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.

[billtex]

wintersun wrote:
Oddly enough trucks have changed over the past 15 years and you cannot compare a 2004 pickup from any manufacturer with ones being made in 2014. Ram did the same in 2013 with its 3500 truck frames and in 2014 did the same for the 2500 models. This is reflected in the great payload and towing capacity for the new trucks.

Ram went to coils in the 2500 for 2014...from what others are saying that have tried loading campers on these trucks...it is down right dangerous...take a look over on natcoa.

[More2Explore]

Here is one for comparison: 2013 4X4 F-350 Super cab short bed w/camper package (and snowplow prep package - came with the truck) and a 2014 Wolf Creek 850. My available Payload is 4150 lbs and the combo drives/handles great with no mods.

Do get people occasionally (randomly) flashing their headlights at me at night and the camper does lower the back end a little.

Planning to add the lower stable loads this Spring after driving/camping several times last Fall.

The short bed F-350 w/camper package and WC 840 or the Ute would be a great combo in my opinion.

Agree with waiting till you have the combo and drive it.

[wintersun]

Get the truck, load on the camper, and then evaluate what needs to be changed or added.

Oddly enough trucks have changed over the past 15 years and you cannot compare a 2004 pickup from any manufacturer with ones being made in 2014. Chevy greatly strengthened and stiffened its truck frames in 2011. Ram did the same in 2013 with its 3500 truck frames and in 2014 did the same for the 2500 models. This is reflected in the great payload and towing capacity for the new trucks.

I gained the most in terms of road handling with my SRW truck by upgrading the factory tires to ones with 20% more load capacity and so the sidewalls flex less with the camper load in the bed. The front ant-roll sway bar on my GM truck is the same diameter as the largest diameter ones from Hellwig so nothing to gain by changing it.

With a camper with a dry weight of 3200 lbs. in the bed the stock springs on my 2500 were able to keep the truck level. I added SuperSprings as I planned on adding gear, water, and other items to the camper, as well as a second battery.

Air bags are to be added only if all else fails. First see how the truck sits with the camper in the bed. If it squats add overload springs. Be sure that the tires will support the total load of the truck, camper, and what you will be adding for travel, including water at 8 lb per gallon.

[run100]

We used air bags on our 2000 F350 and were always happy with them. Then, we got our new truck and started reading various comments and suggestions on other options. Now, I feel like I'm stuck in analysis paralysis, because of the many options. If they were each $10, I'd buy them all and see which works best. Unfortunately, they're way too expensive to do that type of testing. Our truck rides and handles GREAT, but I would like to raise the rear end a few inches.

On the Sumo Springs - are they always engaged once installed? If so, does it negatively impact the ride when unloaded?

[Mello_Mike]

I agree with others who said to hold off on air bags and Stableloads until you test drive the truck with your camper (good choice on the Wolf Creek 850, btw). As for a sway bar, the newer Fords (2011+ F250/F350s) all have a front sway bar only unless you get a truck with the camper package; Fords with the camper package get both a front and rear sway bar. Because of this I don't think you could go wrong buying a rear sway bar from the beginning, though in general, I discourage suspension mods before test driving your truck with your camper.

[WAM2_Campers]

We have air bags with an on-board compressor w/ separate adjustment side to side and the factory sway bars front and rear. Our Arctic Fox 1150 is heavy (scaled right at 5,000# fully loaded and w/water) and the CG is slightly behind the rear axle. I also have Rancho 9000 shocks. With this set up we ride level with approximately 40 psig in the air bags; while not a race car, I am completely comfortable taking corners at posted speed limits. The separately adjustable air bags are great for side to side leveling at the campground. I did try Timbrens but with the CG behind the axle the front tended to bounce too much.

I would suggest adding a rear sway bar if not already equipped, but then waiting until you pick and load-up your camper before adding other enhancements. Suspension tuning is just that, tuning, you need the load to truly tune, and remember, the success of the tune is a personal preference and judgment. Good luck and Happy Camping!!

[ggadwa]

I had Extra Leaf Springs in my First FORD F350 SD and the heavy side went flat....in other words the Heavy Duty Overload Springs on one side lost the Spring Arc.....The Timbren Suspension Enhancement system is very easy to install and levels the load out nicely and they don't even touch the axle when the truck is unloaded. No more "too heavy duty" springs and No need to let air out of Air Bags. So far with 15,000 miles with the Camper on Board...I am happy!!!!

GARY

[Carb_Cleaner]

ggadwa wrote:
Sway Bars and Air Bags,
... This time I decided to try the trouble free Timbren SES Axle Bumpers. NOT the Heavy Duty version.
HAPPY CAMPING
GARY & Laurii

Could you point to a deciding factor for going with the Timbren's SES instead of the SumoSprings?

