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Topic ClosedPartially filling fresh water

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Our pod View Drop Down
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Joined: 03 Oct 2016
Location: Olympia WA
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Direct Link To This Post Topic: Partially filling fresh water
    Posted: 07 Mar 2017 at 9:53am
Stephen H and Tars Farkas: my concern re free-surface effect would be on its impact to traction from increased weight on the outside of the turn, perhaps result ing in a skid. I don't worry about capsizing (flipping) very much.
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Irish Tom View Drop Down
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Mar 2017 at 10:22am
Just for information, I did add a large rack to the front of my 2015 178 that was designed to carry a generator.  It bolts directly to the frame and is available on line.  I do not usually carry a generator, but put a large cooler or other bins on this rack in addition to the spare tire.  This helps my tongue weight.  I use the receiver on the back to carry two bikes.   I only use a anti-sway bar. (no WDH) and the Pod tows just fine.   The fresh water tank supports do scare me a bit.  Will look into adding the screws and bolts through the frame.  As we both know FR puts these RPods together fast and I have experienced many construction flaws.  Seeing that we both have 2015 178's, sharing information is awesome.

Happy Camping!

Irish Tom
2015 178
2014 Ford Explorer
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StephenH View Drop Down
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
Location: Wake Forest, NC
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Mar 2017 at 8:09pm
Originally posted by Our pod

Stephen H and Tars Farkas: my concern re free-surface effect would be on its impact to traction from increased weight on the outside of the turn, perhaps result ing in a skid. I don't worry about capsizing (flipping) very much.

Given my experiences towing, I don't think you will have a problem.
Experience 1: Las Vegas headed northbound on I15. Needed to take exit and did not know how sharp that turn was. Had to really step on the brakes to make the turn and avoid hitting the wall. There were plenty of marks from people who had not successfully made the turn. If the water we had in the tank would have been an issue, then that is one place where it surely would have manifested itself.
Experience 2: December, I80 in western Wyoming: Crosswind gusting to 40 mph. Road turned to ice as we approached a bridge overpass. We started to fishtail and it got worse. We might have recovered if the back end of the trailer had not hit the bridge guard rail and kicked us around in a 180 degree spin leaving us facing the wrong way on the bridge. The fresh water tank was empty and the black and gray water tanks had minimal content at that point as we were dry camping due to travel in sub-freezing temperatures.

In both cases, the contents (or lack thereof) in the tanks did not determine the outcome. The water is, after all, just a fraction of the weight of a loaded R-Pod. Drive sensibly and you should be fine.
StephenH
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Direct Link To This Post Posted: 08 Mar 2017 at 6:03pm
For 178 owners: Malkbean2 and Irish Tom. The configuration of 178 tanks is different than other Pods. They have their own towing characteristics. 330 lbs is a significant weight when placed at the opposite end of the hitch. Malkbean2, you are already over the spec for your tongue weight for your TV. You could add water to your rear tank to offset the tongue weight to get your rig within spec, evidently you have capability to weigh tongue. You can also balance your loads between front and rear storage areas. I would suggest you go with a friction sway bar at minimum. Just makes sense. Irish Tom, my Pod is modded close to what you added, I do carry a genset on my Aframe mount. I'm at about 377 on tongue weight. I have modded my tank support beams. I removed all the 1" #14 sheet metal screws and did bolt them thru frame. I repaled the 1" screws with 1 1/2" screws.
Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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