Ball Mount Question - R-pod Owners Forum

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mjlrpod

Senior Member

Joined: 27 Sep 2016
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1221

Topic: Ball Mount Question
Posted: 25 Nov 2020 at 8:18am

I use the hitch tightener pictured above, and it works good.

2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding

mcarter

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419

Posted: 24 Nov 2020 at 4:52pm

+2, I also use one.

Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

StephenH

podders Helping podders - pHp

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6428

Posted: 24 Nov 2020 at 10:06am

+1 on the hitch tightener. It will stop some of the clunking sounds you get from the hitch shank flopping around in the receiver.

StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

podwerkz

Senior Member

Joined: 11 Mar 2019
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 966

Posted: 24 Nov 2020 at 9:52am

I always recommend a 'hitch tightener'...it helps quiet all the hardware....back there...

Similar to this:

r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

Colonel Podder View Drop Down

Groupie

Joined: 25 Sep 2020
Location: Lexington, SC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 68

Posted: 23 Nov 2020 at 9:00pm

You should take a look at the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite brake controller. It has a small switch to mount on the dash or console area, and controller can be mounted out of site under the dash at any orientation. I have one myself and really like it.

EchoGale

Senior Member

Joined: 10 Mar 2019
Location: FL
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 469

Posted: 23 Nov 2020 at 2:30pm

The reason I like the bluetooth brake controller is there is no inside mount at all. There's a phone app and a device that plugs in between the trailer plug and TV outlet.

Julie

offgrid

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290

Posted: 23 Nov 2020 at 2:09pm

The P2 and P3 have to point in the direction of travel but don't have to be horizontal, they can be installed rotated at any angle. The accelerometers and microprocessor are smart enough to figure out which way down is.

You can back up with the wdh installed, not a problem. They take slightly longer to hitch up because you need to tension the spring bars that are pushing the front of the tow vehicle down but once you have it adjusted the first time its easy, and you can raise the jack to take the tension off the bars while hitching and unhitching. You will be attaching some hitch parts to the tongue for the spring bars to connect to and will need to allow some time with the rig on a flat surface to get everything set up right to begin with, but the improvement in ride, handling, and control is well worth it when you're towing with a (relatively) light tow vehicle like your Taco or my Highlander.

You should also think about sway control as part of your wdh selection process. If you do a search on this forum you will find lots of discussion on wdh and sway control brands pros and cons.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

SkeeterPod11 View Drop Down

Newbie

Joined: 28 Oct 2020
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 16

Posted: 23 Nov 2020 at 1:53pm

Thank you all for your input. I will be checking out the P2 & P3 braker controllers based on feedback and popularity. I will just have to see how Im going to mount it as from what I read a level surface is required for accurate performance and I dont have many level surface within the truck. & I have been greatly considering a WDH. The only downside from what Ive gathered is the setup and breakdown and the ability to maneuver/backup and obviously cost but if it truely is safer the tradeoff seems justified. Im also nervous of my ability to install correctly but Im sure with more research I can eventually figure it out.

GlueGuy

Senior Member

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2709

Posted: 23 Nov 2020 at 10:59am

I agree with the concept of a WDH. The receiver on our E2 has a 6" adjustment range with 1" increments, and can be + or -, so it's easy to get it "just right".

bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

offgrid

Senior Member

Joined: 23 Jul 2018
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5290

Posted: 22 Nov 2020 at 4:46pm

I think you will want to look into getting a weight distribution hitch for your Taco rather than just a simple ball hitch. You will like the ride and handling much better because the wdh will push the front of the Taco back down (otherwise it will get light in front when you hang the trailer on the ball). Being light in front is not good because that reduces your steering authority and, since the front brakes are the best brakes on the rig, your braking capacity as well.

If you get a wdh that will have a set of adjustments you will need to work through to get the trailer level and the front axle of the Taco back to the same load/height it was without the trailer. Ideally you want the trailer as close to level as possible when hitched up so you can roll into an overnight campsite and/or rest area and catch some zzzz's without having to unhitch.

As for brake controllers, I agree with mcarter. The Tekonsha P2 is a very nice, simple and relatively inexpensive controller. The P3 has more bells and whistles but the same underlying functionality, it would be a better choice probably if you were towing more than one type of trailer. Either one is good and the company has a good reputation.

Whatever you choose, do get a proportional controller, which uses accelerometers (like what's in your smartphone) to apply the trailer brakes in proportion to the rate at which you are applying the Taco's brakes. When you get it, set it up yourself and be sure you familiarize yourself with its operation and adjustments, you should use its manual control to test the trailer brakes out each time you hitch up.

