Pictures of tow vehicles and trailers

Originally posted by pjmarko I am looking at purchasing a R-Pod 179 and doing some traveling., due to retire shortly.  I have a 2016 F150 4X4 SCAB with 2.7 EB.  Should I look at getting a w/d hitch and do I need towing mirrors?  I have the tow package (not the max tow package) with brake controller. I will be traveling alone so not much will be in the truck.

According to the manual, that vehicle should handle a trailer up to 5,000 lbs and 500 lb tongue weight without a WDH. Same (similar) with ours. That said, you will find that using a WDH will make the whole package more stable, even if you technically don't "need" it.

I have a 2017 early (green) 179 HRE and 2010 Toyota Highlander with tow package.  Since getting our pod we've headed out on several long trips.  The longest was from south central Idaho down to Zion for 10 days over spring break.  Highlander has 5,000 rating with 500 max tongue.  When we pull the drift boat, we don't even know it's back there.  We purchases a friction sway bar with the pod and decided the rig could handled the weight.  It does...fairly well.  We like the sway bar peace of mind. 

While per the measurement, the front frame raises only an inch, it feels differently behind the wheel.  The back end drops almost 2 inches.  In maneuvering into spots on dirt or gravel, the front tires slip where they normally don't.  Also, a week ago we were coming home from camping up near Salmon, ID.  I followed the fam as I came late from work at the start of the trip.  I watched the pod bounce all the way home on the well traveled two lane road that follows the Salmon River through Stanley and up and over Galena Summit and then into our valley.  It was unsettling thinking of the wife/son getting into a situation with little room to maneuver and not be in control of the TT.  It was after that experience that I ordered the E2 WDH.  I have a rough fitting and will finish up this weekend.  I gain back all of the front rise and some of the back with sway protection to boot.  Also, I hope to take most of the bounce out of the ride.

Different rigs have different suspensions.  Our next might be bigger and beefier and the WDH won't be needed.  I'll post how the ride is after we are installed and towing with the E2.  That's my story.
Thanks