Installed a pair of Hellwig Sway Bars

[AH64ID]

My dad and I installed sway bars on our trucks this weekend. We both went with Hellwigs, I got the standard bar and he got the big wig.



I don't haul/tow all that heavy, but there isn't a straight road around here so I figured it was a good idea, and my dad has a Lance 8' camper and tows a 16' stock trailer behind it.



The install was pretty easy, only issue is we couldn't get the end links at a perfect 90° angle because we both have Class-V hitches. The angles aren't bad and are about 85-87°.



They made a very noticeable change. My truck empty is much more stable driving around, and with a trailer it's great. I don't have many miles on it yet, but should hit some winding roads with the TT soon.



My dad left my house and drove the 500 miles to Seattle thru Oregon with a full bed and the 16' stock trailer at about 5500lbs. He doesn't text or use words like "Awesome", but about an hour into his drive I got a text saying "Awesome" (he was stopped, not texting and driving). I talked to him a little bit later, after the windy section of road thru E Oregon and he was blown away at what the bar did to his truck. It made it amazingly stable and it hugs the road and doesn't wonder at all.



So if you are on the fence about one I highly recommend one.

 

[Bob4x4]

Unless you need articulation off road. I added one on my 94 when I had the four wheel poptop camper on it. Great on the road but lost too much articulation for good off roading. Amost everything we add to our trucks has

An up side and down side

 

[AH64ID]

Yes they will limit articulation, but in theory I shouldn't be taking my 8K lb truck to those places

 

[Regcabguy]

Yeah,I added one to minimize the sway with my Northstar. Helps enormously with highway stability,but you take a hit offroad.



The hydroformed frame sure is a bonus on these 3rds over the 2nds also. Much stiffer.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Does this installation use bracket already on axle? And do the frame mounts - mount in front of axle or rear of axle?

 

[AH64ID]

You add brackets to the axle with u-bolts, and the bar/links are all behind the axle.

 

[CUMMINZ]

You add brackets to the axle with u-bolts, and the bar/links are all behind the axle.

I put a set like that on my 04. 5 . . The Helwig set for my 07. 5 the links go forward.

 

[AH64ID]

I put a set like that on my 04. 5 . . The Helwig set for my 07. 5 the links go forward.

In front of the axle? The 07 kit has the same part number as I installed.

 

[CUMMINZ]

In front of the axle? The 07 kit has the same part number as I installed.

AH, The kit I put on my 04. 5 was Hellwig. The kit I have been looking at I thought was Hellwig but it may not have been. I had placed a favorites link in Win. Explorer and it was to Hellwig. I think Camping World sold them and their website is down. Sorry. But the links did go forward. I bet it was Roadmaster.



Part number #1129-133 mounts to the front. 1. 375" diameter.

 

[AH64ID]

Never heard of that one. It's 2x the money, I can't imagine it's 2x as good, and it decreases ground clearance where the Hellwig doesn't effect it.

 

[Bob4x4]

My 8000lb truck goes everywhere

 

[mpaulson]

AH, The kit I put on my 04. 5 was Hellwig. The kit I have been looking at I thought was Hellwig but it may not have been. I had placed a favorites link in Win. Explorer and it was to Hellwig. I think Camping World sold them and their website is down. Sorry. But the links did go forward. I bet it was Roadmaster.



Part number #1129-133 mounts to the front. 1. 375" diameter.

I've got this one, and it mounts to the existing holes in the bottom of the shock mount brackets and to the front overload leaf pad mount. You can see it in my photo gallery.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Never heard of that one. It's 2x the money, I can't imagine it's 2x as good, and it decreases ground clearance where the Hellwig doesn't effect it.

How does it affect ground clearance?



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[AH64ID]

Looks to be below the stock shock mounts, how does that not effect clearance?

Anyone who has driven a dirt road more than once knows you put big rocks anywhere but center to avoid hitting them, the Roadmaster makes the average height lower.

 

[CUMMINZ]

Looks to be below the stock shock mounts, how does that not effect clearance?



Anyone who has driven a dirt road more than once knows you put big rocks anywhere but center to avoid hitting them, the Roadmaster makes the average height lower.

No more than the bottom of the pumpkin.

 

[MCozze]

Helwig s/b & Carli ?

I am saving for the Carli 2. 0 for my 08 QCSB. Will the rear sway bar work ? I drive 99% on the road.

 

[DaveHess]

You guys with the Roadmaster. I have the Roadmaster on my 2003 and the arms point to the rear of the truck not to the front. The arms were several inches shorter than the Hellwig I replaced with it. I did not like the way the Hellwig mounted to the axle. The model I purchased used U clamps to hold the bar to the axle. I like the Roadmaster mount better on the bottom of the shocks. To be honest, I cannot tell the difference with the sway bar installed as opposed to no sway bar. With my sway bar in the mounted position, I have the arms adjusted to be parallel to the frame of the truck. I only tightened the top and bottom nuts that support the arm ends until the bushings were the same diameter as the washers above and below them. Did I do something out of line here that has resulted in my not feeling any difference in truck handling?

 

[AH64ID]

The roadmaster that Cumminz linked mount's to the shock brackets (why I don't like it), and the arms do go foreword. It supersedes the 1129-120.

You must have the 1129-120, as the arms go to the rear. I am not sure why you can't tell a difference, the difference on mine was night and day. The roadmatser is 1. 25" vs the 1. 125" on my Hellwig, so that's probably not it. I would try tightening the bushings a little more.

 

[JFought]

the difference before and after with helwig "big wig" was very noticeable for me.

 

[Clay]

MCozze, I just ordered the Carli Backcountry 2. 0 with a sway bar and will be installing it soon after I get it. So hopefully within a couple weeks I can let you know how well it works out. And just so you know, if you're worried about the cost you can order their sway bar at the same time you order their packages and save over 200 dollars on it because their packages and the sway bar come with their link pins for it so buying the sway bar separately you're buying the pins again so it costs more.