Friction sway control OR 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=3733
Printed Date: 09 May 2024 at 7:31am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Friction sway control OR weight distribution
Posted By: bc matell
Subject: Friction sway control OR weight distribution
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2013 at 8:02pm
|
OK what one do I go with?? FRICTION SWAY CONTROL or WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM?? I think both would be over kill. I have gotten advice from trailer stores,repairs and trailer dealers. They all say one or the other,never the same anwser. Thanks again for your imput! ------------- TV 2012 Toyota Tacoma 6 cyl Misha the Lab Loving life and living it! |
Replies:
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2013 at 8:49pm
|
OK. Here's my put on the subject. I tow an RP-172 with a 2010 4WD Honda Pilot rated at 4500 pounds. BTW, I also have a V6 Tacoma but I don't tow with it. Sway control and weight distribution are two separate functions. Sway control keeps the trailer directly behind the TV so it doesn't try to steer the TV. It usually employs some sort of friction device. Weight distribution shifts a portion of the trailer tongue weight off the back of the TV and onto the TV front wheels and trailer axle. This restores steering control to the TV front wheels. In addition the WDH eliminates most of the "porpoising" experienced when going over dips and bumps on the road. For light weight short wheelbase TVs like the Tacoma and Honda I highly recommend both. This is for safety, comfort, and mental stress. Many Podders use the E2 hitch which combines weight distribution and sway control in a single device. A single set of bars provides both functions. When PROPERLY ADJUSTED you won't even know the Pod is back there, except for acceleration and gas mileage. I emphasize: read and understand the installation instructions and check the setup. Don't trust the dealer's work. An improperly adjusted WDH can be worse than nothing at all. I had that experience and had a very bad time until I readjusted the hitch. I have the E2, have gone through the setup, and am very glad to have it. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2013 at 9:28pm
|
I agree with CharlieM. I tow with a Santa Fe 6 which has plenty of power and is relatively heavy, but it does have a rather short wheelbase. Without a WDH, the Santa Fe does tend to squat since all of the tongue weight of the trailer is concentrated on the hitch ball. I want both my TV and TT to be level, so I always use my WDH. We returned from a 6000 mile trip last month, and with the sway control properly adjusted, we experienced no sway from passing trucks and strong gusty crosswinds. One day I failed to tighten the sway control sufficiently, and we soon noticed sway. One additional turn on the adjustment lever (to where I normally set it) and the tendency to sway disappeared entirely. I strongly recommend both, especially on extended trips. My dealer, who sells both the WDH and sway controls, tried to talk me out of both. As you put it, he thought either or both would be over-kill. Based on my experience, though limited, I totally disagree with his opinion. The R-Pod is very light, so obviously it is subject to sway. ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: Outbound
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2013 at 10:28pm
|
It depends on your tow vehicle and the tongue weight of your r-pod... Check the specs on your vehicle and your r-pod, if you're approaching your tow vehicle's max hitch weight (don't forget that stuff you carry in the back of your truck also adds to the hitch weight; equally, your r-pod's propane tank, battery and everything you carry in the trailer will affect your tongue weight), seriously consider a WDH. ------------- Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150 |
Posted By: Kickstart
Date Posted: 13 Jul 2013 at 11:05pm
|
We towed our Pod with a 4.0 Prerunner for quite some time. We towed with a common drop hitch and then with a WDH, sans sway. The Tacoma is a little lightly sprung in the back. The WDH helped ameliorate this fact, leveling the Tacoma nicely. It also helped lessen the hobby horsing that is often present with any single axle trailer. In the above post, Charlie is perfectly correct. Unless you show up with your truck and trailer fully loaded for towing, the dealer will set up the WDH on a by guess and by gosh basis. Any WDH I've ever had whether dealer or self installed always seemed to need some tweaking to get just right. How much ya wanna spend? Friction sway is cheap, but will only control, and in some ways help hide a sway tendency that is due to improper set up or a poor trailer/tow vehicle combination. An old school WDH like mine that is more expensive, but will help ensure your set up and towing will be improved, and the E2 type WDH that is more expensive, but pretty much does it all. In a previous post, I commented on seeing a Tacoma towing a Pod that had a drop hitch and a friction sway control. It wasn't set up properly, and was kind of scary watching the Pod skip from side to side--white knuckle time! ------------- '10 RP 175-Replaced by 2014 Kodiak 173 QBSL '12 Toyota Tundra '05 Sportster (half a Harley) Retired-We're on Beach Time! |
Posted By: kaleidoscopegirl
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2013 at 10:07am
|
Guess I am confused. I thought the sway control systems were weight distributors as well. Maybe just mine. I went with the Equalizer. Complete overkill according to most - but it performed beautifully on the way home - 14 hours of driving is all I have tested it out so far. I could not find a reason that overkill would be bad so I went with it. You can back up without removing it too. The only major down about it, and I read about it as well, is that it is really noisy. Lots of metal on metal noises - which means its working as I understand it. Well mine is working! Lol! http://www.equalizerhitch.com/About%20Equal-i-zer/howitworks.php ------------- Erin - TV 2010 Buick Enclave - 2014 RP182G - Equalizer hitch 
|
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2013 at 10:56am
The Equalizer and it's brother the E2 provide both weight distribution and sway control. However, friction sway control can be bought separately without WDH and WDH can be bought without sway control. But for small TV's you should have both, IMHO. And the noise you hear? Yes, it's working! That's a good thing. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: kaleidoscopegirl
Date Posted: 14 Jul 2013 at 11:18am
|
Thanks for the clarification Charlie. Much appreciated!