[ggadwa]

Sway Bars and Air Bags,
Enjoy reading all the differing opinions. here's mine... I have been through three FORD Trucks and three TC's. The older Ford Trucks had great heavy duty Sway Bars front and rear. The newer 11 and up FORD Sway Bars are not worth having as far as I'm concerned. The Hellwig Big Wig anti Sway Bars really made a big difference on my 2012 F350. I used Firestone Air Bags on my previous two FORD F-350's. This time I decided to try the trouble free Timbren SES Axle Bumpers. NOT the Heavy Duty version. My truck with the Eagle Cap 950 rides level and smooth. The Sway with the Stock Ford bars is GONE!!! I did add the Torklift Adjustable Stable Loads and currently the Truck with fully loaded camper just barely touches the upper overload bumpers and the ride is the best I've had in three separate Truck and Camper combinations......My wife is very happy with the NO sway and smooth level ride. Oh and I did remove the stock Shocks with less than 10,000 miles, three were DEAD. I chose Rancho 9000XL shocks....probably Bilsteens would have been just as good.

HAPPY CAMPING
GARY & Laurii

[MORSNOW]

Carb Cleaner wrote:

MORSNOW wrote:

You can also install Timbren SES's instead of airbags at a fraction of the cost. Like stable loads, efficient and inexpensive.

I guess you're talking about Timbren's Jounce-style bumpers.
HERE
Similiar to SuperSpring's SumoSprings. Jounce-style gummy-bear, squishy, spongy, plastic foam things.
SumoSprings Solo version:
Here
And SuperSpings upgrade SumoSprings.
The Rebel version:
HERE
And the Maxim:
HERE

Yep, they'll all work!

[Carb_Cleaner]

MORSNOW wrote:

You can also install Timbren SES's instead of airbags at a fraction of the cost. Like stable loads, efficient and inexpensive.

I guess you're talking about Timbren's Jounce-style bumpers.
HERE
Similiar to SuperSpring's SumoSprings. Jounce-style gummy-bear, squishy, spongy, plastic foam things.
SumoSprings Solo version:
Here
And SuperSpings upgrade SumoSprings.
The Rebel version:
HERE
And the Maxim:
HERE

[ZRX-Steve]

Hellwig doesn't list sway bars for 2014, but they don't list 2014 for anything so it's likely just old documentation. Assuming that the 2013 will fit the 2014, they have a 1 5-16" Front and a 1 1/4" rear.

Roadmaster on the other hand lists a 1 3/8" front and a 1 1/2" rear though only through the 2013 and 2012 model. Again, likely just old documentation.

From the posts I've read, "every 1/8 inch increase in diameter produces a 30% increase in strength" or 60% stronger for the Roadmaster. I don't have either product (Roadmaster, or Hellwig), but from my research for my truck (2000 F350 DRW) I'll go with the Roadmaster when I replace the factory rear swaybar.

[MORSNOW]

Carb Cleaner wrote:
Check the load rating of your tires if you're worried about that much squat.
I put the Torklift Stableloads on my 10,000 pound rated 2013 that has factory sway bars. Our Wolf Creek 850, me, the Little Woman, most of our camping gear, empty holding tanks and 2/3 a tank of gas was 10,200 pounds. The rear squats a little and I'm considering what the next Gee-Wiz suspension mod I should use that will reduce the squat. It's only gonna get heavier. Starting with the Stableloads seems reasonable, because they're effective, cheap and can be utilized with additional mods. With my very limited experience (about 4,200 miles), I'd say I'm glad I have them, but I want more. The potential failure of an airbag tends to make me think SuperSprings. Maybe, you can skip the Stableloads and go straight to the SuperSprings. I don't know. Just thinking out loud.

You can also install Timbren SES's instead of airbags at a fraction of the cost. Like stable loads, efficient and inexpensive.

[Carb_Cleaner]

Check the load rating of your tires if you're worried about that much squat.
I put the Torklift Stableloads on my 10,000 pound rated 2013 that has factory sway bars. Our Wolf Creek 850, me, the Little Woman, most of our camping gear, empty holding tanks and 2/3 a tank of gas was 10,200 pounds. The rear squats a little and I'm considering what the next Gee-Wiz suspension mod I should use that will reduce the squat. It's only gonna get heavier. Starting with the Stableloads seems reasonable, because they're effective, cheap and can be utilized with additional mods. With my very limited experience (about 4,200 miles), I'd say I'm glad I have them, but I want more. The potential failure of an airbag tends to make me think SuperSprings. Maybe, you can skip the Stableloads and go straight to the SuperSprings. I don't know. Just thinking out loud.