Tongue Weight |
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David and Danette
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1215 |
Topic: Tongue Weight Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 7:36am |
My main concern was the tongue weight. Going to a class 3 hitch was able to increase the tongue weight capacity. We have the V6 3,500 LB. tow capacity, the class 2 hitch would have been fine with that but with the 300 Lb. tongue weight capacity of the class 2 , I wanted more to be safe. With trailer fully loaded at times we may be near 3,000 LBs. With the rule 10 % of trailer weight should be on the tongue we will feel safer with the class 3. Does anyone need a class 2 hitch for a saturn vue or chevrolet equinox . David and Danette
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2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
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TerryM
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Location: Saint Augustine Online Status: Offline Posts: 1950 |
Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 2:25am |
If it is the 3.5L they will have a 3,500lbs. tow limit. The hybrid version has a 1,500lbs. limit.
Terry |
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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
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yizit
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 25 Feb 2009 Location: Wis. Dells, WI Online Status: Offline Posts: 663 |
Posted: 21 Jan 2010 at 12:54am |
What needs to be determined here is how much your vehicle can tow and the hitch weight. If your vehicle can tow only 3500#'s, replacing the hitch from a class 2 to a 3 isn't going to increase your towing capacity or hitch weight. If you are having sway problems that is another problem and easily solved by using a sway control device and rearranging items in the trailer. Also keep in mind the additional weight of the hitch going from a class 2 to a 3. What is the towing limit on your Vue?
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Former owner of 2009 172 Darlene & Jim, Ewok our Lhasa Roada our 2004 Roadtrek C190Popular |
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David and Danette
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1215 |
Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 10:09pm |
You are right Terry when I checked the tongue weight it was a little lower than the towing heighth when connected to our saturn vue. Guessing I would say no more than 3 inches. And yes I was having a little trouble with sway . We were traveling with a strong headwind at times and a strong cross wind, and when large trucks passed us the trailer would sway. I traveled before from Kentucky to Florida with the trailer loaded heavy in the front and it pulled very well no sway with strong winds and many large trucks. So I normally would not have that many things to pack inside so I was wanted to move the spare tire forward for the weight. I was always a little unsure about the class 2 hitch. With the class 3 hitch I ordered I feel better. Perhaps with the trailer actually loaded as we would for a trip and the tongue at the same height as the TV hitch I will have a better Idea of the tongue weight. Time will tell. David and Danette
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2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 8:24pm |
Are you having sway issues?
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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TerryM
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Location: Saint Augustine Online Status: Offline Posts: 1950 |
Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 7:12pm |
I was just wondering something. When you weighed the tongue, was the tongue at the same angle as when it is hooked up to your tow vehicle? If not it could change everything.
Terry |
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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
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David and Danette
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 24 Nov 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1215 |
Posted: 20 Jan 2010 at 6:05pm |
I mounted the spare tire to the front of the trailer with a bracket we bought from Northern Tool today. With trailer partly loaded no liquids, the tongue weight is now 298 LBS. So with that much weight I ordered a valley class 3 hitch with a 4,000 LB. trailer weight capacity and a 400 LB. tongue weight, we will feel safer now. David and Danette
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2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018-
2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 19 Jan 2010 at 10:59am |
Our popup wasn't the most stable thing to tow. After much experimenting, including taking the tire off the rear, I found the biggest difference came when I made sure the front of the camper was slightly lower than the rear. Take a look at your rig when its fully loaded ('pod and TV) and see if the 'pod is nose-up, level, or nose-down. Nose-up will give you sway, you should be level according to the experts but I still found I had sway, nose-down helped a lot.
If you take the tire off the rear you would do best to put it in the TV, or on the floor of the 'pod near the axle so it has little effect on the tongue weight. I would play with the angle first. However, I've tried nose-up and nose-down with our 'pod (first few trips out I hadn't switched my ball around to lower the nose) and I didn't detect any sway in any configuration. Even w/o a sway bar - which was mandatory with our popup.
Let us know what kind of issues you are experiencing.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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Guests
Guest Group |
Posted: 18 Jan 2010 at 4:27pm |
Thanks for the question D&D. I don't know anything about the subject, but that's never kept me from speaking in the past. Can I clarify? The tongue weight was 268 by only removing the spare from the rear of the Pod (and not resting it on the front)? I ask because if you remove weight from the rear, it will shift more weight to the tongue. Also, could you mention your tow vehicle? Others have posted some very good references on this very subject and are much more knowledgable than myself. My "knee jerk" reaction would be to suggest moving up to a class 3, but there may be some additional things to do also.
Hope to see you "out there"
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TerryM
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 16 Nov 2009 Location: Saint Augustine Online Status: Offline Posts: 1950 |
Posted: 18 Jan 2010 at 4:14pm |
There is a little leeway in what the hitch will take but I would be more than just a little worried about that weight. That is cutting it a little close for comfort, for me at least.
Terry |
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RP-175 W/Lift Kit 2011 Ford F-150 4X4
Saint Augustine, FL: The first permanent European settlement in the USA: 1565 |
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