Stabilizer and Sway bars - Event Date: 21 Mar 2019

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   I bought a 2018 R177 last summer and used it twice. Getting ready for this season and like to know what folks think about installing stabilizer and/or sway bars. Am towing with a 2019 Toyota Highlander XLE (GVWR 6,000) and a Toyota Tacoma Prerunner (GVWR 5,240).  The GVWR of the trailer is 3,745.
I've read all sorts of pros and cons on the good ol' internets. One rule of thumb said if the trailer GVWR is more than half the towing vehicle's you should get the stabilizer bars. I believe the sway bar alone is cheaper but you can't back up with it (showstopper).

No problems last summer towing with the Tacoma and towed a 2,700 # tent trailer for 12 years with the Tacoma and no problems. Want to be safe of course but the bars are $450,so...

Thoughts and suggestions most welcome.  This is my first post and I'm so glad to have a community out there. Perhaps we will meet on the road. Now that we're retired, we hope to travel a lot in our beautiful new R-177.

Thanks!

Tom in Vancouver, WA (America's Vancouver as we like to say)

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Andiamo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Calendar Event: Stabilizer and Sway bars Posted: 21 Mar 2019 at 4:19pm
	I bought a 2018 R177 last summer and used it twice. Getting ready for this season and like to know what folks think about installing stabilizer and/or sway bars. Am towing with a 2019 Toyota Highlander XLE (GVWR 6,000) and a Toyota Tacoma Prerunner (GVWR 5,240). The GVWR of the trailer is 3,745. I've read all sorts of pros and cons on the good ol' internets. One rule of thumb said if the trailer GVWR is more than half the towing vehicle's you should get the stabilizer bars. I believe the sway bar alone is cheaper but you can't back up with it (showstopper). No problems last summer towing with the Tacoma and towed a 2,700 # tent trailer for 12 years with the Tacoma and no problems. Want to be safe of course but the bars are $450,so... Thoughts and suggestions most welcome. This is my first post and I'm so glad to have a community out there. Perhaps we will meet on the road. Now that we're retired, we hope to travel a lot in our beautiful new R-177. Thanks! Tom in Vancouver, WA (America's Vancouver as we like to say)

Awchief Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 04 May 2018 Location: Biloxi, MS Online Status: Offline Posts: 83	Posted: 21 Mar 2019 at 4:58pm
	Adding a weight distribution system with built in sway control such as the Andersen System makes for a more comfortable and enjoyable ride.
	Michael

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: 21 Mar 2019 at 5:25pm
	I tow with a Highlander. Do you have AWD and the 5000lb tow package? If so you'll be fine as long as you don't overload either the trailer or back of the tow vehicle, but I agree that you'll have a better ride with a weight distribution hitch with sway control. There are lots of choices, we can (and have) gone on for pages of discussion on that on this website.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

jato Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3326	Posted: 21 Mar 2019 at 6:45pm
	We have hauled our 177 for 8 years now only using a sway bar using mainly an '08 Explorer and a '13 Explorer, no issues encountered with over 25,000 miles traveled. The majority of our miles have been from Michigan to the Rockies, Montana to Utah. Maybe if we had the alternate hook up we would never just use the sway bar alone, but for us, we are comfortable with the current set up.
	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."

ron_whitt Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 08 Sep 2011 Location: Chesterville On Online Status: Offline Posts: 261	Posted: 21 Mar 2019 at 7:44pm
	I have a FJ toyota 5000lb towing capc. I only have a sway bar. Yes when backing up you have to get out and remove the sway bar. But I use that time to check out where I"m backing into, and only takes a minute. I have never towed with a wdh so others can let you know about them. So far after 8 camping seasons I"m happy with my sway bar. LOL like offgrid said... lots of discussion on this subject.
	Ron & Shirley 2020 Tacoma 2012 177 rpod

GlueGuy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2702	Posted: 21 Mar 2019 at 10:40pm
	Yeah. We can go on and on and on and... well you can see where I'm going here. Personally, I'd just install one of the many WDH options that includes anti-sway. Sure you get weight distribution with that, but there's nothing wrong with that, plus you get the bonus of anti-sway. Your Tacoma will probably do OK without WDH, but I think the Highlander would be better with it than without it. In any case, to each his own. I just added my 2 cents.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

GIAKIN Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 18 Jul 2016 Location: E. TN. Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Posted: 22 Mar 2019 at 9:22am
	I really like my Andersen hitch. No problem backing up and also much quieter.
	2018 R-Pod 179 2015 Tacoma PreRunner

lostagain Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Offline Posts: 2595	Posted: 22 Mar 2019 at 10:20am
	Andiano, there is a ton of information about anti-sway and WDH's in the archives that you will find very informative, including issues about tongue weight and how to calculate, the various preferences and opinions about the hitch systems, etc. It might be a good idea to expand the range of the search for 1 year and use all topics in the scope. The material there will keep you busy with reading for days.
	Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost

Andiamo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 29 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Posted: 26 Mar 2019 at 5:51pm
	Thanks to all of you for feedback on stabilizer/sway bars. Now as soon as I do my first de-winterization....

Suds' 179 Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 11 Feb 2017 Location: Illinois Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Posted: 27 Mar 2019 at 7:28am
	We have towed our 2017 179 to the west coast from Chicago twice with a Highlander - could REALLY tell the difference with anti-sway WDH. Made for a much smoother ride. We're happy we made the addition.
	Barb & Steve 2017 R-Pod 179 2017 Toyota Hilander