http://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : General non-pod discussion : Tow vehicle stance? Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Wed, 29 Apr 2026 17:14:17 +0000 Fri, 10 Aug 2018 15:22:29 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=12024 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png http://www.rpod-owners.com/ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113382#113382 Author: mcarter
Subject: 12024
Posted: 10 Aug 2018 at 3:22pm

Almost like two conversations here. The OP and Bum /GlueGuy. A WDH does transfer weight. Not necessarily to a front axle but across the tow rig, to include the trailer axle. So height at rear axle lifts. I agree the rear sagging is an indication of a possible problem. The object is level, if you don't have that a WDH is a good consideration.]]> Fri, 10 Aug 2018 15:22:29 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113382#113382 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113381#113381 Author: GlueGuy
Subject: 12024
Posted: 10 Aug 2018 at 2:25pm

Originally posted by TheBum Originally posted by GlueGuy It still ends up the same way. For most pickups with the back end higher unloaded, adding a WDH will tend to level it. For most passenger vehicles, with the stance level unloaded, adding the WDH will bring the back end up and tend to level it. I would say that 90% of the time adding the WDH will tend to level the whole setup (TT + TV). Our Highlander sits noticeably (but not significantly) lower in the back with our 179 hitched up through our E2 WDH than unhitched, but the front end is at the same level both ways. FWD vehicles may be more sensitive to this than RWD or AWD because of all the extra linkages.

I'm not saying it's a hard and fast rule or anything. However, when I see a TV/TT combo that is significantly out of "level", I immediately suspect that something's not quite right. There is certainly an amount of tolerance, and it will vary between vehicles, but it's something I keep in mind when I observe.
]]> Fri, 10 Aug 2018 14:25:44 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113381#113381 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113378#113378 Author: TheBum
Subject: 12024
Posted: 10 Aug 2018 at 11:20am

Originally posted by GlueGuy It still ends up the same way. For most pickups with the back end higher unloaded, adding a WDH will tend to level it. For most passenger vehicles, with the stance level unloaded, adding the WDH will bring the back end up and tend to level it. I would say that 90% of the time adding the WDH will tend to level the whole setup (TT + TV).

Our Highlander sits noticeably (but not significantly) lower in the back with our 179 hitched up through our E2 WDH than unhitched, but the front end is at the same level both ways. FWD vehicles may be more sensitive to this than RWD or AWD because of all the extra linkages.]]> Fri, 10 Aug 2018 11:20:39 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113378#113378 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113366#113366 Author: mcarter
Subject: 12024
Posted: 10 Aug 2018 at 6:12am

I think they are meant to tow and the design of the vehicle to include the rear suspension is designed to compensate for load to a point. Once that load is more than the vehicle's suspension can compensate for and is within reason, the decision is the operators to add additional help, like a WDH. I don't recommend you enhance the suspension, but some folks do. The best option is to transfer the weight and that is what a WDH does, not make the rear go higher or sag less, which is what suspension enhancements do. You have to be within the tow capacity of the vehicle and I'm sure you know that which is what I mean by "within reason".]]> Fri, 10 Aug 2018 06:12:04 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113366#113366 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113360#113360 Author: JoeSaint
Subject: 12024
Posted: 09 Aug 2018 at 9:14pm

I have just been checking out a lot of 7 seat SUV,s for their stance because at some point I want to go bigger than my terrain. It seems that the GMC ACADIA is like my terrain with the rear sitting higher in the rear. The Ford Explorer is higher but didn’t seem like too much difference. But the Toyota Highlander seems to be level, as well as the hyundi Santa Fe. I would guess it would sit lower once loaded and a trailer attached. I guess most of them are really not meant to tow with even though they sell them with tow packages.]]> Thu, 09 Aug 2018 21:14:39 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113360#113360 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113350#113350 Author: GlueGuy
Subject: 12024
Posted: 09 Aug 2018 at 4:16pm

Originally posted by TheBum Originally posted by GlueGuy And either kind of vehicle will (should) be level if hitched with a WDH (weight distribution hitch). Not really. The front end is usually designed to handle a certain amount of weight. If you completely level the vehicle with tow weight attached and a WDH, you're transferring more weight to the front end than it was designed for. What you should shoot for is no change on the front, i.e. the height of the front wheel well before and after attaching the trailer should be roughly the same, with the excess weight on the rear end.

It still ends up the same way. For most pickups with the back end higher unloaded, adding a WDH will tend to level it. For most passenger vehicles, with the stance level unloaded, adding the WDH will bring the back end up and tend to level it. I would say that 90% of the time adding the WDH will tend to level the whole setup (TT + TV).
]]> Thu, 09 Aug 2018 16:16:28 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113350#113350 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113348#113348 Author: Guests
Subject: 12024
Posted: 09 Aug 2018 at 3:42pm

Moved from "Introduce yourself".

]]> Thu, 09 Aug 2018 15:42:54 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113348#113348 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113345#113345 Author: TheBum
Subject: 12024
Posted: 09 Aug 2018 at 12:41pm

Originally posted by GlueGuy And either kind of vehicle will (should) be level if hitched with a WDH (weight distribution hitch).

Not really. The front end is usually designed to handle a certain amount of weight. If you completely level the vehicle with tow weight attached and a WDH, you're transferring more weight to the front end than it was designed for. What you should shoot for is no change on the front, i.e. the height of the front wheel well before and after attaching the trailer should be roughly the same, with the excess weight on the rear end.]]> Thu, 09 Aug 2018 12:41:14 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113345#113345 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113340#113340 Author: mcarter
Subject: 12024
Posted: 09 Aug 2018 at 9:17am

Mine is level without a WDH, if it were not I'd consider a WDH.]]> Thu, 09 Aug 2018 09:17:52 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113340#113340 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113338#113338 Author: GlueGuy
Subject: 12024
Posted: 09 Aug 2018 at 9:05am

And either kind of vehicle will (should) be level if hitched with a WDH (weight distribution hitch).]]> Thu, 09 Aug 2018 09:05:39 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113338#113338 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113329#113329 Author: mcarter
Subject: 12024
Posted: 08 Aug 2018 at 10:03pm

Hey JoeSaint,

The vast majority of unmodified pickups and some SUVs set about two inches high in the rear when empty. This is so the vehicles rear end will not be excessively low when the truck is loaded, because it has a cargo area it is a bit different than a car.]]> Wed, 08 Aug 2018 22:03:13 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113329#113329 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113328#113328 Author: JoeSaint
Subject: 12024
Posted: 08 Aug 2018 at 9:05pm

i have an observation about tow vehicles. I have a GMC Terrain, and when you look at it from the side, the rear end sits a few inches higher than the front. So when I hook up my 171 and loaded truck it sits just about perfectly level. When I see other vehicles, a lot of them seem to sit just level BEFORE you would ever hook up their trailers. Which in turn has the tow vehicle “squatting” lower than level? Are there more SUV’s that have this higher stance to start with?]]> Wed, 08 Aug 2018 21:05:22 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=12024&PID=113328#113328