Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks: Andersen wdh

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Andersen wdh

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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=13413
Printed Date: 21 Jun 2025 at 11:44am
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Topic: Andersen wdh

Posted By: cgarb
Subject: Andersen wdh
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2020 at 12:57pm

We are hoping to get back into an rpod, but that will only work for us if we can find a lighter weight wdh. I have heard a variety of opinions on the Andersen wdh and wonder about others' experiences with it. We have a Honda 4wd Pilot with a tow rating of 4500 and hitch weight of 450. The 191 might fit the bill if we can get a light enough wdh that we can handle with our bad backs. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

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Carol
177 HRE rpod
2014 Honda Pilot

Replies:

Posted By: geewizard
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2020 at 3:17pm

We have the Andersen WDH and it works quite well for us.....with our tender and well-used backs.

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2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1708FB
2017 R-Pod 177 (Blue) HRE SOLD
2004 Outfitter Apex 8 camper
2014 Toyota Tundra DC

Posted By: riotkayak284
Date Posted: 25 Feb 2020 at 3:27pm

It works very well.... Just make sure you take the time to set it up properly and it is great!

Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2020 at 8:28am

Curious.. Isn't the Honda Pilot a uni-frame?? What does Honda say about using a load leveling hitch? You should probably check your manual before purchasing the hitch..

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander

Posted By: Toyanvil
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2020 at 8:29am

Are you sure you need a WDH? I use Firestone Ride-Rite, just add a little air when towing.

Posted By: cgarb
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2020 at 9:06am

Interesting! The wdh info is buried back in the towing info in the manual. It does say that if the wdh isn't adjusted properly it can "reduce handling, stability and braking performance", but it does recommend sway control. I didn't know you could do one without the other. We used one of the heavy duty wdh with our 177 and it rode very well. I don't know anything about the Firestone Ride-Rite. Looks like an addition to the springs? It would be great if we don't need a wdh, but how would you add sway control without one?

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Carol
177 HRE rpod
2014 Honda Pilot

Posted By: Woodmiester
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2020 at 9:11am

The friction sway control device is completely independent of your WDH.

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Swampfox

Posted By: Olddawgsrule
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2020 at 12:55pm

I am assuming you're in a Gen 3 Pilot (yet to see what year you have). Gen 1 was a no go at all, my understanding is Gen 2-3 they're leaving it up to you and not declaring you should not, yet have the fall back of "it was not installed properly" to fall back on.

I am very leary about uni-frame vehicles and a load leveling hitch..

I had an E2 w/sway, so they do come as combined. Worked pretty good. I found I really don't require the Load leveling, so I'm just on a sway bar now. I am much happier.

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https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJduGeZNFgtptH67leItRFQ - Byways no Highways
2017 Tacoma
http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=72408 - Truck Camper Build
2004 F150 My Overlander

Posted By: cgarb
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2020 at 1:22pm

The Pilot is a 2014 4wd. With the rp177 the sway bar was attached to the wdh, which was too heavy for us to manage after back injuries. I wonder if the Andersen can be used with just the sway. I imagine any sway bar must attach to something. If you need to have a heavy hitch to use a different kind, it defeats our needs. We towed the 177 many miles with a heavy wdh with a sway bar. We just need something lighter now.

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Carol
177 HRE rpod
2014 Honda Pilot

Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 26 Feb 2020 at 5:13pm

The Andersen hitch does not need a separate sway bar. The sway control function is built into the hitch itself.

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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: geewizard
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2020 at 8:11am

I have air bags on my Tundra and use them for weight distribution. I use the Andersen hitch sway mechanism alone and it works very well.

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2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1708FB
2017 R-Pod 177 (Blue) HRE SOLD
2004 Outfitter Apex 8 camper
2014 Toyota Tundra DC

Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2020 at 8:48am

I could be mistaken, but I don't think that air bags move weight forward; they just lift the back end up with no weight transfer. Though it is clearly a marketing video, Fastway did measurements of weight changes and TV angle that suggest that WHD's actually decrease the load on the rear TV axle and move the weight to the front and trailer axles. It could be all smoke and mirrors, but it seems pretty convincing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBZu39pQ8Gg - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBZu39pQ8Gg

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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: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2020 at 9:44am

+1 to Lostagain. Airbags do not distribute weight at all. They can only restore the sag caused by the weight of the trailer tongue on the rear of the tow vehicle. A WDH can reduce the weight on the rear axle of the tow vehicle and transfer some of that load to the tow vehicle front axle and some to the trailer.

Totally different mechanisms.

To this day, I do not understand people's resistance to using a WDH. It's not a big deal, and solves some real problems.

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

Posted By: geewizard
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2020 at 2:55pm

+1 to both lostagain and GlueGuy. I did not think this one through and I stand corrected on how to use my Andersen WDH.

Thank you both.

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2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie 1708FB
2017 R-Pod 177 (Blue) HRE SOLD
2004 Outfitter Apex 8 camper
2014 Toyota Tundra DC

Posted By: offgrid
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2020 at 7:10pm

There is really no reason to be concerned about using a wdh on a unibody SUV. Unibody construction is very strong on an SUV because it uses the C and D pillars of the SUV roof to create a truss structure, making for a strong stiff body. If you’re going to worry about unibody construction then you should also worry about the truss roof falling on you in a big box store or a truss structure bridge collapsing when you drive over it.

Pickups don’t really benefit much from unibody construction because they don’t have the c and d pillars to tie into the roof structure. Thats likely why there is only one unibody pickup on the market, the Honda Ridgeline.

The key point is to know what your tv vehicle design specs are and stay well within those, regardless of whether it is unibody or body on frame. If the vehicle is not rated for wdh use, don’t, and don’t exceed the tongue, max tow and combine vehicle weight ratings either.

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

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 27 Feb 2020 at 8:19pm

The only issue with unibody is the point(s) of attachment for the receiver. If the load/torque is not distributed properly, it has the potential to damage that part of the unibody/frame/body. I think the attachment needs to be reinforced with doublers or something.

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