First Time Towing!

New to the forum here and signed up very intrigued with a dedicated R POD only forum.. really cool! My wife and I have been camping for years but alas with a young one on the way and a 70LB dog in a tent we just couldn't bear the thought of doing that one more summer. So we got an opportunity from a friend to purchase a 2015 R Pod 171 and picked it up just yesterday!! 

However.. I really haven't towed a single axle trailer before (typically just double axle dump trailers) and was quite surprised with the uneasy feeling I had on the road on this thing. I wouldn't say it was extreme.. but the jolting back and forth (slightly) and the continuous bouncing I was really in for a treat. I towed the trailer home on just a ball/hitch but really want to go overkill and get the E2 Fastway. I'm being told it really isn't necessary. Beyond being unable to back the darn thing in our driveway because my skills are just awful we had a few issues I'm hoping I can get some input on!

1) see attached picture with our current setup. I had a 2" ball with a 2" drop and it didn't appear to be enough. The trailer has a slight rise at the front which didn't look extreme.. but didn't look correct either. Could I benefit from a different assembly? I really felt like the bouncing was something out of the ordinary where I could see the trailer kind of tumbling around but not swaying at all. 

2) Our driveway is the next issue. It's a ramp curb to start, then a flat peice and then immediate incline to the end as you can see attached. We get about 2 feet onto the driveway with the back end until the stabilizer jacks scratch the concrete.. even with these taken off I think we'd still get some bumper scrape. Is my only option here to build a ramp? 

Any help is greatly appreciated, and maybe there are some things I'm completely unaware of? Maybe when I get the cargo and trailer loaded for actual travel it will get some more weight on the tongue? 

 Looking forward to chatting with you all. 

We've been using a Fastway e2 since we bought ourPod in 2016 and kept it when we replaced ourPod with our Sonoma.  We've always found towing with the WDH to be much more stable and comfortable.  Backing with an e2 has never been a problem for us except in the most extreme situation of uneven ground and a need for a very sharp turn.  DD08, the driveway in your picture is nothing compared to the rolled curb and uneven ground I had to back over to park our trailer on the side of our house when we lived in NV, and now it's even steeper and more abrupt at our home in CT.  Backing is just not a significant issue.  Cruising with a WDH is much more relaxing as you hardly notice the trailer is there even with high cross winds.  I can't speak for other WDH's but many on this board have their favorites.  Check out the options on e-trailer for the different brands and configurations that are available and the archives for discussions about which are preferred brands.

Lots of good advice so far. I will third/fourth/fifth??? the above as to wdh usage.  It will make a world of difference in your towing experience.  We have used the Equalizer 4 point sway system on 2 different tow vehicles and 2 different R Pods.  Love it and would definitely buy it again.

I also agree about good tires. The factory tires usually are the cheapest available. Better tires will have stronger sidewalls which will help limit the bouncing and swaying.  Higher load range(D is preferable) is also helpful.

so far, nobody has mentioned 2 of you questions-level trailer and jolting back and forth

the trailer should be level for several reasons.  being level will help remove any tendency for sway and could also help raise the rear end to stop dragging the jacks. There are lots of different shanks available with 2"-10" of drop.  get the trailer level while parked and then measure from the top of the ball receiver to the ground.  then measure the tow vehicle from the top of the ball to the ground. the difference is the amount of drop that needs to be used on the shank to keep the trailer level. this assumes that a wdh is installed to keep the rear end of the tow vehicle from sagging under the tongue weight of the trailer. this is another good reason for using a wdh system.

Another issue you mentioned is jolting back and forth.  this usually occurs when the shank is not tight in the receiver.  It can be from extensive wear , different sized shank or wrong mating of the h=shank to the receiver.  the 2" ball is correct.  We use a hitch tightener similar to this

https://www.etrailer.com/Hitch-Anti-Rattle/Roadmaster/RM-061.html

It keeps the shank tight in the receiver and will stop a lot of the back/forth and side /side movement of the shank which will make for a smoother tow. this is what it looks like installed

Good luck with your new R Pod

Travel often and safe

Vann