Rear Sway Bar Recommendations

[DSorenson]

I am considering installing a rear sway bar on my 2003 3500 to improve handling with our pickup camper (~2,600 lb) on board, and I thought I see if others had some recommendations to share.



Right now the truck is stock height with a stock suspension and single rear wheels. I am going to install a set of Rancho 9000 shocks as well. I'm not interested in raising the suspension.



Thanks for your input!



Don

 

[HBarlow]

Do a search for posts by Bill Stockard. He has a rear swaybar on a 2003 Ram dually he hauls a very large Lance slide-in camper on. He has described his installation.

 

[rwitt]

Since you have a 3500, and have the upper overload springs, take a look at the Torklift Stableloads http://http://www.torklift.com/p.php?w_page=stableload . Your truck empty has a 3" to 4" gap before the overloads engage. The Stableloads remove this gap so they engage much sooner, help keep the truck from dropping in the rear so much, and really help control the side to side sway. You can also make your own spacers which work just like the Stableloads, out of 2"x 2" square tubing as seen here http://http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/25865155.cfm. I have the overload spacers on my dually with a 5000lb Arctic Fox camper, and they work great. Not trying to talk you out of the sway bar, as they work well also, just wanted you to be aware of other options.

Rich

 

[Schumacher]

I really like the Stableloads and also use a Road Master sway bar.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I am considering installing a rear sway bar on my 2003 3500 to improve handling with our pickup camper (~2,600 lb) on board, and I thought I see if others had some recommendations to share.



Right now the truck is stock height with a stock suspension and single rear wheels. I am going to install a set of Rancho 9000 shocks as well. I'm not interested in raising the suspension.



Thanks for your input!



Don

I haul a heavy 11-1/2' slide in truck camper on a '03 3500 dually. I added a Hellwig antisway bar several years ago which really improved the handling both with the truck empty and loaded. I also have Rancho 9000 shocks on the rear (Bilsteins on the front). I adjust the Ranchos to "9" when loaded and to "3" when unloaded. I don't know about the overload springs on a 3500 SRW, but taller rear spring bump stops on my dually also aided the handling by engaging the overload springs sooner. Torklift now makes a taller bump stop that is a bolt on (no drill) installation.



Bill

 

[wcjp]

I'm running the Ipd sway bar (now Road master). Made a big difference. Also recommend the Torklift Stable loads.

 

[DSorenson]

Thanks for the all the suggestions! I think I'll start with the Stable Loads and see how it goes from there.

Don

 

[goodguys75]

I am considering installing a rear sway bar on my 2003 3500 to improve handling with our pickup camper (~2,600 lb) on board, and I thought I see if others had some recommendations to share.



Right now the truck is stock height with a stock suspension and single rear wheels. I am going to install a set of Rancho 9000 shocks as well. I'm not interested in raising the suspension.



Thanks for your input!



Don

airbags are great.....

 

[JLehman]

I did air bags and didnt get the fix till i did the helwig sway bar. big improvement with and without the camper

 

[Regcabguy]

Airbags elevate the load and level the truck. I've got the Hellwig 1 1/8" swaybar. It made a heck of a improvement in handling. My friend's got a 9. 5' hardsided camper and bought the Hellwig 1 5/8" unit. I've also got the Carli LT airbags.



Got mine for a whopping $207 to the door on Amazon.com. His larger unit was obtained through Auto Parts Warehouse for a bit more.

 

[HBarlow]

Gen II Rams had OEM swaybars. Airbags alone probably gave better results on them. Apparently not as much on Gen IIIs which lack OEM swaybars.

 

[algonaman]

BigWig

Helwig BigWig sway bar made a hell of a difference, with a 3000 lb. camper it was night and day.

 

[FDrake]

I added Timbrens soon after I bought my 2004 Quadcab 1T. Then I added the Tork Lift Stable Loads last year to carry my camper. This week I added the Helwig BIG WIG rear anti sway bar #7265. Now the truck corners like it is on rails and the spring slap I had seems to be gone too. I bought the anti sway bars from Suspension Connection in Draper, UT online. Then had them installed quickly ( less than an hour ) at the local Firestone store. I am not sure I need the Timbrens now but the three items together seem to work very well.

Frank

 

[JFought]

just got the big wig, haven't installed it yet. But dang, its damn heavy!
Suspension connection about $220 ish to door.

4wheel parts wanted over 380 plus i had to pay for it to be shipped to them!

 

[FDrake]

Mine were $243 to my door and $100 for the installation. From what I have researched on the past, that seemed like a good deal to me.
Frank