Sway bars versus RAS versus SS…which one did you choose/why?

I use my bags to get me level and my ride is not bouncy at all, it's stable and comfortable. If I go above level with the bags the ride gets harsh, if I go below the truck looks funny.

Air pressure or metal spring, the spring rate has to be there. P

The OP never mentioned wanting to use less air, he did list what he wants to fix. I hope it works for him, but looking at what he as told us it was a waste of money and will hurt his empty and loaded ride.

I think he wants to be able to use less bag pressure by having more spring.

All the overloads are like what you describe and that is why StableLoads or something with the same function are so widely used. I would have to have 3" of sag before half of my upper overload spring even engages with stock stops. The other half of the spring engages at 3-1/2" sag. They did this to make the overload more progressive for a softer ride, but I'm not going to drive around with my tail 4" lower than stock just get my overloads working. If I just used my bags to level, I would be a bouncing all over because my overloads would be doing nothing...

The upper overloads in my 3500 SRW are a joke, they don't come into contact unless the rear axle is at max OEM tire capacity. I have verified this several times on my truck, and I presume this is why dodge remove them on 4th gen 3500 SRW trucks.

With a 1" level I take more air than a stock truck to maintain a level stance, but even then I don't even need 50 psi for 6,400lbs on the rear axle. I know GM suspensions are softer, but not that much.

I still don't think it adds up. Any 2500 that cannot maintain level with airbags is over the tire capacity unless the tires have been upgraded.

My dads 2500 takes 80-90 psi with a 2" level and 8K on the rear axle to be level.

If the OP feels he needs additional spring help over airbags on a 2500 there is something he isn't telling us.

The GM 2500 does not have an upper overload spring. To get back to relatively level requires more air bag pressure than what you are used to in your Ram 3500 or my Ford 250 w/ camper package. Adding additional overload spring capacity will help Billtex with leveling his load.

My 250 sits 2" lower than a 350 with the same suspension due to shorter axle blocks. I pretension both upper and lower overload springs sooner with StableLoads so the rear only sags 1-2" instead of 3-4" without StableLoads. Billtex can only do that on his bottoms which would not be enough.

We both agree that a softer suspension will sway more than stiffer one, but I think there two issues to address (sway and sag). Billtex is taking the progressive approach to improve handling and I believe he is doing this smartly.

I still can't help but think that something isn't right, either with your weight or expectations.

Airbags provide up to 5,000lbs of load leveling assistance, why do you need more?

The HD SS are also 5,000lbs of leveling capacity right? 10K is leveling capacity is 4500 or 5500 territory.

Are you overloaded or trying to get the truck to empty height?

I still don't see how SS would be your initial go to for sway/load when you already have airbags. What am I missing in your setup? It doesn't make any sense to go SS over a swaybar, they cost more and do less for sway.

Have you weighed your rear axle? If the bags aren't cutting it you stand a good chance of being way overweight on the tires.

I am going on my 3rd year with a sway bar and I haven't driven 1' in the 25K miles plus where it has been anything but an improvement, empty or loaded. The claims are they limit off-road sway, but I have yet to notice it... Then again I am driving 8,500lbs with a 160.5" wheelbase, it's not exactly an off-road setup (but I do lots of miles on uneven back roads where traction and articulation are challenged. I have also done a bit of wheeling in my past and know what' good articulation looks like). The SS will probably limit compression travel far more than a swaybar, as they even have an effect of level compression where a swaybar doesn't. There is no feedback, kickback, or hop empty, just a very stable truck. It is a little more work to get the spare in, but once your use to the sway bar you can use it to your advantage. My spare is 2" taller and 60lb heavier than the OEM spare.

My only complaint about the swaybar is that I didn't do it sooner, it should have been done on day one.

I have posted before that the weight should be supported by your leaf springs and fine adjustment by air bags. My truck came with anti-sway bars in the Camper Package, so I never drove it without. My bar extends to the front of the axle and does not in interfere with the spare in any way. The only downside of the bar is articulation in off-road use - I used to lift the rear wheel on the truck when on rough "roads" without the TC and was glad I had a limited slip differential.

If you are swaying side to side get a sway bar. The biggest.
The rest is primarily for load carrying and load leveling.
Get both as needed. JMHO.

ticki2 wrote:

I would agree with your spring shop , the bottom heavy leaf is not meant to be engaged all the time . It also acts as a limiter for spring rebound . Keeping the overloads ( lightly ) engaged refers to upper overloads on one ton trucks , not the bottom leaf .

I also agree with the previous poster . In order to accomplish your stated goal , sway side to side , a heavy duty sway bar is in order . The springs and things added to them are for carrying the weight. If you add enough to the springs , whether leaves or add on's it will eventually help the sway , but you will have one very stiff ride .

It seems you are trying to accomplish two different things , one is the added weight of the new camper the other is the sway that extra weight is causing . I don't think a single mod will accomplish both . That's my 2 cents . Following along.

Hey Bob...you know I never thought of it that way...our truck doesn't have upper overloads...so it never occurred to me. In any case...it takes a lot of psi to get off the lower overloads with this camper.

You both may be right about the sway. Folks that have added supersprings (or other spring "helpers") will say that it helped reduce sway.
Folks that have installed rear sway bars will say that was their solution.
I chose to address the suspension first. We'll see what happens with sway. The Supersprings arrived via FEDEX today. I'll bolt them on tomorrow and take a test drive this weekend.
To be honest....I am still open to adding a rear sway bar if needed at some point...but I would rather avoid it as they present their own issues (many comments about kicking back when unloaded, access to spare tire, etc). But we'll see.
I am due for new tires before next winter...so that will likely be next...
Stay tuned.

Thanx again...lot's of good feedback,
Bill

You also want to keep the lower overloads lightly engaged, they are more effective with axle wrap (which increases with load/power required). About 1-1.5" of suspension squat is optimal, from what I have found, in controlling wrap, rebound rate, and general load handling.

billtex wrote:
Wanted to pass this on also after speaking with the local spring shop. The Gentleman there commented that on trucks with just bottom overload (as our ¾ ton Chevy) should not be riding on the overloads. IOW the overload should only make contact when turning, dips in the road, pot holes, etc as handling/ride will suffer. They are not intended to be in play full time. Period.
Now conventional wisdom is to set you airbags (if you have them) so that the overloads are still (lightly) engaged. I don’t know about your truck, if I pump my airbags to may (100 psi) my bottom overloads are still engaged.
We would need a much lighter camper, or larger airbags, to get completely off the bottom overloads as he suggested.
I am no suspension expert…I assume this Gentleman is as this has been his Family business for generations…

Any comments on this thinking?

Tx, Bill

I would agree with your spring shop , the bottom heavy leaf is not meant to be engaged all the time . It also acts as a limiter for spring rebound . Keeping the overloads ( lightly ) engaged refers to upper overloads on one ton trucks , not the bottom leaf .

I also agree with the previous poster . In order to accomplish your stated goal , sway side to side , a heavy duty sway bar is in order . The springs and things added to them are for carrying the weight. If you add enough to the springs , whether leaves or add on's it will eventually help the sway , but you will have one very stiff ride .

It seems you are trying to accomplish two different things , one is the added weight of the new camper the other is the sway that extra weight is causing . I don't think a single mod will accomplish both . That's my 2 cents . Following along.