R-pod Owners Forum : Towing vehicle question http://www.rpod-owners.com/ This is an XML content feed of; R-pod Owners Forum : Introduce Yourself : Towing vehicle question Copyright (c) 2006-2009 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Sun, 03 May 2026 14:21:19 +0000 Fri, 17 Apr 2015 11:39:53 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 9.64 360 www.rpod-owners.com/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=5982 R-pod Owners Forum http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png http://www.rpod-owners.com/ Towing vehicle question : I tow my 178 with a Nissan... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=59048#59048 Author: jbsimm2
Subject: 5982
Posted: 17 Apr 2015 at 11:39am

I tow my 178 with a Nissan Xterra. it's pretty close to the frontier,I think it has the same engine but only rated at 5klbs.(due to shorter wheelbase) the 178 is alot bigger and heavier than the 171. I thought at first it was underpowered but stability wise it was great. After towing it a few more times, the xterra does just fine.]]> Fri, 17 Apr 2015 11:39:53 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=59048#59048 Towing vehicle question : I recently bought a 2010 171 and... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=59019#59019 Author: GlibGuy
Subject: 5982
Posted: 16 Apr 2015 at 4:52pm

I recently bought a 2010 171 and don't have a tow vehicle (you might call it "ready, fire, aim").   I am considering several TVs and one is a 2011 Nissan Frontier, V6, 4X4.  It's rated to tow 6,500 lbs but I'm wondering about the handling as it's not very big overall.

Anyone had towing experience with a Frontier?
]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2015 16:52:39 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=59019#59019 Towing vehicle question : Welcome, and good advice. http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58673#58673 Author: techntrek
Subject: 5982
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 at 12:56pm

Welcome, and good advice.]]> Tue, 07 Apr 2015 12:56:13 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58673#58673 Towing vehicle question : Please have your trailer weighed... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58664#58664 Author: cosmo751
Subject: 5982
Posted: 07 Apr 2015 at 9:10am

Please have your trailer weighed soon, and more importantly - the tongue weight measured (not estimated).  My new 177 weighed 2875 pounds as delivered, and only had 240 pounds on the tongue. On some vehicles this is quite close to unsafe.

  I've towed extensively with my Liberty and it IS sensitive to tongue weight percentage. Try for 12%.
My TV is now a 2012 Wrangler Unlimited and it has a 116 inch (versus 104" on the Lib) wheelbase - a significant difference. At 12% tongue weight it tows like a dream - The 177 loaded for touring is a bit over 3300 pounds. All the heavy stuff had to go to the front to get the tongue weight where it needed to be. Including a 180 pound generator secured inside just aft of the dining table.

  If it's an option you might do better with a longer wheelbase TV.

By the way, your Lib will love a weight distributing hitch - Go for one with anti-sway capabilities like any of the trunnion-type hitches.

Cheers -

Ken
]]> Tue, 07 Apr 2015 09:10:28 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58664#58664 Towing vehicle question : I have a 2015 178 Hood River Edition... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58617#58617 Author: chiman
Subject: 5982
Posted: 06 Apr 2015 at 10:57am

I have a 2015 178 Hood River Edition and I would guess that with a battery installed and full propane tank along with any of your gear inside you are pushing a real world weight of your trailer at around 3,000 lbs.  Although your TV is rated to pull 3,500 lbs you are getting close to maxing out in real world towing.  You for sure need a WD set up which will help out a lot.  Towing a 20 ft trailer with a short wheel base TV without a WD is a sure fire method of producing pain in the rear towing and really rough on your TV.

I strongly suggest you get a good WD setup including the sway control.  Be prepared for slow going up hills but the suggested WD set up will make your towing a more pleasant experience; just remember that you are getting close to the max towing of your TV when you load all your personal gear in the trailer and I would not tow with any water in your tank which can rapidly add up more weight.  Even a full water heater tank will add close to 50 lbs to your overall weight.

]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2015 10:57:05 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58617#58617 Towing vehicle question : We tow with a 2011 Ford F-150... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58613#58613 Author: Craneman
Subject: 5982
Posted: 06 Apr 2015 at 10:41am

We tow with a 2011 Ford F-150 and use only a sway bar and don't have any problems.
         Moe

]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2015 10:41:18 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58613#58613 Towing vehicle question : Sway can turn into bad news... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58607#58607 Author: Luv2Q
Subject: 5982
Posted: 06 Apr 2015 at 8:53am

Sway can turn into bad news in a heartbeat.  Real bad news.  After spending tens of thousands on TV + Pod, spending a comparative pittance on anti-sway - if it gives me *any* chance of avoiding sway problems -  seems like a no-brainer.  I suspect my Tundra would have little if any problem with our little 171.  With the E2 WDH, it's a non-issue.  JMO, of course, and YMMV.

