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Pod_Geek

Senior Member

Joined: 04 Dec 2019
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 261

Topic: New owner
Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 9:34am

I tow an R-Pod 195 with a RAM half-ton (1500) with the towing package. We've gone about 12,000 miles with it in the year that we've had it. When it was weighred early in the year loaded it weighed about 4200 lbs and the tongue weight was almost exactly 10% of that. Truck weighed in at 6700 lbs loaded (after getting that 6700-lb weight and 10% tongue weight I've started putting more items in the R-Pod and fewer in the truck). No accessories (WDH, sway bars, etc.).

I have had no incidences of significant sway, even on I-70 in western Kansas where we encountered 30-50 mph cross winds for hours and semis passing us at 85. I keep it at 65mph or slightly less.

I bet your 3/4-ton will handle the 176 just fine as long as you don't start chasing the speeders...

2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River
2018 RAM 2500 6.4L

podwerkz

Senior Member

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

Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 9:25am

With that size and weight tow vehicle, you will probably not need a wdh or sway control....assuming you load the pickup bed and the trailer correctly.

Congrats on having a tow vehicle that will have 'towing authority' over the trailer. As you learn to pack for a long trip, try to load heavy items like jugs of water, generator, cases of canned food, gas cans, propane tanks, tool boxes, etc etc toward the front of the pickup bed. This will add stability and shift weight from the trailer to the tow vehicle.

You will need to add a brake controller, if your pickup is not equipped with one.

r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

offgrid

Senior Member

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

Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 6:49am

From your description I think you're getting a 176 not a 179. A 179 has a queen bed in the front, kitchen in the rear, and the slide contains the dinette and the fridge.

Nothing wrong with towing with your F-250, that is a nice safe rig with plenty of extra capacity for gear in the truck bed.

The hitch options you are referring to are (1) a weight distribution hitch (wdh) which re-balances weight from the rear of the tow vehicle to the front axle improving handing and braking and (2) trailer sway control which minimizes the likelihood of the trailer sway.

You shouldn't really need a wdh with a F-250, it can handle a lot more weight than an rPod, unless maybe if you also put a full ton of stuff in the truck bed. Up to you but I'd skip it and see how you like towing without one.

The most important thing to do to prevent trailer sway is to be sure you have enough weight on the trailer tongue. For an rPod that should be 10% of total trailer weight at the very minimum, preferably more like 12%. You have to weigh the trailer and tongue (fully loaded including water if you plan to boon dock) in order to know that, which you can do at a public scale. Here's why:

https://www.google.com/search?q=trailer+sway+video&oq=trailer+sway+video&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30l3j0i10i22i30j0i22i30l2.4407j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Even with a well balanced trailer, sway is still possible, so I would suggest still getting sway control even without a weight distribution hitch. The lowest cost option would probably be something like this.

https://www.amazon.com/Pro-83660-Value-Friction-Control/dp/B0016KJ5MC/ref=pd_lpo_263_img_2/140-2048306-1226438?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0016KJ5MC&pd_rd_r=76cf10f8-282d-4f8d-a47f-6e28a4b3f41e&pd_rd_w=6B9YR&pd_rd_wg=OzOSQ&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=44Y4SBXDHMRXQ9VDY068&psc=1&refRID=44Y4SBXDHMRXQ9VDY068

https://www.amazon.com/Reese-26003-Sway-Control-Adapter/dp/B0008F68MG

Or you could get one of the electronic sway control systems that senses sway and activates the trailer brakes, but those are quite a bit more expensive.

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

SailorDude View Drop Down

Groupie

Joined: 06 Dec 2020
Location: Washington
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 48

Posted: 06 Dec 2020 at 8:45pm

I'm purchasing a used 2018 RP179. It is version with the two twin bunks on one end, and the dinette on the other end, with the slide out on one side that contains the sink, stove, refrigerators and the micro. The I hope to be picking it up a couple of days.

I do have a question about the hitch system. I'm now to using a travel trailer. There are all the hitch things, like leveler and any sway bars, etc.

I have a F-250 4X4 to pull it. Way overkill for a tow vehicle, but it is what I have. My question what kind of hitch system should I be using, besides the actual frame/hitch attached to the RP179. What to be safe going down the road. Any advice on hitch stuff and driving will be greatly appreciated.

