Sway Bars
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=9348
Printed Date: 28 Jun 2025 at 12:40am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.64 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Sway Bars
Posted By: BogieMeister
Subject: Sway Bars
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2017 at 7:58pm
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Being a Newbie, I don't know a thing about Sway Bars. Do I need them or not for a Pod? In looking on-line there seems to be a multitude of different types. So, if they are needed, what type is suggested ?
BTW, I will be towing a 179 with a 2016 Honda Pilot AWD
Thanks in Advance.
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Replies:
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 17 Feb 2017 at 9:02pm
From my experience with an RPOD 172 and 2010 4WD Pilot the answer is yes. Mostly you need the weight distribution function. You can get both WDH and sway control with the 6000/600 pound E2 from Fastway. I still use the E2 with my larger Camplite and Tacoma. "Don't leave home without it".
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Charlie
Northern Colorado
OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD
PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD
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Posted By: mjlrpod
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2017 at 8:42am
Bogie, people will tell you you dont need it, and in part, they would be right. You dont NEED it... until you do. It would be like changing lanes on the highway without looking. Many times, you will change lanes without anything bad happening. But would it be wise to say " i dont need to look before changing lanes" I would say no. Weight distribution and sway are the 2 things that can ruin your day, vehicle, or possibly your life. A good wind, or maybe an 18 wheeler blowing past you could suddenly put you and your family out of control. Even with WDH and sway, your not immune from this. I live by the plan for the worst and hope for the best motto. I would say towing with neither WDH or atleast sway control is a time bomb that you dont know when it will go off.
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2017.5 Rp-172
2020 R-pod 195
2015 Frontier sv 4.0L 6cyl
I'll be rpodding
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Posted By: Our pod
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2017 at 11:41am
I agree with mjlrpod. Are you willing to risk the lives of your passengers and yourself to save some dollars?
I tow a 179 with a Toyota Tacoma and faithfully use an anti-sway bar. One less thing to go wrong.
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Life is good.
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Posted By: ParPod
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2017 at 12:13pm
Hi BogieMeister - for those of us who tow with SUVs or Crossovers the requirement for a WD/AS hitch is pretty much a given. The additional stability you will get from using one is well worth the cost. I use a Fasway E2 and highly recommend it. I don't think you'll ever be sorry you have it.
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Bob&Margaret
2017 179
2016 Toyota 4Runner
2 sets of Golf Clubs
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2017 at 2:50pm
I tow with a 2016 Colorado and a 2006 4X4 Silverado, both adequate for towing a RPod. I use a sway bar. Cheap safety measure. I agree the SUVs and crossovers, WD is a given.
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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Posted By: BogieMeister
Date Posted: 18 Feb 2017 at 7:36pm
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Thank You all for the Sage advice. Now I'm down to which Sway Bar / WDH to get.
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Posted By: Podinaroundbc
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2017 at 8:31am
Anti sway all the way.
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Art & Brenda
Jake the dog
2015 179 HRE
2012 Nissan Titan
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Posted By: cjscinta
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2017 at 10:07am
I took Charlie's advise as well as others on this board and bought the Fastway E2 6000/600 and have been very happy with the choice.
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2017 R-pod 179
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Posted By: finder9
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2017 at 5:29pm
I took Charlie's advice last year and very happy.
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Jack
2017 Rpod 179
2015 Dodge Ram
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Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 19 Feb 2017 at 6:26pm
We have used a basic sway bar on both our '08 and '13 Explorers. No issues with either even when crossing the Midwest into the Rockies where we have experienced 25 + mph cross-winds.
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God's pod
'11 model 177
'17 Ford F-150 4WD 3.5 Ecoboost
Jim and Diane by beautiful Torch Lake
"...and you will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free."
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Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 20 Feb 2017 at 11:15am
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We started out with a chain style WDH with separate sway bar. My wife hated setting it up. With the Fastway E2, she actually enjoys hitching up.
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Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 21 Feb 2017 at 12:36pm
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We tow our 172 using a Fastway E2 and it works very well both on windy mountain passes and the freeway. The ride is stable and it's comfortable to drive with our Dakota. The truck is a little on the high side so initially the trailer was a little too high at the hitch end. I put in the lift kit from Forrest River and now it rides quite level and fits the hitch just fine. It's easy to hook and unhook. I use the tongue jack to position the height so the bars slip in and out without any tension. The hitch comes with a pry bar to take off the tension bars, but if they're under a load you could easily lose a finger if you put one in harms way.
I leave the hitch head on all the time. We mostly use our truck for towing the trailer and I'm too lazy to bother taking it off. It's held in by a locking hitch receiver pin so no one can easily borrow it.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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Posted By: SandD
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2017 at 11:36am
Tv Is an 06 crew cab long bed Tacoma towing an RPOD 178.
