RPOD 203 Weight Disribution Hitch
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=15682
Printed Date: 16 May 2024 at 4:59pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: RPOD 203 Weight Disribution Hitch
Posted By: LoriSpencer
Subject: RPOD 203 Weight Disribution Hitch
Date Posted: 26 Apr 2023 at 8:48am
|
Hi! I recently bought my first TT, an R-Pod 203, and I'm towing it with a 2020 F150 (with max tow package), 2WD. My boyfriend wants me to get a weight distribution hitch for safety. What do you all recommend? Thank you, and thank you for having this forum! Lori ------------- LAS |
Replies:
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 26 Apr 2023 at 10:18am
|
There are lots of choices. We use a Fastway E2 with our F150 (2015) and an RP179. Works well. We take off on our first trip of the year tomorrow. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: PapaJerry
Date Posted: 26 Apr 2023 at 10:36am
|
We have rPod 202, towed by F150 also. We use the EAZ-Lift (600) weight distro and love it. ------------- JDS |
Posted By: EchoGale
Date Posted: 26 Apr 2023 at 11:39am
|
I went with the Anderson because it is lighter than most of them and easier for me to handle. I have been happy wiht it. I also like that it id WD and Sway control combined and there's no need to remove it for backing up. Finally, I've had great experience wiht their customer service. ------------- Julie |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 26 Apr 2023 at 2:53pm
|
Like GlueGuy, we use a Fastway e2 with our F-150. It really makes long distance driving much more comfortable. It's almost like the trailer is not there. For normal backing it need not be removed. If you are backing on steep uneven terrain with very sharp turns, it's best to take off the torsion bars. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 26 Apr 2023 at 7:22pm
|
Another vote for the Fastway E2. ------------- Gpokluda 2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Triumph T120 |
Posted By: Ben Herman
Date Posted: 30 Apr 2023 at 5:02pm
| for comparison purposes, take a look at etrailer.com. their website shows all of them, there a re lots of reviews and installation videos. They are a great resource if you are new to rPodding. |
Posted By: LoriSpencer
Date Posted: 02 May 2023 at 7:50am
Thank you everyone for your feedback! It is so much appreciated.  ------------- LAS |
Posted By: James07
Date Posted: 14 May 2023 at 12:55pm
| I use a Fastway E2 with my 178 and Ford Ranger. A guy camped next to me with a F150 says he doesn't need WDH ... but uses a sway bar. |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 14 May 2023 at 8:09pm
+1 After towing our 177 for the past 12 years and 43,000+ miles over snow, sleet, hail, heavy rain and cross winds in excess of 25 mph using an '08 and '13 Explorer and an '11 and '17 F-150 and not experiencing any issues, would agree, a WDH isn't needed, but I do utilize a friction bar. And maybe that is due to the fact that our 177 fully loaded with 36 gallons of water (FW tank behind axle) only weighs 2940 lbs with a tongue weight of 340 lbs is probably a lot lighter than what the 200 series weigh in at. ------------- 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." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 May 2023 at 8:58pm
|
A lot does depend on the tongue weight and how the tow vehicle is set up. An F-150 with a heavy-duty suspension may not need the WD hitch. However, it may benefit from one in ride quality. Sway control in some form is in my opinion essential. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I have encountered situations where I have needed the sway control. I use an Equal-i-zer 4 point sway control hitch. Even that will not cover all situations as I experienced when I hit ice. I am glad I had it as I think things might have gone worse if I had not had it. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 15 May 2023 at 5:35am
|
+1 to StephenH. When we hook up or trailer before I connect the torsion bars, it is obvious that the weight in the back is enough that our F-150 benefits from a WDH. I'm sure it's possible to tow the trailer without one, but the improvement in directional stability makes it well worth it. I found this out when I towed a U-Haul trailer without a WDH loaded yard waste such that it weighed a bit more than our travel trailer. Ride stability was noticeably worse. Local driving to the dump was possible, but for a long trip it would be exhausting to be constantly fighting the diminished directional control. Add some cross winds or slippery road conditions and it would be too exciting for me.
------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: LoriSpencer
Date Posted: 17 May 2023 at 8:25pm
|
Hi All, I ended up with an Equalizer WDH because the local Camping World had it in stock. It makes a WORLD of difference! Maybe because my F150 is 2WD (not 4WD like most of y'all probably). Braking is less surgy (my technical term), and rides way better on the freeway with semis. I can definitely feel improved control. I didn't realize how much my RPOD 203 weighed down the back of my truck - the WDH raised up the tongue so I'm nice and level now:-) I don't love the cranky noise when turning, but I'll get used to it. I was able to back it up no problem, couldn't really tell a difference from before. One downside is the very heavy hitch that I have to remove from my truck when doing every-day driving (I'm a 55 yr old woman). Found a nifty tool that helps make it easier but it's still heavy. Thanks again for all the tips and different perspectives:-) ------------- LAS |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 18 May 2023 at 7:17am
|
Two things that will help: Get a hitch tightener to hold the shank more firmly in the receiver. Also, there is a thing called a "sway bracket jacket" that you put on the L brackets on the A frame. They provide a smoother surface for the bars to ride on. You still have the sway control but things are much quieter.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hitch+tightener&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 - Hitch tighteners https://www.amazon.com/Equal-i-zer-95015150-Sway-Bracket-Jacket/dp/B007HRJNIE/ - Sway Bracket Jacket ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 18 May 2023 at 9:45am
|
Our E2 tends to squeak a bit, and I put a dab of lithium grease on top of the L brackets. It probably decreases the anti-sway a bit, but I like the quiet, and we don't really have a sway issue with the F150. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |