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Old 05-25-2016, 01:26 PM   #1
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Is this WD system overkill?

I just purchased a R-Pod 179, scheduled to pick it up tomorrow. My towing vehicle is a 1998 Toyota T100. The dealership says their insurance won't let me tow it away without a weight distribution hitch. And they say the only system that will work for this towing vehicle and trailer is the Blue Ox Sway Pro. The cost for this is $1000 installed. I don't have a basis for evaluating this, but it seems a hefty price for a light trailer with 285-pound hitch weight. Is the dealership giving me the straight story here?
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Old 05-25-2016, 01:28 PM   #2
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Dealership is probably full of it. And, yes, that's overkill. You can put a lighter duty unit in yourself for less than half of that.
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Old 05-25-2016, 01:31 PM   #3
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The dealership is trying to get you to buy their product. I personally don't think you'll need a WDH. And if you do, it can be any unit you wish to use.


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Old 05-25-2016, 01:36 PM   #4
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I just looked it up. The minimum tow rating on that truck is greater than the GVWR of that trailer by a decent margin. You MAY be around 450 lbs TW loaded up. I'd probably put WD on it depending on how it rode, but it's probably not necessary, strictly speaking. If it were me, I'd just tell them I've got one and sign the papers. Once it's yours, they really can't stop you from taking it.
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Old 05-25-2016, 02:13 PM   #5
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Get a buddy with a big diesel truck to pick the thing up for you (A large PU truck would need no WD hitch) and hitch it up how you want when you get home. And/or pull the numbers all out and tell them it is illegal to sell things to people they don't need. I would be pulling out of this deal.
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Old 05-26-2016, 11:31 AM   #6
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The Blue Ox System Sway Pro can be purchased for $599 online so they are charging you an additional $401 for setup and taxes if any from the looks of it.
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Old 05-26-2016, 11:50 AM   #7
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The Blue Ox Swaypro is a very good weight distributing hitch so no quibbles with their suggestion to buy one. These hitches are both weight distributing and sway controlling so you won't need a separate sway control, which may well be the bigger issues with your rig. One nice thing about that hitch is you can change just the bars in the future if you upgrade to a larger camper. For your setup, I'd get lighter bars. They come in 350 lb or 550 lb which is referring to the maximum tongue weight. I think I'd go with the 550. They will certainly return all weight back to the front axle, that is removed by the tongue weight being applied behind the truck axle, which is the desired result. You will find that the truck both rides and handles better with weight distribution so it is worth having. As has been noted, Blue Ox hitches are available from several online retailers, including Amazon, for less than $600 so your dealer is ripping you off. Installation is very straight forward. You should be able to do it yourself in 30 minutes. There are very good Youtube videos on installation.
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Old 05-26-2016, 12:27 PM   #8
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Just had a thought about the R-pod. Arent these marketed towards more of an off-road / rough road trailer, and would the WDH limit articulation of the hitch when driving on some forest service roads? Do folks detach the load bars once they get off the highway?
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Old 05-26-2016, 12:30 PM   #9
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Just had a thought about the R-pod. Arent these marketed towards more of an off-road / rough road trailer, and would the WDH limit articulation of the hitch when driving on some forest service roads? Do folks detach the load bars once they get off the highway?

I haven't seen one I'd take off road yet. I think they're more marketed to smaller tow vehicles. Low, streamlined, and lightweight.
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Old 05-26-2016, 04:56 PM   #10
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Dealer is ripping you off.
You can get a 4pt Equal-i-zer WDH for around $450 with free shipping, from RVW.
The E2 is even cheaper and would be fine for your Rpod.
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Old 05-26-2016, 05:07 PM   #11
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Ripping you off on that and way overkill anyway. What else are they ripping you off on? Hearing that from a dealer I'd start looking for another.
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Old 05-26-2016, 05:11 PM   #12
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Old 05-26-2016, 05:42 PM   #13
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I'm more concerned about the dealership trying to con you into buying you something you don't need. That amount of "shady" would send me packing or, if I'd already done the business, I'd never be back. Sears tried to do that to me once. Had a car in for an alignment. Wheel bearing was loose. How much will you charge me to fix it? $280 ?? OK, just drop it off the rack and I'll go fix it and bring it back. I can do it for about $40 in half an hour. They refused to let me have the car until THEY fixed it (couldn't let me drive an unsafe car off their property)....until I threatened to call the police. Backed it into the mall parking lot, had my wife come get me, came back and fixed it right there, and took it somewhere else...never went back.
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Old 05-26-2016, 07:28 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve in Montana View Post
I just purchased a R-Pod 179, scheduled to pick it up tomorrow. My towing vehicle is a 1998 Toyota T100. The dealership says their insurance won't let me tow it away without a weight distribution hitch. And they say the only system that will work for this towing vehicle and trailer is the Blue Ox Sway Pro. The cost for this is $1000 installed. I don't have a basis for evaluating this, but it seems a hefty price for a light trailer with 285-pound hitch weight. Is the dealership giving me the straight story here?
Tell them you want to kill the deal. THAT will tighten their sphincters!
They have NO way to tell you what hitch system you need. And once purchased, it is on you, not them!
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Old 05-26-2016, 07:54 PM   #15
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Something like this would be more than adequate. WD hitch along with the sway control works great on my 15RB behind my F150.

http://smile.amazon.com/Husky-31330-...ilpage_o06_s02

Amazon.com: Husky 37498 Left Handed Adjustable Sway Control Kit: Automotive
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Old 05-26-2016, 08:06 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by Ejs4029 View Post
The Blue Ox System Sway Pro can be purchased for $599 online so they are charging you an additional $401 for setup and taxes if any from the looks of it.
There charging a lot more then 401 to install . i'll bet they get the Blue Ox
for around 275 to 325. that,s closer to 700 profit for them
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Old 05-26-2016, 08:47 PM   #17
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If you don't have a friend that has a vehicle to borrow or tow it, maybe you can borrow their wdh. I did that when I dragged home my first htt. I have the Blue Ox now but am not sure you need sway control. Maybe a cheap wdh (most places are around $200 for one...like Harbor Freight).
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Old 05-26-2016, 10:04 PM   #18
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If you were close I have a new 1000/10,000 you could use. Do not buy a cheap WDH. Get on CL or other ad site. You should be able to find an Equalizer 4 point with sway used for around $300 +/-. If I ever get around to it that is where I'll price mine on an ad.
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Old 05-27-2016, 01:01 AM   #19
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Talking I can here your shorts ripping!

Me thinks they be rippin' you off. As soon as you buy insurance (you wouldn't leave the lot without it, would you?) they should not be concerned as they aren't covering it anymore, are they?
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Old 05-27-2016, 02:02 AM   #20
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Originally Posted by bikendan View Post
Dealer is ripping you off.
You can get a 4pt Equal-i-zer WDH for around $450 with free shipping, from RVW.
The E2 is even cheaper and would be fine for your Rpod.
For that trailer with modest sized truck a WDH would probably still be an asset, but ETrailer or even the local Harbor Freight will have a very adequate EzLift Elite knock off for $200 or $225. You can start learning right now how fend for yourself,. With the help of this great group, and start out by getting your own hitch and learning --- on line, YouTube etc, --- how to set it up. You will feel more in Control and be less vulnerable to dealer bull and scare tactics for your effort.
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