WD and Sway Bar
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Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=10482
Printed Date: 01 Jul 2025 at 7:53am
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Topic: WD and Sway Bar
Posted By: Jenga Jack
Subject: WD and Sway Bar
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2017 at 3:08pm
Is a weight distribution hitch and/or sway bar necessary? I've pulled my 178 for 3 seasons with a 2004 4Runner V6, short and long hauls. Just purchased a 2015 4Runner V6 and am debating WD or sway control. Local RV dealer has a combo for a good price, but the set up weighs a ton! Seems like overkill. Thoughts?  ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 aka the "Kobra Pod" following a 2015 4Runner wherever it may wander |
Replies:
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 08 Aug 2017 at 9:20pm
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Depends on your TV. With our '94 F-150 5.0L V-8 with stick, nothing is needed as far as I am concerned. However with both our Explorers, '08 and currently a '13 we did need the use of a sway bar link I believe due to the shorter wheelbase. We have been hauling our 177 around this great land for 6 plus years and over 25,000 miles now and have never seen a need for the weight distributing hitch. Just my 2 cents. ------------- 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." |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 8:32am
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+1 to Jato. All depends on your rig. Both my TVs have a 7000 plus capacity, and I find the sway bar is helpful, I do not have a WDH, my sway bar is compatible with both TVs. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: Jenga Jack
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 10:05am
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Toyota 4Runner is rated at 5,000b towing capacity, tongue wt @ 500lbs. I don't travel with water and gray/black tanks are empty, too. When pulling, less than 300lbs are in trailer, heavy items (cooler, food, canopy, firewood, etc.) go in TV. Still thinking WD is overkill, sway bar maybe not... ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 aka the "Kobra Pod" following a 2015 4Runner wherever it may wander |
Posted By: DaleH
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 10:47am
| I think the length of the tow vehicle plays into this as well. We have a Jeep Commander (quite a bit shorter than a pickup) with the 4.7L V8 that easily pulled our old (and large) tent trailer with similar weights to our Pod. When we bought the 179 our dealer really recommended the WD hitch. I didn't think we needed it. In the end we got it because of the greater side and frontal area of the Pod and wanted to be on the safe side. I have really been pleased with the quality of ride and overall comfort towing that the WD hitch has given us. |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 10:55am
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What does the 4-Runner weigh all by itself? If the R-pod is equal to or greater than the weight of the 4-Runner, I would recommend at least doing an anti-sway of some sort. Depending on what percentage of the tongue weight capacity you're at (does the 4-Runner handle 300#, 400#, or 500#?), you "may" want a WDH. The other issue is the wheelbase of the 4-Runner. The shorter it is, the more prone to sway you will be. For example, the wheelbase on our F-150 is 157" (slightly over 13'). None of this is hard and fast. To some extent, driver capability can come into play as well. I would base my decision on all of the above. Our F-150 is rated at over 10,000 lb capacity, and it even states in the manual that up to 5,000 lbs, no WDH is required. However, we're using an E2 WDH that has a simple 2-point anti-sway. When we tow, it is a pure cakewalk. I like it that way, and I don't mind that we overkilled it. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 10:58am
Our 2012 Highlander has those same towing specs and it definitely benefits from a WDH and sway bar. The rear suspension on the 4Runner is probably stiffer than the Highlander, so you may or may not need a WDH. |
Posted By: DavMar
Date Posted: 09 Aug 2017 at 11:57am
+1 GlueGuy My Tacoma is rated at 6,400 lbs. capacity and I find that using a E2 WDH square bar 2-point anti-sway make towing so much easier and the BIG plus is its cheap insurance and less wear and tear on your tow vehicle. ------------- Dave & Marlene J with Zoey the wonder dog. 2017 Rpod 180 2016 Toyota Tacoma SR5 4x4 Lexington, NC |
Posted By: Wood River Pod
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2017 at 9:43am
