Axle Problem 2015 182G |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289 |
Topic: Axle Problem 2015 182G Posted: 06 May 2021 at 12:48pm |
I'm looking forward to hearing how it goes and seeing some pictures.
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 07 May 2021 at 6:57am |
There isn't really anything upscale in quality in an rpod. If you want a high quality trailer get something like a Bigfoot. Tons more money and weight.
Weight is a key criterion in the design of the rpods. FR sells these things to folks with little 3500 lb tow rated SUVs (now there is a bad business practice for you, and dangerous). They can't keep the weight and cost low without giving up something, which is strength in this case. I ordered my ubolts. They weren't available at hardware stores. The link is in my write up, good folks to deal with. Be sure to get your dad to camber the angle to mate up with the recambered axle. The proper crown dimension is discussed in the write up, run a string line along the bottom of the axle end to end and measure the gap in the center, with load off the wheels. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 07 May 2021 at 2:48pm |
Light-cheap-strong.. pick two.
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SC for Huskers
Senior Member Joined: 22 Feb 2017 Location: Goose Creek, SC Online Status: Offline Posts: 144 |
Posted: 07 May 2021 at 3:59pm |
Offgrid, Do you think the 5" U bolts would be long enough, or do you think go like you did with the 6" and cut them off. Another one please, did you use lock washers or the flat ones that come with the bolt as a kit? Thanks
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Happy Traveling,
Tom 2017 172pod 2011 F150 STX |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 07 May 2021 at 4:23pm |
The longer ubolts were helpful because it made it easier to get the nuts started. The angle being slightly bent doesn't initially push up tightly against the axle with the first ubolts. It all comes together fine once you get all the ubolts on and start tightening them. I think if you used a floor jack in the center shorter ones would be ok, I was holding the angle up by hand which made it a bit awkward. No need to cut them off if you use the long ones, they're not in the way of anything. You need a long reach socket though.
The ubolts I got were fine threaded with heavy washers behind the backing plate. They didn't use or need lock washers. There was a specific torque setting for them IIRC. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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Olddawgsrule
Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014 |
Posted: 07 May 2021 at 4:34pm |
LOL Ain't that the truth..
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 07 May 2021 at 5:52pm |
Is there one that's cheap and strong? |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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Blitzkrieg3002
Newbie Joined: 30 Apr 2019 Online Status: Offline Posts: 19 |
Posted: 07 May 2021 at 7:03pm |
So, just got done temp fixing the pod. Turns out the axle is okay. We’ll sort of. The problem was a bent spindle. We started off by hooking a dial indicator up and measured about 50 thousands of flex in the edge of the axle jacking up the pod and lowering it back down. Nothing too crazy to us. We then pulled the tire off and could clearly see the bent spindle.
We grabbed an old leftover bent wheel, a BFH, a straight edge to check our bend and progress, some jack stands to brace properly and went to town correcting the bend. I didn’t get a ton of pics but here’s what I got. Before Putting some force on the wheel BFH time After I had to replace the brake shoes as well. The drum was so cockeyed it wore the rear brake shoe down to metal. I’ll likely order a new axle, but being so long out with shipping. (Quotes over a month wait) I’m happy with fix for the time being. I really don’t know what I must’ve hit to cause this. Truly puzzling. the amount of force required, one would think I would’ve noticed. Guess it’s just these California roads. |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 08 May 2021 at 6:07am |
Very interesting and thanks for the report and the temp fix. I'd worry about putting a lot of side load on the frame with the bottle jack though.
I was wondering when we'd get a bent spindle here. When you said your axle hadn't lost it's crown that was a good clue. Unfortunately you can't replace a spindle, they assemble them by compressing and freezing the rubber, insert the spindle, and let it thaw. No way to reverse that. In the end a 3500 lb axle is just too light for a heavily loaded rpod on the kind of roads we have in a lot of the country. If you're having to replace brake assemblies as well as the axle it wouldn't be much more $ to upgrade to the heavier axle. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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lostagain
Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2587 |
Posted: 08 May 2021 at 6:26am |
Blitz, good thing you didn't tow your Pod across Indiana on I-80. The bend in the spindles would likely have left your tires touching the trailer on the top side.
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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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