Trailer towing question: WD or sway control hitch?

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

I don’t have much to add, but I sure like those 179s. We looked hard at the Jayco Hummingbird version of the 178 (wife preference), but the 179 sure had a cool floor plan.

Another cause of sagging could be that your hitch is too low compare to the trailer tongue. I had this happen on my last camper, because they decided to add a lift kit and off road style tires on alk their campers wuthout changing the specs...

Especially with the hood river packages. I ended up with another “lifted” camper (which is lighter), but I had to flip the receiver for this same reason and I added rubber (non-air) load springs. Would like a WD myself, although I’m really just trying not to buy a bigger truck!

[Martinjmpr]

I don’t have much to add, but I sure like those 179s. We looked hard at the Jayco Hummingbird version of the 178 (wife preference), but the 179 sure had a cool floor plan.



Especially with the hood river packages. I ended up with another “lifted” camper (which is lighter), but I had to flip the receiver for this same reason and I added rubber (non-air) load springs. Would like a WD myself, although I’m really just trying not to buy a bigger truck!

We are coming from a T@B Clamshell that had an outdoor kitchen. Since we loved our big outdoor kitchen we went with the R-Pod that had a big kitchen in the back. A big plus for us is a separate eating and sleeping area (on the T@B it was either/or but not both, so most of the time we just ended up leaving the bed in place and eating outside) and the indoor wet bath.

We liked the 178 as well but very little counter space compared to the 179.

[Martinjmpr]

You shouldn't need a WD hitch setup for that trailer, but it wouldn't hurt.

That said, if you do go WD, I've been very happy with this 6K Fastway I used for my boat (3800#) behind my fiver. Mostly just for the sway control, so I had it loaded about as light as I could just to get friction on the bars for sway control and it helped with sway and the vertical snake. https://www.etrailer.com/Weight-Dist...2-00-0600.html

It's a near knock-off of the Equal-i-zer, but the bars are way easier to remove.

I got lucky and found one on CL for $75 when I was looking.

DON'T buy anything with chains, ugh, and they're not surge brake compatible.

What's the tongue weight?
What did you have loaded in the Burb?
Do you have oversize, spongey tires?
Did you run the tire pressure up some for towing?

The Fastway 6k model is exactly the one I was looking at.

As far as tongue weight, we haven't weighed it (just got the trailer, literally, yesterday afternoon) but given that the trailer weight is close to 3000 I'd guess 300 - 450 (10 - 15%)

The 'Burb does have slightly oversize tires (285/75/16, nominal height about 33".) Stock size was 265/70/17. About 2" of lift with Z71 springs in the rear.

Our first camping trip is to Bear Creek in a couple of months so I may see how it does on just the air bags for now.

Thanks for the input, everybody!

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

We are coming from a T@B Clamshell that had an outdoor kitchen. Since we loved our big outdoor kitchen we went with the R-Pod that had a big kitchen in the back. A big plus for us is a separate eating and sleeping area (on the T@B it was either/or but not both, so most of the time we just ended up leaving the bed in place and eating outside) and the indoor wet bath.

We liked the 178 as well but very little counter space compared to the 179.

Indeed. That’s what I liked about it - the kitchen. And that little mini-dinette area. I’m not really the cook, although for camping I do my share. In the end, with a young kid (and 2 dogs), dual beds opposite sort of became the necessity. Fitting it in my garage became a huge want thus pushing out the R-Pod / Hummingbird. But I am trying to talk a buddy into one!


Congrats. Cool camper for sure!

[ben4372]

If you can get a accurate tongue weight that would be good. I added the Air Lift in coil bags and love them. Coils just dont load the same as leafs. My Ram is the softest riding truck I've been in, but it sags with very little weight. I pull a heavier pop up at it made a ton of difference.

[colorider]

Just in case anyone reading this thread is going to be in the market for a used travel trailer, I will be selling our 19 foot Frontier Explorer in about a month. Just picked up a toy hauler and am going to sell the Frontier for way below it's book value.!!!! But only to Forum Members here and on ADVrider. Just some prelim info. It has 1 bunk, 1 master bed, 1 couch that flips into a bed and a dinette bench that turns into a bed. Bathroom with shower and tub. Microwave, stove, oven, new awning, lots of storage. Just a teaser.

[Colorado Osprey]

Fair enough. Some manufacturers recommend it.

I agree, some sway controls will need to removed before backing up but not the WD hitch as stated above.

[Martinjmpr]

Indeed. That’s what I liked about it - the kitchen. And that little mini-dinette area. I’m not really the cook, although for camping I do my share. In the end, with a young kid (and 2 dogs), dual beds opposite sort of became the necessity. Fitting it in my garage became a huge want thus pushing out the R-Pod / Hummingbird. But I am trying to talk a buddy into one!


Congrats. Cool camper for sure!

We looked at the "copies" too (Jayco Hummingbird, Keystone Bullet, Winnebago Winnie/Minnie drop, etc.) There are TONS of other trailers out there that copy the R-Pod style.

Funny story: Back in about 2012, a company called MPG made a copy of the then-relatively-new R-Pod (R-pods originated in 2009.) Forest River, the company that made R-Pods, sued MPG for trademark and trade-dress infringement and MPG backed down and stopped making the MPG camper (I think they may still be in business but they make bigger campers now.) I guess MPG was a relatively small company and they didn't have the power to withstand Forest River's army of lawyers.

Fast forward to 2015. Winnebago introduces the Winnie Drop (now called the Minnie Drop for some reason.) Forest River threatens to sue Winnebago, but unlike MPG, which folded like a cheap suit, Winnebago said "Bring it on, BITCH!" Forest River realized they didn't stand a chance in hell of winning so they backed off and as soon as they did, the floodgates opened: Immediately, Jayco, Keystone, StarCraft and others started making straight-up copies of the R-pod.

Having said that, we decided to stick with R-pod for the reason that they have a huge cult following which means there is a lot of "institutional knowledge" out there for the R-Pods where there really isn't for the copies (they're too new.) My thought was that if I have an issue - say the refrigerator doesn't work or I'm getting an odd leak from the plumbing - I can tap into the "hive mind" of the R-pod owner's groups (several of them on Facebook) and most likely I'll be able to get the info I need. With the copies I wasn't sure of that. The other thing was, there wasn't really any price advantage in going with the copies over the "original." They all sit in the $16,000 - $20,000 range (new.) The newer R-pods also have some nice features that the "copies" don't have like the flush sink and flush cook top.

[brutal]

For anyone considering using bags vs a WD for bumper pull, this is a good video to watch.



I use bags on my truck, but pull a fiver.

[Jeffrey Lebowski]

Having said that, we decided to stick with R-pod for the reason that they have a huge cult following which means there is a lot of "institutional knowledge" out there for the R-Pods where there really isn't for the copies (they're too new.) My thought was that if I have an issue - say the refrigerator doesn't work or I'm getting an odd leak from the plumbing - I can tap into the "hive mind" of the R-pod owner's groups (several of them on Facebook) and most likely I'll be able to get the info I need. With the copies I wasn't sure of that. The other thing was, there wasn't really any price advantage in going with the copies over the "original." They all sit in the $16,000 - $20,000 range (new.) The newer R-pods also have some nice features that the "copies" don't have like the flush sink and flush cook top.

Solid reasoning. I should say, my wife preferred the Rpod, I preferred the Jayco. Neither preferred the drop. Mostly I liked what Jayco did to semi-seal the underside. Now after towing mine in a snowstorm, I like the idea even more.