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We just moved to a Fastway E2 600/6,000 for our 179/2010 Highlander. It has made a tremendous difference. I would highly recommend. Before we used hitch with sway bar. Thanks ------------- Smith's in Hailey Early 2017 179 HRE http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=9134&PN=1&title=wood-river-179-mods - Wood River Mods |
Posted By: spydie
Date Posted: 10 Aug 2017 at 11:31pm
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I noticed some tail-wag on my new 2018 R-pod 176 on the way back to NM from AR with the water tank about 2/3 full. When I got home I saw why... the darned fresh water tank is way at the rear of the Pod behind the grey water tank, which is right behind the axel. I had a sway bar on the 2017 RAM 1500 and kept tightening it up all the way home. It had to be real tight before the sway stopped. No WD needed on most full size trucks, though. Sits level without one. ------------- 2018 R-pod 176 2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi 
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Posted By: Jenga Jack
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2017 at 2:19pm
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What brand/model of WDH do you have? ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 aka the "Kobra Pod" following a 2015 4Runner wherever it may wander |
Posted By: spydie
Date Posted: 11 Aug 2017 at 3:51pm
Not sure who you are asking but I don't have a WD, just a sway bar ------------- 2018 R-pod 176 2017 RAM 1500 5.7L Hemi
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Posted By: podrunner
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2017 at 1:22am
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This is an interesting topic to me as I just brought home tonight a new 2017 4Runner. My 2006 was totaled in a freeway accident last week. (not my fault or liability). I just looked through the new owners manual and in the towing section it mentions that anti sway set up is required when towing over 2000 Lbs. I never used anti sway with my previous 4Runner and never felt that I needed it I may check into it with the new Runner. Happy Trails ------------- 2010 R Pod 151 2017 4runner 2006 Honda Metropolitan |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2017 at 7:48am
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Again vehicle specific. I could get away with no sway, but use it because I feel safer and it is easy to hook up. My owners manuals(s) don't mention anti-sway. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: ParPod
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2017 at 7:59am
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We tow a 179 with a 2016 4Runner. The vehicle we entered the podding world with was a 2012 Rav Sport so we got the E2 when we got the Pod. I just had it set up for the 4Runner which didn't need the WD as much as the Rav but still not sorry I have it.....it does make a small difference and I would think it makes it a little easier on the 4Runner as well. We did a 5,000 kilometer trip in June around the Great Lakes and ran into all kinds of weather and really wasn't sorry I had the E2 as there was virtually no noticeable sway issues at all. Just my HO but go with the works....I don't think you'll be sorry. ------------- Bob&Margaret 2017 179 2016 Toyota 4Runner 2 sets of Golf Clubs |
Posted By: backin15
Date Posted: 12 Aug 2017 at 1:49pm
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I had quite a bit of sway before adding a friction sway control bar which eliminated it. As light as the tongue of the Rpod is weight distribution may not be necessary, but it cannot hurt. I would have gone with the E2 if my Xterra did not already have airbags to firm up the rear. ------------- 2015 179 2013 Xterra Pro 4X |
Posted By: Jenga Jack
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2017 at 2:46pm
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Thank you all for your feedback. After all the comments and hours or research, it's still confusing! So convince me that it'd be foolish to just get sway control bar, and not a WDH. 2015 4Runner, 6 cyl, GVWR 6300lbs, 5000lb towing capacity, 500lb max tongue wt (owners manual suggests sway bar, says nothing about a WDH) 2014 R-Pod 178, dry wt 2800lbs, maybe 3500lbs with gear. I have an appointment to install a CURT ball & chain WDH #17050, but am having second thoughts. What to do?  ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 aka the "Kobra Pod" following a 2015 4Runner wherever it may wander |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2017 at 2:58pm
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With that short a vehicle I would go ahead with the WDH and sway control.
