At this point, Dave recommended leaving the end links loose for later adjustment. In late 2007, Western Recreational Vehicles debuted the Alpenlite SUTC 1180, a revolutionary toy-hauler... Nelson Cobbett shares enhanced entry stairs that are wider using stair treads on his... Dave Kamp of Iowa 80 Group (CAT Scale) responds to our Payload Match Challenge.... We are developing a feature article on truck camping in and around major cities. The anti-sway bar makes the suspension less independent. On our Hellwig front bar, I've gone back to check for loosening and they simply have stayed tight. 5. 4. Above: The parts boxed up, checking everything before the install, and all of the tools that were used during the install (click to enlarge the thumbnails). Then the sway bar was rotated upwards to attach the U-plates to the U-bolts. The Hellwig kit used a flat steel bracket at the front ends of the bar. Just don’t expect the moon, and be aware that the upgrade may stiffen your rig a little more than you would want. Increasing the diameter of the bar 1/8-inch, for example, creates 20-30% more torsional resistance. 2. Then the team screwed and bolted the sway bar with the supplied hardware. The moral of the story is this; folks need to stop bringing these ridiculously heavy tool boxes. After the installations were complete, we took a good look at the sway bars. When your Ford Motorhome begins to lean to one side, the Hellwig Sway Bar will apply pressure to the opposite side to resist the transfer of weight. With our then borrowed 2010 Adventurer 90FWS non-slide, we were over payload, and the rig had a considerable amount of sway. The next paragraph states that proper installation is best accomplished by having the weight of the vehicle on the suspension during the install. With any shock, you need access to the underside of the shock bracket. Once attached, the U-shape clevis was aligned to be square with the frame rail and torqued to 50 ft-lb. This is why the instructions specify installing the sway bars with the suspension fully engaged, but the lift helped greatly for our photography. Above: Measuring to make sure that the adjustable end links are equal distance on both the driver’s and passenger’s sides. If so consider air bag restrictors. By this point the truck was already on the lift and Ryan from CNM joined us for the install. The biggest change we noticed was that the rig leaned considerably less when entering highway on-ramps or when turning corners. One guy had an electric chainsaw for crying out loud. Thanks, Hellwig. The stiffer your suspension is, the less roll you'll feel when you turn your car and the more stable your vehicle will be overall. For the front sway bar, the factory end link assemblies and U-plate mounting bolts were utilized to install the Hellwig sway bar. With any shock, you need access to the underside of the shock bracket. Don’t spend money, add weight, and subtract payload unless you need to. Go for the sway bar upgrade. One completed, Ryan attached a 9/16 nut to the threaded half of the end link before assembling the end link halves. The 9/16” adjustment nut on the end links was tightened to 70 ft-lb. For example, if your rig has too much sway, get a sway bar, but not until you experience too much sway. These were also left loose for later adjustment. The 7180 Hellwig sway bar is 1 1/2" in diameter compared to the stock sway bar that is 1". I guess any of us would probably need some work if looked at so close. The Impact of Tariffs on the Truck Camper Marketplace. I placed my order directly through Hellwig and in less than a week I had the sway bar in my hands. We are located in Saginaw, MI and can ship the sway bar to any location. Let’s do this. No matter what your application is, Hellwig Products has a way to make it handle better or tow easier. Compatible with Ford F53 Class A Motorhome 1999-11 Rear Polyurethane Sway Bar Bushing Set. Guest star David Wheeler from Hellwig Products. With all the adjustments completed, Ryan tightened the rear sway bar end link mounting bolts to 35-40 ft-lb. I decided to install a Hellwig Sway Bar on my 2019 Sprinter 3500 cut-away chassis. Above: Our demo unit, a 2014 Northstar 8.5 Arrow U, in the Outer Banks. The bigger the anti-sway bar, the more torsional resistance it generates. During this process, Dave applied bushing lube to keep the sway bar lubricated and quiet. For the record, the installers did