1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold

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mjlrpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 1221	Topic: Ball Mount Question Posted: 25 Nov 2020 at 8:18am
	I use the hitch tightener pictured above, and it works good.
	2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding

mcarter Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 07 Apr 2016 Location: Greenbrier, TN Online Status: Offline Posts: 3419	Posted: 24 Nov 2020 at 4:52pm
	+2, I also use one.
	Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."

StephenH Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6428	Posted: 24 Nov 2020 at 10:06am
	+1 on the hitch tightener. It will stop some of the clunking sounds you get from the hitch shank flopping around in the receiver.
	StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS

podwerkz Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 11 Mar 2019 Location: Texas Online Status: Offline Posts: 966	Posted: 24 Nov 2020 at 9:52am
	I always recommend a 'hitch tightener'...it helps quiet all the hardware....back there... Similar to this:
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

Colonel Podder Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 25 Sep 2020 Location: Lexington, SC Online Status: Offline Posts: 68	Posted: 23 Nov 2020 at 9:00pm
	You should take a look at the Redarc Tow-Pro Elite brake controller. It has a small switch to mount on the dash or console area, and controller can be mounted out of site under the dash at any orientation. I have one myself and really like it.

EchoGale Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 Mar 2019 Location: FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 469	Posted: 23 Nov 2020 at 2:30pm
	The reason I like the bluetooth brake controller is there is no inside mount at all. There's a phone app and a device that plugs in between the trailer plug and TV outlet.
	Julie

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 23 Nov 2020 at 2:09pm
	The P2 and P3 have to point in the direction of travel but don't have to be horizontal, they can be installed rotated at any angle. The accelerometers and microprocessor are smart enough to figure out which way down is. You can back up with the wdh installed, not a problem. They take slightly longer to hitch up because you need to tension the spring bars that are pushing the front of the tow vehicle down but once you have it adjusted the first time its easy, and you can raise the jack to take the tension off the bars while hitching and unhitching. You will be attaching some hitch parts to the tongue for the spring bars to connect to and will need to allow some time with the rig on a flat surface to get everything set up right to begin with, but the improvement in ride, handling, and control is well worth it when you're towing with a (relatively) light tow vehicle like your Taco or my Highlander. You should also think about sway control as part of your wdh selection process. If you do a search on this forum you will find lots of discussion on wdh and sway control brands pros and cons.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

SkeeterPod11 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28 Oct 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 16	Posted: 23 Nov 2020 at 1:53pm
	Thank you all for your input. I will be checking out the P2 & P3 braker controllers based on feedback and popularity. I will just have to see how Im going to mount it as from what I read a level surface is required for accurate performance and I dont have many level surface within the truck. & I have been greatly considering a WDH. The only downside from what Ive gathered is the setup and breakdown and the ability to maneuver/backup and obviously cost but if it truely is safer the tradeoff seems justified. Im also nervous of my ability to install correctly but Im sure with more research I can eventually figure it out.

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2709	Posted: 23 Nov 2020 at 10:59am
	I agree with the concept of a WDH. The receiver on our E2 has a 6" adjustment range with 1" increments, and can be + or -, so it's easy to get it "just right".
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

offgrid Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290	Posted: 22 Nov 2020 at 4:46pm
	I think you will want to look into getting a weight distribution hitch for your Taco rather than just a simple ball hitch. You will like the ride and handling much better because the wdh will push the front of the Taco back down (otherwise it will get light in front when you hang the trailer on the ball). Being light in front is not good because that reduces your steering authority and, since the front brakes are the best brakes on the rig, your braking capacity as well. If you get a wdh that will have a set of adjustments you will need to work through to get the trailer level and the front axle of the Taco back to the same load/height it was without the trailer. Ideally you want the trailer as close to level as possible when hitched up so you can roll into an overnight campsite and/or rest area and catch some zzzz's without having to unhitch. As for brake controllers, I agree with mcarter. The Tekonsha P2 is a very nice, simple and relatively inexpensive controller. The P3 has more bells and whistles but the same underlying functionality, it would be a better choice probably if you were towing more than one type of trailer. Either one is good and the company has a good reputation. Whatever you choose, do get a proportional controller, which uses accelerometers (like what's in your smartphone) to apply the trailer brakes in proportion to the rate at which you are applying the Taco's brakes. When you get it, set it up yourself and be sure you familiarize yourself with its operation and adjustments, you should use its manual control to test the trailer brakes out each time you hitch up.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold