sway bar advice
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,305
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From: Vancouver, BC
sway bar advice
I've read the threads here but am looking for opinions here. I have a 17 F350 6.7 supercrew SB,SRW and it didn't come with a camper package or rear sway bar. I've recently purchased a small yet tall slide in camper that I use with my enclosed car hauler a couple of times a year for a long haul (3-7000 miles). Who has installed the OEM sway bar, the Hellwig bar or the Hellwig big wig bar? Any opinions on what would be best in my situation? I don't want a bar that is going to be overkill and ruin the day to day use but I also don't want to buy a bar that barely does anything.
With the car trailer on the hitch it makes a big difference so I'm leaning towards the standard Hellwig bar which is middle of the road.
With the car trailer on the hitch it makes a big difference so I'm leaning towards the standard Hellwig bar which is middle of the road.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,058
Likes: 424
From: Too close to Houston
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,334
Likes: 306
From: Mills River
Our F350 has the factory camper package including the rear stabilizer bar. I think it works rather well considering the broadside gusts we’ve experienced while hauling our truck camper in windy area like Texas and Wyoming. However, with 275/65R18E A/S tires, 18” rims, and RWD, our truck isn’t nearly as tall as Tony’s. In fact, ours is probably ~4” (10 cm) shorter.
I have no personal experience with the Helwig products, but they appear to enjoy a good reputation.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
I have no personal experience with the Helwig products, but they appear to enjoy a good reputation.
HTH,
Jim / crewzer
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,698
Likes: 12,823
From: Wyoming
I had a Hellwig rear sway bar on my Titan. It was a great improvement on a truck that had no sway bar from the factory. It really made the truck feel like a rocket sled on rails. I'm pretty sure it saved my butt a couple times when I had to perform emergency maneuvers. The Titan had a Leer topper on it, so not too much weight.
My F-350 has the factory rear sway bar. If it didn't, I would have installed a Hellwig.
My F-350 has the factory rear sway bar. If it didn't, I would have installed a Hellwig.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 138
Likes: 1
ha! i literally just installed a hellwig 'big wig' sway bar this weekend on my '19 F-250. it is adjustable (3 different tension settings I guess) and I am on the 'middle' setting. The installation took a bit as I did it myself and this isn't something I have a lot of experience doing. The ride however is noticeably improved. All the stuff about the rear wheels being "planted, less wheel hop, less body roll" etc are true. So even though it was a little difficult, there's some good YouTube videos to help and at the end of it all, it was worth it from what I noticed in my driving since installing.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 369
Likes: 4
From: McCalla Alabama
I've read the threads here but am looking for opinions here. I have a 17 F350 6.7 supercrew SB,SRW and it didn't come with a camper package or rear sway bar. I've recently purchased a small yet tall slide in camper that I use with my enclosed car hauler a couple of times a year for a long haul (3-7000 miles). Who has installed the OEM sway bar, the Hellwig bar or the Hellwig big wig bar? Any opinions on what would be best in my situation? I don't want a bar that is going to be overkill and ruin the day to day use but I also don't want to buy a bar that barely does anything.
With the car trailer on the hitch it makes a big difference so I'm leaning towards the standard Hellwig bar which is middle of the road.
With the car trailer on the hitch it makes a big difference so I'm leaning towards the standard Hellwig bar which is middle of the road.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 390
From: SEVA
Don't forget the front anti-swaybar. Before I installed my Hellwig Big Wig rear swaybar, I swapped out the OEM front swaybar for a Hellwig FRONT 1-5/16” diameter sway bar PN:7712. Swapping out the front alone made a big difference in reducing body roll.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
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You will be stunned at how well your truck handles and performs in addition your safety envelope has got a lot larger...
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,778
Likes: 153
IMO the OEM swaybar on the Superduty trucks is about as effective as a wet noodle. What a swaybar does is KEEP the wheels planted on the road. The swaybar has its major influence on lateral movements in your vehicle. Installing a camper which raises the CoG of your truck puts more leverage on the lateral swaying due to the increased CoG. To mitigate that you need a larger diameter swaybar. The Big Wig worked well when I had my 5000+ lb Arctic Fox Truck Camper. If your TC is less than 3k lbs not sure you would need to go with the Big Wig, but certainly bigger than OEM.
The sway bar is a Torsion bar always working to keep the wheels planted on terra firma.
I know people that take them off and that is a stupid move, the swaybar reduces and controls the wallow effect when driving...
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
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The swaybar can and well make a contribution to that along with the shocks, both of them working to mitigate the lateral and vertical movements. Not 100% sure I would recommend a big sway bar but at least and OEM version and maybe some rear adjustable shocks that you can soften or firm up. I grew up in the country and drove a lot of dirt roads, the common practice was to put some weight in the back of the truck.
Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 177
From: Vancouver, BC
My FIRST modified sway bar install was in 1966, when I ordered a front/rear sway bars used on the F 40 option package on the big block corvette Stingray. My small block which I raced needed a lot more stability and THAT was the answer. I have been doing on various cars and trucks ever since. Automakers are still stuck in the days of comfort ride which means soft and fluffy.
IMO the OEM swaybar on the Superduty trucks is about as effective as a wet noodle. What a swaybar does is KEEP the wheels planted on the road. The swaybar has its major influence on lateral movements in your vehicle. Installing a camper which raises the CoG of your truck puts more leverage on the lateral swaying due to the increased CoG. To mitigate that you need a larger diameter swaybar. The Big Wig worked well when I had my 5000+ lb Arctic Fox Truck Camper. If your TC is less than 3k lbs not sure you would need to go with the Big Wig, but certainly bigger than OEM..
IMO the OEM swaybar on the Superduty trucks is about as effective as a wet noodle. What a swaybar does is KEEP the wheels planted on the road. The swaybar has its major influence on lateral movements in your vehicle. Installing a camper which raises the CoG of your truck puts more leverage on the lateral swaying due to the increased CoG. To mitigate that you need a larger diameter swaybar. The Big Wig worked well when I had my 5000+ lb Arctic Fox Truck Camper. If your TC is less than 3k lbs not sure you would need to go with the Big Wig, but certainly bigger than OEM..
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
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That said the bigger the diameter of the sway bar the harsher the ride...which is the prime reason why American cars run smaller swaybars. I personally detest the soft spongy ride of US cars which is why I beef up the suspension with larger F/R swaybars. So a lot is riding on your driving habits and how soft you want that ride. The Big Wig is an adjustable swaybar so you have some flex.
OEM Vs Hellwig Big Wig