------------- Erin - TV 2010 Buick Enclave - 2014 RP182G - Equalizer hitch
|
Posted By: bodie55
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2013 at 11:02am
|
We picked up the pod in June. We've driven over 4000mi on our first adventure. We are very happy we chose to have the E2 installed. Yes, some auto professionals have said it might be overkill, as our TV is heavy and more than adequate to pull the pod. But safety was our main concern. It's extra insurance against the winds. We had a lot of wind across the prairie and always have windy conditions crossing the Great Basin or in the Rockies. It's been worth the extra expense and a litte extra work. ------------- Bay Area Crew 2013 178 Beach Pod F-150 SuperCrew ...sempre in viaggio sul mare... |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2013 at 11:21am
|
Driving on I-40 east of Las Vegas the crosswinds were terrific. Somewhere along the way, our trailer plate bracket was actually torn off of the trailer. However, we seldom felt the winds thanks to our sway control. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: GA_RPOD_178
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2013 at 11:29am
Charlie, I pull a 178 with a 2013 Honda Ridgeline, which I understand is based on the Pilot footprint. I looked at getting a weight distribution hitch but the owner's manual has a recommendation against it, saying it could impact vehicle performance etc. Did your Pilot have the same warning, since both are 4WD, or is this just Honda's lawyers covering themselves? No problems towing the 178 with the Ridgeline, which is rated at 5K pounds. Thanks in advance for your feedback. -------------  [/URL]
|
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2013 at 12:18pm
|
Jim, My 2010 Pilot book has a similar statement, but it says"A weight distributing hitch is not recommended ...as an improperly adjusted weight distributing hitch may reduce..." The key here is improperly adjusted and I completely agree. Proper adjustment is essential as I noted in my original reply. With a properly adjusted WDH and brake controller towing with the Honda is a breeze. Your Ridgeline should be similar. The hitch really makes a difference in the TV ride and control. Try one, you'll like it! And yes, Honda does have their lawyers on staff.  Charlie ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: GA_RPOD_178
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2013 at 1:25pm
|
Thanks. Is there a particular WDH that you would recommend? ------------- [/URL]
|
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2013 at 1:54pm
|
Yes. Many of us Podders use the E2 hitch from Progress Mfg., although their Equalizer hitch, a bit more expensive, will also be fine. These are available at many trailer/RV dealers. http://www.fastwaytrailer.com/e2/ Both provide weight distribution AND sway control in a single unit. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 17 Jul 2013 at 11:54pm
|
+1 on the E2. I've had mine about 3 years now and still use it with my newer TV even though it isn't necessary from a weight distribution standpoint. It still makes the ride much more comfortable, acting as an additional spring between the TV and pod.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
|
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2013 at 5:22am
|
My TV is a Toyota FJ Cruiser, and after pulling several thousand miles over all kinds of roads, I think it does quite well without a WDH or swaybars with my 176. I've never felt the slightest sway although the Pod certainly puts some weight on the ball. I've never used a WDH, so I don't know what I'm missing. But here's my question: WDHs come rated for trailer and tongue weights. The smallest E2 seems to be rated for 600 pounds of tongue weight and a 6000 pound trailer. That's roughly two rpods. I have to assume you wouldn't want anything heavier-duty, but isn't even the smallest E2 way overkill for an rpod? TT |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2013 at 7:56am
|
Before I moved from the Midwest, I was pulling a 6800# trailer using a 10,000# capacity WDH. I kept that hitch and now use it on my R-Pod, although it is larger than recommended. Buy a 6000# capacity hitch instead. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 18 Jul 2013 at 11:57pm
|
The manufacturer confirmed that it is ok to use a heavier-rated WDH. I use the 6000 pound version.
------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
|
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2013 at 8:09am
|
I'd like to try a WDH sometime to see if I notice a difference, but here's what I infer from the fact that I'm not seeing a problem without a WDH,the pod weighs roughly 3500 pounds, and that at least the E2 WDH starts with a hitch rated for 6000 pounds and goes up from there: I don't need a WDH and it seems like the WDH manufacturers don't think they are necessary for lighter-weight trailers like the pod. Why don't they make models for 4000 and 5000 pound trailers? I would think a WDH might really make sense for a light trailer behind a TV rated to pull a 3500 pound trailer. Maybe not so much for a pod behind a TV rated to pull 5000 pounds. I used to think trailer brakes were sort of a luxury for careless people. Having used them with the pod I'm totally convinced they are almost an absolute necessity, aside from the fact that they are almost universally legally required. I have an open mind about WDHs, but remain unconvinced, at least in my case with an FJ Cruiser rated to pull 5000 lbs and with WDH manufacturers implying rather clearly that they don't see a need, or at least they don't see a market, for WDHs for trailers under 6000 pounds. Convincing me to spend $400 just to check it out is so far a no-go. TT |
Posted By: GA_RPOD_178
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2013 at 8:14am
|
Decided to get one installed. (This Tuesday) Lots of opinions on this board and thanks for the feedback. I'll add my opinion once its up and going. Have a great weekend! ------------- [/URL]
|
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2013 at 9:05am
I think a more accurate way to look at the E2 ratings is "up to." The 6000 pound unit is good up to 6000, the 10000 pound unit is OK up to 10000, etc. The promary factor in the FJ's 5000# rating is the 4.0L engine in place of the 3.5L. The bigger engine helps acceleration and in overcoming wind resistance on the highway. It doesn't help the ride or the steering properties. The main thing you would notice with the WDH is a reduction what some call porpoising. This is the bucking or bouncing caused by the trailer bouncing on the ball when going over dips and bumps on the road. If you're not bothered now and if the loading on the rear bumper does not mess up the front wheel steering you're good to go. And I wholly agree on the brakes. Yes..Yes..Yes ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: GA_RPOD_178
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2013 at 9:23am
Thanks again for the good info. This forum continues to be a great source of info. ------------- [/URL]
|
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2013 at 9:43am
|
[/QUOTE] Thanks again for the good info. This forum continues to be a great source of info. [/QUOTE]Jim, I hope you will still have a WDH installed. Once you use in on the highway you will never leave home again without it. I agree with CharlieM except I think anyone towing a R-Pod (or any other TT) will see the benefits of a WDH once they use one. The same is true of sway control. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: GA_RPOD_178
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2013 at 9:46am
|
Yes, we are having one installed Tuesday, based on the recommendations here. ------------- [/URL]
|
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2013 at 10:29am
Thanks again for the good info. This forum continues to be a great source of info. [/QUOTE]Jim, I hope you will still have a WDH installed. Once you use in on the highway you will never leave home again without it. I agree with CharlieM except I think anyone towing a R-Pod (or any other TT) will see the benefits of a WDH once they use one. The same is true of sway control. Bob [/QUOTE] Bob, Make no mistake. I am a firm believer and dedicated user of my E2 for my 172 and Honda Pilot. My comments were mainly aimed at the diehards. I also can speak from experience on the risks of improper dealer installation. The E2 must be properly installed and set up. My advice to all. Happy Podding, ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: David and Danette
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2013 at 12:17pm
|
I have been looking at the new Anderson WDH it is different and has some good reviews there are a lot of good features. If we buy a larger camper we will most likely go with the Anderson hitch. David
------------- 2018 Vista Cruiser 19BFD (2018- 2012 Vibe 6503 (2014-2019) 2009 r-pod 171 (2009-2014) Middle Tn 2014 Ram 1500 Quad cab |
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 19 Jul 2013 at 5:59pm
That is certainly different but rather expensive. I have never seen one. Bob ------------- 2014 R-Pod 178 (OUR POD) 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 20 Jul 2013 at 11:57pm
|
They do make 4000 pound WDHs, but I wouldn't recommend it because if you move to a larger camper you'll need to replace the WDH too. That is why I bought the 6000 pound model. This is the Equalizer 4k model, they make the E2 too. http://www.equalizerhitch.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=4 - http://www.equalizerhitch.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=4 ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
|
Posted By: GA_RPOD_178
Date Posted: 23 Jul 2013 at 10:35pm
|
E2 installed today. Big difference. THANKS to everyone for the feedback. ------------- [/URL]
|
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2013 at 1:17am
 ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
|
Posted By: kymooses
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2013 at 8:06am
The E2 is nice, I've found I can't back up my Pod without it. ------------- https://calendar.google.com/calendar?cid=cnBvZC5zcG90dGVyQGdtYWlsLmNvbQ - RPod Rallies https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1W1foQXGtrjf8aYly1uh0b-bHPfI&hl=en_US - RPod Owner Map |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2013 at 8:19am
I never thought of this before but it makes sense. A single axle trailer is more likely to jackknife. The friction bars on the E2 provide a little resistance so the trailer does not jackknife as easily.
------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition 
|
Posted By: Sleepless
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2013 at 9:28am
|
I still have a tendency to look at things from an engineering point-of-view. I can understand the point made about jackknifing, but can't understand how this can help when backing up. The only thing I know of that affects backing up is a change in the orientation of the hitch ball in the hitch, or to put it another way, the pivot point. I am an old coot, so maybe someone can enlighten me. Thanks. Bob |
Posted By: Seanl
Date Posted: 24 Jul 2013 at 11:53am
As I understand it when you back a tandem axle trailer up through a curve the wheels don't all travel the same distance or follow the same arc. This provides resistance to the trailer rotating on the axles. A single axle trailer does not have this. when you are backing it up in tends to rotate on the axle . As a result it is a lot easier to jackknife a single axle trailer. The bars on the E2 provide resistance to the trailer rotating. This is why you get more sway on a single axle trailer as well. ------------- Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
|