We recently came from a Class C and moved to a 5th wheel. We love riding in the truck far more than the MH, but here in northern Nevada we get a lot of heavy winds. The truck does ok, but I sure know that trailer is behind me in the 20+ mph cross winds. My question is will a rear sway bar on my 07 Ram 2500 SB help? I put Hellwigs on the MH and they were an amazing upgrade. But since all the weight is over the axle with the fiver, I don't know if it will help that much. Maybe the trailer needs a sway bar, but I don't even know if they are made for them. Thanks for any help........and NO I'm not getting a long bed. :p

It's a 'wind sail' that is almost 13' tall so YES you will really notice it in cross windsThat being said....DO you travel with fresh water on board?Fill it up, add that weight down low-----doesn't affect MPG/wind resistance doesIs it level when towing?S/B level or even 'nose low' for best towAnd then you have a 30' tall trailer and a SB truck. (No on the swag bar)

Old-Biscuit wrote:It's a 'wind sail' that is almost 13' tall so YES you will really notice it in cross windsThat being said....DO you travel with fresh water on board?Fill it up, add that weight down low-----doesn't affect MPG/wind resistance doesIs it level when towing?S/B level or even 'nose low' for best towAnd then you have a 30' tall trailer and a SB truck. (No on the swag bar)Wish I could answer this for you, our 2001 2500, has the Camper Package, which included sway bar on the rear axle. The last time I towed in heavy side winds all the tanks were full, as I was not going to stand in the driving rain to empty.Driving south on 101 just south of Garibaldi where it is wide open to the Pacific and didn't feel a thing, really. Our 5er is 32' long and 13' tall. Installing a sway bar won't hurt!

Old-Biscuit wrote:It's a 'wind sail' that is almost 13' tall so YES you will really notice it in cross windsThat being said....DO you travel with fresh water on board?Fill it up, add that weight down low-----doesn't affect MPG/wind resistance doesIs it level when towing?S/B level or even 'nose low' for best towAnd then you have a 30' tall trailer and a SB truck. (No on the swag bar)We have used it twice, once with a full tank of water, and also a 1/2 tank, both times in windy conditions. I couldn't really tell much difference. I have the Andersen hitch set as low as it will go, and am still a bit nose high with about 6 1/2" clearance between the cap and truck bed sides. I haven't measured it, but looks maybe to be two inches higher in the front. In fact I am only running 10 lbs in the bags to keep from raising the truck higher.

Interesting question: Does side pressure from wind induce axle steer on hung axles? I bet there are some engineers here that can answer that question.Not to be flippant but are all the wear parts on your suspension such as shackles and pins and this and that nice and tight and in new condition? I'll bet yes, did you have the front suspension recall done on your truck? My son has an 07 2500, which is lifted with larger tires, and he has a hard time keeping it in the lane empty.I like your real name.

Durb wrote:Interesting question: Does side pressure from wind induce axle steer on hung axles? I bet there are some engineers here that can answer that question.Not to be flippant but are all the wear parts on your suspension such as shackles and pins and this and that nice and tight and in new condition? I'll bet yes, did you have the front suspension recall done on your truck? My son has an 07 2500, which is lifted with larger tires, and he has a hard time keeping it in the lane empty.I like your real name.Suspension on the truck is good and tight, completely rebuilt, stock size tires and new Bilstein 5100's. Front end leveled, but drives completely straight and tracks as it should. Yea, I put that name in several years ago when I joined the site. Didn't want to put my real name, so...... :B

Rear sway bar w/5th wheel? | Good Sam Community

18 Replies

Nevadastars
Explorer
May 24, 2017
Steakman wrote:
I never knew there was such a thing - Sway bars for 5th Wheels...Who knew.??
...Anyone care to post some pictures..??

thank,

Stk

I have never seen one either, but was just curious. I don't think anyone here said there is one though.
Steakman
Explorer
May 24, 2017
I never knew there was such a thing - Sway bars for 5th Wheels...Who knew.??
...Anyone care to post some pictures..??

thank,

Stk
time2roll
Nomad
May 12, 2017
I think a sway bar on a travel trailer or fifth wheel would work well but have never seen one.
Nevadastars
Explorer
May 12, 2017
Durb wrote:
Interesting question: Does side pressure from wind induce axle steer on hung axles? I bet there are some engineers here that can answer that question.

Not to be flippant but are all the wear parts on your suspension such as shackles and pins and this and that nice and tight and in new condition? I'll bet yes, did you have the front suspension recall done on your truck? My son has an 07 2500, which is lifted with larger tires, and he has a hard time keeping it in the lane empty.

I like your real name.

Suspension on the truck is good and tight, completely rebuilt, stock size tires and new Bilstein 5100's. Front end leveled, but drives completely straight and tracks as it should.

Yea, I put that name in several years ago when I joined the site. Didn't want to put my real name, so...... :B
Durb
Explorer
May 12, 2017
Interesting question: Does side pressure from wind induce axle steer on hung axles? I bet there are some engineers here that can answer that question.

Not to be flippant but are all the wear parts on your suspension such as shackles and pins and this and that nice and tight and in new condition? I'll bet yes, did you have the front suspension recall done on your truck? My son has an 07 2500, which is lifted with larger tires, and he has a hard time keeping it in the lane empty.

I like your real name.
Nevadastars
Explorer
May 11, 2017
Old-Biscuit wrote:
It's a 'wind sail' that is almost 13' tall so YES you will really notice it in cross winds

That being said....
DO you travel with fresh water on board?
Fill it up, add that weight down low-----doesn't affect MPG/wind resistance does

Is it level when towing?
S/B level or even 'nose low' for best tow

And then you have a 30' tall trailer and a SB truck. (No on the swag bar)

We have used it twice, once with a full tank of water, and also a 1/2 tank, both times in windy conditions. I couldn't really tell much difference. I have the Andersen hitch set as low as it will go, and am still a bit nose high with about 6 1/2" clearance between the cap and truck bed sides. I haven't measured it, but looks maybe to be two inches higher in the front. In fact I am only running 10 lbs in the bags to keep from raising the truck higher.
rhagfo
Explorer III
May 11, 2017
Old-Biscuit wrote:
It's a 'wind sail' that is almost 13' tall so YES you will really notice it in cross winds

That being said....
DO you travel with fresh water on board?
Fill it up, add that weight down low-----doesn't affect MPG/wind resistance does

Is it level when towing?
S/B level or even 'nose low' for best tow

And then you have a 30' tall trailer and a SB truck. (No on the swag bar)

Wish I could answer this for you, our 2001 2500, has the Camper Package, which included sway bar on the rear axle. The last time I towed in heavy side winds all the tanks were full, as I was not going to stand in the driving rain to empty.
Driving south on 101 just south of Garibaldi where it is wide open to the Pacific and didn't feel a thing, really. Our 5er is 32' long and 13' tall.
Installing a sway bar won't hurt!
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
May 11, 2017
It's a 'wind sail' that is almost 13' tall so YES you will really notice it in cross winds

That being said....
DO you travel with fresh water on board?
Fill it up, add that weight down low-----doesn't affect MPG/wind resistance does

Is it level when towing?
S/B level or even 'nose low' for best tow

And then you have a 30' tall trailer and a SB truck. (No on the swag bar)

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Rear sway bar w/5th wheel?

18 Replies

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