not fully tighten the sway bars until the truck was lowered onto its suspension, at which point adjustments were made. We called Melanie and asked her to send us another Hellwig Products Sway Bar. Above: Before installing the Hellwig sway bar, we took a few pictures for comparison of factory front sway bar next to the Hellwig front sway bar. The instructions specified attaching the sway bar to the end links first to allow the sway bar to easily rotate into position. Upon our return, the Hellwig team checked that everything was still tight. Will counted every nut, bolt, and bar and gave a thumbs up. Above: Side view the front Hellwig sway bar connected to the factory end link. 4. All totaled, about a 3,000 mile test drive. That said, it only took a few miles around town to begin understanding what the front and rear Hellwig sway bars were doing. Before proceeding, we want to reiterate Truck Camper Magazine’s position on aftermarket suspension enhancement equipment for truck camper rigs. Above: Everything was loosened, then they put the weight on the truck, let things shift into place, and then tighted the sway bar, Above: The factory sway bar coming off took only minutes. Founded in 2007, TCM is the RV community's number one source for news, reviews, guides, newbie advice, destination ideas, maintenance recommendations, modifications, and more. Above: The U-shaped clevis being attached to the frame rail. Properly matched rigs have virtually no sway or body roll, and offer a much more confident driving experience. As soon as possible, we needed to go legit. It seems that on Class C MH's, the suspension (be it on a 350 or 450) is helped greatly by upgrading the stock anti-sway bars. After success with the front anti-sway bar, I was ready to tackle the more complicated install on the rear anti-sway bar. Well, on the way to the Mid-Atlantic, a three-hour drive for us, Angela kept saying that the truck felt funny. Heavy Duty Bilstein Shock Absorbers. 7. The assembly was then fastened with the factory mounting bolts and left loose for later adjustment. ... Dave Eiermann shares a complete bathroom renovation including installing a compositing toilet. For the front sway bar, the factory end link assemblies and U-plate mounting bolts were utilized to install the Hellwig sway bar. The camper felt much less controlled. We don’t want to lose readers in this manner, so we’re passing Hellwig’s important safety tip to you. Roadmaster 1139-145 Anti-Sway Bar. We have no idea.”  Clearly I needed to talk to her about trucks and boogies, but that would have to wait. Didn't think E350 even came with a rear sway bar. The first step with our 1998 Dodge 3500 was to disconnect the lower shock bolts with a wrench to gain access to the mounting holes in the shock brackets. It was 14″ inches for our truck. The Hellwig model number is 7777. The night before the inspection, we unloaded the camper we had that year, a 2012 Travel Lite 1000 SLRX, and dropped off the truck at the dealership. I cannot afford new hellwig sway bars at this point. The day after our arrival, Hellwig team members Dave Wheeler and Justin Strasser put our truck and camper on a lift and installed Hellwig front and rear sway bars. 3. It tends to load up the outside tires of a vehicle, reducing traction and messing up steering. The truck immediately started behaving erratically. With the front and rear sway bars installed, Ryan reinstalled the wheels and tires, making sure they were properly rotated, and lowered the truck to the ground. It took John Wells, Mike Tassinari, and Carl Goode the better part of an hour to get the bar back into place. These were purposefully left loose for later adjustment. 10. Truck Camper Magazine installs and reviews Hellwig front and rear sway bars on a 2013 Chevy Silverado 3500 and gets a firm grip on the sway bar difference. Watch the video below for installation. Rear Sway Bar Kit. With the dramatic increase in payload, we were able to properly match the 2013 Chevy Silverado 3500 to a 2013 Lance 855-S (by a whisker) and later, a 2014 Northstar 8.5 Arrow U. expert reply by: Jameson C 0 Hellwig team members Dave Wheeler and Justin Strasser install a Hellwig sway bar on our 1998 Dodge 3500 truck. Why RSS Anti-Sway Bars Are Better: Hellwig Sway Bar Installation: 1. We had no idea why the truck was misbehaving, until we arrived at the rally. You would never admit that you don’t know you have