Last week I noticed some sway when large trucks pass or I follow one.
Was never a problem before . I use the E2 wdh 600lb round bars. L brackets are tight. I did notice when hooking the bars to the l brackets I have to raise the tongue higher to get the one side bars on versus the other side. Is it possible I have a bent bar from backing or a cracked head socket?
What is the best way to determine the problem?
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There are two types of people in the world. Those who like RPODs and those who are wrong.
Rpodder
2014 RPOD 178
06 Tacoma Prerunner TRD
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2017 at 2:36pm
Check your tire pressures.
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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
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Posted By: SandD
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2017 at 2:44pm
Tire pressure is good as before
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There are two types of people in the world. Those who like RPODs and those who are wrong.
Rpodder
2014 RPOD 178
06 Tacoma Prerunner TRD
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2017 at 4:24pm
Set your bars on a flat surface. Does one of them look bent or are they both the same?
Look at the hitch head. What is its condition? Is there any sign of looseness in the hitch head when you put the bars in? Do the bars look like they are at the same angle when inserted into the head (before putting the bars into the L brackets)? Is there any obvious damage to the hitch head or the shank (twisted, for example?
Look at the hitch receiver without the hitch head installed. Does it look square with the vehicle? When you look underneath where it is attached to the frame, does it look like there is any damage or twisting?
If you do all of this and still can't see what could be causing it, it might be time to take a trip to a place that can help you diagnose this. If it isn't working right, you could be putting yourself and others at risk.
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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
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Posted By: SandD
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2017 at 5:11pm
Will do
Thanks, Stephen.
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There are two types of people in the world. Those who like RPODs and those who are wrong.
Rpodder
2014 RPOD 178
06 Tacoma Prerunner TRD
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Posted By: jalong
Date Posted: 09 Mar 2017 at 9:06pm
You said the L brackets are tight. Is it possible that one has slid forward or backward?
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John & Sue
2016 179 - built in April 2015
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.6L 13-16mpg with 179 - 21-28mpg without
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Posted By: ribet
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 1:23am
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Have you tried swapping left and right bars and see it that changes anything?
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 8:18am
One other item: Was this observed when the Pod was parked in the same location as it was when it worked properly? When level, my Equal-i-zer is pretty much even when hooking up the bars. However, in my driveway which has a little side-to-side slope, it is much as you experienced with needing to raise it up higher to connect one side than for the other side since I usually have the R-Pod leveled but the car is not.
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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
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Posted By: lostagain
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 2:15pm
I've noticed that the bar pressure varies on our Fastway E2 hitch depending on the slope of the parking area. One side or the other is under greater pressure and it requires raising the trailer a little more with the tongue jack. I just assumed that the variation in pressure was due to the TV and the trailer being a bit "twisted" from the unevenness of the ground.
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Never leave footprints behind.
Fred & Maria Kearney
Sonoma 167RB
Our Pod 172
2019 Ford F-150 4x4 2.7 EcoBoost
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Posted By: SandD
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 6:04pm
Swapped the bars no good. Inspected the head ok.
Nothing moved or loose.
Noticed the Dr side truck rear looked a bit low. I had broken my old pressure gauge but had another cheap one I used before we left. Bought a new gauge and checked all truck and camper tire pressure. Three truck tires off by 5 lbs and one by 10. Camper tires were at 62lbs.
Threw the cheap gauge in the trash.
New gauge new settings we are good.
Thanks for all the help.
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There are two types of people in the world. Those who like RPODs and those who are wrong.
Rpodder
2014 RPOD 178
06 Tacoma Prerunner TRD
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 8:11pm
I'm glad you got it figured out. A good tire gauge is an investment worth making. Those cheap ones can really mess one up. I have a https://smile.amazon.com/Slime-40022-12-Volt-Digital-Inflator/dp/B002ZBWKAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489198008&sr=8-1&keywords=Slime+tire+pump - Slime Digital Tire Pump that I use. It has a built-in gauge and one can also set it for the correct pressure and it will stop when that pressure is reached. Despite Amazon's page saying designed for 35 psi, it works fine inflating my trailer tires up to 65 psi (load range D tires).
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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
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Posted By: SandD
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 8:56pm
Still need to do the range D tires.
What brand did you get.
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There are two types of people in the world. Those who like RPODs and those who are wrong.
Rpodder
2014 RPOD 178
06 Tacoma Prerunner TRD
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Posted By: StephenH
Date Posted: 10 Mar 2017 at 9:51pm
Carlisle. I got them at Discount Tire.
Carlisle Radial Trail HD ST205/75R14 105M D1 BSB
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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
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Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 11 Mar 2017 at 7:05am
X1
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Mike Carter
2015 178
" I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability."
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