Sway Bar options

[danzklrz]

Hi Gang,
I have a 2013 ram 2500 that I'm looking for opinions on a sway bar. I had a 2001 ram 2500 that had it equipped from the factory.
Would the newer generations rams benefit from adding one? My normal towing is a 22' enclosed car trailer with a 10000lb capacity.

This Cummins is a monster coming from the v10 that my 01 had. The 10 never flinched towing and could always hold my speed on hills but this Cummins just laughs at them

 

[kthaxton]

Your 2013 doesn't have them front and rear already? My 2015 has them front and rear.....I know the 2013 has a different frame....but I thought they came from the factory front and rear for many years before that.

Also, do you have a sway problem?

 

[danzklrz]

My truck has the factory sway bar in front but they didn't come on the rear. I believe the reason you have them on your truck is because of your coil rear springs, mine is the last yr of leafs for the ram 3/4tons.

I don't have any major sway but would wonder why they don't have them installed when my old 01 did

 

[AEdelheit]

If you haul loads with a high center of gravity then rear sway bars help alot, otherwise they really decrease ride quality over bumps and off camber situations like turning into an elevated parking lot. The front sway bar is stiffer then on the 2nd gens as well as the frame, unless you have an issue with sway I would not put one on.

 

[GrantP]

If you haul loads with a high center of gravity then rear sway bars help alot, otherwise they really decrease ride quality over bumps and off camber situations like turning into an elevated parking lot. The front sway bar is stiffer then on the 2nd gens as well as the frame, unless you have an issue with sway I would not put one on.

Agreed, it's usually the first thing I remove on my 4x4's.

 

[LandShark]

I added a Hellwig sway bar to my '95 to help with sway with my 3400# camper. Results were minimal, but I was happy to get any improvement. Customer service is excellent, so give them a call. I had a link break after 8 years of use and they shipped a new one to me (while on a cross country trip) at no charge.

 

[danzklrz]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I'm not an off roader, so axle articulation would be a big deal. I use it to tow and the ride quality isn't anything to brag about so being a bit more harsh by adding the sway bar wouldn't bother me a bit.

 

[Bob4x4]

Adding a rear sway bar will change the overall handling.The oem's design in some understeer,adding a rear bar will reduce udersteer and depending on the diameter of the bar will go from less understeer all the way to oversteer.

 

[WW101]

If you haul loads with a high center of gravity then rear sway bars help alot, otherwise they really decrease ride quality over bumps and off camber situations like turning into an elevated parking lot. The front sway bar is stiffer then on the 2nd gens as well as the frame, unless you have an issue with sway I would not put one on.

For sure a major improvement with a high center of gravity load. On the old truck (2008), I would get a lot of body roll on on/off ramps when towing with the cart in the bed. The stabilizer bar nearly eliminated it. I really didn't notice much difference in ride or handling unloaded.
EDIT: I should have added that it was totally not necessary when towing just the trailer. No issues at all until I started hauling the cart.

 

[mpaulson]

Like others have said, you really only need it if you have a top heavy load on the truck. I've had the Hellwig Big Wig on my 07.5 dually and on my current 14 dually, but I haul very top heavy loads like a small jet boat with trailer over the cab or 3 to 4 quads, 2-canoes & 2-kyaks on a deck on the truck at 12'10" overall height. For a bumper pull trailer only in my opinion you don't need it. It does effect the ride as others have said while empty. You feel the side to side shifting of the road surface in a pronounced way on wavy roads sending you side to side in the drivers seat.