something hanging under your truck, or your nose. Above: Ryan is installing the driver’s side rear sway bar axle saddle mounts. Yikes! Hellwig sway bars offer quick bolt on installation that are engineered to perform. What would happen if we added Hellwig front and rear sway bars to our properly matched truck and camper rig? An anti-sway bar functions by pushing down on the wheel inside the turn that’s trying to lift, keeping the vehicle flat in a curve. Huge difference in stability, tracking, cornering. As we reported when we announced the Big Wig last November, our truck already handled the 2010 Adventurer 90FWS well, but the Hellwig sway bar made it handle even better. It was also incredible to walk under the rig and see the truck from that angle. 9. 3. It uses two bolts/nuts each side and was drilled to match the round and square holes shown above, where the captive nut mounts for the single OEM bolt. Ryan made quick work of removing all four wheels and tires with a torque wrench and set them aside. Some of these behemoths must of weighed upwards of fifty pounds, or more. They also recommend test driving the vehicle and then rechecking all clearances and installation adjustments. Next the Hellwig team installed the supplied hardware in the pre-existing frame rail holes on the frame mounting bracket. Ford F-150 Hellwig Sway Bar Installation (S01E10) By Chris Duke, Oct 3, 2008 Chris Duke shows you how to install Hellwig anti-sway bars on a lifted pickup truck to improve cornering traction and cornering capabilities. Next, Will lubricated and installed polyurethane D-bushings and U-plates on the rear sway bar. Anti-Sway Bars For the 35-foot Itasca, with its 22,000-pound gvwr, Roadmaster prescribed two of the company’s anti-sway bars: a 1 1/2-inch-diameter bar for the rear – in addition to the stock 1 3/8-inch Ford rear bar – as well as a 1 3/4-inch-diameter front bar replacing the stock Ford 1 1/2-inch unit. I got a BlueOx Track Bar and installing it helped a lot with the toad. The next day we picked up the truck, re-loaded the camper, and prepared for the rally. What does an anti-sway bar do? Above: Angela White, Editor of Truck Camper Magazine, holding the Hellwig Products rear sway bar before the installation. For more information on sway bars and other Hellwig Products, visit their website at www.hellwigproducts.com. The first step with our 1998 Dodge 3500 was to disconnect the lower shock bolts with a wrench to gain access to the mounting holes in the shock brackets. “You know something is hanging off the underside of your truck, right?” said a friend at the rally. Obviously we have the sway bar here. Rear Sway Bar; Note. Above: The driver’s side end link hanging from the U-shaped clevis. Photo 20/32 | 2015 Ford F150 Hellwig Rear Sway Bar Install Sway Bar End Hole Attach the end hole of the sway bar to the endlinks using 7/16 x 23/4-inch bolts, washers, and locknuts. Next the Hellwig team attached the fasteners on the shock bracket. Our 2013 Chevy Silverado 3500 carried both the Lance and the Northstar like it was built for the purpose. The factory front sway bar is tubular, whereas the Hellwig front sway bar is solid. The only thing left to do was drive the truck, and see how the upgraded sway bars affected the driving performance of the rig. Funny enough, that’s exactly what we did using CNM’s fantastic pneumatic lift. While we were at Hellwig Products, Melanie suggested we get a set of front and rear sway bars installed on our 1998 Dodge Ram 3500. Hellwig’s instructions suggest bouncing the vehicle to check for clearance on under carriage components including the fuel tank, shocks, exhaust, differential, brake line, and fuel line. MOTORZ shows you how to install Hellwig anti-sway bars on a lifted pickup truck to improve cornering traction and cornering capabilities. There’s nothing like doing an installation with a photographer and journalist standing right there, taking pictures, and asking what you’re doing, over and over. Rear Sway Bar GM 64-72 A-Body (Factory Style Rear Sway Bar) Part Number: 5800. Our advice is to match your rig properly first, then add the suspension enhancement products you need to solve the ride and handling problems you experience. Looking back, our economic optimism was a bit premature. The installation time is about 3 hours. Above: We set the rear sway bar to the middle position; the outside position offers a less firm ride and the