------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2017 at 3:10pm
I am surprised you had sway with a full sized PU for a TV. I think my 177 is plumbed like your pod and I nearly always have water in the tank. If we are traveling with the pod and will be in truckstops or parking lots I want to be able to use the bathroom and shower so I need water. I have towed with the tank full on several occasions and haven't had any sway. My TV is a supercrew with a 6' box. Is that longer than yours? That may be the difference. I also have the heavy duty trailer towing package and could tow 11,000 pounds if I wanted to, but I am not sure that would eliminate sway. ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: PilotPodder
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2017 at 3:35pm
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I would tow either with full or empty fresh water tanks, and not partially full. I saw Sean Michael of Long Long Honeymoon on YouTube talk about the force of the weight of water can have on sway when the tank is partially full. 8+lbs per gallon moving side to side in the tank only happens when there is room in the tank to move. Take 10 gallons fresh in a 30 gallon tank and you are moving 80+lbs side to side sloshing in the tank. 20 gallons is > 160lbs sloshing. Eliminate the room for the water to move by going out full or empty is my counsel. Add the effect on some models where the tank is behind the axle and no thanks on towing partially full. ------------- Portage, MI — 2017 RPod 179 - sold / 2017 Toyota Tundra — https://johnmarucci.com/r-pod-video-list/ - My RPod YouTube Videos |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2017 at 6:16pm
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There's a name for that slosh effect, I don't remember what it is, but I think the general opinion is it isn't something to worry about in a pod. First of all, if the tank is half full, half the water is already on one side of the trailer so if all of the water ended up on the same side all at once, which is practically impossible, it would be 60 pounds. If the tank was 2/3 full 10 gallons would already be on one side so again, in a only theoretical situation, there's only 10 gallons on the other side of the tank and it won't all fit on the other other side. Then there's the fact that the tanks are almost at axle level. If you had all this water slamming aroung on top of the pod, it would probably matter. Not so much at axle level. No proof here, but move 200 pounds up and inside the pod the the form of a person riding in the back. I don't think you'd particularly notice if he was bouncing back and forth from one side of the pod to the other. You might notice but I doubt you'd be worried about him causing a wreck. If you're going to flip your trailer, I can see how this might be a tiny contributing factor, but I'd say you were most likely going to flip anyway. That weight so low might even add to your stability. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: Keith-N-Dar
Date Posted: 13 Aug 2017 at 7:21pm
+1 ------------- Keith-N-Dar Boris & Betty (Boston Terriers) 2011 R-Pod 177 2010 Ford F-150 |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2017 at 8:57am
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The "Free Surface Effect". That is why tanks on ships and tanker trucks have baffles in the tanks. Simply says tanks should be full or empty to prevent effect. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2017 at 9:08am
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The difference is ships roll and tanker trucks have a much higher CoG since the liquid is higher above the axles and there is much more of it. In those, sloshing of liquid in the tanks is definitely a problem. The low, flat tanks in the R-Pod do not present the same problems as the large, round tanks in a tanker truck or the huge tanks on a ship. I have towed our RP-179 now for several long trips which probably total between 15,000 and 20,000 miles since we bought it. I have almost always had water in the tanks, starting with a full fresh water tank and then as it has been used, varying proportions in fresh, gray, and black water tanks. I have not had any problem that could be attributed to "Free Surface Effect." Even our accident last December had nothing to do with liquid in tanks (no fresh water, minimal content in black and even less in gray water tank as we were traveling dry due to sub-freezing temperatures) and everything to do with ice and wind. ------------- StephenH Happy is the man that findeth wisdom,... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=7712 - ouR escaPOD mods Former RPod 179 Current Cherokee Grey Wolf 24 JS |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2017 at 4:54pm
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Stephen,
I don't have an issue with the Free Surface effect either, that's because I have a 178, and don't travel with a full water tank. I keep minimal water in it for emergency potty stops. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2017 at 5:45pm
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I am similar to StephenH in that we almost always have a full tank with us unless we are going for a short weekend trip, then I only put 10 gallons in, plenty for a Friday to Sunday getaway. In our 6 years plus of hauling our 177 over 25,000 miles we have never experienced any problems due to the Free Surface Effect, probably due to the fact, as StephenH correctly states, that the tanks on the pod are low in relation to the axle and their short/squat height. ------------- 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." |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 14 Aug 2017 at 6:36pm
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Yep, another non 178 owner, BTW I don't think the Free Surface effect is pertinent, that is what it called which answers TARS post. Which was my intent. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |