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Topic Closedowner-to-be - Event Date: 27 Jan 2013
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janice View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 Jan 2013
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Posts: 24 		Direct Link To This Post Calendar Event: owner-to-be
    Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 7:09pm

Hi,  I have a 177 on order which will be delivered sometime end of Feb. or March.  I'll be pulling it with 2013 Ford Edge.  Since I've never owned my own trailer (although I grew up camping in one), nor have I pulled one, I think I should err on the side of safety and get a sway bar despite the service man saying he didn't think I'd need one.  He suggested taking it out a couple of times before making a decision.  Any thoughts?  I'm very excited to get it and my friend who bought a Casita in Texas and drove through Salt Lake City in a blizzard getting it home is totally jealous.
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Racer|X| View Drop Down
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Joined: 21 Mar 2012
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Posts: 237 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 7:11pm
Yes....get one.
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dsmiths View Drop Down
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Posts: 866 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 7:44pm
Lots of pros and cons WDH versus friction antisway. to each his own. I use a single adjustable friction antisway that goes on the passengers side between the pod and the hitch, I have never had any sway problem with or without the anti sway bar. I know it has a lot to do with the tow vehicle, wheel base, ball height. I tow with a Chevrolet Trailblazer and it pulls it great. I have been in 30 mph right cross winds and then had a semi blow past me on the left at 75 plus, a little side motion but nothing scary. I keep my speed at 60 mph or lower period. I can pull at 70 I have pulled at 80, but why am I going out with the pod. To slow down and enjoy the day, not hurry. When we get to the check in area I pop out and remove the single arm friction antisway bar so as to not forget and try to back up with it on and bend it in two. Anyway a bad day Podding is better than a good day at work
Dane and Donna Smith
2011 RP-172
2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer 4X4
lift kit
prodigy wireless brake controller
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techntrek View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Jul 2009
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Posts: 9062 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 7:55pm
Welcome.  I pulled mine without for a while, happy to not have to use one anymore (my popup was suicide without a sway bar).  Eventually I ran into a long haul with crosswinds which changed my mind.  I got a weight distribution hitch which includes sway control and have enjoyed no sway and a much more comfortable ride, because the WDH acts as an extra suspension system to dampen bumps in the road.
Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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LarryK View Drop Down
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Posts: 20 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Jan 2013 at 8:26pm
My experience is like that of techntrek.  The E2 hitch (a weight distribution hitch which includes sway control) dampens the bumps in the road making a much more comfortable ride.  Without it the Pod would bounce hard.  For me it was worth the extra money.
2012 R Pod 177
2006 Toyota Tundra Access Cab
4.7 Liter V8
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P&M View Drop Down
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Posts: 454 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2013 at 8:11am
I also would recommend an anti-sway bar for the hitch.  We have one on ours and it makes a huge difference, especially compared to what I remember it was like towing a tent trailer w/o one back in the 80's.
P & M ... and Comet too!
2012 171 -- The Monkey Pod
2018 Ram 2500
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Our-pod View Drop Down
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Joined: 17 Jan 2013
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Posts: 20 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2013 at 8:40am
Read through the owner's manual for your car - 
I tow my 182G with an Acura MDX.  The owner's manual specifically recommends not using a sway control.  According to the manual, the sway control logic is built into the AWD system of the MDX.

It's the biggest of the Rpods and it tows very nicely.  I only felt movement when a huge Charter bus passed me doing about 85 when I was doing 65.
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CharlieM View Drop Down
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Posts: 1797 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2013 at 10:36am
Janice,

As you see, there are many pro and con arguments here. Personally, I highly recommend the E2 hitch from Progress Mfg. It combines weight distribution and sway control in one hitch. You may not "need it", but you will definitely want it, especially with your small and light weight tow vehicle. I tow my RP-172 with a 2010 Honda 4WD Pilot. With the E2 hitch I hardly know the Pod is back there, except for the decreased acceleration and gas mileage. I spent lots of brain time sweating with and without, but finally decided to get the E2. I didn't want my first experience to be disaster.
Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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coopercdrkey View Drop Down
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Joined: 26 Aug 2012
Location: Cedar Key, FL
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Posts: 457 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2013 at 12:18pm
I was about to add my .02, until I realized it had all been said!  Good advice here.
 
I will make quick note of the difference between anti sway and load distribution.  They both have
the objective of reducing, (but never totally eliminating) the tendency for the trailer to depart from
the center line track of the tow vehicle.
 
Anti sway devices add a shock absorber-like device in the horizontal plane to discourage horizontal
deviation.  Load distribution devices add bars or trunions between the tow vehicle's frame, (via the
hitch), and the trailer frame to force the front wheels of the TV back down to their unweighted
position.  (A vertical correction, if you will.)
 
Although I am not personally familiar with the E2 hitch, it appears to offer both horizontal and vertical
correction forces simultaneously.  I wish I had known about it prior to installing my WDH, although
we have never had a problem with our 177 and our Grand Cherokee.
  
Bob and Joyce
Jennifer and Baxter, the Campin' Cocker Spaniels
RP 177 "Key Pod"
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT / Z71
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janice View Drop Down
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Joined: 24 Jan 2013
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Posts: 24 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Jan 2013 at 1:15pm
Thank you all for your advice.  I forgot to mention in my original post that I already have a factory-installed hitch on my Edge which I'm sure is not a WDH.  So, majority opinion seems to be get the sway bar.  I live in the beautiful NW so many of my trips will be on secondary, probably curvy mountain roads thus doubt I will have any trouble keeping it at and below 60mph tops.
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