Anti-sway bar
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Topic: Anti-sway bar
Posted By: MeandAd
Subject: Anti-sway bar
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 1:03am
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We have a new R-Pod 177 and I think it needs an anti-sway bar! We purchased the weight distribution hitch but never thought about a swaying problem since it is brand new and figured that kind of thing would be addressed with the fancy hitch. The very first trip out the Pod danced every time we encountered the least bit of wind. Trucks passing us on the freeway were a problem as well. Any suggestions on what type of anti-sway bar fits on the weight distribution hitch? ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: AL1010
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 7:12am
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It makes a difference for sure. I was just using WD , it was ok but still felt a little squirrely at times. Added a $29 sway kit. Much better. Easy to install. Good set of drill bits needed. 11/32” hole. The kit I got at Harbor Frieght had some cheap mounting bolts that I didn’t trust. Went to Fastenal and got some good 3/8 self threading bolts. Yes, you should definitely get a sway bar kit. Cheap insurance.
You could also be a little light on you tongue wieght if it was that bad.
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Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 7:28am
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Sounds like you may have issues with the weight distribution in the trailer too. You want the tongue to have 10 - 15% of the trailers weight. That is, if your trailer weighs 3500 lbs, you want 350 to 525 lbs on your tongue. Also, you want the trailer to ride level, front to back, or slightly nose down. Both of these are big contributors to sway and should be addressed even with a sway bar, but a sway bar can be a really good thing. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 8:27am
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Most of t he good WDH systems have anti-sway as part of their function. If you got a good quality WDH and are still having a sway problem, you may not have the hitch balanced correctly. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 9:34am
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You did not mention what you're towing with. That can have a big effect on how your "system" will deal with sway. Also, how you load the pod will affect sway conditions. Best to know how much weight you're pulling and how the weight is distributed.
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 10:22am
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... and what the towing capacity of your TV is. ------------- Never leave footprints behind. Fred & Maria Kearney Sonoma 167RB Our Pod 172 2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost |
Posted By: Pod People
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 11:17am
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What type of wdh do you have? Most of the wdh also have a provision for anti sway. You may already have part of what you need. If your wdh has the ability to add anti sway bars, this would mean simply adding the bars and the associated bar receivers to the a frame of the pod. We use the Equalizer 4 point system and it works great for us. The hitch head has built in locations for the bars which serve as wd and anti sway Vann ------------- Vann & Laura 2015 RPod 179 https://postimg.cc/0zwKrfB9"> 
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Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 11:21am
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Just a caveat: one really big advantage to the WDHs with built-in anti-way is that the anti sway can stay engaged when backing up. With an add-on sway bar, there's a limit as to how much of an angle they can withstand, so it's fairly easy to cause some damage if you leave them on when backing up; it's a really good idea to remove them. ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: Woodmiester
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 1:56pm
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In the past, I have found that most people, the first time they install a WDH, they end up taking too much weight off of the tongue. I would suggest that you lower your L bracket one hole and see how that works. Even though you follow the install directions, you have to play around with it a little so that you are perfectly comfortable. As a default, the RPOD is not condusive to sway. In most cases, the WDH does the trick. ------------- Swampfox |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 7:22pm
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MeanAd, check this link where I've collected some data on tongue weight % of total trailer weight where sway has been reported my our members to occur. Some folks have experienced sway around the 10% point that is generally accepted as the minimum. One of these was a 177. That would indicate that to be safe we want to try to keep our pods at around 11% tongue weight or higher. I suggest that you weigh your loaded trailer and tongue and if needed redistribute some weight so that you have 11% or greater on the tongue. I'm not suggesting you stop using an anti sway system but even with an anti sway system my opinion is that its better to have a rig that is inherently stable rather than to depend on the sway control. http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12384&title=tongue-weights-at-which-sway-has-occurred ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 8:49pm
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MeandAd, seeing you have the same pod we do it would be helpful to know what you are towing with. We have towed ours with a '94 F-150, '11 F-150 and an '08 Explorer and a '13 Explorer. The only vehicle that gave us fits was the '08 Explorer as we couldn't go above 35 mph without major sway. So vehicle does play a part. More importantly however and offgrid addresses this quite well is your tongue weight, get that checked out for safety's sake. No fun having a pod swerving back and forth behind trying to pass you up.
------------- 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: OldNeumanntapr
Date Posted: 13 Nov 2018 at 9:21pm
| +1 for the Equalizer. I absolutely love it (and you can back up with it.) |
Posted By: crw8sr
Date Posted: 14 Nov 2018 at 5:21pm
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Love our WDH. ------------- Chuck & Lyn Izzy, Morkie. RIP Zoe Joy & Gracie, Yorkie 2018 R Pod 190 2019 Traverse In moments of adversity;when life's a total wreck, I think of those worse off than me and really feel like heck. |