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: Newest style WD Hitch
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Calendar   Register Register  Login Login

Topic ClosedNewest style WD Hitch
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234>
Author
Message
  Share Topic Share Topic  Topic Search Topic Search  Topic Options Topic Options
StephenH View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6293 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Newest style WD Hitch
    Posted: 31 Aug 2017 at 11:06am
I'm looking forward to hearing your results when you get the hitch. I sent a couple of questions to KAAD Engineering via eBay. One has to do with how the hitch accomplishes sway control. Another has to do with backing, especially if there is a significant angle. I can see where this design would limit sway and try to keep the trailer centered but I can't see where it would allow backing if there is a significant angle that has to be negotiated like into my driveway from the road.

Also, when looking at the pictures on the KAAD Engineering web site, I see what appears to be multiple versions of the hitch. I asked about that as well since the picture you posted (from the eBay site, I assume) showed eye bolts at both ends and on the web site, it showed a lever and spoke of clevis pins. I want to know which is the current model.
StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,...

ouR escaPOD mods
Former RPod 179
Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS
Back to Top
spydie View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2017
Location: New Mexico
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 159 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Aug 2017 at 11:35am
Originally posted by StephenH

I'm looking forward to hearing your results when you get the hitch. I sent a couple of questions to KAAD Engineering via eBay. One has to do with how the hitch accomplishes sway control. Another has to do with backing, especially if there is a significant angle. I can see where this design would limit sway and try to keep the trailer centered but I can't see where it would allow backing if there is a significant angle that has to be negotiated like into my driveway from the road.

Also, when looking at the pictures on the KAAD Engineering web site, I see what appears to be multiple versions of the hitch. I asked about that as well since the picture you posted (from the eBay site, I assume) showed eye bolts at both ends and on the web site, it showed a lever and spoke of clevis pins. I want to know which is the current model.

Yes, StephenH, you are right on almost everything.  I can see no sway control and I don't believe the springs have anything to do with that.  Anderson accomplishes that with the special tapered ball shaft in a friction material.  I think the KAAD is strictly an equalizer.  Also, there is going to be some limit to backing angles with all equalizer hitches.  I think the ones with the bars that lie in a saddle and provide friction in the saddle have the best angles, but only if the saddles are not mounted too far back so as to cause them to fall out in a sharp turn (that happened to me).  The oldest style ones with the chains on the end of the bars would have the same backup angle as the KAAD (IMHO), but KAAD is brand new, trying to start a revolution in WD hitches and is practically giving them away to get them out in use and reports on them (they cost him over $80 each to build).  The first two he actually gave away because people are afraid of new technology that doesn't cost a lot of money.  He said he'd ship mine out next Monday.  I think right now he hand-builds each one until and if they get popular enough that he can put them into production.  You're right on the various pictures.  I'm sure some of those are prototypes and he's still refining how to hook things up, but the physics behind it remains the same as the expensive Anderson.
2018 R-pod 176
2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
Back to Top
bob-Pod View Drop Down
Newbie
Newbie


Joined: 25 Sep 2016
Location: Bremerton, WA
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 16 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Aug 2017 at 9:16pm
I'm also very curious on how it will work.  We are putting a cargo tray on the tongue and adapting it to carry our bikes.  With the weight on the cargo carrier, bikes and rack, I will be adding a fair amount of weight to the tongue.  So I am finally looking to add a WDH after towing Rpods for 8 years.  I have almost sold myself on the Andersen hitch.  I wish someone would have had one at PNW roundup.  Hopefully you will be able to test out the new one before I have to buy one.
2015 RPOD 178 HRE (2015- ) 2010 RPOD 171 (2009-2015)
2010 Toyota Tacoma Quad Cab
Back to Top
spydie View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2017
Location: New Mexico
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 159 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Aug 2017 at 11:38pm
Originally posted by bob-Pod

I'm also very curious on how it will work.  We are putting a cargo tray on the tongue and adapting it to carry our bikes.  With the weight on the cargo carrier, bikes and rack, I will be adding a fair amount of weight to the tongue.  So I am finally looking to add a WDH after towing Rpods for 8 years.  I have almost sold myself on the Andersen hitch.  I wish someone would have had one at PNW roundup.  Hopefully you will be able to test out the new one before I have to buy one.


Hold out a little longer.  I hope to do the test and review by the end of next week.  If he mails it on Monday like he said, it should be here by thursday and my mail doesn't go until late in the day so probably won't get to test it until a week from tomorrow (Friday) Sept 1.  I should have the review up by Saturday Sept 9.  I still don't think it has any anti-sway, and if you need that, you can add a conventional sway bar for about $50.  Or you can spend $474 and get the Anderson.  They work the same except you'll pay about $400 for anti-sway part of it! (smile)

Today I took the spare tire off my Pod and weighed it.  With the tire mount it weighs about 67 lbs.  I decided to help my trailer sway by hauling the tire in the back of my truck.  If I need more tongue weight, I'll put a spare-tire mount on the tongue of my Pod and move it that.  I'm hoping to eliminate all sway with a full tank of fresh water (300 lbs way behind the axle.) and not have to use a sway bar, but we'll see how that works.
2018 R-pod 176
2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
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: 01 Sep 2017 at 9:41am
Originally posted by spydie

..........I'm hoping to eliminate all sway with a full tank of fresh water (300 lbs way behind the axle.) and not have to use a sway bar, but we'll see how that works.

I assume you meant 300 lbs ahead of the axle. 300 lbs behind the axle would be bad news.
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
spydie View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2017
Location: New Mexico
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 159 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 2017 at 9:44am
Originally posted by CharlieM

Originally posted by spydie

..........I'm hoping to eliminate all sway with a full tank of fresh water (300 lbs way behind the axle.) and not have to use a sway bar, but we'll see how that works.

I assume you meant 300 lbs ahead of the axle. 300 lbs behind the axle would be bad news.

No, I meant behind.  The fresh water tank is placed the farthest to the rear.  Ahead of that, and still behind the axle is the grey water.  Ahead of the axle is the black water.  A very poor design.  Forest River really has no idea how to design a travel trailer after all their years in business.
2018 R-pod 176
2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
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: 01 Sep 2017 at 12:16pm
In that case I wouldn't tow very far with a full FW tank; just from the last water source to the campsite. Not good from a sway and an MPG standpoint. 
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
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: 01 Sep 2017 at 12:35pm
Originally posted by spydie



No, I meant behind.  The fresh water tank is placed the farthest to the rear.  Ahead of that, and still behind the axle is the grey water.  Ahead of the axle is the black water.  A very poor design.  Forest River really has no idea how to design a travel trailer after all their years in business.

I guess, given the alternatives, FR chose the best of bad options. The FW tank is the easiest to fill or empty, even without a dump station. The black tank position is determined by the toilet location so the gray tank falls wherever. There's no perfect solution to all requirements. Just watch the tongue weight.
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
spydie View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 25 Jul 2017
Location: New Mexico
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 159 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Sep 2017 at 1:19pm
They should at Least have switched the fresh water and grey tank. Very bad design. The campsites I go to don't allow me to find water when I get there so I have to pull with full tank. It doesn't affect the mpg any measurable amount. Sway can be controlled and no RV should ever be built that you can't Tow with a full tank
2018 R-pod 176
2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
Back to Top
poston View Drop Down
podders Helping podders - pHp
podders Helping podders - pHp
Avatar

Joined: 28 Mar 2018
Location: Nevada
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 195 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Dec 2020 at 12:21am
Originally posted by spydie

 I should have the review up by Saturday Sept 9. 

Did you ever get the KAAD WDH?  If so, how did it do?

--
Jim
Virginia City, Nevada
2016 R-pod 180
2015 Nissan Xterra Pro-4X
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  <1234>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

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