no more camper package??

[Mike B.]

I'm thinking about replacing my 99' so I stopped by the dealer to have one priced out. I was surprised to find out that DC has dropped the camper package that included a sway bar and an extra leaf on the rear springs. Is this correct or is the sales person mistaken?



also, when did they become so cheap that they deleted fender liners?



I'm having a hard time understanding why this truck should cost 10K more than I paid for my 99'.



Mike

 

[JTryles]

I "believe" (IMHO) that if you get a 3500 SRW it's basically like the older 2500 with the camper pkg. Not sure about the sway bar though!

 

[Wayne M.]

What he said. My SRW 3500 is rated for a slide in- came with a spec sheet in the glove box as to how to set up a camper. If you want to know specifics I can oblige. There is no rear sway bar any more, but I have the leaf. I am miffed about the rear liners It's been a salty winter around here and I haven't been able to afford them yet- along with the husky mats. At least I got the mud flaps on! As far as price goes, IGNORE the sticker, unless you already know, speak to member tomeygun who is a dealer. If your dealer won't deal- move on!

 

[klenger]

I read here somewhere that the anti-sway bar is no longer needed because of the hydro-formed frame. I suspect that there are after-market ones available.

 

[Wayne M.]

I'd say aftermarket bars are definetly available. I never drove a 2gen for any amount of time, so I can't compare, but My rig handles fantastically empty, in fact I did a high speed maneuver this weekend getting over to an exit I poorly estimated and I was real impressed. I DEFINETLY wouldn't have done it in my 'ol '92! (but then again I don't think I would have gotten the velocity out of the toll booth with the 'ol '92)

 

[Mike B.]

Thanks for help Wayne.

Yeah I'm ingoring the stickers,I've been down this road before.



I'll keep Tomeygun in mind.



Mike

 

[JHardwick]

The missing sway bar was the first thing I noticed whenlooking at stepping up from my '99 4x2 dually to the '03 4x4 dually.



I can't say I've missed it, and it obviously tweaks the frame/body less on uneven terrain without it.

 

[CUMMINZ]

sway bar

The only difference between 2500 and 3500 SRW is the 3500 has overload springs. The sway bar don't work with limited slip rear end.

 

[DPelletier]

Actually, the sway bar will work fine with the LSD. The hydroformed frame's increased stiffness may have something to do with the rationale behind the deletion of the sway bar, but I had heard that it also had to do with the springs being located farther "outboard" (closer to the wheel).



Ditto the comments on the 2500 camper package; it was deleted in lieu of the 3500 SRW, which has the overloads.



Dave

 

[CUMMINZ]

sway bar

The deletion of sway bar as a option by dodge I can't speak to but helwig recommends not using their bar with LS. My thoughts about sway bars is it has not much to do with frame stiffness but keeping body, camper, load, ect. on same plane as the rear axle. I had an F250 ford camper special in 85. It had rear sway bar. If I turned a corner very fast it would pull the inside wheel light and would cause wheel spin.



CUMMINZ

 

[Bill Stockard]

I haul a heavy slide-in camper and installed the Hellwig anti-sway bar on my truck. It was one of the best additions I did to the suspension. The handling is improved both loaded and unloaded.



According to the Hellwig web site,

http://www.hellwigproducts.com/antiswaybars/domestic4x4_dodge.html



there is no restriction because of the LSD rear axle. On the 2500 series truck with the larger 11. 5" AAM rear axle, you will have to use the same anti-sway bar (Hellwig Part No. 7658) as the 3500 series trucks.



Bill

 

[DPelletier]

The deletion of sway bar as a option by dodge I can't speak to but helwig recommends not using their bar with LS. My thoughts about sway bars is it has not much to do with frame stiffness but keeping body, camper, load, ect. on same plane as the rear axle. I had an F250 ford camper special in 85. It had rear sway bar. If I turned a corner very fast it would pull the inside wheel light and would cause wheel spin.



CUMMINZ

I don't know why Helwig would say that, but I have had many, many vehicles with swaybars and a limited slip type differential, including my '01. 5 Dodge CTD and my '70 442 W-30.



Cheers,

Dave

 

[Fuzzy Bear]

IPD Sway Bar

We bought a 2001 Artic Fox 990 10 1/2' camper a few weeks ago. On the way home felt it rock left rear to right front. Had talked to a couple other NWBOMBERs and they had recommended a sway bar. Saw one on a vehicle at my reputible performance shop and they said it was an IPD. They had seen and installed a few and they said this one was thicker and more robust than others they had seen. Called IPD and ordered one. They did not have it in stock, but it will ship out on the 15th. Here is their website; IPD Good folks to deal with.

 

[CUMMINZ]

sway bar

I am not saying a sway bar is not a good idea. I have seen in print from Hellwig that they don't recommend with LS.

 

[tgbol]

Because of the way the sway bar works. When making a hard turn the sway bar will tend to unload the weight on the inner wheel. With limited slip the tire might spin. It also can cause rapid tire wear. I have had sway bars and limited slip on all of my trucks and not had any problems