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Jenga Jack View Drop Down
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Joined: 12 Apr 2016
Location: Southern Oregon
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Posts: 63 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: WD and Sway Bar
    Posted: 08 Aug 2017 at 3:08pm
Is a weight distribution hitch and/or sway bar necessary? I've pulled my 178 for 3 seasons with a 2004 4Runner V6, short and long hauls. Just purchased a 2015 4Runner V6 and am debating WD or sway control. Local RV dealer has a combo for a good price, but the set up weighs a ton! Seems like overkill. Thoughts?  Ouch
2014 R-Pod 178 aka the "Kobra Pod"
following a 2015 4Runner wherever it may wander
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jato View Drop Down
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Posts: 3346 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Aug 2017 at 9:20pm
Depends on your TV.  With our '94 F-150  5.0L V-8 with stick, nothing is needed as far as I am concerned.  However with both our Explorers, '08 and currently a '13 we did need the use of a sway bar link I believe due to the shorter wheelbase.  We have been hauling our 177 around this great land for 6 plus years and over 25,000 miles now and have never seen a need for the weight distributing hitch.  Just my 2 cents.
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."
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mcarter View Drop Down
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Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 8:32am
+1 to Jato. All depends on your rig. Both my TVs have a 7000 plus capacity, and I find the sway bar is helpful, I do not have a WDH, my sway bar is compatible with both TVs.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Jenga Jack View Drop Down
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Posts: 63 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 10:05am
Toyota 4Runner is rated at 5,000b towing capacity, tongue wt @ 500lbs. I don't travel with water and gray/black tanks are empty, too. When pulling, less than 300lbs are in trailer, heavy items (cooler, food, canopy, firewood, etc.) go in TV. Still thinking WD is overkill, sway bar maybe not...
2014 R-Pod 178 aka the "Kobra Pod"
following a 2015 4Runner wherever it may wander
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DaleH View Drop Down
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Posts: 16 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 10:47am
I think the length of the tow vehicle plays into this as well. We have a Jeep Commander (quite a bit shorter than a pickup) with the 4.7L V8 that easily pulled our old (and large) tent trailer with similar weights to our Pod. When we bought the 179 our dealer really recommended the WD hitch.  I didn't think we needed it. In the end we got it because of the greater side and frontal area of the Pod and wanted to be on the safe side. I have really been pleased with the quality of ride and overall comfort towing that the WD hitch has given us.  
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GlueGuy View Drop Down
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Posts: 2709 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 10:55am
What does the 4-Runner weigh all by itself? If the R-pod is equal to or greater than the weight of the 4-Runner, I would recommend at least doing an anti-sway of some sort. Depending on what percentage of the tongue weight capacity you're at (does the 4-Runner handle 300#, 400#, or 500#?), you "may" want a WDH.

The other issue is the wheelbase of the 4-Runner. The shorter it is, the more prone to sway you will be. For example, the wheelbase on our F-150 is 157" (slightly over 13').

None of this is hard and fast. To some extent, driver capability can come into play as well.

I would base my decision on all of the above.

Our F-150 is rated at over 10,000 lb capacity, and it even states in the manual that up to 5,000 lbs, no WDH is required. However, we're using an E2 WDH that has a simple 2-point anti-sway. When we tow, it is a pure cakewalk. I like it that way, and I don't mind that we overkilled it.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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TheBum View Drop Down
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Posts: 1407 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 10:58am
Originally posted by Jenga Jack

Toyota 4Runner is rated at 5,000b towing capacity, tongue wt @ 500lbs. I don't travel with water and gray/black tanks are empty, too. When pulling, less than 300lbs are in trailer, heavy items (cooler, food, canopy, firewood, etc.) go in TV. Still thinking WD is overkill, sway bar maybe not...


Our 2012 Highlander has those same towing specs and it definitely benefits from a WDH and sway bar. The rear suspension on the 4Runner is probably stiffer than the Highlander, so you may or may not need a WDH.
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DavMar View Drop Down
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Posts: 592 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 11:57am
Originally posted by GlueGuy

Our F-150 is rated at over 10,000 lb capacity, and it even states in the manual that up to 5,000 lbs, no WDH is required. However, we're using an E2 WDH that has a simple 2-point anti-sway. When we tow, it is a pure cakewalk. I like it that way, and I don't mind that we overkilled it.


+1 GlueGuy
My Tacoma is rated at 6,400 lbs. capacity and I find that using a E2 WDH square bar 2-point anti-sway make towing so much easier and the BIG plus is its cheap insurance and less wear and tear on your tow vehicle.
Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the
wonder dog.
2017 Rpod 180
2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4
Lexington, NC
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Wood River Pod View Drop Down
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Posts: 153 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2017 at 9:43am
We just moved to a Fastway E2 600/6,000 for our 179/2010 Highlander.  It has made a tremendous difference.  I would highly recommend.  Before we used hitch with sway bar.   
Thanks
Smith's in Hailey
Early 2017 179 HRE

Wood River Mods
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spydie View Drop Down
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Posts: 159 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Aug 2017 at 11:31pm
I noticed some tail-wag on my new 2018 R-pod 176 on the way back to NM from AR with the water tank about 2/3 full.  When I got home I saw why... the darned fresh water tank is way at the rear of the Pod behind the grey water tank, which is right behind the axel.  I had a sway bar on the 2017 RAM 1500 and kept tightening it up all the way home.  It had to be real tight before the sway stopped.  No WD needed on most full size trucks, though.  Sits level without one.
2018 R-pod 176
2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
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