Towing |
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StephenH
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 29 Nov 2015 Location: Wake Forest, NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 6289 |
Topic: Towing Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 10:05pm |
In the past 2+ years we have owned our RP179, we have logged a lot of miles on Interstates. Most of those were without incident but we did hit ice with a crosswind gusting to 60 mph in Wyoming in December 2016. We ended up facing the wrong way on a bridge on I80 facing oncoming big rigs in an area where the speed limit was 80 mph. By the grace of God, there was nobody close behind us and they all were able to move over so I was able to get us off the bridge, then during a break to get turned around and off the highway onto a broader shoulder than the one facing the passing lane. The Highway Patrol officer did not cite me for the accident as he wrote it up as "unavoidable." I was doing the legal speed for towing which was 60 mph when the sway started. Between the ice and wind, it was too much for the Equal-i-zer hitch I have.
We will be taking off next month on another cross-country trip. We now tow with a 2010 Nissan Frontier LE Crew Cab 4WD pickup. Istill don't quite like the way it feels, so I decided to upgrade the hitch to a Hensley Swift Cub. Hensley is having a special offer on their hitches so it isn't quite as expensive as it would otherwise be. Instead of controlling sway by dampening it with friction, the Hensley hitch claims to eliminate the possibility of trailer-induced sway. I will know this week as it is due to arrive Tuesday. Once I get it installed, I will be testing it before we take off on our trip. I anticipate it will work very well for us. |
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StephenH
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
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Tommym
Newbie Joined: 22 Apr 2018 Location: Long Island NY Online Status: Offline Posts: 4 |
Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 7:35pm |
Thanks for that information ! Just looking at that I really don't know how it works, but I will look into it. It would be a lot more work to store a tandem in my space, but it could be done. The reason I was concerned is the fact that I rarely see a single axle trailer on the interstates. Tom
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jato
Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3227 |
Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 3:48pm |
Welcome Tommym to this excellent forum. We currently have a 177 and have towed it with a 94 F-150 (no sway bar or WDH needed) and also an '08 and '13 Explorer, both which necessitate the use of a sway bar. Currently have over 25,000 miles traveling with the pod and fortunately no issues, but as David mentioned above you have PLENTY of power with the Ram.
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God's pod
'11 model 177 '17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake "...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free." |
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ArenaBlanca
Senior Member Joined: 07 Sep 2016 Location: Alamogordo, NM Online Status: Offline Posts: 158 |
Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 11:39am |
Forgot to mention that we have a shell on the pickup. Lots of extra storage for everything.
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Enjoy Life!!
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ArenaBlanca
Senior Member Joined: 07 Sep 2016 Location: Alamogordo, NM Online Status: Offline Posts: 158 |
Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 11:37am |
I tow with a Chevy 2500 Duramax because that is what we had when we got the 179. I also tow a 34 foot LaCrosse (Our Taj Mahaulable) but only to its summer camping spot and back home. With the LaCrosse a WDH and sway control is a must. Tongue weight is like 750 pounds and you still can feel the sway when you get passed by a semi.
I do not use a WDH but do use sway control with the Pod because I feel safer. I have been caught by a "dust devil" but not when towing. That was noticeable. I would recommend sway control if you are planning to tow anywhere in the western part of the US.
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Enjoy Life!!
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Guests
Guest Group |
Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 9:22am |
For anti-sway control ONLY, you could go with something like this (click link): https://www.harborfreight.com/trailer-sway-control-kit-96462.html These things usually need to be disconnected before backing up, however. Many, on the forum (me included) like the Fastway E2, which is a combination of WD/sway control (no need to disconnect/backing): http://www.fastwaytrailer.com/e2-hitch With a little internet shopping, you can likely find one for $300 or less. |
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Tommym
Newbie Joined: 22 Apr 2018 Location: Long Island NY Online Status: Offline Posts: 4 |
Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 9:04am |
Hi !By anti-sway,do you mean those weight distributing hitches ? If its something else,I am not familiar with it . Thanks
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Guests
Guest Group |
Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 8:58am |
With the Hemi and 3.92 gear, you could probably pull a train of Rpods behind you - if you could figure out how to couple them together. IMHO, I think you would be absolutely fine...being an experience tower and with the vehicle you have. |
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Tommym
Newbie Joined: 22 Apr 2018 Location: Long Island NY Online Status: Offline Posts: 4 |
Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 8:41am |
Thanks, I am towing with a hemi ram with 3:92's.and factory brake controller. Now my issue is storage space,not power.We are empty nesters so the rpod would be a good fit for us.I am more concerned about sway and wind, since I never had a single axle before. Thanks again,Tom
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Guests
Guest Group |
Posted: 22 Apr 2018 at 8:40am |
First, welcome to the forum! I have towed with both. I presently have a Coleman CT187QB, which is about 19' long, 84" wide, 3018lbs. UVW and a tandem axle. This is very similar in size and weight to an Rpod. Prior to this, I had a Rpod RP173. I have owned other campers, both single and double axles. The tandem axle is rock solid - no hint of sway, ever. However, I never had an issue pulling the Rpod, even without an anti-sway control device. That said, many prefer some sort of anti-sway with the single axle. To be brief, the tandem doesn't "want" to do anything other than go straight - dragging at least 2 of the tires when turning. The single axle is free to pivot more freely and could more prone to a sway condition (with improper loading, no anti-sway, strong side winds, etc.). Again, I had no problems. If you have more specific questions, ask away! |
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