Reviews and General Information: Be Careful with weight distribution

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Be Careful with weight distribution

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Topic: Be Careful with weight distribution

Posted By: ppine
Subject: Be Careful with weight distribution
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 10:29am

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

Replies:

Posted By: jato
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2025 at 8:38pm

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."

Posted By: ppine
Date Posted: 11 Dec 2025 at 1:25pm

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

Posted By: GlueGuy
Date Posted: 12 Dec 2025 at 11:48am

Originally posted by ppine

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.

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

Posted By: gpokluda
Date Posted: 13 Dec 2025 at 8:15am

Originally posted by GlueGuy

+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