle bracket and to the pod frame that is not the way FR installs risers. I have axle risers, there 2 bolts holding the riser to the axle bracket and 2 bolts holding to the pod frame.
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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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lostagain
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Joined: 06 Sep 2016
Location: Quaker Hill, CT
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Posted: 03 Jun 2019 at 7:55pm |
Sorry to hear about the weld breaking. At least it happened before you left home. What bolts did FR say were involved if the local shop identified a weld? I guess FR takes the position that all welds and bolts should be subjected to destructive testing as part of the routine maintenance.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
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Posted: 03 Jun 2019 at 6:51pm |
How do you check a weld that is about to break?
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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GlueGuy
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Location: N. California
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Posted: 03 Jun 2019 at 6:17pm |
I guess that makes one more item on our pre-flight checklist...
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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