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jato
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2012
Location: Kewadin, MI
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Posts: 3227
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Topic: Sway bars? Posted: 14 May 2018 at 9:03pm |
Really the only thing you must remember to do is to loosen the sway bar before backing up / into your campsite, otherwise you may very well toast it. Other than that it is pretty straightforward and simple to use.
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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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SteveA
Groupie
Joined: 19 Jul 2017
Location: Sandpoint Id
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 56
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Posted: 14 May 2018 at 8:47pm |
I live in the mountains of N Idaho. I've towed the deserts of Calif, Nevada, Oregon, Wyoming etc and into and throughout the mountains of Colorado. Towed last year to the families ranch south of Austin Texas along interstate 10 in nasty, nasty winds with a 2015 1500 Ram and to a lesser degree a '02 GMC 1500 Sierra. IMPO, installing a sway or WDH on a full size truck for a 179 is completely unnecessary. :)
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2017 179 1/2
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J&B
Newbie
Joined: 28 Aug 2017
Location: Fla.
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1
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Posted: 14 May 2018 at 8:19pm |
Yeah, making myself a little crazy about this sway bar issue.....Silverado 1500 pulling a 179. So far, a couple thousand miles around Fla., don't even know it's back there. But heading to mountains soon, get a single sway bar, just because, just incase???? Suggestions for easy to use/understand sway bar?
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Tars Tarkas
Senior Member
Joined: 14 Jan 2013
Location: Near Nashville
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1446
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Posted: 13 May 2018 at 7:03pm |
Originally posted by SteveA
Interesting reading all these threads on pod sway and the many different opinions based largely on hands on experience. Some have none, some have a little, some even more... and so on. I have even read that a few are using a sway control device with their 3/4 ton trucks??? Yes it is a fact that if you load any trailer, especially a single axle light in the tongue weight you can and most likely will get sway. However I'm starting to wonder if coupled with some of the other FR quality control issues many have posted if maybe some of these units are leaving the factory with axle alinement issues as well? A double axle trailer that has an axle that's out of square will show obvious tire wear but a single axle will just crab somewhat and start to wiggle when its "set track" is disturbed i.e. cross wind or passing a large vehicle left front to left front. Just food for thought. |
This is purely anecdotal of course, but I don't think this is the case. I towed my pod around 20K miles without a WDH or any sway control. The only time I ever noticed any slightly alarming sway was when I had a tank full of fresh water. The sway went away when I drained tank. Otherwise towing has been excellent. No abnormal tire wear. I let the forum talk me into getting a WDH with integrated sway control. (My weakness!) Now that I have it I guess I like it better than not having it and I buy into the argument that it's better to have it an not need it than to need it and not have it. I have a double axle utility trailer that I have no trouble loading so that it sways all over the place. It has always been easily corrected with some sensible weight redistribution. Pods are short. It's really easy for small weight distribution issues to have a significant impact. TT
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2010 176
FJ Cruiser
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SteveA
Groupie
Joined: 19 Jul 2017
Location: Sandpoint Id
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 56
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Posted: 13 May 2018 at 6:03pm |
Interesting reading all these threads on pod sway and the many different opinions based largely on hands on experience. Some have none, some have a little, some even more... and so on. I have even read that a few are using a sway control device with their 3/4 ton trucks??? Yes it is a fact that if you load any trailer, especially a single axle light in the tongue weight you can and most likely will get sway. However I'm starting to wonder if coupled with some of the other FR quality control issues many have posted if maybe some of these units are leaving the factory with axle alinement issues as well? A double axle trailer that has an axle that's out of square will show obvious tire wear but a single axle will just crab somewhat and start to wiggle when its "set track" is disturbed i.e. cross wind or passing a large vehicle left front to left front. Just food for thought.
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2017 179 1/2
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419
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Posted: 13 May 2018 at 4:44pm |
Those road conditions where you have traction issues, will have an effect on towing, rain is not an issue. Stopping may be an issue but your sway will be ok. In IMHO.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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HandsCamping
Newbie
Joined: 02 May 2018
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11
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Posted: 13 May 2018 at 4:38pm |
mCarter Thanks. I had just read that you had to disconnect In The rain.
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Stanley & Erica Hand
Alabama
Rpod 176
Chevy 2500HD
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419
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Posted: 13 May 2018 at 4:36pm |
Hands Camping - NO, ice or snow would be different, but why be towing a trailer then anyway?
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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mcarter
podders Helping podders - pHp
Joined: 07 Apr 2016
Location: Greenbrier, TN
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3419
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Posted: 13 May 2018 at 4:34pm |
Keith-n-Dar. Exactly, not a design defect, it is a factor you need to be cognizant of. I have had sway issues before I was aware of the effect of a rear FW tank and the fact I compensated at the tongue end and knew the tongue weight. Just a learning thing. My TV tows fine, I added sway bar and it works. The only thing I would caution folks on is I have had trailer sway based on tongue weight, not capacity of the tow vehicle. Just my opinion.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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HandsCamping
Newbie
Joined: 02 May 2018
Location: Alabama
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 11
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Posted: 13 May 2018 at 4:33pm |
Do you disconnect the sway bar in the rain?
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Stanley & Erica Hand
Alabama
Rpod 176
Chevy 2500HD
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