Gadgets
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Miscellaneous / Off-topic
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URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13083
Printed Date: 04 May 2025 at 6:21am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Gadgets
Posted By: ArthroPod
Subject: Gadgets
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2019 at 12:10pm
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While looking for load cells for trailer tongues,I came across a gadget that supposed to give a lot more info. It's called Haulgauge. Using your smartphone and the BOD port on your tow vehicle it is supposed to give how much tongue weight as well as total tow weight plus some other info. Has anyone used one? ------------- 177 toad with Ford 150 |
Replies:
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2019 at 12:39pm
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BOD port? You mean the OBD II port? (On Board Diagnostic) I can not imagine how they could get the tongue weight from the on board computer system. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2019 at 7:27pm
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[QUOTE=GlueGuy]BOD port? You mean the OBD II port? (On Board Diagnostic) I can not imagine how they could get the tongue weight from the on board computer system. [/QUOTE https://www.amazon.com/HAUL-GAUGE-Connector-Measures-Combined/dp/B07DQ44JFB - https://www.amazon.com/HAUL-GAUGE-Connector-Measures-Combined/dp/B07DQ44JFB Looks like it measures suspension squat to calculate tongue weight and acceleration to calculate GCVWR. So you provide it with your VIN and it uses that to calibrate. I can't imagine that if could differentiate load in the TV from load due to the trailer unless you manually calibrate it first to zero that out. There apparently is a calibration procedure for customized suspensions and power trains so maybe that could work. Interesting concept. Generally favorable Amazon reviews so maybe its not too buggy. Might be worth fooling with as long as it could be returned if you hit a brick wall with it. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2019 at 8:07pm
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I would think that any suspension modification such as the SumoSprings I put on our Frontier would throw such a device off, or at least require some sort of recalibration.
------------- 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: ArthroPod
Date Posted: 02 Aug 2019 at 10:38pm
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Sorry about the BOD instead of OBD, had a relapse to work life. Who knows maybe the OBD could give a BOD value. That onboard computer is capable of doing a lot of things. ------------- 177 toad with Ford 150 |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2019 at 4:43am
Yes, the manufacturer's comments say any suspension mods do exactly that. A calibration process is provided for that purpose. They also state that the bluetooth signal from the device can interfere with other devices in the rig, so most people use it to get the information then shut it off. If its not permanent it seems like the same kind of thing could be done directly with a smartphone and app since the phones all have tilt and acceleration sensors already anyway. Sure enough, there is an app on the App Store called RV Tow Check that is supposed to do something similar. Only $2. But it gets mostly poor reviews. My issue with this kind of approach is how are you ever going to be sure that you're really getting accurate data? It's a life safety issue for me and anyone else on the road with me. So personally, I'll stick with the old school approach, I use the scale at my county landfill, accurate and free to use whenever I need to, which is not very often. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2019 at 8:52am
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I already have an OBDII sensor plugged in that I use with the Torque app. I would have to switch devices to use this so I will pass. I don't have a convenient landfill scale near me so I would need to find someplace else to go to do the weighing. The nearest public scales I can find are 30+ miles away from us.
------------- 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: offgrid
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2019 at 9:36am
If you want to try the scales and can find a place nearby to disconnect your trailer for a few minutes you ought to be able to get everything you need in one trip and two passes through the scales. First with the trailer connected but the wdh untensioned, the second with the tow vehicle only with the wdh installed. Get all three axles adding one at a time on the first pass, the two TV axles on the second pass (5 weights total). Go through fully loaded for a trip. After that you can get any other information you want from your trailer and truck specs, a little arithmetic, and this calculator. https://www.ajdesigner.com/apptrailertow/weightdistributionhitch.php - https://www.ajdesigner.com/apptrailertow/weightdistributionhitch.php ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2019 at 12:16pm
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I think the calculations in my case might be off since I have a https://www.hensleymfg.com/product/hensley-cub-anti-sway-trailer-hitch/ - Hensley Cub hitch . The main part of that stays attached to the trailer and only a shank is attached to the truck before backing into the hitch to connect. It is quite different from the Equal-i-zer hitch I had before where the hitch head and bars were connected to the truck and only the snap-up brackets were attached to the frame of the trailer.
------------- 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: offgrid
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2019 at 6:32pm
The calculator should still work. As far as I can tell the Hensley Hitch still rotates vertically around the ball, just like any other wdh (it doesn't rotate horizontally around the ball). So the distance you put in the calculator for the distance from the ball to the TV rear axle is the same. As far as the hitch weight itself most of it is rigidly connected to the TV when connected to the shank. I don't know how hard it is to disconnect the trailer from the hitch and leave the hitch connected to the shank but if that's too hard then just subtract the weight of the hitch from the trailer and add it to the truck when calculating tongue weight, you won't be very far off. Very cool hitch by the way. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2019 at 7:19pm
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I'm like StephenH; I have an OBD bluetooth transmitter so I can monitor some other parameters. As for the WDH setup, I'm happy with figuring it out with a typical load (via scales), and going from there. If the tongue weight is shifting while you're underway, you got some other serious issue. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 03 Aug 2019 at 9:36pm
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There are OBD splitters that will let you plug 2 things into your ODB port. From what I've heard, they may not work for everyone or for all devices, but I've had 2 things plugged in and working fine on my truck for several years. Here's one for example: https://www.amazon.com/Outzone-Splitter-Extension-12inches-Vehicles/dp/B07V7DPF9F/ref=sr_1_6?crid=HR21RPKOFZH8&keywords=odb+splitter&qid=1564886032&s=gateway&sprefix=odb+s%2Caps%2C406&sr=8-6 - https://www.amazon.com/Outzone-Splitter-Extension-12inches-Vehicles/dp/B07V7DPF9F/ref=sr_1_6?crid=HR21RPKOFZH8&keywords=odb+splitter&qid=1564886032&s=gateway&sprefix=odb+s%2Caps%2C406&sr=8-6 TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2019 at 5:37am
You wouldn't really need to leave the device connected anyway. Just use it once when you hitch up and then remove it. No need to connect it again unless you significantly change your TV or trailer loads. For a travel trailer that's pretty rare, once you know what it weighs under a couple of different conditions (mostly different water loads) you really shouldn't need to use it again. I can see the device being a lot more useful for a utility trailer if you're hauling a wide variety of things around, or if you have several different trailers. Assuming its accurate of course. ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |
Posted By: podwerkz
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2019 at 9:35am
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Somebody buy this thing and use it to get the readings, then drive to a certified scale and I want to know how much it is off. Cuz it will be.  ------------- r･pod 171 gone but not forgotten! |
Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 04 Aug 2019 at 3:59pm
+1. That would be a great experiment to do if anyone has some spare money and time on their hands.  ------------- 1994 Chinook Concourse 1995 RV6A Experimental Aircraft 2015 Rpod 179 - sold |