179 Weight distribution / tounge weight/ sway issu

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   Somewhat new to travel trailer towing. Can someone please tell me what I should strive to keep my tounge weight at on the r pod 179? Loaded / unloaded / partially loaded. LP tank full or empty. I'm  buying my own tounge weight scale. Thinking of using water in the tank which is located in front of the axle as ballast. Having occasional sway issues. TV is a 2015 f 150 crew 4x4 with trailer brakes and airbags, adjustable hitch. Always keep rig nice and level. No sway bars. Don't want to use them if I can help it. Warranty/ frame/ issues/ cost / hassle. I added a cargo platform to rear hitch of trailer. Carry a storage box. Reconfigured spare tire mount. Probably 80 to 100 lbs with box loaded added to rear of trailer. Anyone been through this? What does that tounge weight need to be at? Thanks

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Fireguyinfla Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25 May 2023 Location: Florida Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fireguyinfla Report Post Quote Reply Topic: 179 Weight distribution / tounge weight/ sway issu Posted: 10 Dec 2023 at 6:49am
	Somewhat new to travel trailer towing. Can someone please tell me what I should strive to keep my tounge weight at on the r pod 179? Loaded / unloaded / partially loaded. LP tank full or empty. I'm buying my own tounge weight scale. Thinking of using water in the tank which is located in front of the axle as ballast. Having occasional sway issues. TV is a 2015 f 150 crew 4x4 with trailer brakes and airbags, adjustable hitch. Always keep rig nice and level. No sway bars. Don't want to use them if I can help it. Warranty/ frame/ issues/ cost / hassle. I added a cargo platform to rear hitch of trailer. Carry a storage box. Reconfigured spare tire mount. Probably 80 to 100 lbs with box loaded added to rear of trailer. Anyone been through this? What does that tounge weight need to be at? Thanks
	Jeffrey Harbuck

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	Post Options Post Reply Quote GlueGuy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Dec 2023 at 12:04pm
	The rule of thumb for tongue weight is 10 to 12 percent of the gross trailer weight. For example, if your trailer is 3000 lbs, the tongue weight should be 300 to 360 lbs. Do not go below 10%, but it's fine to go over 12% up to the limit of the vehicle. I have the same truck and have never worried about it because it can theoretically handle up to 1000 lbs (but I've never gone that high). Our RP179 tows like a dream; no sway or control issues whatsoever.
	bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost

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: 3220	Post Options Post Reply Quote jato Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Dec 2023 at 3:13pm
	+1 GG is correct. Since following that advice many years ago - no sway issues. I also own a Shurline tongue weight scale for added assurance. Our 177 weighs much less than your 179 but the rules do not change. Our scenario: fully loaded 177 with 36 gallons water (tank behind axle) and supplies stored for a 30 day trip weighs in at 2940 lbs. 2940 x .11% = 323 minimum needed on the tongue to reduce/eliminate sway. Our a-frame carries two 20# propane tanks and a pair of 12 volt batteries. Tongue weight is 340 so we are good especially as we travel and use water the FW tank becomes depleted (behind axle) and water is transferred to either the gray or black tank which are both in front of the axle which is constantly adding weight to the tongue. Over the 12 years of ownership we towed the first 8 years with an '08 and '13 front wheel drive Explorer and the the last 4 years with an '11 and '17 F-150, all using a basic Curt friction bar with no issues. And mind you we have towed through snow storms, sleet, hail, heavy rain and cross winds in excess of 20 mph and have always felt safe towing. The big thing, as GG above wisely points out, tongue weight is critical, make certain you know you have a minimum of 10% of total 179 weight on the (a-frame) tongue.
	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."

