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Trouble with door, sagging wall

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LB Boozer View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote LB Boozer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Trouble with door, sagging wall
    Posted: 29 Apr 2021 at 4:48pm
We purchased our 2019 (June 2019 production) 189, used in October of last year and have spent the last seven months on a number of short and a couple week long trips.  We are enjoying the rig quite a bit and have done a few modifications and upgrades as well as repairs of factory installed items.  (The original owner used it once in the 9 months he owned it and didn’t even use most of the features).  Additionally, I have learned a lot by spending endless hours reading old posts on the forum and beefing up the r-pod “problem areas” identified on this forum.  

Today I was really taking a good look at the wall on the slide side and noticed a slight sag.  Can only really see it when really looking for it and a straight edge only moves about a cm when on the lowest point.  That being said, I can feel, and barely feel a slight bulge (vertical, feels like a stud) right over the top of the sag, which is directly under the farthest forward entry point of the slide.  I am trying to track down the outriggers, but have not heard back from FR and dealership was no help.  Assuming I can get the outriggers, I assume that this should keep it from getting worse, but not sure at what point it is too late to stop.


Additionally, I have had some issues with the door from the beginning.  It works fine sometimes and gets stuck on the strike plate at other times.  I always level within 1* using my phones bubble level and can’t seem to figure it out.  Sometimes it sticks and leaves the screen inside closed other times they both come out together (even though it was latched when closed).  Sorry for the rambling, just wanted to see if anyone has any ideas on where to go next.  My biggest concern is that there is an issue with the passenger side wall moving as well.  

One last thing, how off-center on the frame are your R-Pods?  I was sitting there looking for any issues in the wall and noticed that the driver side tire sticks out past the fender and the passenger side is tucked into the fender.  Took a tape to it and the distances from frame to the end of the floor are (6 1/2 - pass. 7 1/4 - driver).  Looks like it is only offset 3/8” but makes a noticeable difference on how much the tires stick out (or don’t) of the fenders.


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jato View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote jato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2021 at 6:45pm
Cannot comment on the slide or tire issue.  Our 10 year old 177 has not had those issues. 

On the door however the question is this:  when you put your stabilizers down do you ever try to level your 189 with them or when they touch the ground just give them another 1/2 to 1 full turn.  Have seen this happen more than a few times when individuals try to use the stablilzers to level their pod, this will cause the problem you describe to occur.
God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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LB Boozer View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote LB Boozer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Apr 2021 at 7:46pm
Jato,

Thanks for the reply.  I cannot speak for the prior owner, but I have always leveled side to side with the tires, then front to back with the tongue jack then bring down the stabilizers.  I have also noticed that it is typically worst when we have been traveling and while messing around with it today, noticed that it is almost nonexistent with the nose pointed up about 1*, but that could just be luck.  I will try lowering the tongue tomorrow and seeing if there is a change.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote jato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Apr 2021 at 8:55am
Originally posted by LB Boozer


One last thing, how off-center on the frame are your R-Pods?  I was sitting there looking for any issues in the wall and noticed that the driver side tire sticks out past the fender and the passenger side is tucked into the fender.  Took a tape to it and the distances from frame to the end of the floor are (6 1/2 - pass. 7 1/4 - driver).  Looks like it is only offset 3/8” but makes a noticeable difference on how much the tires stick out (or don’t) of the fenders.



I will have to look but when I installed a 3.5" lift kit four years ago on our 177 it seemed like it would have been possible to end of with the axle "off center" as you describe if I were to have loosened all bolts on both sides at one time.  I only loosened one side at a time, installed the lift, and then tightened the bolts back up.  Might be possible to loosen both sides and slide one side over to square it up?  Will check  this out, stay tuned.
God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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K. Frost View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote K. Frost Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Apr 2021 at 9:24am
Both sides of my 179 sagged. First the slide side and then the door side. The shop jacked up both sides and welded custom outrigger supports (6 on each side). Custom supports because Forest River was not responding with the part number for their supports. We wanted to fix it before we got more damage. The fiberglass had started buckling along the bottom trim piece. 
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Post Options Post Options   Quote LB Boozer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Apr 2021 at 12:39pm
Thanks Frost.  The buckling is new because I washed the pod a couple of weeks ago before our last trip and just noticed it yesterday.  I definitely would have noticed it when washing.  I am hoping to get in touch with FR today and order 8 and install 4 on each side.  Hopefully I caught this before it caused too much damage.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote K. Frost Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Apr 2021 at 3:07pm
Boozer, has your fiberglass buckled too? Just think, if Forest River had issued a recall to add some $3 supports, I would not have had the fiberglass damage. Also, the repair shop said that because if the downward tension on the bottom trim, water seeped into the lower edge of the fiberglass.
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Post Options Post Options   Quote LB Boozer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Apr 2021 at 4:42pm
I am hoping I caught it early enough.  You can see it when looking from the back (along the side) an$ can feel it when you rub your hand on it, but I don’t think anyone would native it unless I told them what to look for or had them rub their hand over the specific area.  No spider cracks in fiberglass or gloss coat, bottom trim is intact and sealant is still perfect.  I have the slide in with a jack applying light support until I receive the outriggers.  Really wish they would have just issued a service bulletin to notify owners.  I would have had no problem buying the parts and installing them as a preventative measure.   


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jato View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote jato Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 May 2021 at 7:11pm
Checked axle and how it is connected to the frame.  No way to slide the axle side to side unless you or someone you know is good at welding.  Would require one to either remove and re-locate existing bracket on axle over a bit or simply weld another bracket on each end so the axle could be centered.
God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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LB Boozer View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Quote LB Boozer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 May 2021 at 12:16am
Thanks.  No big deal to me, just thought it was odd that the driver side stuck out and the other is tucked in.  
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