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 Reverse Sort Order
GlueGuy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2630
Direct Link To This Post Topic: Newest style WD Hitch
    Posted: 30 Aug 2017 at 5:54pm
Springs or poly blocks, I see how it does weight distribution, but I don't see how it does anti sway.

Pick your poison. It looks like it should work. Let us know.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
Back to Top
rawest50 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 07 Mar 2017
Location: Arkansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 440
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2017 at 4:53pm
Originally posted by spydie


All equalizers have SOME restrictions on backing up.  I had one of the newer ones with the anti-sway friction on the ends of the bars and in a sharp turn they'd fall out of the cradle onto the ground.  The ones with the chains on the end of the bars I never had a restriction on that I can remember back when I had that style, and I've seen very sharp turns on Youtube with this Anderson-style of Equalizer, so I doubt there's any more restriction than any other Equalizer.


I know with the friction bars I have the pod would hit my TV. The bars go past 90 degrees to release. They go almost to my bumper. I hope I never have to cut the TV and pod that deep.
2017.5 RPod 179
2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler
2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab
2 Weiner dogs
Great wife puts up with my BS
❤️ Thoroughbred Racing.
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: 30 Aug 2017 at 4:32pm
But it still costs 5-30 times more than this simple one that I'm going to try.  It's all about saving money if it all works the same.
2018 R-pod 176
2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
Back to Top
GlueGuy View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 15 May 2017
Location: N. California
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2630
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2017 at 4:26pm
Yah. We're another E2 family. It works; it's simple; doesn't cost a lot.
bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost
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: 30 Aug 2017 at 3:45pm
Yes, that's my game plan.  I ordered it today.  It should be here next week then I'll check it out and give a review, good, bad, or indifferent.  If it doesn't work (I don't see how it couldn't.  It's a logical assumption if you know a little about trig and bridge structures) I'll go with the old fashioned ($150) ones with bars and chains on the end since I don't need the newer (more expensive) ones with anti-sway friction built on the bar-ends.  I have an old style sway bar already installed.  But this one will work just like the Anderson one (minus the anti-sway) and they are getting almost $500 for those, and people like them, so you have to assume this method works.
2018 R-pod 176
2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
Back to Top
ParPod View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 28 Oct 2016
Location: Manitoba
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 105
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2017 at 3:43pm
Sure sounds interesting doesn't it?  I'm one of those E2 guys and paid a whack of cash for it.  But it would seem to me that the difference in price has to show up somewhere.  Nevertheless...if you do go all in and purchase one then with actual hands on a real unit you should be able to tell fairly quickly if it's up to the task!
Bob&Margaret
2017 179
2016 Toyota 4Runner
2 sets of Golf Clubs
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: 30 Aug 2017 at 10:03am
Originally posted by geewizard

I have the Andersen Hitch and really like it.  This "new" hitch based on the Anderson looks very flimsy to me.  While it might work on a very light trailer, I would not trust it for my R-Pod.

Actually the only difference between the two is the expensive aluminum ball mount on the Anderson and the cheap poly 'springs'.  The one I just bought has more expensive 500 lb springs on each side instead of the cheap poly ones, but the chains do look lighter.  However, he's an engineer and I'm sure he knows the strength of the chains.  He took a good idea and took the "fluff" (and cost") out of it and made a "better mousetrap."  Don't confuse the price of $474 Anderson hitches with better performance.  they both work on the exactly same principal.  Instead of using spring bars, they are using bridge triangulation technology.  I really liked the Anderson.  I found it first and watched the videos.  Then I found the price and said "no way.  I can buy just about any WD hitch for that" (but in reality you buy them for about $150 and don't need to spend $500 on a WD hitch.  The end result is the same with all of them).  Then I found this engineer that had designed a simpler one for a lot less money.  It will work the same except I don't think it has any anti-sway.  But like I said, I have a sway bar on my pod now so it makes no difference and would be foolish to spend $474 instead of $49 (it costs $69 but he'll give you $20 back if you send him a review, good or bad).
2018 R-pod 176
2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
Back to Top
geewizard View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member


Joined: 16 Apr 2017
Location: Spokane
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 347
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2017 at 9:54am
I have the Andersen Hitch and really like it.  This "new" hitch based on the Anderson looks very similar.  I wonder how the anti-sway feature is implemented?

Does the ball rotate with the bracket underneath it?  Is there metal-on-metal friction?
2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1708FB
2017 R-Pod 177 (Blue) HRE SOLD
2004 Outfitter Apex 8 camper
2014 Toyota Tundra DC
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: 30 Aug 2017 at 9:17am
Yes, a lot of people are using the E2 and that's what I started looking at first because a lot of guys recommend it, but this new one that I posted is new technology.  No heavy steel bars like the old technology.  This is so simple it's a wonder someone didn't come up with it a long time ago, plus it costs a LOT less than the old heavy bar models.  Since I already have a sway bar mount on my Pod, I was thinking about getting the old style steel bars with the chain connector on the end.  They are about $100 less than E2 and do the same thing, but the new "all-chain" models I posted above cost $70 instead $150 (or $260 for E2).  Can't see any reason to just throw away money on old technology.

2018 R-pod 176
2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
Back to Top
rawest50 View Drop Down
Senior Member
Senior Member
Avatar

Joined: 07 Mar 2017
Location: Arkansas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 440
Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Aug 2017 at 8:54am
Originally posted by CharlieM

From a quick look, and if I understand the pictures, it would have a serious limit on turning radius; a particular problem when backing up. The "outside" spring would limit the turning radius so it looks like you would have to disconnect before backing. The Anderson gets good reviews for sway but not so good for weight distribution. My preference is still the E2/Equalizer. Reese and Bulldog also make versions but I've not really studied them.


The E2 is what I have and I am pleased with it. You do not have to disconnect to back up or turn deep. I am fairly new to camping so glad to hear positive comment on the E2.

Installed an electric jack which really makes it easy to hookup. Before that I was cranking my butt off getting it connected and in place.
2017.5 RPod 179
2017 Jeep Unlimited Wrangler
2017 Chevy Colorado Z71 Off Road Crew Cab
2 Weiner dogs
Great wife puts up with my BS
❤️ Thoroughbred Racing.
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