Weight distributing hitch

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   i bought a WDH at Harbor freight but the bars say 10,000 pounds. I'm sure this is too big for my 189. Can I buy replacement bars and how do you know what size to buy?

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Babysaph Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2019 Location: WV Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Topic: Weight distributing hitch Posted: 28 Jul 2019 at 10:46pm
	i bought a WDH at Harbor freight but the bars say 10,000 pounds. I'm sure this is too big for my 189. Can I buy replacement bars and how do you know what size to buy?
	Dr. J.R. Chambers II

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: 29 Jul 2019 at 5:01am
	That's a weirdly high number, are you sure its not 1000? Not knowing what tow vehicle you have or how you load your rig you want a wdh in the range of 600-1200 lbs, because it needs to be able to handle both the trailer tongue weight and any load you have behind the rear axle of your tow vehicle. Most likely 600 is a bit on the low side and 1200 is a bit high. The bars themselves should each handle at least the same load as the wdh itself, in order to have a reasonable safety factor for bumps and swales. My bars are each rated the same as the wdh itself, which is 1200 lbs. I have a fairly heavy tongue weight so I don't have too stiff and bouncy a ride with my rig with a 1200 lb wdh, YMMV. Whether you can get different bars or not will depend on the manufacturer, often you can. But if you really have 10,000 lb bars that wdh is too heavy and you should return it.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

mjlrpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 1214	Posted: 29 Jul 2019 at 7:32am
	Yes 10,000 is to rigid for your pod. You should probably get the 6,000 pound setup. If you know for sure your going to keep the pod, and you wont pack much weight into it, even the 4,000 pound setup will work. My dealer told me that you want your wdh rating to be the closest one to the actual weight of the camper you're pulling, but not less. I dont know if you can simply change the friction bars only.
	2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding

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: 29 Jul 2019 at 7:46am
	Lets not confuse the trailer tow rating with the weight distribution rating. There are really three ratings for a wdh: the GTW (gross trailer weight), the TW (tongue weight) and the bar capacity. So, the hitch itself might be rated for 10,000 lbs GTW and 1,000lb TW (tongue weight), which is fine. The bars for that hitch might each be rated for 1000 lb, so 2000 lbs total, which provides for a 2x safety factor before the bars bend when you go hit a bump load.
	1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold

mjlrpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 1214	Posted: 29 Jul 2019 at 8:40am
	I didnt confuse anything. I was completely accurate in what I said. I "don't" know about the hitch, and I stated that. YOU don't KNOW either. I correctly told him that he should use the setup that is nearest to the weight of the camper he will be towing. You said the same thing, in a different way. I guess they sell all different weight Wdh systems cause it doesn't matter. I guess they should confer with you.
	2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding

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: 2629	Posted: 29 Jul 2019 at 9:09am
	The hitches typically are classed by the gross weight of the trailer. For example, the E2 "600", is meant for 6000 lb trailers (and/or 600 lb tongue weight). A WDH with a rating of 10,000 is meant for a trailer up to 10,000 lb (or about 1,000 lb tongue weight). In any case, 10,000 is probably too much for an R-pod. It would work, but it would be too stiff. Something in the 5000-6000 lb range would be more typical. We use a Fastway E2 "600", which is rated for 6000 lb trailer weight. The particular model we have is FA94-00-0600.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

Babysaph Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2019 Location: WV Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 29 Jul 2019 at 9:12am
	Ok let me go back out and check. If these bars say 10,000 pounds is that too much for my 2016 Toyota Tacoma? Don't want to damage anything. Btw. It sways big time on the highway.,I am a newbie
	Dr. J.R. Chambers II

mjlrpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Sep 2016 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 1214	Posted: 29 Jul 2019 at 9:50am
	Well, if it sways "big time" on the highway, something must be done. But over compensating the wdh isnt whats needed. I saw the ad for the 10,000 pound hitch setup they are selling, and its not what you want for the pod. Glueguy was right on with the recommendation of the Fastway E2 600, or equivilent brand name. You probably just need to be more aware of how to pack weight into the camper. Try to have more weight toward the front of the camper if possible. I dont know if you tow with water, if so, is the water tank infront, or the rear of the 189? If its in the rear, only carry minimal amounts of water. Generally speaking, weight in the front of the camper will help to control sway. Weight in the rear of the camper will help to cause/worsen sway. If that doesn't work, you may want to add a sway bar, although I think that will be unlikely. Let us know how it goes, I/we like to know we helped to solve your problem.
	2017.5 Rp-172 2020 R-pod 195 2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl I'll be rpodding

Babysaph Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2019 Location: WV Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 29 Jul 2019 at 12:59pm
	I am trying to figure out the dry weight of the camper and what it weighs with the tanks full. I am looking at a Camco recurve 3 hitch with sway control. Just trying to decide about 400 or 600. which is 10 percent of gross weight
	Dr. J.R. Chambers II

Babysaph Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2019 Location: WV Online Status: Offline Posts: 37	Posted: 29 Jul 2019 at 1:00pm
	you are right Glue guy.
	Dr. J.R. Chambers II