Fireguyinfla Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25 May 2023 Location: Florida Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fireguyinfla Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Dec 2023 at 3:59pm
	Thanks guys. I knew that had to be the problem. I have one LP tank and battery. Dry weight empty of my 179 is 3500 lbs. Figure 3800 with cargo box and water I'll have to add. I'll shoot for 12% of that. I'll check out that tounge weight scale. Thanks again 👍
	Jeffrey Harbuck

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pod People Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Dec 2023 at 8:31pm
	We also have a 179 and use it for multiday/multiweek trips. Thus, it is usually fully loaded and heavy when we travel. Here are some actual weights that were taken as we began a 3 week trip recently First pass-pod connected to Ford Ford front axle 2,760 Both axles (includes tongue weight) 7,700 Combined Pod and Ford 11,140 Pod axle weight 3,440 Second pass-Ford only, Ford front axle 3190 Both axles 7010 Pod Tongue weight (7700-7010) 690 (1 propane tank, spare tire, 2 6v batteries Pod Total weight (3440+690) 4130 Tongue weight % (690/4130) 16.7% We have a lot of tongue weight-(16.7%). We have modified ours by moving the spare tire up to the A frame and we have 2 6volt Trojan batteries as well as the standard 20# propane tank ( which actually weighs around 34# when full). We also store a lot of tools/equip in the front storage compartment. We usually start off with 5-10 gallons of water in the forward fresh tank and the rear black tank is 3-4 gallons of chemicals and water to slosh around and clean the tank while driving. Both the pantry and refrigerator are full and fortunately located behind the axle(to offset some tongue weight). We modified the rear frame to accommodate a 2” bike rack/receiver and carried 2 mountain bikes on the rear. This added about 95# to the total. This also counterbalances the tongue weight. We were pulling the pod with a v8 Ford Expedition and use an Equalizer 4 point hitch with built in sway control. We had stiffer rear shocks installed on the Expedition, used Michelin tires on the Expedition and Goodyear Endurance on the pod. We have pulled the pod across country multiple times, north to south and east to west in all types of weather. We have never felt any trace of sway or “white knuckle’ driving. I think that towing safely is a combination of lots of individual components- the tow vehicle with adequate suspension, power and tires The hitch system properly adjusted The pod properly packed and with quality, balanced tires All components need to work together. Travel often and safe Vann
	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

Fireguyinfla Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25 May 2023 Location: Florida Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fireguyinfla Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Dec 2023 at 3:58am
	Hey van, how did you mount your spare tire to the A frame? I tried that. Mounted it to the outside of passenger side as far back and as high as I could get it. First trip to the keys, I pinched it with the bumper trying to turn around on one of those tiny roads. Crushed the box frame of the trailer where the tire mount was attached. Thank God it's no worse than it is. I suppose I could add another battery. I run a generator when boondocking. Never had a problem with just one, but I could use the weight. Ordered a tounge scale. I'll bet my bottom dollar I'm not even even close to 10%. Hoping some water in the tank will bring that up to 12% or more. I'm gonna shoot for 450lbs. on the tounge. Pretty sure that's going to fix me up.
	Jeffrey Harbuck

Fireguyinfla Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 25 May 2023 Location: Florida Online Status: Offline Posts: 10	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fireguyinfla Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Dec 2023 at 4:17am
	I'm running goodyear endurance on my r pod, and goodyear wranglers on my truck. All good there.
	Jeffrey Harbuck

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: 3220	Post Options Post Reply Quote jato Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Dec 2023 at 6:50am
	Just looked on eBay at the Shurline TONGUE weight scales and see that they are cheaper now then when I purchased mine 6 years ago! Saw one for under $ 100 with shipping included, is measured 0-2000 lbs, which is way more than what you need, mine goes up to 1000 lbs, which is way more than what I need. Nice thing with the scale, it takes the guesswork out. As far as weighing your 179 take it to your local county garage, they will weigh it for you, most likely for free.
	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."

Pod People Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Location: Chapel Hill,NC Online Status: Offline Posts: 1067	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pod People Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Dec 2023 at 7:18am
	We took the spare tire off of the rear and mounted it on the passenger side of the A frame. We had to cut the existing propane tank base off and move it as far forward as possible. This allpowed to tire to snug up to the front edge curve of the pod body. we used the existing spare tire bracket and cut off the bottom part that was ata 90 degree angle. Welded the vertical part directly to the side of the A frame here are a few pictures hope this helps travel often and safe Vann
	Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179

john in idaho Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 04 Nov 2014 Location: Eagle Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 611	Post Options Post Reply Quote john in idaho Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 13 Dec 2023 at 10:03am
	I got rid of the last little bit of side- to - side movement in the mirrors when i tried Load Range E tires at 80 psi. Rather than bouncing, the new tires really leveled out the ride. 62 mph seems to be the sweet spot.