I have a specific question regarding improving the handling on my 33' National SeaBreeze. I realize there have been many threads on this topic (I've participated in some of them) but I've not seen this discussed. The MH is 33', 208" wheelbase, F-53 chassis. I've done the CHF, have a steering stabilizer, and added a Hellwig rear anti-sway bar. Firestone airbags as well, and run the "correct" tire pressures based on the MH weight (actually weighed). All this improved the handling greatly, and pretty much eliminated the wandering.So the question - is there any additional improvement to be had adding the Hellwig front anti-sway bar, or have I reached the point of diminishing returns? I would say at this point I've gone from many butt-puckering moments to maybe 2 or 3 over a 300 mile day, as most larger trucks no longer push me around like before. To put a number on it I'd say everything has improved 70-80%. As an aside, I've found that running the driver side air bags at 30psi, and the passenger side at 45-50psi also helped tame the "push" and improved stability. Thoughts?Al

Some people, including myself, have had good results from using AirTabs to help stabilize the coach and minimize and push from trucks. There are several users who may post their actual experiences on here with AirTabs as well as several non-users who will post their opinions. For me, the cost for the AirTabs was about the cost of a tank of fuel.I did also have air bags and on windy days or smooth highways, I ran the pressure up to around 80 psi. I never saw any need to add a track bar or additional anti-sway bars on my Workhorse chassis.

Why no rear track or pan head bar?

Track bar, new shocks (Bilstein or Koni)

Something that seemed to help on my bosses 36 foot F53 Fleetwood Discovery was minimizing the amount of weight stored behind the rear axle. We never scaled it before and after to be sure, but There were times when the rear most storage compartments on the outside were absolutely stuffed full of cases of water bottles and beer. On subsequent trips we moved them more toward the midpoint of the wheel base, and used the rear storage compartments for bulky light items like fishing poles, sleeping bags, bundles of paper towels, etc.

Gasser Handling - Specific Question | Good Sam Community

rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Jan 16, 2019
Some people, including myself, have had good results from using AirTabs to help stabilize the coach and minimize and push from trucks. There are several users who may post their actual experiences on here with AirTabs as well as several non-users who will post their opinions. For me, the cost for the AirTabs was about the cost of a tank of fuel.
I did also have air bags and on windy days or smooth highways, I ran the pressure up to around 80 psi.
I never saw any need to add a track bar or additional anti-sway bars on my Workhorse chassis.
Dale_Traveling
Explorer II
Jan 16, 2019
Why no rear track or pan head bar?
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Jan 16, 2019
Add a Davis Tru Trac.
STBRetired
Explorer
Jan 16, 2019
Track bar, new shocks (Bilstein or Koni)
All_I_could_aff
Explorer
Jan 16, 2019
Something that seemed to help on my bosses 36 foot F53 Fleetwood Discovery was minimizing the amount of weight stored behind the rear axle. We never scaled it before and after to be sure, but There were times when the rear most storage compartments on the outside were absolutely stuffed full of cases of water bottles and beer. On subsequent trips we moved them more toward the midpoint of the wheel base, and used the rear storage compartments for bulky light items like fishing poles, sleeping bags, bundles of paper towels, etc.
phnguyk
Explorer
Jan 16, 2019
Air Tabs, LOL.
Rear track bar is what you want to look into.
FloridaRosebud
Explorer
Jan 16, 2019
OK, while I appreciate everyone's responses, I guess I'm just not being clear here. I've already listed what I've done (and am not going to change what's been done), and I'm just asking if a larger front anti-sway bar would be worth doing. I'm not asking what to do to help my handling (although the air tabs look interesting), there has just never been discussion that I've seen that would or would not justify spending the money on a larger front anti-sway bar. Stock front bar is 1" with rubber bushings. The Hellwig is 1.75" with poly bushings. So has anyone actually changed out their front anti-sway bar and seen an appreciable improvement?

FYI - Shocks and rear sway bar are new and our rear storage (good point @All I could afford) is minimal.

Al
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Jan 16, 2019
What handling characteristics are you hoping to improve?

My thinking is that more front sway is always better but you’re improving lean on curves.
Not stability from crosswinds or trucks passing.

The rear panhard rod (Davis Tru Trac being a brand) will make a huge improvement in stopping the tail wagging the dog when wind pushes the rear over hang.

Something we did back in my early years amateur auto cross racing with low budget is take another stock sway bar and simply clamp it to the existing sway bar. It worked.
stripit
Explorer
Jan 16, 2019
I also did the CHF to the front end, weighed the rig and adjusted the tire pressures. A bit better but not to my liking. Added a rear panhard bar and THAT made a huge difference in the way it felt when driving in winds or being passed by semi trucks. No more fighting the steering wheel trying to go straight down the road.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Jan 16, 2019
Up you air bag pressure to 80 psi and take it for a drive on the highway. This costs nothing and it may be all that you need to do to minimize sway.