Stable Loads

[gbsb]

After reading several comments on here about how much the Stable Loads helped side to side sway and raised the rear of the truck when loaded I ordered a set. They haven't come in yet but sure hope they help. I have a F450 Ford CC with a custom aluminum flatbed and a Arctic Fox 990. As stated before the AF weighed 5000 pounds when loaded and ready to go. My center of gravity is directly over the rear wheels. I get some side to side sway and the truck seems to squat some in the back. I also have a problem with the rig wondering around as we go down the road. I have had the suspension checked, replaced the sway bares, replaced the steer damper. It feels like it is lite in the front, but with the diesel I don't know how that could be. The camper is as far forward as I can get it. Headed to Colorado for the summer so hope this helps in the mountains.
George

[gbsb]

My truck is a 2003 F 450 cab and chassis with a 6.0 diesel. I probably need shocks. I have replaced the sway bar links. I enjoy the rig except for the wondering issues. Thanks for all the input.
George

[MORSNOW]

I did what the majority of experienced guys on here recommended, drive it stock first and see what I needed. After a few trips, I installed lower Stable Loads which leveled my truck and reduced pretty much all of my side to side sway. Nice stable drive with just the lowers. Then after my first year of use, I added Timbrens because I always have a trailer in tow with ATV's which at times would cause some extra front to back bounce when going over frost heaves and dips in the road. The Timbrens fixed any excessive bounce without a jarring ride. I am very happy with the current set up, and if I gave just one suspension suggestion to any new camper owner it would be to install lower Stable Loads before doing anything else.

[67avion]

I can tell you that the Stable Loads made all the difference in the world on my F350. From a truck that evidenced steering drift needing constant, white knuckle attention, to a rock solid performance on 2 lane backroads. I was astonished. Still am.

[MN_Ben]

Consider a break fluid change before the Colorado trip as well.

[MN_Ben]

I felt a wondering issue with my rig. One thing that really seemed to help me was new shocks as well as new bushings in the sway bars and sway bar end links. I could not believe how wore the bushings were. I could not see the wear until I took them off. The rear shocks that I removed no longer functional. Control improved exponentially after the upgrades.
You did not mention the year of your your rig.
Ben

[jimh406]

Is the F450 Chassis or Pickup type? Also, are your overloads engaged and are you running air bags? What year is the truck?

If you are running air bags either add extended bump stops or lower the air to engage the overloads. If you are getting upper stable loads that should engage the overloads. If this is an older F450, you should also upgrading to Bilstein 4600s or similar. They made an amazing differencing in the ride of my F450.

Finally, check the tire pressure in all of the tires.

[Bedlam]

When I carry my TC and tow at he same time, I have 5000 lbs payload on a steel deck. My Ram 5500 suspension is stock and the overloads just barely touch. You may want to look at the difference between your suspension and he F550 to get some ideas on how to build it up.

[Buzzcut1]

My TC weighs about the same. I went with upper and lower stable loads and the truck drives like a dream now. The uppers went in first and they made a difference but it was the lowers that really got me level and got rid of the handling issues.

[Richandtd]

Mine sits on the overloads and I'm going the route of adding two extra springs on each side. I did the same upgrade to my talocoma in 2000 for carrying a contractor heavy cap and that worked great and I still have it. The place that did my lil truck is in Michigan and a quote from them on my ram 3500 is about $450.00 which is about 1/2 what the closer ones closer to where I live in Virginia cause they were over $800.00 The place in Grand Rapids is a block from my parents home so I get to visit. Anyway I thought about stable loads but I believe the springs will give much better control with my TC when I put a 48" extension on to pull my 24' enclosed car hauler. Just my .02 cents