Sailor Dude

RP-179

F-250 4x4

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Pod_Geek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Dec 2019 Location: Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 261	Topic: New owner Posted: 07 Dec 2020 at 9:34am
	I tow an R-Pod 195 with a RAM half-ton (1500) with the towing package. We've gone about 12,000 miles with it in the year that we've had it. When it was weighred early in the year loaded it weighed about 4200 lbs and the tongue weight was almost exactly 10% of that. Truck weighed in at 6700 lbs loaded (after getting that 6700-lb weight and 10% tongue weight I've started putting more items in the R-Pod and fewer in the truck). No accessories (WDH, sway bars, etc.). I have had no incidences of significant sway, even on I-70 in western Kansas where we encountered 30-50 mph cross winds for hours and semis passing us at 85. I keep it at 65mph or slightly less. I bet your 3/4-ton will handle the 176 just fine as long as you don't start chasing the speeders...
	2020.5 R-Pod 195 Hood River 2018 RAM 2500 6.4L

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: 07 Dec 2020 at 9:25am
	With that size and weight tow vehicle, you will probably not need a wdh or sway control....assuming you load the pickup bed and the trailer correctly. Congrats on having a tow vehicle that will have 'towing authority' over the trailer. As you learn to pack for a long trip, try to load heavy items like jugs of water, generator, cases of canned food, gas cans, propane tanks, tool boxes, etc etc toward the front of the pickup bed. This will add stability and shift weight from the trailer to the tow vehicle. You will need to add a brake controller, if your pickup is not equipped with one.
	r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten!

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: 07 Dec 2020 at 6:49am
	From your description I think you're getting a 176 not a 179. A 179 has a queen bed in the front, kitchen in the rear, and the slide contains the dinette and the fridge. Nothing wrong with towing with your F-250, that is a nice safe rig with plenty of extra capacity for gear in the truck bed. The hitch options you are referring to are (1) a weight distribution hitch (wdh) which re-balances weight from the rear of the tow vehicle to the front axle improving handing and braking and (2) trailer sway control which minimizes the likelihood of the trailer sway. You shouldn't really need a wdh with a F-250, it can handle a lot more weight than an rPod, unless maybe if you also put a full ton of stuff in the truck bed. Up to you but I'd skip it and see how you like towing without one. The most important thing to do to prevent trailer sway is to be sure you have enough weight on the trailer tongue. For an rPod that should be 10% of total trailer weight at the very minimum, preferably more like 12%. You have to weigh the trailer and tongue (fully loaded including water if you plan to boon dock) in order to know that, which you can do at a public scale. Here's why: https://www.google.com/search?q=trailer+sway+video&oq=trailer+sway+video&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30l3j0i10i22i30j0i22i30l2.4407j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Even with a well balanced trailer, sway is still possible, so I would suggest still getting sway control even without a weight distribution hitch. The lowest cost option would probably be something like this. https://www.amazon.com/Pro-83660-Value-Friction-Control/dp/B0016KJ5MC/ref=pd_lpo_263_img_2/140-2048306-1226438?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0016KJ5MC&pd_rd_r=76cf10f8-282d-4f8d-a47f-6e28a4b3f41e&pd_rd_w=6B9YR&pd_rd_wg=OzOSQ&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=44Y4SBXDHMRXQ9VDY068&psc=1&refRID=44Y4SBXDHMRXQ9VDY068 https://www.amazon.com/Reese-26003-Sway-Control-Adapter/dp/B0008F68MG Or you could get one of the electronic sway control systems that senses sway and activates the trailer brakes, but those are quite a bit more expensive.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

SailorDude Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 06 Dec 2020 Location: Washington Online Status: Offline Posts: 48	Posted: 06 Dec 2020 at 8:45pm
	I'm purchasing a used 2018 RP179. It is version with the two twin bunks on one end, and the dinette on the other end, with the slide out on one side that contains the sink, stove, refrigerators and the micro. The I hope to be picking it up a couple of days. I do have a question about the hitch system. I'm now to using a travel trailer. There are all the hitch things, like leveler and any sway bars, etc. I have a F-250 4X4 to pull it. Way overkill for a tow vehicle, but it is what I have. My question what kind of hitch system should I be using, besides the actual frame/hitch attached to the RP179. What to be safe going down the road. Any advice on hitch stuff and driving will be greatly appreciated. Sailor Dude RP-179 F-250 4x4