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The 195 concerns

Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Introduce Yourself
Forum Discription: New Members - tell us about yourself and your r-pod
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12710
Printed Date: 08 Jun 2025 at 9:28am
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Topic: The 195 concerns
Posted By: AgedWhine
Subject: The 195 concerns
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 8:38am
hopefully ordering the 195. New to r-pods. Any comments about the visible tanks on the underbelly...

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...On the road again! Just can’t wait to get on the road again....



Replies:
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 8:50am
According to the information I was given, the tanks are enclosed on the 195. 

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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: AgedWhine
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 8:53am
Thanks for the reply. Also with your experience. Would you recommend sway bars when towing. 

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...On the road again! Just can’t wait to get on the road again....


Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 9:04am
Depending on your tow vehicle and how you load the trailer, you might want both a weight distribution and anti sway system.  What are you towing with? 

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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold


Posted By: AgedWhine
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 9:09am
It’s a 2015 GMC diesel duramax. With air bags. We were using it to pull a 5th wheel. The 5th wheel served its purpose, but so glad to see that beast go. I’m just nervous that I won’t know that the pod maybe back there swaying around. 

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...On the road again! Just can’t wait to get on the road again....


Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 9:14am
Edit: I just saw your TV specs which you posted while I was writing the message below. In your case, the Hayes Sway-Master or other electronic sway control would work quite well as you probably won't need a WD hitch.


Do you mean a sway bar or a weight distribution (WD) hitch with sway control? I thin you mean the WD hitch with sway control. If so, the answer is "maybe."
What vehicle do youi intend to use for towing?  Unless you have something like an F350 or equivalent Dodge or Chevy or other model, a WD hitch will help with ride feel as it will help transfer some of the weight to the front axle of the tow vehicle (TV). If your TV is front wheel drive, then a WD hitch is essential. If it is rear wheel drive or all wheel drive, then it might not be essential, but would still be helpful.

A lot of WD hitches incorporate sway control. The Equal-i-zer has 4-point sway control. The Fastway E2 hitch has 2-point sway control. The Andersen hitch does sway control differently by using friction at the ball for sway control. If you want to get a less expensive WD hitch, you could also opt for electronic sway control such as the Hayes Sway-Master which uses GPS and gyroscope sensors to detect sway and apply the trailer brakes before it gets out of control. There are other brands of electronic sway control also.

The advantage of a WD hitch with sway control or electronic sway control comes when you are backing. A friction sway bar works when you are moving forward in a relatively straight line. However, when backing it must be disengaged or you would be likely to damage your hitch or your trailer. It is better to have something you don't need to worry about.

One other consideration is that there needs to be 10% to 15% of the trailer's weight on the hitch to reduce the possibility of sway. Too little weight on the hitch ball can lead to sway. Too much can remove too much weight from the TV's front end leading to less control. Even so, you can do everything right and still have situations arise where you could have problems. We had an Equal-i-zer hitch and hit ice with a strong cross-wind. We had an accident which I described in a forum topic. After that, I got the Hayes Sway-Master and used it to give that extra bit of prevention. Then I changed hitches  for a Hensley Cub which is way overkill for the R-Pod but the sale price was acceptable and the Hayes advertising indicated that it would be better in the type of situation we encountered. Our daughter and son-in-law now have the Equal-i-zer so they will have it if and when they get a travel trailer for their family.

The bottom line is that I do recommend WD with sway control for towing. I don't recommend a friction sway bar. Electronic sway control is also something I would recommend above a friction sway bar even though the cost is significantly higher.


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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: AgedWhine
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 9:31am
Thanks for your experience!  We full timed in the beast for almost 5 years, and never enjoyed towing that big box. Thank goodness it was parked most of the time. But now we want to have fun with a pod.  Recently in our area was a terrible accident where they lost control of their camper because it started swaying. So I just want to be cautious. 

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...On the road again! Just can’t wait to get on the road again....


Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 9:35am
As StephenH says you don't need weight distibution with that rig!

