E2 WDH Trouble shooting |
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bakes99
Newbie Joined: 18 Jul 2013 Location: Victoria, BC Online Status: Offline Posts: 27 |
Topic: E2 WDH Trouble shooting Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 12:54pm |
I went back to get it adjusted, thinking they could do a way better job then me. He dropped the hitch head another hole on the shank. Thought he was going to stop and try it there. My belief is that he felt the bars were too difficult to raise on the L brackets. Before I knew it, removed the brackets and said he'd be back in a second. Looked through garage and he put them on a drill press and could hear the grinding. Looked at my six year old and said "oh crap." Believe when he inverted the bracket,he felt the trailer frame was too wide and couldn't get the bolt through to the rear of the bracket.
At that point I just wanted to get my truck and trailer out of there. This is a company that, this all they do. I don't think he was the most knowledgable staff member there. I brought it home and me and the wife put the new brackets on when they arrived from Fastway and feel we did a pretty darn good job ourselves, and all our measurements felt into correct place. After going through the booklet several times, felt we had a decent understanding of the proper set up. Probably not perfect but sure better than without the wdh. |
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RPOD 172 HRE & Ridgeline
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 05 Sep 2013 at 12:23pm |
I'm curious why the installer had to drill the holes out, since as mentioned, that will never be necessary.
A note that I've had to tighten all of the bolts on the L bracket installation - all 8 - multiple times since my original installation. Now if I notice a slight sway issue my first reaction is to retighten those bolts immediately.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 04 Sep 2013 at 8:51am |
"The local hitch installer totally botched up the brackets, drilling the
holes larger, to the point of being unusable. Sent the pics to Fastway
and deemed them unsafe and obviously couldn't guarantee safety."
Kudos to Fastway, but Boos to the original installer. Another example of dealers and installers placing unknowing novice buyers in unsatisfactory and/or dangerous situations. We here often say "don't trust the dealer", but it proves true every day. I had to completely reinstall and readjust my E2 after my first trip. It actually fell off and I found the brackets installed up side downand and loose. I worry about the novice buyer who does not read this forum. When a dealer tells the owner of a 2.0L I4 "Sure. You can tow the Queen Mary with the proper hitch" it's time to tow yourself to another dealer. |
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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Seanl
Senior Member Joined: 19 Sep 2011 Location: Fredericton NB Online Status: Offline Posts: 633 |
Posted: 04 Sep 2013 at 8:41am |
There is no reason that you should have to drill out any of the holes on the brackets. The holes are pre drilled to line up with the bolts.
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Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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bakes99
Newbie Joined: 18 Jul 2013 Location: Victoria, BC Online Status: Offline Posts: 27 |
Posted: 04 Sep 2013 at 12:10am |
Hey just want to throw a shout out to the folks at Fastway Trailer Products and the awesome customer service they offered to me regarding my E2 Equalizer Hitch, especially being in another country.
The local hitch installer totally botched up the brackets, drilling the holes larger, to the point of being unusable. Sent the pics to Fastway and deemed them unsafe and obviously couldn't guarantee safety. Don't want to get into too much detail but feel they went above and beyond. Do have other pics that look very similar to the other brackets that were altered. Anyway, big thanks to Fastway.
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RPOD 172 HRE & Ridgeline
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bakes99
Newbie Joined: 18 Jul 2013 Location: Victoria, BC Online Status: Offline Posts: 27 |
Posted: 06 Aug 2013 at 12:03am |
Thanks for all the advice. Going to see if I can hook up to someone with an air gun tomorrow and lower the hitch head a hole and add a washer. Think that would sort things out a little. Still a little high and not the same as the coupler of the trailer when level. We are camping directly next to the beach. Even noticed another rpod in the camp, have to go an meet up with them.
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RPOD 172 HRE & Ridgeline
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 05 Aug 2013 at 1:12pm |
Another note about that small bolt I mentioned earlier:
With the weight distribution engaged, begin with the angle set bolt, and tighten it until it comes back into solid contact with the shank plus 1/4 turn.
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9059 |
Posted: 05 Aug 2013 at 1:09pm |
I just scanned through and found this:
If the hitch is transferring too little or too much weight you must make adjustments to the hitch setup. For changes during the initial setup we recommend adding or removing spacer washers first to try and keep the spring arms parallel with the trailer frame. In our experience, this can help reduce the amount of noise the hitch makes during slow, tight turns. It also gives you more adjustment options if needed later. Once the maximum (9) or minimum (5) number of spacer washers has been reached, further adjustments can be made by raising or lowering the L-brackets. Minor adjustments later for changes in loading can usually be done by moving only the L-brackets. |
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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bakes99
Newbie Joined: 18 Jul 2013 Location: Victoria, BC Online Status: Offline Posts: 27 |
Posted: 05 Aug 2013 at 3:58am |
There basically is my problem. I'm confident I can narrow it down but don't have access to an air drive gun. So was hoping to get it right the first time out. Maybe I'll break down and buy one. Already have an air compressor. I've been through the instructions many times and know I was reaching with narrowing it down to just elevating the L brackets. Anyway will play with it some more over the following week or so. Will keep you posted
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RPOD 172 HRE & Ridgeline
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siggy
Newbie Joined: 29 Jul 2013 Location: Meridian, ID Online Status: Offline Posts: 2 |
Posted: 05 Aug 2013 at 12:04am |
I just finished setting up my Fastway E2 WDH today, it took myself and an experienced mechanic about an hour, and we switched the height of the head once, and took the whole thing apart twice to remove washers and get it the way we wanted it. The end result is great, tows like it's one with my TV. We started with the measurements and followed the instructions, but everyone I know with a WDH and or sway control says the same thing - you are going to mess with it a few times before you get it the way you want it. Good luck and let us know what you learn!
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2011 R-Pod 182G Hood River Edition [Ribbitt]
TV: 2002 GMC Yukon - Fastway E2 WDH w/Sway Ctrl |
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