Lift kit for 2021 R-Pod 196 HRD |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Topic: Lift kit for 2021 R-Pod 196 HRD Posted: 12 Sep 2021 at 2:30pm |
It's not the vertical load, that doesn't change with the lift kit. it's the torsional moment that's the issue. The torsion axle twists the frame. By adding the lift kit you increase that if you hit a pothole which pushes the wheel back as well as up.
Look at the FEA modeling in this link: Torsion axle model One of the bad things about torsion axles. We've had at least one rpod frame fail at that high stress point. By spreading out the attachment points you reduce the stress on the frame because you can create the same resisting moment with lower force on the attachment points (moment or torque equals force x distance). Hope that makes sense. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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mjlrpod
Senior Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 1214 |
Posted: 12 Sep 2021 at 1:08pm |
Although I agree making the lift longer would probably, though not definitely, spread the weight out more. (increased length w/ still only two clamping areas, located at the same position as the shorter one) I don't see why you should need more contact surface area, than the original set up has. Lifting it has the exact same two contact points as an unlifted unit.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 11 Sep 2021 at 6:28pm |
Yes, you need attachments to be out at the ends of the risers. Or probably easier and more secure would be to use some steel plate as webbing and Tek screws to attach one tube under the other, then attach the axle to the lower tube. I don't think that would cause any issues as long as there was access. Possibly the risers tube could be welded to the frame lbut someone with experience welding in proximity to wood would need to comment on the likelihood of damaging the floor.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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Ricktoon
Groupie Joined: 24 Sep 2020 Location: Montana Online Status: Offline Posts: 67 |
Posted: 11 Sep 2021 at 4:31pm |
It is also worth noting the the L-shaped flange attached to the frame is the same length as the tube. You can see that looking closely at the photo. You would need to lengthen that flange or add some metal further along the frame if you lengthened the lift kit tubing. All of that is possible, but adds to the cost and could impact other components along the frame.
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Rick and Ellen B
2019 Chevy Colorado 2021 Rpod 196 |
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Ricktoon
Groupie Joined: 24 Sep 2020 Location: Montana Online Status: Offline Posts: 67 |
Posted: 11 Sep 2021 at 4:24pm |
I agree on lengthing the lift kit tube. I asked, but got shorter tubes from the shop that installed them. Issue is getting inside to attach bolts where the connect to the axle supports. |
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Rick and Ellen B
2019 Chevy Colorado 2021 Rpod 196 |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 11 Sep 2021 at 3:37pm |
Roughly speaking if you double the length of the lift kit tube youree reduce the point load on the frame.e by half. Not quite true, the frame load drops off faster forward of the axle than behind it, plus the stress on the frame is worse at the rear of the lift to begin with.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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Dirt Sifter
Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2018 Location: Right side OR Online Status: Offline Posts: 170 |
Posted: 11 Sep 2021 at 10:33am |
I like what you did, but in researching the lift for our 195 I am going with a longer tube. It only makes sense that FR touting the Hood River Edition as an off road unit should put this on at the factory. The only complaint I have is exactly what you have overcome with the tank drains so low.
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Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE
'07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages 1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 06 Sep 2021 at 4:13pm |
The issue isn't the lift kit, that's fine. It's the rpod frame itself that is at risk of getting bent. A longer lift kit that is bolted to the frame farther from the axle fore and aft would reduce the stress on it by spreading out the load.
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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mjlrpod
Senior Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 1214 |
Posted: 06 Sep 2021 at 2:39pm |
That lift (structural tubing) is stronger than the original frame tubing. It's stronger than the lift kit offered by forest river. You will not have any issue with that. If i were going to critique their work, I would have asked them to put a round stand off the same length as the inside dimension of the walls, to prevent the slight "sucking in " where the bolts go thru. If I may be so bold.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
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Ricktoon
Groupie Joined: 24 Sep 2020 Location: Montana Online Status: Offline Posts: 67 |
Posted: 31 Aug 2021 at 4:43pm |
another look at the tire after the lift.
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Rick and Ellen B
2019 Chevy Colorado 2021 Rpod 196 |
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