2014 3500 DRW Rear Sawy Bar?

[rrl989]

I just realized I have no rear anti-sway bar on my DRW, when did Ram do away with the bar?
Do any of the 13/14's have one?

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

I don't think so. They were designed with roll stiffness in the springs, frame, front suspension.

 

[AH64ID]

There hasn't been an OEM rear sway bar since the 3rd gen was released for MY03.

I added the standard rear sway bar from hellwig on my 05 and it made a HUGE difference empty and towing.

 

[RustyJC]

The last rear anti-roll bar I recall was part of the camper package on the 2nd gen trucks. My 2002 3500 had one.

Rusty

 

[rrl989]

The last rear anti-roll bar I recall was part of the camper package on the 2nd gen trucks. My 2002 3500 had one.

Rusty

I've been away too long? I had the rear bar which was the Camper Pkg option on my 98'. Did not realize that may have been the last offering. I may end up adding
one for use with a truck camper. Will have to see come Spring.

 

[Bill Stockard]

At the time of the introduction of the 3rd gen trucks, Ram's story/excuse for no anti-sway bar on the rear was that with the wider boxed frame rails, the truck didn't need a rear anti-sway bar. I haul a large heavy truck camper and disagree with their reasoning. I installed a Hellwig anti-sway bar years ago and it was one of the best improvements I have made to my truck's suspension.

Bill

 

[mpaulson]

If you buy one there is Hellwig and there is Roadmaster. If you go the Road master route, don't buy it till you take a look to see if they have changed the bracket that attaches the rod to the frame. The one I have on my 07 just bolts up under the overload leaf bump stop and it is a poor, weak design. Both of mine broke over time from the flexing in the bracket. The little ear that goes under the leaf pad is only a 3/8"x2" plate that eventually breaks. I had to weld both of mine up and brace them with flatbar back to the overload leaf hanger and weld them up so that they couldn't flex. Also, the bolt that connects the rod to the bar wears out and comes loose and you hear it banging away and required periodic tightening and replacement. I am going to try the Hellwig on my new truck because the brackets look to be a better design that will transfer the stress properly with out flexing them and the rod to bar connection is a straight through design with bushings like an OEM setup and also won't put side load stress on the bolt and have a longer service life.

 

[NickSullivan]

I too haul a heavy camper with a boat or 3 horse warm blood trailer and I have no reason to put a rear sway bar on. Granted I have the Torklift lower stableloads.

 

[AH64ID]

I have installed both the standard and big wig from hellwig.

They are both easy installs, and have the typical cheaper hardware for 1 time installation.

For a heavy camper there isn't much you can do to the suspension that has the stability of an anti-sway bar and the Big Wig is perfect, for trailers (5er or TT) the standard bar makes a huge difference in handling as well.

 

[rrl989]

Good info about the Hellwig, an option should my new 3500 have issues. Just received my HappiJac FT-DR10 Tie down system. Much deliberation for me whether or
not to get the Torklifts this time. Cost and re-using the HJ turnbuckles meant my total HJ cost delivered was $280. The TLs were well over $700 for the minimum setup..

This was exactly how my first delivery arrived with FT-DR8 instructions for another model truck.
With no stamped part #'s, I had no idea what I had.
#ad


And this is the Amazon.com replacement that arrived two days later.
#ad

 

[NickSullivan]

Let us know what you think after hauling the camper. I'm curious if you feel you need a sway bar or not.

 

[AfterBurner]

I have installed both the standard and big wig from hellwig.

They are both easy installs, and have the typical cheaper hardware for 1 time installation.

For a heavy camper there isn't much you can do to the suspension that has the stability of an anti-sway bar and the Big Wig is perfect, for trailers (5er or TT) the standard bar makes a huge difference in handling as well.

I'm currently looking at sway bar options. What's the difference you saw between the standard and big wig? I'll be using it to pull my 15K goosneck.

 

[AH64ID]

I don't have many miles on the big wig since it is on my dad's truck, but it is a little stiffer when empty.

The weight of the 15K gooseneck should put about 3750 additional pounds on the rear axle, about 300lbs heavier that I am normally (assuming you have an empty bed). It's decent weight, but all down low, and I feel the standard bar does an excellent job.

If you are always loaded the big wig might be better, but with the slightly stiffer DRW suspension and that trailer the standard is great and will be better empty.

The big wig is designed for high center of gravity loads.

 

[mpaulson]

I would agree with AH64ID, the Big Wig is better suited and needed for top heavy loads. The goose neck is a very low centre of gravity force on the truck and wouldn't push the truck side to side while driving. I just got my Big Wig delivered to me yesterday but it won't see actual use till May long weekend when I load the deck and three quads, two canoes, three kyaks, quad trailer, water tank, generator and dog kennel on the truck and hook up the 30' RV on. I fit the "top heavy" requirement in an extreme redneck way.

 

[TPetroff]

That is a shame with no sway bar on a 3500
Just helped a friend of mine Bag his 2014 5500 and it had a sway bar, which was replaced with a larger one from the Air bag Kit.
TGP

 

[mpaulson]

That is a shame with no sway bar on a 3500
Just helped a friend of mine Bag his 2014 5500 and it had a sway bar, which was replaced with a larger one from the Air bag Kit.
TGP

Yea, my business partner just got his 2014 5500 that he ordered at the same time as mine and it's got a sway bar, but it is puny compared to the Big Wig that I just got.

 

[Chris N5CWM]

Maybe the upcoming air ride option for the 3500 will include a rear anti-sway/stabilizer bar OEM. The '14 2500's with coil spring rear suspension has one, while the leaf sprung ones don't.

 

[RVTRKN]

C&C's have the anti sway bar, when I read this thread I thought that mine had the bar, and it does, just checked. The frames's and springs are different on the C&C's as well as the 3500 C&C, maybe its why they came with the bar.

 

[mpaulson]

Adding a good sway bar does effect the ride of the truck when empty in a negative way. Every little side to side dip/bump/hole in the road will make the rear of the truck shift side to side as it will follows the road quite well with NO (or very little) axle articulation. So I would suspect that Ram would want to leave this off of the pick up versions for the fact that very few actually use the trucks in the capacity that would require it for one and it would sacrifice ride quality which they would loose sales on since half the people who buy trucks are only fetching the groceries with then. I sure noticed the negative on my 07.5 when I added it, but it made a world of difference when loaded, the color came back into my knuckles afterwards.

 

[AH64ID]

I haven't found a negative side to my anti-sway bar, I think the truck drives much better empty. I didn't notice it following the road anymore than without, and certainly not as much as tire changes do.