Weight Distribution
Printed From: R-pod Owners Forum
Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
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=2646
Printed Date: 02 May 2025 at 12:33pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Weight Distribution
Posted By: Seanl
Subject: Weight Distribution
Date Posted: 08 Jun 2012 at 6:56pm
I was resetting up my Weight distribution Hitch yesterday because I had put the axle risers on and it changed the height so I had to reset it. I was taking some pictures that I think really show why I like using the WDH. In the picture below before I put the bars on the WDH you can see the slightly nose up attitude of the Jeep. This takes some of the weight off of the front wheels and in high wind or wet conditions the nose of the jeep moves around.  In this one with the bars on is sits level putting the weight back on the front wheels and giving more control. I measured it and the difference is 1 1/2 inches on one side and 2 inches on the other.  ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
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Replies:
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 09 Jun 2012 at 10:27pm
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A good demonstration of the results of a WDH in action.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: KDHfan
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2012 at 1:12pm
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At least in my case, I have found that too much weight distributed to the front can have an even worse effect on the rear... Even one extra link makes the back end of my trailblazer want to float around. I'm considering upgrading to a Tundra or Titan sometime next year. ------------- Mark, Beth, Nolan & Madeline 2012 182G... "NoMad" TV - 2012 Nissan Armada SB/WDB |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2012 at 7:42pm
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Yes you can transfer two much weight to the front and the shorter the wheelbase the greater the risk of this. I try and set my WDH so that there is no lift on the front but no compression either. I am using an E2 Hitch witch has solid brackets instead of chains to attach the bars to the tongue. The instructions on setting it but warn about the danger on putting too much weight distribution into the hitch. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2012 at 8:32pm
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Yes, the E2 instructions say that its better to leave some sag in the rear if necessary to keep from unloading it too much. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: KDHfan
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2012 at 9:29pm
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------------- Mark, Beth, Nolan & Madeline 2012 182G... "NoMad" TV - 2012 Nissan Armada SB/WDB |
Posted By: KDHfan
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2012 at 9:38pm
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Sorry... iPad went nuts... That makes sense, as the wheel base on the TB is fairly short. My WDB are now set to allow just a little sag in the rear. Still trying to feel my way along. ------------- Mark, Beth, Nolan & Madeline 2012 182G... "NoMad" TV - 2012 Nissan Armada SB/WDB |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 10 Jun 2012 at 10:53pm
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What my pictures don't show is that normal the stance of the liberty is nose down so when the
Jeep looks level it's actually a little down in the back. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2012 at 7:52am
Do you have a link, so I can read more about this WDH? Thanks.
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 11 Jun 2012 at 10:03am
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http://www.fastwaytrailer.com/e2/ - http://www.fastwaytrailer.com/e2/
This is the one I have. Not as much sway control as the original Equalizer hitch, but much cheaper. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2012 at 7:46am
Thanks. I see there are (2) different styles. Which did you get and why? Also, I'm assuming the smallest/lightest one is fine for our R-Pods.
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2012 at 9:35am
I have the 600 pound Trunnion bar hitch. The round bar is cheaper and I don't think there is any performance differences between the two but I think the Trunnion bars don't hang as low. This was more of an issue before I put the axle lift on the Pod. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2012 at 9:42am
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This is what it looks like on the trailer. I have moved the brackets back an inch more than this since I put them on. This is the minimum distance from the coupler that you can set it at. The Only thing I had to change was to move the breakaway switch back. 
------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: TIDALWAVE
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2012 at 9:51am
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Place your tow vehicle on a horizontal flat surface. Measure and record the height from the ground to the top of your wheel wells. Attach the WDH and allow the 'fully loaded' Pods weight to press down on the rear of the TV. Measure and record the heights again. Adjust the 'trunions-rods-bars" as suggested by the WDH instruction sheet. You don't want the front end to be depressed any more than you have raised the rear end. So if the rear of the TV is lifted by 2 inches...the front should have been lowered less than that (maybe 1.5 inches). This way the front is not depressed too far out of alignment with the rear. Readjust the distribution one way or the other, if you need to raise the rear farther or lessen the weight on the front. As mentioned in the comments...you don't want to put too much adjusted weight on the front suspension. ------------- TIDALWAVE |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2012 at 10:39am
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If you are interested in the E2 Hitch this is where I got mine. Not a bad price for the Trunnion Bar hitch at Adventure RV http://www.adventurerv.net/equalizer-weight-distribution-hitch-6000-lbs-p-10920.html - http://www.adventurerv.net/equalizer-weight-distribution-hitch-6000-lbs-p-10920.html
Their prices are good but they charge shipping. rvwholsalers have a higher price but they have free shipping if you are in the US. Which I am not so I did not go with them. http://www.rvwholesalers.com/catalog/e2-weight-distribution-travel-trailer-hitches/ - http://www.rvwholesalers.com/catalog/e2-weight-distribution-travel-trailer-hitches/
------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2012 at 1:51pm
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I got the square bar version, and also got the 600/6000 pound version in case I move to a heavier camper in the future. The factory confirmed going with one rated heavier would not be a problem.
The Equalizer (original) site has online tools that take a lot of the guesswork away. I had to reassemble mine 3 times to get it right, but when I ordered a new drop shank for my new TV I knew which holes to use the first time.
http://www.equalizerhitch.com/About%20Equal-i-zer/shanksizes.php - http://www.equalizerhitch.com/About%20Equal-i-zer/shanksizes.php
http://www.equalizerhitch.com/About%20Equal-i-zer/hitchsizes.php - http://www.equalizerhitch.com/About%20Equal-i-zer/hitchsizes.php
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: this_is_nascar
Date Posted: 12 Jun 2012 at 2:13pm
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Thanks for the replies.
------------- "Ray & Connie" - 2017 R-Pod RP-180 - 2007 Toyota Tacoma TRD-Off Road |