R-pod Owners Forum Homepage

This site is free to use.
Donations benefit a non-profit Girls Softball organization

Forum Home Forum Home > R-pod Discussion Forums > Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
  New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: R-POD 172 spare tire
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedR-POD 172 spare tire
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>
Author
Message Reverse Sort Order
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
CharlieM View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: R-POD 172 spare tire
    Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 10:43pm
Doug,

Thanks for your look-see. I agree a 3500/350 TV would be an issue, but such a vehicle would be marginal anyway with the larger Pods fully loaded. And sway is a consideration, but that's why I have the E2. Actually I think the WDH helps with the hitch weight problem but I've got to spend more brain time one that one. I think I'll be OK........We'll see next month. Six thousand miles through AL, MS, LA, TX, OK, CO, KS, AK and back home. The hills of CO will tell the tale.

Happy Podding,
Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
Back to Top
techntrek View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
Admin Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 10:19pm
Charlie, my observation was based on what I read about another brand of extension + bike rack which advised down rating the capacity by half, plus considering the max hitch weight of less-capable TVs than yours.  Your numbers would put a TV with a 3500 pound limit (and 300 or 350 pound hitch weight) into the red zone.  One more consideration is sway, since the farther the ball is from the rear axle the easier sway can be induced.  Sounds like you would be ok.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
Back to Top
CharlieM View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 5:17pm
Yep. we've got 'em. Highest point in FL is 300+ ft. Oxygen is provided at the base of the hills.!!!
Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
Back to Top
hogone View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 09 Apr 2013
Location: St. Louis
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1060 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 4:44pm
My current set-up consists of the spare in the truck and the $65 Allen bike rack from Walmart on the back.  My son followed me a while back for about 300 miles; said bikes barely moved; minimal to no bouncing.  Also said  POD didn't sway an inch, tracked perectly.  That's what I always thought, but it was nice having someone observe.  I don't use any special hitches, straight to the ball and hook up the chains.  Hey charlie, I see you mentioned  in another post something about your Florida mountains!!!!!!  I new you had them.Big smile
Jon & Pam
2013 RP177
2010 F150
2017 HD Streetglide
2009 HD Lowrider
CHEESEHEAD
Back to Top
CharlieM View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 4:02pm
Originally posted by techntrek

Adding any extension to the hitch cuts the max tongue capacity of the hitch in half.  All about leverage.  So you end up with the ability to carry just the bikes, making the ball itelf useless for towing anything.


Doug,

Your comments are correct in principle, but the effects depend on how and how much the extension is applied. I am talking about a 16 inch shank instead of the normal 12 inch shank; an extension of 4 inches using a shank specifically designed by the hitch manufacturer. The Swagman carrier needs 3 inches clear on the shank and I have 1.5 with the 12 inch shank. If I could have found a 14 inch shank I would have gone with it.

The shanks are rated at 1400# tongue weight and the lever arm extension from the rear axle of the TV is insignificant, so the real consideration becomes the receiver itself. A class III hitch is rated at 600# tow weight and the normal shank puts the ball 11” from the face of the receiver on my Honda. Adding 4” to this yields a degradation of 1.36 (14/11) or 79% of the original #600 rating. The resulting 474# is still within the tongue weight rating of the Honda and less than the measured TW of the Pod. And it still leaves room for the weight of the bikes. BTW, I’m considering an upgraded TV which will have a class IV receiver.

I agree that trouble can be had with some methods of hitch extension, if taken to extremes, but I question the blanket statement that any extension automatically cuts the capacity in half. If that were so Progress Mfg. (E2), Curt, etc. would never sell longer shanks.

I’d appreciate your thoughts and any holes you may find in my analysis,

Charlie
Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
Back to Top
Sleepless View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 07 Jun 2013
Location: Titusville, FL
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 556 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 2:48pm
Originally posted by yellowstonestu

I think that you can purchase a bike rack that fits over an exterior spare tire. I think that if the receiver is rated at 250#, one could conceivably carry the bikes and the spare on the back and be within the 250# range. Any thoughts out there???


I looked at several "over the spare" bicycle carriers not too long ago and decided not to buy one.  I was not concerned too much about the added weight to the back of the trailer, but noticed that typically the tires of the bikes hang below the bottom of the spare, close to the pavement. 

Bob
2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD)
2009 Chevrolet Avalanche
Back to Top
techntrek View Drop Down
Admin Group - pHp
Admin Group - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Jul 2009
Location: MD
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 2:44pm
Adding any extension to the hitch cuts the max tongue capacity of the hitch in half.  All about leverage.  So you end up with the ability to carry just the bikes, making the ball itelf useless for towing anything.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
Back to Top
CharlieM View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 23 Nov 2012
Location: N. Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 12:59pm
I would recommend against putting both bikes and tire on the rear bumper. First, the bikes get a hell of a whipping back there on their own mount; even worse on the tire. Second, any weight added to the rear subtracts from the tongue weight. Especially with a WDH you're not apt to have a problem with too much tongue weight, but too little can cause problems.

So two options: Put the tire on the tongue and the bikes on the back, or leave the tire on the back and put the bikes between the trailer and the TV. Right now I have the bikes on the back with the FR recommended carrier and the tire on the tongue (see post referenced above).

However, Swagman makes a version of their platform carrier, #64664, which goes on the WDH shank between TT and TV. An extended shank is probably be necessary. Then the tire can either stay on the rear bumper or move to the tongue. The less weight and length on the rear bumper the better. This also has the advantage that the bikes can be hauled when the trailer is left at the campsite.
Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
Back to Top
yellowstonestu View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 04 Mar 2013
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 43 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13 Aug 2013 at 12:13pm
I think that you can purchase a bike rack that fits over an exterior spare tire. I think that if the receiver is rated at 250#, one could conceivably carry the bikes and the spare on the back and be within the 250# range. Any thoughts out there???
Yellowstonestu & Bela the Vizsla
2008 Toyota FJ
2015 RPod 179 (Pod #2)
Back to Top
CaperPodder View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie
Avatar

Joined: 01 Aug 2013
Location: Halifax, NS
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 18 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Aug 2013 at 1:29pm

Based on this weight limitation, I shouldn't have any issues with this bike rack and 2 mountain bikes? The rack is 28 pounds. Not sure what the weight of the bikes are but should not exceed the 250lbs

 
Don, Mimi, & Nola the Goldendoodle
2013 RPod 177 (CachePod)
2013 F-150 4x4
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.64
Copyright ©2001-2009 Web Wiz