Wow and I thought our Michigan roads was bad!

 

I think its a tie between your roads & ours

 

Wow!!!!! I don't think we'll be making that trip!!!!!

With a rig as heavy as yours, I would be worried about tire and suspension damage....
Super hapy that your truck is all good though!

 

While I don't worry with Sailor Roy at the helm, he knows rough seas I wish well and GODSPEED on your journey.

Not sure of all your mods on the JG, but if you did not do this I certainly would. Go Big Hellwig sway bar. I know a lot of folks who do 5 ers and goosenecks don't think they need a sway bar as the center attachment point does not transmit lateral forces like say my truck camper does. But the 'sway' bar is also known as a 'anti-dive' bar. That pin weight and the roads you travel put some strong and heavy vertical forces on the rear suspension. The anti dive bar will really help in mitigating that. I have it and run it and the difference in handling and is amazing (only wonder why Ford does not do it on a truck such as these).

Look at the difference:






OEM (top) vs Big Hellwig, if you are serious about tow/haul this is a wise and cheap ($300) investment you will notice instantly.

 

Sorry but I've not heard of any Anti-Dive in regard to rear suspension in these trucks before.. Anti-Sway is all that a swap bar will do for you as it transfers bump and rebound loading from one side of the vehicle to another. If the vehicle encounters a dip in the road that is at a right angle to the vehicle path and is the same depth on both sides, the anti-sway bar will just pivot up and down and will not be transferring any load.
If you have bags in your rear suspension with independant air supplies (not on a "T"), they will dramatically reduce the need for additional sway control. I know Roy has got the bags and valving set up where air cannot transfer from one bag to the other.

 

Good morning guys........
Thanks for sharing .......I find to useful to hear about other's experiences.

I am going to look at shocks for the 5th wheel. Jolly Green was very stable. The trailer was doing most of the bouncing.........

 

Big F, what you say is 100% correct, but only works in a perfect world of flat roads, no braking or acceleration inputs.

I had never heard the term 'sway' until about 15 years ago in talking with some Jeep guys about off roading. That term has become so common that the old term of 'anit-dive' is rarely heard any more except from old guys like me.

In fact it primary intended use was to control the linear diving and squatting forces from brake/accel. I am not sure how long they have been OEM on autos, but I had them front and rear on my 64 Corvette and on the front of my '56. In those days a common suspension upgrade was a larger diameter anti dive bar. A benefit of anti dive is that is also helps control the lateral swaying.

The bar is not free float, it is resistance mounted albeit not so much as it is impossible to move by hand using enough force. Since roads are not level at all it helps to smooth out the ride and absorb rapid input, something air bags do not do as they expand/contract as the speed of the rubber bag. The ante dive bar is a hard physical connection and its the opposing forces that make it work so well. It works and does an exceptional job. The improvement in ride, squat and lateral stability when I have my camper loaded...I have over 5000 lbs sitting in the bed of my truck and if completely topped off in truck and camper with fluids I am over 6000 lbs. If you are looking to control road high level inputs in real time then its anti dive/anti squat/sway bars or if you run a high load like my truck camper, the bar provides major anti roll (sway) control.

 

Update on Big Red 2015 F450 - pics of truck earlier in this thread.

1. Installed Edge CTS-2 with Turbo Timer: Easy install, like having all the gauges, and the tuber timer is nice to auto shut off after a heavy pull. I can program it as a set EGT temp or a set amount of time. I currently have it shutting off at 350 degree EGT

2. Installed a TST TPMS with internal sensors for both Truck and Trailer (3 axles) Monitors both PSI and temp of each tire. Mounted a repeater behind rear seat and the monitor on top of the rear view mirror. Ran power to both from Aux switch #4. Works Great.

3. Installed Titan 65 gallon fuel tank. This replaces the OEM 37 gallon fuel tank. Had to slightly cut the drive shaft carrier bearing bracket approx. 1/4 to 1/2" so it didn't rub. Put some black gloss rustoleum paint on it and you would never know it was modified. Everything else fit like a glove and the install was easy. Took the truck to Ford dealer and they reprogrammed my computer for the 65 gallon tank. Miles to empty was re calibrated as was the fuel gauge. Works great.

Just about ready for a big tow from CA to BC Canada. Can't wait. I think I am more excited about actually driving the new truck and towing the trailer than I am about the family vacation when we get there. Heading to Whistler.

 

Have Fun SteveB..........
We just traveled through BC from Seattle to Beaver Creek, BC......to Anchorage Alaska.
You will 'love' having the bigger fuel tank!! I have a 91 gallon Aux tank, plus the 37 gallon main tank. It was very nice to have the large fuel capacity.

Trip report & photos on my Jolly Green thread.........

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post15443165

Have FUN......!!

 

SteveB, have a safe trip and enjoy that truck!

 

I got. 2 packages from the man in the Brown truck, one has something from SCT and the other is from FloPro, my project for Saturday afternoon.

 

Love the brown truck, just wish they'd send the bill elsewhere

 

Gerry......lets send the bills to Sgt-Steve.....He can afford it.....

 

Roy if you have his Visa number post it here________________

 

Let us know how it turns out.