F 150, Need Equalizer Hitch
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Topic: F 150, Need Equalizer Hitch
Posted By: Corvettedave
Subject: F 150, Need Equalizer Hitch
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2016 at 8:04pm
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Hi All, just purchased a 2016 178 R pod. Had a Honda Pilot as TV, but after reading here, we went out and bought a 2013 F150 Supercrew 4wd, with the 3.5 L Eco Boost. The F150 has a trailer package with electric brake control, anti trailer sway control and proper 7 pin hook up. Is it necessary to also have an Equalizer hitch or similar. Dealer has a single arm sway control bar that they say is enough. Your thoughts on this would be helpful. |
Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2016 at 8:14pm
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Sway control? Absolutely! Equalization? Maybe. It depends on the suspension of your F150. If you hitch up your R-Pod and notice that the back end squats and the front end lifts, then some form of weight distribution hitch, whether the Equal-i-zer, the E2, or the Andersen no-sway is something I would think you would want. Any of the three I mentioned would combine both WD and sway control. Since you say it came with the controller built-in, you may want to watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUtB7o61IPQ - video from Ford. ------------- 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: dayman
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2016 at 8:18pm
| I have the same tow vehicle except with a v8. Traded after a few trips with a Jeep Wrangler jk that felt strained. I just have the anti sway bar (one side) and have had no issues, even with long hauls (couple hundred miles) at interstate speeds. Congrats on the pod and truck! |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 19 Sep 2016 at 8:35pm
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Welcome. I bought a WDH when I towed my pod with a Sienna. Then I bought a Suburban, which by the numbers doesn't need one. I found on the first trip out that the ride quality was much better with it so I always used it. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Hunter74
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2016 at 2:47pm
| same with me as techntrek. I tow with a 1500 Ram Hemi I use a Fastway E2 equalizer. By the specs of my truck I shouldn't need one either, but I towed once with out it, and hit wind and I could see the trailer moving around behind me, was very unsettling. I have never not towed without it since. Even to the dealership which is 20 minutes away, I always use it. |
Posted By: podvader
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2016 at 4:25pm
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I purchased the e2 for my f-150 to tow my 183g. I decided to drive my 7 hour trip without it as it was pouring rain and i didn't want to assemble it in the rain. Long story short, it towed like a dream. I am going to return my e2 and just get a sway bar. Everything plays a part and you will never regret having a WDH. Your towing comfort level, specific setup and how you load the pod will all play a factor in whether you NEED a WDH.
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 20 Sep 2016 at 9:22pm
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We have only towed our 177 with the anti sway bar on our 2008 Explorer and currently with our 2013 Explorer 2WD. Both are 6 cyl. engines and both have towed very well with this setup on our numerous trips to RMNP, Glacier, driving through the Rockies and then the trips there and back through the plains where the cross winds can be quite extreme. As stated above, some prefer the WDH for the ride quality. I cannot address that since I am extremely pleased with the simple sway bar attachment.
------------- 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: Corvettedave
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 2:05pm
| Just picked up our Pod this morning. Towed home from the dealer in heavy rain & tstorms, only 50 miles but towed great with no sway bar. What brand single sway bar are you using? |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 3:05pm
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The thing about anti-sway. It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have 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: TheBum
Date Posted: 21 Sep 2016 at 3:48pm
We had a Husky on ours before we switched to the Fastway E2 hitch. It worked well, but was a bit noisy compared to the E2. |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2016 at 4:41pm
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As i was reading all of this, i thought, i know i purchased a hitch with the r-pod, i hope i got somrthing similar to what your all talking about. I grabbed my paperwork and looked, luckily, i bought a fastway E2 weight dist, with anti sway system. Whew, i feel better ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2016 at 5:02pm
| I am towing with a 3.6 Chevy Colorado, 178 TT, I have a single sway bar, no issues. I have seen various posts on the effect of an equalizer and sway, for me, I'm good to go. What I do watch is tongue weight. |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2016 at 7:16pm
The Equal-i-zer was very noisy initially. It made all kinds of groans and pops. Two things that helped: 1. A hitch tightener to stop the movement of the hitch shank in the receiver. Several brands are available. I got the https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B0001CMUV4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 - StowAway Hitch Tightener and it has worked well. 2. http://www.equalizerhitch.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=66&zenid=27305886c62ea039629a0fb3c58639e5 - Sway Bracket Jacket which quiets the bar as it slides in the bracket. According to the web site, it "may lessen or decrease the sway control by a slight degree." I have not noticed any significant decrease in sway control with them but our hitch is a whole lot quieter. I don't know if the E2 has something equivalent to the Sway Bracket Jacket. If not, a little grease should serve the purpose. The same applies to the Husky. ------------- 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: Bama Pod
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2016 at 7:06am
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Dragged my new 180 400 miles home with same F150 and no sway bar. Yes, there was a little sway but nothing freaky and no more than I was use to with my boat I had. For the most part it towed like a rock. I probably will not get anti-sway for now, but it really comes down to what you are comfortable with.
------------- Bama Pod Huntsville, AL 2017 Ford F250 2017 Airstream 26U |
Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2016 at 5:11pm
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I tend to be cautious. I like to make sure if anything goes wrong, i have the most secure legal battle i can put up in my defense. To many people cant wait to cash in on the one in a hundred chance that something could happen. ------------- 2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding |
Posted By: rkleim
Date Posted: 06 Nov 2016 at 11:11pm
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That Anderson no-sway mentioned is something I wish we had gotten. We have a friction anti-sway, and it's OK, we have gone on trips of 2000 miles into the mountains fine, but I do not take expressways nor do I go over 60 if I can. There are some horrendous videos you can find of accidents caused by sway, and every person it happens to always says it seemed fine until it went. Speed almost always seems to be a factor. I have spent some time riding motorcycles and sailing, and I have a very healthy respect for wind and airflow. Sometimes I wish the Pod had stubby winglets I could remotely control.... But really, you cannot overdo this. And wheel chocks are also a requirement. Your Pod WILL roll, even on 'flat' ground. Oh yeah, the best thing about the anderson no-sway is that you can back up with it on. I have to get out and remove mine before backing up. Sometimes this is a REAL pain at gas stations or when you accidentally go down a small gravel dead end because you trusted your Jeep's GPS directions instead of just using your iPhone like God intended. Don't ask how I know... ------------- - Richard 2015 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with Factory Tow 2016 FR R-Pod 179 |