Sway Bars and Air Bags

[Judithgap]

First please forgive me as I am still researching the purchase of my first truck camper. I plan to install both the front and rear Hellwig sway bars on my 2014 F350 4x4 short bed truck and want to know if it would be advantageous to install rear air bags also.
Would be any problems with having both?
Thank you for any feedback.

[skyhammer]

Redsky wrote:
The Ford trucks are flex the most but a short bed could easily be stiffer than the long bed trucks and you may not need to install heavier duty anti-sway bars. Older trucks flexed more and needed help. My 2011 with a 4,000 lb. camper load is fine with the factory anti-sway bar in the front and does not need one in the rear.

The stock leaf packs should support the load of your camper or Ford screwed up on the rating which is doubtful. If the camper in the bed causes the truck to be lower in the rear than in the front then add more spring capacity with overload springs like the SuperSprings and preserve the normal handling of the truck.

The stock shocks may be OK but expect them to need to be replaced after 30K miles and then go to Bilsein or Rancho shocks.

Ford has more options for towing and hauling than the other two US truck companies combined but to me it makes also makes it confusing to know what comes with which option collection and what is left out.

Air bags help to level a truck but they also destabilize the truck. The place to use airbags is if one side of the camper is several hundred pounds heavier and causes the truck bed to tilt to one side or when hitched up to a 5th wheel trailer to make the height compatible.

I am opposed to anything like an airbag where if one of the two fails you have an unsafe vehicle for the remainder of the trip. I would only use components that are not going to fail or can be easily replaced, like a shock, at the next town.

I disagree with your comments on air bags.
Air bags are designed to increase stability, reduce sway, reduce body roll, reduce suspension fatigue, helps prevent bottoming out of the suspension.
Saying that air bags destabilize the truck as a blanket statement is just nonsense.It could happen if used improperly, but the whole purpose of air bags is to stabilize the truck and that is just what they do for me.
Why would one air bag going flat why would the vehicle be unsafe?, simply deflate the good bag and you are good to go.
Swapping out a blown air bar isn't much harder than replacing a rear shock, and it easier than replacing a shock that is inside a coil spring.

[whizbang]

Getting sway bar in advance is okay. Wait until you have the camper on the truck before getting air bags.

If you have rear end sag, there are options in addition to air bags.

If you have a camper that isn't balanced side to side, that is one side is lower than the other, then get air bags for sure.

+1 "Don't fix what isn't broken."

[Redsky]

The Ford trucks are flex the most but a short bed could easily be stiffer than the long bed trucks and you may not need to install heavier duty anti-sway bars. Older trucks flexed more and needed help. My 2011 with a 4,000 lb. camper load is fine with the factory anti-sway bar in the front and does not need one in the rear.

The stock leaf packs should support the load of your camper or Ford screwed up on the rating which is doubtful. If the camper in the bed causes the truck to be lower in the rear than in the front then add more spring capacity with overload springs like the SuperSprings and preserve the normal handling of the truck.

The stock shocks may be OK but expect them to need to be replaced after 30K miles and then go to Bilsein or Rancho shocks.

Ford has more options for towing and hauling than the other two US truck companies combined but to me it makes also makes it confusing to know what comes with which option collection and what is left out.

Air bags help to level a truck but they also destabilize the truck. The place to use airbags is if one side of the camper is several hundred pounds heavier and causes the truck bed to tilt to one side or when hitched up to a 5th wheel trailer to make the height compatible.

I am opposed to anything like an airbag where if one of the two fails you have an unsafe vehicle for the remainder of the trip. I would only use components that are not going to fail or can be easily replaced, like a shock, at the next town.

[Judithgap]

I am considering the new Wolfcreek 840 or a Hallmark Ute pop up.

[skyhammer]

I have both the Stable Loads and air bags, would not be without either one of them.
It does depend upon how heavy your camper is.With my heavy camper, the overloads are engaged all the time no matter how much air I put into the bags.
On my set up, the air bags do little as far as leveling goes.
If I forget to air up the bags, I will know it before I am out of the driveway. The bags aid in stabilizing the camper.

[wcjeep]

Judithgap wrote:

okan-star wrote:
Sway bars:)

Air bags:(

That is correct. The Hellwigs are much more larger in diameter and stronger.
I sure appreciate the feedback I get from you guys and cant wait until I am in a position to buy the camper and get out on the road.
So many places to see.

Airbags tend to unload the suspension. Torklift StableLoads engage the suspension early. Had the StableLoads been available at the time I would have skipped the airbags.

[skyhammer]

Bigfootchevy wrote:
I also thought Fords came with sway bars. Why do you think this truck would need air bags? The only thing I would add to your SRW Ford truck is torklift stableloads.

You need the camper package to get the sway bar on an SRW, sway bar is standard on the DRW.

[billyray50]

gpascazio wrote:
I would wait to make mods until I have a Truck Camper on the truck. If you decide on a smaller and lighter camper you may not need either. IN other wards don't try to fix what's not broken.

X2

[gpascazio]

I would wait to make mods until I have a Truck Camper on the truck. If you decide on a smaller and lighter camper you may not need either. IN other wards don't try to fix what's not broken.

[Judithgap]

okan-star wrote:
Sway bars:)

Air bags:(

That is correct. The Hellwigs are much more larger in diameter and stronger.
I sure appreciate the feedback I get from you guys and cant wait until I am in a position to buy the camper and get out on the road.
So many places to see.

[Sheriffdoug]

Just try the Stable Loads first, remember the TC's Centre of Gravity needs to be forward of the Axel.

Remember the Airbags are only to increase ride height back to correct/original ride height.

[okan-star]

Sway bars:)

Air bags:(

[iwon415]

Hellwig sway bars are twice what Ford puts on and make a marked improvement.

[Bigfootchevy]

I also thought Fords came with sway bars. Why do you think this truck would need air bags? The only thing I would add to your SRW Ford truck is torklift stableloads.

[narcodog]

They are two different systems. The sway bars are to keep roll down and keep the tires from lifting off the roadway. The AB's are used to level the rig, from side to side or rear to front.
Get the rig and add as you need the stuff.
Fords usually come with sway bars. AB's aren't always needed.