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R-Pod Beast Mode Suspension
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HuskyDome-ain View Drop Down
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Posts: 5 		Post Options Post Options   Quote HuskyDome-ain Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: R-Pod Beast Mode Suspension
    Posted: 14 Oct 2023 at 11:36am
Forest River added the "Beast Mode" suspension to the 2023 R-Pod models (at least the 180 I was looking at). Does anyone have experience with this suspension? 

Any reviews would be appreciated. Thanks!
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mjlrpod View Drop Down
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Posts: 1214 		Post Options Post Options   Quote mjlrpod Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 10:04am
Even with beast mode, are the attachment points still located a foot or more from the end of the axle?? If so, the axle would still bend. Wouldn't be much of a beast if so. 
2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
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CAPTKIDD View Drop Down
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Posts: 25 		Post Options Post Options   Quote CAPTKIDD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 12:02pm
I'm waiting to get my 4th bent axel replaced with a Dexter.  My 3rd was a Lippert and didn't last 600 miles and lippert would do nothing about it.
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poohbill View Drop Down
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Posts: 87 		Post Options Post Options   Quote poohbill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 2:24pm
Our trailer has gone down gravel (and worse!) roads with the standard axle for years, so this announcement interested me and I read it closely. I don't have any experience towing trailers with it, but am of the opinion that their marketing will only encourage buyers to take an R-Pod where the model is not intended to go, i.e., where we go, which causes all sorts of damage costing us thousand of dollars over the last eight years. Only a beefier structure should go off-pavement, matched by an appropriately sized axle, preferably two. In a way, Beast Mode Suspension is much like the Hood River Edition.

This didn't answer your question but offered up as help.
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gpokluda View Drop Down
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Posts: 275 		Post Options Post Options   Quote gpokluda Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Oct 2023 at 5:23pm
Originally posted by poohbill

Our trailer has gone down gravel (and worse!) roads with the standard axle for years, so this announcement interested me and I read it closely. I don't have any experience towing trailers with it, but am of the opinion that their marketing will only encourage buyers to take an R-Pod where the model is not intended to go, i.e., where we go, which causes all sorts of damage costing us thousand of dollars over the last eight years. Only a beefier structure should go off-pavement, matched by an appropriately sized axle, preferably two. In a way, Beast Mode Suspension is much like the Hood River Edition.

This didn't answer your question but offered up as help.

Agree with poohbill. To take advantage of the Best Mode Suspension, the Rpod itself would have to undergo some serious strengthening. That said, like poohbill, we had taken our 2016 Rpod down some questionable roads with no serious issues and never bent the original axle in 50+k miles. We did take certain precautions: go slow and air down the trailer tires. Of course you should always have a quality tire inflator if you are going to do that.
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seafans View Drop Down
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Posts: 155 		Post Options Post Options   Quote seafans Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Oct 2023 at 11:47am
CAPTKIDD: How much and where is the axle bending?  Axles are manufactured with a slight camber (arch). Axle must be positioned with the arch at the top of the axle.  I have not measured the ark in the axle on my 192.  It's cold and rainy here, don't want to crawl under it in the rain.
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CAPTKIDD View Drop Down
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Posts: 25 		Post Options Post Options   Quote CAPTKIDD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Oct 2023 at 1:58pm
I think what is bending is the spindle part of the axel.
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poohbill View Drop Down
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Posts: 87 		Post Options Post Options   Quote poohbill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Oct 2023 at 5:07pm
Let's stick to the OP's question and take this discussion to PM or a new thread.
2016 179 Gastropod
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