Just bought a 2018 179 - towing issue |
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Olddawgsrule
Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014 |
Topic: Just bought a 2018 179 - towing issue Posted: 27 Mar 2021 at 2:47pm |
Still believe you have the cart in front of the horse. Start at the beginning and determine the issue. Buying a WDH at this point is not a solution.. Haven't found the issue yet! My mistake was listening to reasoning like this and not resolving the true issue first. I bought a WDH that was required. I only peruse this as I wish the OP to learn what the main issue is first. Then If indeed it can not be overcome, then go to another remedy. Learning how to balance a trailer if 'key'. Not buying a WDH and throwing that on.. OP. Sorry you have to read through all this. I hope is that you go step by step before jumping into another purchased remedy. Learn your trailer and balance it. Learn your truck and balance it. You may find as I did, these WDH's are for others. That TACO is a great match for this this trailer! Safe travels all!
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lostagain
Senior Member Joined: 06 Sep 2016 Location: Quaker Hill, CT Online Status: Online Posts: 2587 |
Posted: 27 Mar 2021 at 12:45pm |
From a lay person's perspective, if the loaded TV and trailer don't sit evenly in a straight line back to front, such as is depicted in H-B's foto where the front is noticeably lifted, you probably need a WDH. It may be possible to get along without it, but what you gain in ease of driving will make it worth it. You gain better control, better wind stability, and better sway resistance all wrapped in one device.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
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GlueGuy
Senior Member Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2630 |
Posted: 27 Mar 2021 at 10:51am |
Ford recommends a WDH on our F150 if the tongue weight is > 500 lbs.
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 27 Mar 2021 at 9:11am |
olddawgsrule, it’s not too early to load the gear your want to bring, make a short trip to the local scales, and weigh. It’s pointless to weigh the trailer and tow vehicle empty, that tells you nothing.
As for needing a wdh, no one “needs” one in the sense that you should be legal without it. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a very good thing to have one. The OP raised his question because he is already concerned about how his tow vehicle is handling the trailer. And he should be, look at the photo, his front axle is waay too light. A wdh is the only device that can correct that. What folks don’t realize is that hanging a trailer on the hitch changes the TV front/rear load distribution by much more than the tongue weight of the trailer. A 500 lb tongue weight might for example reduce the front axle load by 250 lbs and increase the rear axle load by 750 lbs, resulting in a 1000 lb difference between the two axles. The actual numbers will vary based on wheelbase and distance from the ball to the rear TV axle, but you will always end up lighter on the front axle and adding more than the tongue weight to the rear axle, without a wdh. A wdh will change the geometry and weights of the rig. So by installing it before weighing, the OP only needs to do it and run the calculator once. You can and should adjust where you carry your loads, TV load as far forward as possible, always. Trailer load is not so simple because you have to strike a balance between excessive tongue weight from too much load forward and sway risk from too much load aft. Safest in a smaller TV going to be adjust the load so you’re close to the TV max tongue weight, and use a wdh to move some of that tongue load to the front axle. For a heavier TV I’d put 14-15% of trailer weight on the tongue, then decide based on ride and handling whether to add a wdh. If the OP wants to load and weigh without a wdh first that’s fine, but based on his concerns and what I see in the photo I think a wdh and a second weighing is in his future. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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Olddawgsrule
Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014 |
Posted: 27 Mar 2021 at 8:10am |
I’d recommend a complete weighing at a public scale.
Agreed Load up the way you want to camp first, both the truck and the trailer, including passengers and water if you plan to dry camp. Okay, as a test, but... It's a bit soon for this. Get the wdh you want first and install it but don’t tension it. Here's where you lose me. You've 'pre-determined' he requires it. I didn't 'require' WDH after balancing the load. In both the TT & TV. I don't 'presume' he requires WDH. How about he balances the load first, checking tongue weight as he does. To the OP: If you can freely use a scale (transfer station in town) Then I'd do some TT packing watching the tongue weight. You can use a bathroom scale like this shows. Be sure to watch your TV balance as you load it. This you will need to pack your heavies (Like I placed my spare Propane tank & TT spare tire) against the Cabin wall (forward of the axle). Be careful what else goes in the truck, minding your loading weight. If you balance the weight 1st and still find you require a WDH, then at least you know how to properly pack and reduce the chances of issues/repairs in the future. With how mine performed, I just don't see the requirement. |
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 26 Mar 2021 at 9:21am |
I’d recommend a complete weighing at a public scale. Load up the way you want to camp first, both the truck and the trailer, including passengers and water if you plan to dry camp. Get the wdh you want first and install it but don’t tension it. Go through the scales adding one axle at a time. You can get the weight on each axle by subtraction. Then drop the trailer and go back through the scales with just the Taco. Leave the wdh in the receiver. Again weigh each axle. Subtract the full tow vehicle weight from the second weighing from the entire rig weight from the first weighing to get trailer weight. Subtract the total weight of the tow vehicle from the second weighing from the weight of the two TV axles from the first weighing to get the tongue weight.
Put all your specs and actual weights in this calculator and it will tell you where you are compared to your max limits, as well as how much you need to tension your wdh to get the front axle back up to the load it had without the trailer, which is the proper setting. Also be sure you are at least at 10% tongue weight as a percent of trailer weight. 11% plus is better. That reduces sway risk. From the looks of it low tongue weight isn’t likely to be your problem though. Calculator |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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Dirt Sifter
Senior Member Joined: 30 Dec 2018 Location: Right side OR Online Status: Offline Posts: 170 |
Posted: 26 Mar 2021 at 7:27am |
With a WDH my Tacoma TRD Off Road sits level with our 195 and did so with the 179 also. Still can't get photo to post. I'm thinking you are just pulling out of the dealership and have not loaded this up yet, but if I'm wrong then gotta agree with the two old guys above and suggest you look at how you're loaded.
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Greg n Deb 2020 195 HRE
'07 Tundra 5.7L., '17 Tacoma 3.5L. Both with tow packages 1 Puggle, 1 Chihuahua support staff |
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Olddawgsrule
Senior Member Joined: 20 Sep 2017 Location: New Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1014 |
Posted: 26 Mar 2021 at 7:19am |
Ya, get that tongue weight before doing anything else. I saw that before I re-balanced the loads. You look like you just put a load of topsoil in the bed.
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offgrid
Senior Member Joined: 23 Jul 2018 Online Status: Offline Posts: 5290 |
Posted: 26 Mar 2021 at 6:19am |
Yep, get a weight distribution hitch. And weigh your tongue to see what you really have there. The front axle of the Taco is too light, needs more of the load transferred onto it. Heavier rear springs won’t help with that.
Also, you might want to shorten/cross those safety chains, looks like there is a lot of slack in them. |
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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
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HillbillyMedic
Newbie Joined: 15 Jan 2021 Location: WV-FL Online Status: Offline Posts: 11 |
Posted: 25 Mar 2021 at 8:04pm |
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Be careful.
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