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Be Careful with weight distribution |
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ppine
Groupie
Joined: 15 Nov 2025 Location: nevada Online Status: Offline Posts: 45 |
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Topic: Be Careful with weight distributionPosted: 17 Nov 2025 at 10:29am |
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Many rPods have a rear water tank. Some carry 36 gallons which is around 275 pounds when full. Make sure you keep your weight forward. Excessive weight behind the axle can cause fishtailing and loss of control.
I don't plan to ever fill my water tank and keep heavier items forward when loading the trailer. When hooked to a tow vehicle the trailer should be level or a little nose down. This is a serious design flaw that everyone should be aware of.
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Forester
2022 Ram diesel 2019 Nash 26N 2015 rpod 177 |
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jato
Senior Member
Joined: 23 Feb 2012 Location: Kewadin, MI Online Status: Offline Posts: 3394 |
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Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 8:38pm |
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The key to this 'potential' issue is to have 11% or more of the total trailer weight on the a-frame (tongue). We have towed our 177 for almost 15 years and over 52,000 miles with 36 gallons in the FW tank w/o issue by following this simple rule. Our 177 fully loaded with 36 gallons of water (tank behind axle) and prepped for a 30 day journey weighs in at 2940 lbs. 11% of that comes to 323 lbs on the a-frame. Using our trusty portable Shurline tongue weight scale we come in at 340 lbs., so no issues. Over the years we have traveled through blizzards, heavy snow and rain, sleet, hail, and cross-winds in excess of 20 mph towing with (2011-2019) a '08 and '13 front wheel drive Explorer and (2020-2025) using an '11 and '17 F-150, without any troubles. We have utilized a friction bar on all 4 vehicles listed.
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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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ppine
Groupie
Joined: 15 Nov 2025 Location: nevada Online Status: Offline Posts: 45 |
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Posted: 11 Dec 2025 at 1:25pm |
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I am replacing 2 lead batteries with one lithium battery.
There will be less weight on the tongue. I have heard of people losing control of a 177 if they were not careful with weight distribution.
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Forester
2022 Ram diesel 2019 Nash 26N 2015 rpod 177 |
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GlueGuy
Senior Member
Joined: 15 May 2017 Location: N. California Online Status: Offline Posts: 2747 |
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Posted: 12 Dec 2025 at 11:48am |
If you're doing that kind of modification, you should do yourself a favor and weigh your Rpod loaded and unloaded; especially if you re-locate the LFP batteries inboard (which will make the tongue weight issue potentially worse).
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bp
2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
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gpokluda
Senior Member
Joined: 11 Nov 2018 Location: East Idaho Online Status: Offline Posts: 435 |
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Posted: 13 Dec 2025 at 8:15am |
+1 to that. Having proper tongue weight is essential, especially with any camper carrying that much weight in the rear.
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Gpokluda
2017 Rpod 179(sold 2023) 2022 Escape 5.0TA 2022 Ford F150 4X4 3.5EB Honda SCL500 |
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