inside position offers a more firm ride. The powder coating is thick, and all the bolt holes lined up with no issues whatsoever. Above: The Northstar 8.5 Arrow U and Chevy Silverado during our 3,000 mile test drive. The existing rear anti-sway bar on our Ford chassis was missing one of the brackets that holds the bushing in place. This is madness. ... Dave Eiermann shares a complete bathroom renovation including installing a compositing toilet. The threads of the U-bolts were also oriented to point to the ground. There was no doubt in our minds that the Hellwig sway bar made a huge difference. Once properly positioned, the center hump was even with the bottom of the differential housing. A funny thing happened on the way to the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Truck Camper Rally. Read more reviews on Amazon. Trailer sway can be dangerous because it affects handling. Correctly placed, the ends of the sway bar were attached to the end links with 7/16 x 2 3/4” bolts. Boring story so far, right? It's designed to reduce uncontrolled, side-to-side movement of the trailer. Get it as soon as Thu, Jan ... Hellwig 7217 Front Sway Bar. The Hellwig 7008 Front Bar, 1-3/8", WILL FIT your late model axle. At the time, there was a sense that the recession may be coming to a close and I wanted to see how the companies had fared since our first tour in 2007. She was following our tour in the magazine and invited us to visit Hellwig Products. The difference with the sway bars installed was nothing less than amazing. The sway bar was then put into position with the arms angling upward. How embarrassing. 4.7 out of 5 stars 27. How to Install the Roadmaster Rear Anti-Sway Bar on a 2014 Ford F-53. What does an anti-sway bar … With dual rear wheels, 19.5 Ricksons, and the Hellwig Products front and rear sway bars, the Dodge was about as robust as we could make it, but we were never comfortable being overloaded. The new short bed single rear wheel truck had over 1,000 pounds more payload than our 1998 Dodge Ram 3500 dually. Installing an RV anti-sway bar system is the best way to control swaying or fishtailing from an RV trailer, but it's important to … How can we properly match our trucks and campers if we’re bringing the entire Sears Craftsman catalog? See if a rear track bar is already on the coach. Immediately we noticed the rig had a much firmer ride. Then Dave and Justin attached the sway bar to the shock bracket and reattached the shocks. Now, the rig barely leans at all giving the truck camper a more confident feel when driving. All Rights Reserved. The challenge is that most aftermarket suspension products are designed to correct a problem and may over-correct on a properly matched rig. There was only one way to find out. I immediately opened the box and started the installation. Their fire breathing furnaces and steaming 225 degree mineral oil baths commanded our full attention. Hellwig Products was by far our favorite factory on that tour. Above: The Hellwig front sway bar (left) and the GM factory front sway bar (right). Two years ago, we sold the Dodge and bought a 2013 Chevy Silverado 3500 short bed. That said, the factory payload was pathetic for such a massive truck; just north of 3,000 pounds. With the factory front sway bar removed, the D-shaped poly bushings on the Hellwig sway bar were lubricated and installed in the same position as the factory sway bar. To read about Truck Camper Magazine’s truck and camper matching system, read, “Matching a Truck and Camper”. Again, I want to emphasize that this difference was subtle, but there was no mistaking the difference. It specifically says, “Do not to raise the vehicle by the frame”. The pictures alone are worth a second look. The auxiliary sway bar is designed for Sprinters that carry a lot of weight, are at or near max GVW and that need additional weight and sway control. Like the other Hellwig products I have used in the past, quality is top notch. If not consider installing one. Copyright © 2007-2020. That’s some serious sway control. Ford F53 Motorhome Chassis (w/V-10 engine & Large axle) Anti-Sway Bars by Hellwig are an easy and affordable way to upgrade your vehicles handling performance. How Anti-Sway Bars Work: Anti-sway bars link the suspension and the frame, using the weight of the axle as a brace against the chassis to distribute weight more evenly. We visited Hellwig Products a few months