The old rule of thumb to keep the tongue weight at least 10% of the total trailer weight to eliminate sway tendency is pretty accurate for rPods. There have been cases of sway getting out of control with lighter tongue weights than that range. So, I suggest loading up an weighing the trailer and tongue so you know what you really have. Personally, I won't go below 11%. On the 195 like on my 179 the lightest tongue weight will probably occur when you have full water in the gray tank but none in the fresh tank.  

Then add the suspenders to the belt. The friction based sway control on some of the combined wdh/sway control hitches won't work without the wdh tensioned, which you don't need. So, as StephenH says, one of the electronic sway control systems might be the best for you. 



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1994 Chinook Concourse
1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft
2015 Rpod 179 - sold


Posted By: Billy Bob
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 9:39am
This is the weight distribution anti sway I bought...works great and hard to tell the RPOD is behind me.

https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Equal-i-zer/EQ37061ET.html

welcome to the forum...full of any information you need.....195 looks great so far...need to see it in person.


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2019 RPOD 190
2017 Chev Colorado 4 X 4
Yellow Lab and English Springer Spaniel


Posted By: AgedWhine
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 9:41am
Thanks 
Now I have to go do my research. Because of mostly using a fifth wheel towing setup, I got to relearn towing. As they say in doing internet research you have kept me from going down to many rabbit holes. 


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...On the road again! Just can’t wait to get on the road again....


Posted By: crw8sr
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 9:55am
Welcome and enjoy.

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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.


Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 10:17am
Welcome to the forum.  We're all curious about how you like the 195 so be sure to give us regular reports.

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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost


Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 3:16pm
I am super excited to see a 195. I already told the wife imma gittin me one o them thar things. Just to clear the path. But i'm not positive i am until i see one in person. I would love some feedback from people when they get it.

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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding


Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 29 Mar 2019 at 3:45pm
Originally posted by AgedWhine

Thanks 
Now I have to go do my research. Because of mostly using a fifth wheel towing setup, I got to relearn towing. As they say in doing internet research you have kept me from going down to many rabbit holes. 
If you were pulling a 5th wheel, it sounds like your GMC is either a 3/4 ton (2500) or a 1 ton (3500)? That vehicle should be a cakewalk with any R-pod, including the 195. If you're really concerned, you could add on an anti sway bar or an anti sway WDH, but I'd suggest you ought to just try it.

We have pulled our 179 both with and without the WDH (we have an E2). It pulls either way just fine, but I prefer the overall ride better with the WDH. It "feels" like we have a longer wheelbase on the entire rig.


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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost


Posted By: ArenaBlanca
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2019 at 11:17am
I got my diesel tow vehicle when we had a 5th wheel also.  Got rid of the 5th wheel, but you don't get rid of a good truck.  The one thing I noticed is backing up a 5th wheel is much different than backing the R-pod.  I think it has to do with the hitch point as well as the difference in the wheelbases.

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Enjoy Life!!


Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2019 at 3:07pm
Originally posted by ArenaBlanca

The one thing I noticed is backing up a 5th wheel is much different than backing the R-pod.  I think it has to do with the hitch point as well as the difference in the wheelbases.
That is the big difference. With a conventional ball hitch at the rear bumper, you have to deal with the initial "turning the wrong way" issue. When you turn the TV right, the trailer will go left. After you get the turn started, you need to follow through with the reverse direction action in mind.

With a 5th wheel, the pivot point is generally right above the rear axle (or close to it). Because of this the reverse reaction is way less, and it the trailer will tend to react to your steering inputs with substantially less over-reaction.


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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River
2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost


Posted By: Dirt Sifter
Date Posted: 31 Mar 2019 at 4:34pm
We use a friction sway control with the single axle on our 179. Backing is not an issue as long as the angles are reasonable. Were used to the dual axle TT's before with Equalizer 4 so want to know there is some stability back there. Now we have to remember it is back there. Love the R.Pod's convenient size and features.



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