On talking with "a dealer" to get advice on what works & what doesn't, I guess Tri-Pod and I have had different experiences.  Many dealers I've run across would tell you that, sure, you can pull that 40-footer with your Sentra!  If OTOH you have a dealer which is trustworthy, that's another story.
]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2015 08:53:44 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58607#58607 Towing vehicle question : Being safe is always better than... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58606#58606 Author: Tri-Pod
Subject: 5982
Posted: 06 Apr 2015 at 7:59am

Being safe is always better than being sorry having said that we pulled our rpod for two years (4800 miles) with out a WD hitch and never had a problem but the cost of one is pretty cheep insurance. We use one now on our Surveyor SP 240!and have never had a problem. Talk with your dealer they normally know best based on what you are pulling with and you trailer. There is nothing worse than seeing a rig go down the road swaying back and forth, especially on a two lane road that you can't pass on. Good luck. ]]> Mon, 06 Apr 2015 07:59:02 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58606#58606 Towing vehicle question : Tow rating doesn't mean much... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58326#58326 Author: techntrek
Subject: 5982
Posted: 30 Mar 2015 at 3:14pm

Tow rating doesn't mean much for sway.  Wheel base does (see info on controlling sway in the link in my signature), and while a higher tow rating partially depends on wheel base, what matters is having more room between the TVs axles.

As cheap as sway bars are, and easy to install, it is cheap insurance IMO.
]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:14:13 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58326#58326 Towing vehicle question : Is a sway bar actually necessary?... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58318#58318 Author: Leighbeelu
Subject: 5982
Posted: 30 Mar 2015 at 2:33pm

Is a sway bar actually necessary? I have a 2006 Nissan Xterra that is supposed to be able to tow up to 6,000 lbs. I have taken out my 179 only once and it seemed fine but I don't want to take any unneccesary chances.

]]> Mon, 30 Mar 2015 14:33:53 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58318#58318 Towing vehicle question : +1 on what Mountainrev said.... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58103#58103 Author: techntrek
Subject: 5982
Posted: 26 Mar 2015 at 12:14pm

+1 on what Mountainrev said. 
 
 
There are 4 types of sway and/or weight distribution, with the sway bar being the lowest level.  It doesn't do any WD and only attempts to stop sway after it has started.  However, I always recommend the next level for pods, a full WDH that includes sway control.  The lowest level here is a combined WD with friction control, like the Equalizer or E2.  Above that is the cam type like the Reese Dual Cam, which actively prevents sway before it starts.  The highest level is the Hensley Arrow which actually guarantees no sway period.]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2015 12:14:45 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58103#58103 Towing vehicle question : You will definitely want to get... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58101#58101 Author: Mountainrev
Subject: 5982
Posted: 26 Mar 2015 at 11:44am

You will definitely want to get an anti-sway bar, but I'm guessing you really need a weight distributing hitch with anti-sway, such as Equal-i-zer.
]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2015 11:44:44 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58101#58101 Towing vehicle question : welcome to the group! Congrats... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58096#58096 Author: Leo B
Subject: 5982
Posted: 26 Mar 2015 at 9:52am

welcome to the group! Congrats on your 178. We town a 179 with a Dodge Grand Caravan with no problem. Can help on the wdh as we do not use one. Somebody will be able to advise you on it]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2015 09:52:43 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58096#58096 Towing vehicle question : Hello! We just purchased an rpod... http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58095#58095 Author: kellyandkelly
Subject: 5982
Posted: 26 Mar 2015 at 9:50am

Hello!  We just purchased an rpod - 2015 Hood River edition 178.  We love it!  But, we are towing with a Jeep Liberty and as we were bringing it home last night, the trailer is jumping all over.  The Jeep has a towing capacity of 3500 lbs, so it should be fine to tow.  Someone suggested getting a weight distribution system.  Thoughts on this?]]> Thu, 26 Mar 2015 09:50:19 +0000 http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5982&PID=58095#58095