Hauling a 3000 lbs truck camper on my new 2022 3500 ho aisin srw

[NIsaacs]

Yes, an anti-sway bar will help. But, a set of well matched shocks in conjunction with the anti-sway is needed.

The anti-sway bar reduces the distance of lean by transferring the compression energy from the leaning side of the truck to the lifting side lifting side of the truck. If the truck goes into a sharp left turn, the truck leans to the right. This action will bring the frame closer to the axle on the right side, thus forcing the anti-sway bar axle connection to raise on the right side. That upward motion will be transferred through the anti-sway bar to the anti-sway bar axle connection on the left side of the truck which will place a lifting force on the left axle. This lifting force is canceling some of the truck lean to the right. This is a good thing for top heavy loads.

The rocking back and forth will still continue even with the anti-sways added, but the distance of the lean from side to side will be reduced.

This is where a well matched to load set of shocks absorbers come into play. In the example from above, the left side shock will resist extending during the lean to the right while the right side shock collapses. Then, when the truck returns back to the left, the right side shock will resist extending while the left side shock collapses. The anti-sway bar and the shock absorbers combined will work together as a unit and they should work well in controlling the rocking back and forth of your truck.

- John

Excellent post and exactly how they work. I will add a little to this. If Dodge/Ram would engineer the rear suspension (leaf) to accept shocks outboard the frame, you would get way more shock resistance to rocking. With the narrow spacing between the two, the movement at the tire has more leverage to the shock. I also don't like the one front and one back arrangement, I prefer them both in the front. I feel this contributes to the rear axle buck when the tire spins. My '91 and '01 Dodges will buck you out of the cab if you spin in soft sand. My two Fords don't, they have both shocks in the front, not staggered like Dodge.

My '21 ram is a 2500, so the coil spring suspension is inboard the frame, not recommended to haul a camper. Because of the inboard suspension, the frame is extra wide so that really helps. However, if you add air bags (I did) under/outboard the frame, I think it would haul a camper just fine. A plus is, the shocks are also wide spaced, close to the tire and both mounted to the front, I like that. It also has the rear sway bar and track bar. The rear is rock solid.

A sway bar is for sure needed on the rear, with a top heavy load. Pretty sure a camper special option will always have one. My Ford dually doesn't have one. With a heavy gooseneck pin weight, it is not needed. But, if you haul even 6k of pallets of wood pellets, it will scare you to death.

Note the wide shock spacing, frame and air bags. Really close to the tire.

 

[mwilson]

I solved all of the above listed issues completely by accident....

Bought a 3500 Cab & Chassis and slapped the camper on it.......problems all gone....

 

[mwilson]

Now that I'm done being a smartass I had added the Helwig to the 3/4 ton last year and it did make quite a difference with the Lance on it's back. However it simply wasn't enough with the Arctic Fox on it....nothing worked and it was not fun to drive...

 

[SnoKing]

My old 99 had a rear stabilizer from the factory. Wonder why they didn’t put one on a new 2022 3500

Frame rails were widen in 2003, moving the spring out also, and RAM dropped the rear bar. My 2001.5 did well with 9000's set to lowest when bobtail, cracked up with load.

 

[TJJEEPER]

I've got the Hellwig Big Wig and the independently operated Air Lift bags on my '12. I have a 10' Lance. HUGE difference with both the Camper and my 36' toy hauler. The independent bag allow you to tilt into the side wind. I installed an onboard compressor for the air bags.

As for the bags, get the Firestone kit! I had that on my '06 and they are MUCH better than the Air Lift bags. The Air Lift are mounted off center on the axle whereas the Firestone are centered.

 

[mwilson]

I've got the Hellwig Big Wig and the independently operated Air Lift bags on my '12. I have a 10' Lance. HUGE difference with both the Camper and my 36' toy hauler. The independent bag allow you to tilt into the side wind. I installed an onboard compressor for the air bags.

As for the bags, get the Firestone kit! I had that on my '06 and they are MUCH better than the Air Lift bags. The Air Lift are mounted off center on the axle whereas the Firestone are centered.

To add to the above I blew a bag on my Air Lift system and the axle mount for the bag bent where it is off center…blowing a bag while loaded makes the deflated bags the bump stop….

 

[NIsaacs]

To add to the above I blew a bag on my Air Lift system and the axle mount for the bag bent where it is off center…blowing a bag while loaded makes the deflated bags the bump stop….

You can get the kit with a built in bump stop, but mine don't have that feature. It probably makes a difference with application but mine don't appear to be offset at all. I also like the Air Lift plate on the top and bottom for bag support.

 

[Turbo Terry]

So if we don’t like the Rancho 9000 adjustable shocks so much what do we like. I prefer a none adjustable shock myself but empty ride is important as well

 

[Turbo Terry]

So I can very much live with the truck as is probably for a long time but this anti sway doesn’t void the warranty and in real time should have come on the truck from the factory. And at some point how ever many miles ?? the shocks will have to be replaced as well . When will the factory shocks be toast do you think?

 

[AH64ID]

My shocks are still good at 51K miles.

I prefer Bilstiens.

 

[Ozymandias]

My old 99 had a rear stabilizer from the factory. Wonder why they didn’t put one on a new 2022 3500

Because you bought a Tradesman maybe.

 

[Ozymandias]

You can also buy the factory swaybar from the higher line trims, maybe it is cheaper to Alaska as there will be no shipping if ordered at the dealership.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Good idea. I will check at the dealer . Might be a good way to go

 

[Turbo Terry]

Camper comes off about 3 rd week in September. But truck doesn’t need to go in until mid November for servicing. Maybe if I get it lined up they can install it then

 

[Ozymandias]

It's worth a shot.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Just call Anchorage Dodge. No have or no can order one from factory seems strange but that’s what I was told

 

[AH64ID]

You can also buy the factory swaybar from the higher line trims, maybe it is cheaper to Alaska as there will be no shipping if ordered at the dealership.

There is no factory rear anti-sway bar option on the 3500. All 2500’s have one, but I doubt it would fit as it’s full frame width.

 

[Turbo Terry]

Roadmaster from e ttrailer then

 

[Ozymandias]

There is no factory rear anti-sway bar option on the 3500. All 2500’s have one, but I doubt it would fit as it’s full frame width.

Didn't know there is a difference between 2500 & 3500

 

[AH64ID]

Didn't know there is a difference between 2500 & 3500

Yes, the 2500’s have the 5 link coil suspension, hence the rear anti-sway bar.