Anti-Sway Suspension Improvement

Having added airbags last fall- I removed them a couple days ago. Went back to Timbrens that I had on previously. While the bags kept the springs from flattening out- I felt that they added to the side-to-side sway. The Timbrens have a much better dampening effect.

Now running BigWig anti-swaybar, Timbrens and home made stableloads (reinforced rubber shims between the bottom overload leaf and the spring pack).

Handles our Lance 855S really well. Keeps the top heavy feeling to a minimum- even with OEM shocks (only 10k miles on truck so the shocks aren't too bad...yet. Probably Ranchos next year if needed.)

billtex wrote:

Bud99 wrote:
I posted a couple days ago about what product to use to improve anti-sway on my truck camper. I didn't provide enough info on the truck / camper.
2013 Chevy 2500, D/A, crew cab, long bed. 2009 Travel Lite 960 R, 1960# dry weight.
Trucks overloads are on the bottom of the spring pack.
I have looked at the Stable Loads and Hellwig Big Wig. I liked the Stable Loads but my reservation is, do they wear a groove in the springs when in use?
Are there any other anti-sway products that you like?

Thank you all,

Bud99

I doubt you will need any suspension mods...

Maybe airbags for side2side...

But really...you may be fine...I would load up first...take a few trips...then decide.

Definitely this. Some of the feel is going to come down to your preference and feel and I use this same philosophy in off-roading.

See how it feels "as is" on some lighter trips and then figure out what you'll need from there.

I use stable loads and super springs. Supersprings made biggest improvement for me

I have a heavy Lance 992 (dual slide) on a '13 F350 dually. I ran it with just airbags for a while, but yesterday had Stable Loads put on as well. I'm quite happy with the improvement. I need far less air to keep the back end up, and now I have real suspension again in the back. Before, it would feel like it was bottoming out going over speed bumps even slowly and when hitting badly uneven sections of highway. Now it is much more stable (less sway) and much more comfortable.

Bud99 wrote:
I posted a couple days ago about what product to use to improve anti-sway on my truck camper. I didn't provide enough info on the truck / camper.
2013 Chevy 2500, D/A, crew cab, long bed. 2009 Travel Lite 960 R, 1960# dry weight.
Trucks overloads are on the bottom of the spring pack.
I have looked at the Stable Loads and Hellwig Big Wig. I liked the Stable Loads but my reservation is, do they wear a groove in the springs when in use?
Are there any other anti-sway products that you like?

Thank you all,

Bud99

I doubt you will need any suspension mods...

Maybe airbags for side2side...

But really...you may be fine...I would load up first...take a few trips...then decide.

Be sure your tires are at the recommended pressures shown on the door frame of the truck. A lot of sway is the result of sidewall flexing with underinflated tires.

Older trucks have frames with 5 times as much torsional flexing and they can benefit from a rear anti-sway bar but it is not needed for the current GM trucks even with a maximum payload in the bed.

A camper puts a heavy load with a much higher than average center of gravity in to the truck. The truck is not going to handle the same as without a load or with a load that is lower than the sides of the box. If you want that then get a popup camper.

The BIG WIG has been a great investment ...the ride is very controls and sway is greatly reduced.

I have a 2011 Duramax 2500HD which has the same frame and suspension and with a 3400 lb camper load when driving back from the dealer in the eastern sierras of California and back to the coast I had full control of the load with the stock suspension, shocks, tires, etc. and no need for adding anything.

I later added Supersprings and replaced the tires to ones with a 3750 lb load rating as with the tanks full and a boat the total load is 4000 lbs. but it was to provide an extra margin.

I would not touch anything other than adding tie-downs until the camper is on the truck and you have had a chance to drive it. The GM frame and suspension was greatly improved in 2011 and the reported increase in stiffness is something I can personnally attest to as being true.

It would be very different with a Ford heavy duty truck or the Ram 3/4 ton trucks (only the 1-ton Ram trucks got the new stronger frame in 2013).

Bud...if you have time and plan to keep this truck I would take the time to have a local custom spring shop take a look at your rear leaf springs. They can build up your read leafs to carry the weight of your camper and you won't hardly notice the camper is back there if done right. I would also recommend if you go this route to take the camper on the truck to the spring shop so they can see how it rides and sits prior to doing the work. I did this and carrying my new Lance 1172 is a snap and rides very well. I also installed the stable loads to engage early.

Thanks for your advice. It's well taken and I appreciate it very much!

Bud99