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1:40 pm
March 22, 2017
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Recently received a 2016 Riverside RV White Water Retro 177SE. The connection is just a standard coupler. I will be towing with a 2011 Toyota Sequoia Limited with tow package.
Have made one trip, which was picking up and bringing home, which showed no issues.
Does this setup need weight distribution and/or sway control?
8:30 pm
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September 24, 2016
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I have a 2015 177se and tow with a 1990 Suburban. First big trip of 5,000 miles my Retro had a tendency to want to wander above 60mph. Upon return I ordered a weight distribution hitch with sway bar. Problem solved and we still stay below 60, but passing is more stable. I guess you need to decide where you travel and how fast you need to go. Good luck.
8:52 pm
March 22, 2017
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Roccosamore said
I have a 2015 177se and tow with a 1990 Suburban. First big trip of 5,000 miles my Retro had a tendency to want to wander above 60mph. Upon return I ordered a weight distribution hitch with sway bar. Problem solved and we still stay below 60, but passing is more stable. I guess you need to decide where you travel and how fast you need to go. Good luck.
Took the family on the shake down trip, travel time 1 hour. In that hour, was passed by several big rigs and noticed quite a bit of movement when they passed. Looks like I will be looking for Sway control. Though the Sequoia handles the weight pretty well, since I will be looking at sway control might as well look at weight distribution as well.
9:26 pm
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September 24, 2016
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The weight distribution bars will increase your stability along with sway bar. Best way to go IMHO.
6:17 am
March 3, 2017
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With regard to tractor trailers passing. We were passed by many tractor trailers, cars, other rvers on our way home to CT from MI where we got our 181B. I didn’t notice much, if any, sway. I wanted to be set up with weight distribution and friction bars even though the dealer felt it may be more than needed. Not having any experience with towing a travel trailer, I wanted to feel comfortable driving on the highway. I was very pleased with the results of our hitch set up. I did have some issues with getting my electric brakes properly dialed in but I started to get the hang of it as we headed home.
5:26 pm
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September 24, 2016
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Towing is a very broad subject. What one dealer tells you is sometimes contingent on your particular area, ie: you live on the east coast but your travels take you to the west coast. During your journey you will pass through many different towing terrains. Desert winds, Rocky Mountain, ect. You get the picture. Why not be ready for anything. Nothing wrong with a good WD hitch, sway bar, even if it’s overkill. Just saying….IMHO.
3:13 am
March 3, 2017
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I completely agree Rocco. We live on the Connecticut coast but our travels will take us to the mountains of New Hampshire and New York State with hopes to travel West. I want to be ready, and safe, for any of our travels. I also want to enjoy the ride and not be frightened to hitch up the trailer and go. While on our trip out to get our trailer, we saw a trailer being towed on I 90 in upstate New York. The tow vehicle was a mid sized truck towing a trailer that just seemed too big (around 30 feet and older, so I assume rather heavy). It just looked wrong if you know what I mean. It wasn’t really all over the road, but it didn’t look like a nice tow.
12:20 pm
March 22, 2017
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Roccosamore said
Nothing wrong with a good WD hitch, sway bar, even if it’s overkill. Just saying….IMHO.
This was my thought as well. Mine comes in on Wed. I will be allot happier towing after that.
12:38 pm
April 23, 2017
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9:33 pm
October 25, 2016
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FYI I own a 177se i had a Blue Ox Sway control installed on the unit. Recently I towed from San Diego to Sacramento. Did not even know I had the unit behind me. At times I checked my speed while passing and I was going in excess of 70/75 mph – I had to check my speed often because I had almost zero input from the unit – sway or otherwise – easy to hook up –
I tow with a Mercedes ML350 4matic.
12:57 pm
March 1, 2017
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I tow with a Mercedes G Wagen without weight distribution but I do have a sway bar. I have pulled the 177SE from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border and through the mountains in Colorado without a problem.
7:34 pm
April 15, 2018
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The smaller trailers do not need a weight distribution hitch in my opinion. Some dealers will try hard to sell you one (profit) In fact when I bought my 189R the dealer went as far as saying I should not leave the lot without one. I had to point out that my vehicle owners manual (Ford Transit 350XLT) states they are not recommended. He gave in upon reading my manual. The manual didn’t give a reason so I asked a respected trailer hitch shop why. The shop said because the Ford Transit, and many other vehicles have unibody construction. Pulling a larger/heavy trailer with a combination of unibody construction and a weight distribution hitch can actually damage a tow vehicle (bend the rear body). Full size pickups and large SUVs have body on frame construction and can handle and benefit from a weight distribution hitch.
For sway control the most important factor is proper hitch weight management. A trailer to heavy in the rear will sway to the danger limit. If you have your weight balance correct per the trailer specs you won’t need sway bars either.
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