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Kmesaaz, this could be a little protracted and will be somewhat opinionated, so take it for what it is worth.

I towed our RP 175 for 2 and a half years with our 4.6l, 6 speed Tundra. I used a WDH exclusively, not because I felt I had to, but because I owned one. The Pod/Tundra was a fine combo. I, like you, towed a folding trailer (Chalet) in the past, and hope your Aliner was a better rig than the POS Chalet. I towed the Chalet w/out a WDH and with an F150 and never had any towing problems.

We replaced the Pod this spring with a longer (21'), wider, heftier (4700 lb. wet) Kodiak, and we returned this week from a 2+ week trip to your part of the country. We revisited Bryce, Zion, Mesa Verde, Arches, and Canyonlands for the first time in about 25 years--beautiful country!

Towing mostly in Washington and Oregon over the years, the climbs and winds are pretty equal to the SW region. But your area adds horsepower sapping elevation, and much faster speed limits and truck speed limits. Traveling faster to not hold up traffic, and being passed by semi's and triples pushing past the 70 mph truck limits made me appreciate my WDH a little more than usual during this trip. And sorry Podophiles, but my considered opinion is that the larger Pods should either be equipped with dual axles or at least much heftier axles and tires, as others are stumping for currently. This is one of the reasons I didn't replace our RP 175 with a 178. So, yes, more than for some people, I think a WDH might be a nice addition for your towing conditions.

I towed a popup for years that was suicide to tow w/o sway control, so I was happy to tow thepod for years with nothing. ThenI had a bad wind day and decided I needed something. Went all the way and got a WDH that includes sway control. That was a massive improvement in ride quality.

That was driving a Sienna minivan. When I move to my Suburban I tried a half-trip w/o the WDH engaged and immediately went back to using it for the trip home. The ride quality was much better, even driving a full-sized truck.

Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

KMESAAZ,

Az motor vehicle regs require traier brakes on all trailers over 3000 lbs. A brake controller is needed in your tow vehicle. If your vehicle has a factory tow wiring setup, you buy the adapter, and the controller to plug in at any RV supply.

You should take your Tundra to an RV center and have them install an appropriate brake controller if you don't feel up to doing it yourself.

Since I have owned a 4Runner in the past, I am going to guess that the thing in your glove box is a wire harness for connecting a trailer proportional brake controller. As a reference, I use a Tekonsha Prodigy P3 brake controller, it is very versatile, and can control small and very large trailer brake systems.

I guess you're hitting the road tomorrow. I strongly suggest you find out about the trailer brakes in you Tundra. Get them set up and working, and understand how they work. If possible, do it before your trip. It sounds like you may have everything you need, except maybe the actual controller. Anyway, find out. You have plenty of pulling power and more stopping power than a lot of TVs out there, but without the trailer brakes hooked up the pod will still push you, and perhaps jackknife, in a hard stop.

I never had trailer brakes before the pod. I bought mine used about 200 miles from home and didn't have brakes when I pulled it back. Almost bought the car in front of me less than 10 minutes down the road. I really took it easy and white knuckled it the rest of the way.

I tow with an FJ Cruiser -- I don't have the tow capacity you do -- but I've never felt the need for a WDH hitch or sway control. I get a sense of sway sometimes when I have too much fresh water in the tank, which reminds me to drain the tank unless I have a real good reason to be carrying the water. (There was post yesterday from someone who lost his pod and nearly his life due to a full tank of water (which is behind the axle and thus lowers your tongue weight at the same time in increases your overall weight.) The low tongue weight increases the likelihood of sway and fishtailing.)

You'll just about forget the pod is behind you with your Tundra, until you fill up with gas, or until you have to make a quick stop without trailer brake. It might cost a couple hundred dollars, with labor, at a U-Haul store or Camping World, and take an hour, but you really want your brakes working. Besides, it's the law in many states for trailers over X pounds.

TT

Toolman John--please don't even assume that we are speaking the same language...j/k My towing experience has been with an F 150, a Ford Aerostar van and my Tundra. Only towing jet skis, or a pop-up, or teardrop, or an Aliner. Always with a Uhaul after market hitch, except for the Tundra which has a tow package. I never even thought to consider weight of anything...nor brakes, or anything but hitting the road and 'gettin out of Dodge.'

So, at the moment I need a new hitch because the existing one is too low. The pod has electric brakes and the Tundra has 'something' in the glove box for the brakes. I don't even know what a proportional trailer brake controller is....(on the pod?)

And the paperwork on the pod states "axle riser" as equipment. Somewhere I remember reading 2" or 3" axle riser, but can't find it now.

Feel free to keep asking questions and making comments. They are appreciated.