Sway Bar
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Printed Date: 04 Sep 2025 at 7:52am
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Topic: Sway Bar
Posted By: jerome
Subject: Sway Bar
Date Posted: 22 Mar 2018 at 9:51pm
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Good Evening, So, have found the R pod of our sweet dreams, and am sure this info is somewhere within the forum, but I have not found it. What I would like to ask of the seasoned veterans is a sway bar (not sure of the exact term) necessary. I will be towing with a 2015 Ford F150 super cab. I know the dealer with be pushing it, and I am not opposed if it is a good idea. As always, thanks for any enlightenment. Jerome
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Replies:
Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 5:30am
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You will get a wide variety of opinions on this. We towed with a Dodge Grand Caravan for many years without one. We had no problems and we towed up and down the east coast for years. We recently upgraded to a 2017 Ford F-150 Super Cab we still don't use one, we drive at an easy steady pace, usually 55-65 on the interstate it handles fine! If the weather is really bad etc, we will wait it out. ( benefits of being retired ) I think it boils done to your comfort level. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2025 Ford Transit Camper van 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Larry-D
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 7:52am
| We have sway bars on the pod and our larger TT. We tow the pod with a Jeep Wrangler, never towed it with our truck. I would try it and see how it does. You can always add one. |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 8:13am
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I have a Chevy Silverado, 4X4, I use a sway bar. Honestly I have never towed without it, but I also have no sway. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: jerome
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 9:35am
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Thanks for your input. I appreciate you all! I think I will try without, and put one on myself if need be.
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 9:44am
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We have a similar truck, and I think the F-150 would handle the R-pod without a sway bar or even a WDH. That said, we have an E2 WDH, which has a mild anti-sway component. It tows very, very easily. No issues at all.
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 23 Mar 2018 at 4:07pm
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We have towed our 177 with a "94 F-150, and '08 Explorer and currently 1 '13 Explorer. Never used one with the F-150, and never sensed a need for one. However with both our Explorer's we have used a sway bar, lighter vehicle and shorter wheelbase. First time we towed with our '08 Explorer we couldn't go faster than 45 w/o a significant amount of sway. Granted we had a good 20 mph crosswind but that is to be expected while traveling somewhere along the line.
------------- 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." |
Posted By: jerome
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 7:48pm
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Thanks Leo, Do you have a brake controller? My dealer said he did not want me to leave the lot without one. I was under the impression that for a single axle trailer of that weight, I did not need one. Thanks, Jerome
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 7:59pm
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Yes we have a brake controller. I think it s a must. here if a trailer has electric brakes, you have to use them. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2025 Ford Transit Camper van 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 24 Mar 2018 at 8:37pm
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Aside from the fact that at least in most states brakes are required by law for trailers over a certain weight (pods qualify), they are just about the best thing you can have! Even with an F-150, without trailer brakes you could easily be pushed into a rear-ender. The brakes make the Pod disappear when you are stopping. I towed my Pod home without brakes the day I bought it from a private party. I've hauled trailers all my life. It scared the crap out of me a couple of times. There was a guy in high school who drove his car without brakes. He'd downshift and slow down enough to finally catch a little bit of reverse. As far as I can recall, he got away with that until he got his brakes fixed. It's possible to do with a car or trailer, but only until you have an accident, which will be inevitable. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2018 at 9:47am
------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 25 Mar 2018 at 10:10am
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Here is a good link/source, which breaks down laws by states. https://drivinglaws.aaa.com/
IMHO - YES, you need a brake controller. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |
Posted By: TheBum
Date Posted: 26 Mar 2018 at 11:07am
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You can minimize sway by front-loading the R-Pod, keeping extra weight behind the axle to a minimum. Sway bars do have drawbacks: they limit the jackknife angle when backing up, so they should be removed in that case. My wife managed to rip the bracket off the A-frame because she forgot to remove the sway bar we had before backing up.
We really like the Fastway E2 WDH we use now because the sway bars are built into the weight distribution system and do not have the angle limitations that a regular sway bar does. ------------- Alan 2022 R-Pod 196 "RaptoRPod" 2022 Ram 1500 Lone Star 4x4 Three cats |
Posted By: Massucci1
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2018 at 7:40pm
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We had a lot of plain open land driving home with lots of wind and being my first time towing anything. We had a little sway but nothing crazy, what simple easy anti sway bar does anyone have or recommend one specifically if I want one? ------------- https://postimg.cc/image/lju2c1vs7/"> 
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Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 02 Apr 2018 at 9:58pm
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If you just want anti-sway, the general solution is an anti-sway bars https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Curt/17200.html - like this . OTOH, there are a few Weight distribution hitches like the https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Distribution/Fastway/FA94-00-0600.html - Fastway E2 that incorporate anti-sway along with the WDH function. ------------- bp 2017 R-Pod 179 Hood River 2015 Ford F150 SuperCrew 4WD 3.5L Ecoboost |
Posted By: mcarter
Date Posted: 03 Apr 2018 at 6:59am
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+1 - what I use. ------------- Mike Carter 2015 178 " I had the right to remain silent, I just didn't have the ability." |