before they formally announced the Big Wig,  a sway bar designed specifically for truck camper applications. Above: Before installing the Hellwig sway bar, we took a few pictures for comparison of factory front sway bar next to the Hellwig front sway bar. We told her our rig was properly matched this time, and she agreed that it would be interesting to see how that changed our experience. From that unique vantage point, we saw a few things that needed to be tended to on our nearly fourteen year old truck. Posted By: suprz on 05/01/17 07:32am My 2006 E450 has the original sway bars and sway bar links. Above: The rear sway bar is attached to the end links, which are attached to the axle, which reduces body roll. Dave recommended making sure that the sway bar is centered by lining it up with the truck axle. Are air bags part of your suspension? The front sway bar was a much quicker, and seemingly easier, installation. Hellwig front sway bar Jun 02 2018, 6:05pm Has anyone had to use the recommended spacer kit when installing a Hellwig 7686 front sway bar on 2014 silverado … Pressure against one side of the coach from wind, passing trucks or weight shift is countered by the bar. Lifts happen. They practically arm wrestled to see who would get to help fix our inverted sway bar. Eliminate improper steering and vehicle sway with the addition of a front and/or rear stabilizer bar. When a big truck passed us at speed, we no longer felt the rig sway from side to side. Today on our 2014 Windsport Motorhome with a Ford F53 chassiss, we'll be installing the Roadmaster Rear Anti-Sway Bar, part number RM-1139-145. As folks who have driven many dozens of truck camper rigs, we can tell you the difference isn’t subtle. This was a more subtle difference than what we had experienced with the Dodge, but similar in results. The torsional effect of the sway bar will significantly reduce sway and body roll. Compared to driving the often overloaded Dodge, the Chevy/Lance and Chevy/Northstar rig was night and day; much better. The Hellwig front sway bar mounts are very simple. $37.00 $ 37. Note the difference in diameter. We asked Hellwig about our experience and they concurred that sway bars sometimes invert on a lift. Special appearance from David Wheeler at Hellwig Products. We were in Denver at the time, but tentatively scheduled a date to visit Hellwig’s Visalia, California facility a few weeks later. The other moral is to check your rear sway bar after you truck has been on a lift. They sandwich the axle with Bolts and Plates. For example, a quick turn onto an off-ramp would now barely move the loaded rig. Even though the Big Wig wasn’t yet ready, Hellwig still wanted us to get an idea of what their sway bars could do for a truck camper rig and asked if they could install one of their sway bars on our truck. When we hit bumps, turned, or took an off-ramp, she said the truck was, “all over the place”. Body roll is bad. The "Small Axle" is indicated by a BOLTED on differential cover. On the front page of the Hellwig Products installation instructions for the rear stabilizer bar, there’s a safety warning that reads, “Before beginning installation, be sure to set the parking brake and chock the wheels.”  In other words, don’t run yourself over. Given that we would be parked for the next few days, we scheduled a time on Saturday to get the sway bar back into proper position. Brake on, chock on, and read on. The next step was to assemble the end links by inserting the hourglass bushing, followed by the sleeve, into the loops by the end links. Just before removing the wheels, he marked each tire to denote if the wheel was the front driver, rear passenger, etc. The Hellwig front sway bar and end links were then properly aligned, and the mounting hardware was torqued to factory specifications. 1. This threaded plate then attached the U-shape clevis to the frame rail with a 1/2 x 1-1/4” bolt. Unlike many of its […] For rigs that are properly matched, the need for an enhanced front and rear sway bar comes down to preference. All of this begs the question, “If you properly match your truck and camper, is a sway bar, or any after market suspension enhancement necessary?”  If you properly match your rig, aftermarket suspension products are not necessary, but you can use them to further adjust and/or improve the driving characteristics of your rig.

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