Hellwig Bigwigs

[zulu52]

I finally decided to make the upgrade to see if I can remedy the sway issue I have when the camper is loaded.

I ordered the Hellwig Bigwig anti-sway bar for the rear of my 2015 Chevy 2500HD, 4X4, long bed,crew cab, SRW, gas engine. Northstar 8.5 Arrow.

I will be installing them myself.

I'm not the greatest mechanic but I have all the tools needed and know how to use them
I already installed mt Torklift tie downs myself.
I consider myself pretty handy.

Can anyone give me any hints for the install? I haven't been able to find a YouTube video of a 2015 Chevy install.

Thanks,
Zulu

[zulu52]

The saga continues.
Started the installation this morning. At stage 3, realized that the necessary bolts were too short.
Contacted Hellwig by email and got a call back from them in 15 minutes. Proper bolts are coming overnight by UPS.

I just need to get it done.

I do, however,appreciate good customer service.

Zulu

[Griffon12]

Woo Hooo! Easy install, make sure to use their fancy grease;)

[zulu52]

My Hellwig Bigwig parts came in today. 33 days after ordering them.
Now I will see if I can install them. After reading the instructions while under my truck, it looks like everything will fit and shouldn't be too difficult.:p

We will see.
Zulu

[TxGearhead]

Next time you may try Tweetys. They are near San Antonio. But you will have to pay Texas sales tax.

[Griffon12]

They had a national back-order when I got may last sway bar through them (hellwig), and I got it in less than half the time they quoted.....Maybe order directly through them? It REALLY is easy to put on, so you wouldn't need 4WP. The hardest part might be taking your spare out of the way if you needed to.

Or here:
http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/sway-bars-hellwig/chevy-gmc/4wd-truck/2500hd-3500hd-silverado

[zulu52]

I ordered my Hellwig Bigwigs on 4/5 at a local Hellwig distributor called
4 Wheel Parts. They told me it would probably be about a week to get them in.

It has taken several calls to find out where they are but I finally got an answer today.
They won't ship from Hellwig until 4/24.
19 days before shipping from Hellwig sounds like a lot to me.
Not much I can do about it. I guess they don't have them in stock.

I'm bumming! But I guess I'll get over it.
Just anxious to get them on.

Zulu

[ggadwa]

Timbrens are so much less hassle than Air bags. We love ours and have the Lower Stableloads too. Since my rig is a FORD F350 I couldn't help on Chevy install of the Big Wigs...But for anyone who has a late model FORD you''l find that it is almost a requirement that you loosen or nearly drop the DEF tank in order to attach the left side Link!!!!! You will love the Big Wig Stabilizer Bar.

Happy Camping,
Gary

[Griffon12]

Good week for weather and beach! Just returned from there:p

[Grit_dog]

Yo! What's up Griffin12...I mean neighbor.
We're in Carlsbad this week. Takin in the waves getting my morning dose of rvnet!!

[Griffon12]

Good choice. You can now let your wife drive the camper;). Best money you could've spent. With the big wig swaybar, big wig bags and light lance I can out-handle many cars on mountain roads.

As for the empty ride, if it's too much, you can either use a quick-disconnect pin on a lower link or just pull the bolt off one side and it's disconnected,

[bitster98]

I put a hellwig sway bar on my dodge 2500 4x4 many years ago , big help. Last month I noticed one of the links had broken in half. I was ready to buy a new unit , called them , they said send a pic of the broken part. Week later ups delivered a complete installation kit , everything except the bar!!! No charge for the parts or shipping!!! Good company , no bs at all.

[GeoBoy]

cljward wrote:
I would suggest that you try Stableloads before putting on a swaybar. Do one mod at a time. The nice thing about the Stableloads is you can deactivate them easily when the camper is removed. A bigwig swaybar will really effect the empty ride of your truck. It did with mine.

A swaybar shouldn’t affect the empty ride at all, but I agree with trying the Stableloads first.

[cljward]

I would suggest that you try Stableloads before putting on a swaybar. Do one mod at a time. The nice thing about the Stableloads is you can deactivate them easily when the camper is removed. A bigwig swaybar will really effect the empty ride of your truck. It did with mine.

[lakeside013104]

zulu52 wrote:

lakeside013104 wrote:
Installed my Hellwig bar myself in about 1.5 hours. I am only a basic (easy stuff) kind of mechanic, so if you have the tools and can read the general directions you should be fine.

Your picture looks a little low in the rear. My F350 looked the same until I installed Firestone air bags.

Between the bags and the Hellwig, the sag and sway issues have been reduced to where the ride feels smooth, with minimal sway and the truck sits level with only 28# of air in the bags.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Lakeside

I am hoping this helps the sway issue but if it needs more help wouldn't the next step be Stable Loads instead of airbags?
Do you need an on board air compressor for air bags? I'm not real familiar with them.
Zulu

I have no experience with Stabil Loads, other than reading on Rv.net that they make the empty ride very rough.

I tried air bags and have had them on my last two new trucks. Very happy with the ride and stability of bags and Hellwig.

Lakeside

[GeoBoy]

I ran a set of Timbrens on my 05 Silverado 3500, with my 06 Northstar Arrow and it handled like a race car. The Timbrens were an easy install.