Anti Sway Hitch |
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ZuBrew
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 11 Oct 2017 Location: Macedon, NY Online Status: Offline Posts: 113 |
Topic: Anti Sway Hitch Posted: 22 Nov 2017 at 1:57pm |
I'm in the process of purchasing my first R-Pod and the dealer is recommending I get an anti sway hitch and he's willing to sell me one for $749. He says I don't have to disconnect it when I back up.
My question to this forum is; 1) In your experience, have you needed an anti sway hitch towing the R-Pod? 2) What do you think of that price? 3) Is there a better place to purchase one? Thanks
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 22 Nov 2017 at 2:25pm |
You didn't say which RPOD and what tow vehicle you're using but unless you have a 3/4 ton pickup you will benefit from a weight distribution/sway control hitch. The Fastway E2 WDH in the 600/6000 pound version is popular with Pod owners. The E2 incorporates both WD and Sway control and does not have to be disconnected for backing. Standalone friction sway control devices do have to be disconnected for backing and do not provide any weight distribution. The E2 can be bought from Amazon or Etrailer.com for $250-$300. Installation is fairly simple if you're at all handy with wrenches. My final advice to new hitch owners is read the manual, understand the manual, understand the adjustment process, and go through the adjustment process yourself. Even if you pay a dealer to install it, don't trust them to do it right. From personal experience, and the experience of many others, dealers don't have a clue.
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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Happy Tripping
Senior Member Joined: 27 May 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 473 |
Posted: 22 Nov 2017 at 5:11pm |
As mentioned, you'll need to specify the model R-Pod and your tv. You'll get lots of info here.
We have the lightest model R-Pod, a 171, and a 4500 pound rated tv with towing package and it works fine 95% of the time without any added sway control. I do have a friction sway control that I put on when it's very windy or I otherwise feel it's needed. Some people are 'belts and suspenders types' and want max protection. Nothing wrong with that if you feel it's needed. Good luck
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419 |
Posted: 22 Nov 2017 at 5:49pm |
I have two 1/2 ton pickups, rated at 6000 and 7000 respectively and have never had an issue or needed a WDH. I have a 178. Don't disagree there are tow vehicles that do require one. Lot of variables, we need some more info to advise correctly.
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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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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3252 |
Posted: 22 Nov 2017 at 6:34pm |
Total agreement with the above posts. We have towed our 177 (2400 lb empty) with a 94 F-150 and don't need WDH or sway control. With our '08 and currently '13 Explorer it is necessary to have a anti-sway bar for safety sake. I do have to loosen the lever before backing up, but not an issue for me, have been doing it since March 2011. Cost to purchase and install myself was less than $ 100.00
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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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marwayne
Senior Member Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Location: Edmonton AB Can Online Status: Offline Posts: 1002 |
Posted: 22 Nov 2017 at 7:44pm |
Here is my take on this, you can tow with a Peterbilt or a tank that doesn't mean your pod wont sway
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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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voisj
Senior Member Joined: 19 Jul 2016 Location: San Luis Obispo Online Status: Offline Posts: 471 |
Posted: 22 Nov 2017 at 11:05pm |
And my take on it is this. One of my neighbors came up to me yesterday when I was working on the Pod and told me the story of him having a big wind storm just outside of Missoula Montana and it blew the pod over and flipped his four runner two times he had sway control and everything. He now tows with a much bigger truck.Stuff happens.
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furpod
Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128 |
Posted: 23 Nov 2017 at 7:26am |
It would be nice to know what you intend to tow with. And to a smaller amount, which Pod you are going to buy.. But to try to answer your questions.. 1) We used a WDH and no sway control with our Pod. We had the WDH from our Airstream. I noticed some podders used one, so I set it up and towed with it, towing with a 2004 Expedition at the time, 9000lb tow rating. We felt it towed better and rode better with the WDH, and never towed again without it. Never had a sway issue. BUT, for sure, some owners have. 2) At that price, my guess is it's a Weight Distributing Hitch w/ sway control. and includes installation and setup. I would want to know exactly WHICH system he was selling you. Retail, a WDH and sway control can run from $300 to $3000. Or he is ripping you a new one. 3) Etrailer is good place, but of course, you have to install and adjust it. No big deal if you can read and follow instructions, and know the difference between a socket and a open end wrench. You WILL need a couple large wrenches/sockets for assembling the head unit to the draw bar. |
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mjlrpod
Senior Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 1215 |
Posted: 23 Nov 2017 at 8:11am |
My two cents on this is as follows. If I were planning to tow my pod 25 miles down to the local campground in spring, and leave it there till i tow it home in the fall, I would NOT get Wdh or sway (unless it was really bad). Other than that, I would get Wdh with sway control. I think its a simple decision. I've never yet needed a seatbelt in my car/truck, yet, they are in every vehicle. It's just a good idea to take simple precautions. I would say that you would probably end up in a situation where a Wdh or sway control system was needed more often than a situation where your seatbelt is needed, yet, you will not have it. Do as you want, but I think it's dangerous and not worth it not to do everything you can to prevent a 3000 pound monster that is one inch away from your bumper, from flailing out of control and possibly overturning your vehicle. Bear in mind, even THIS does not guarantee you won't ever have a sway issue.
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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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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6326 |
Posted: 23 Nov 2017 at 9:02am |
We were driving from NC to Florida to my parents this past Tuesday. there was a pickup truck hauling a cargo type enclosed trailer. It sure could have used at least sway control as we could see the trailer swaying and were concerned that it would be going out of control. We were doing the speed limit (65 mph) and were passed by this person. I should have frozen my dash cam video so I could have posted it to show why at least sway control is good to have, even if one does have a large pickup.
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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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