Hellwig Front Sway Bar?
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 66
From: Coastal VA
Hellwig Front Sway Bar?
Hi,
My 2024 F350 does not have a factory-installed rear sway bar and I'll be adding a Hellwig big wig sway bar in anticipation of some future heavy fifth wheel towing. Should I also swap out the front sway bar for a Hellwig big wig as well? Sorry if there are other threads out there about this. I searched, but couldn't find any.
My 2024 F350 does not have a factory-installed rear sway bar and I'll be adding a Hellwig big wig sway bar in anticipation of some future heavy fifth wheel towing. Should I also swap out the front sway bar for a Hellwig big wig as well? Sorry if there are other threads out there about this. I searched, but couldn't find any.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2016
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I wouldn't do either. I doubt you'll be able to measure or notice any difference before or after changing/adding sway bars for fifth wheel towing. Might notice a difference with a slide-in camper but not fifth wheel.
Sway bars purpose is to prevent body roll. The fifth wheel hitch should pivot side to side which prevents the fifth wheel from body rolling the truck. If the hitch didn't pivot, no sway bar would keep the fifth wheel from causing body roll...and it would feel very uncomfortable to drive.
Sway bars purpose is to prevent body roll. The fifth wheel hitch should pivot side to side which prevents the fifth wheel from body rolling the truck. If the hitch didn't pivot, no sway bar would keep the fifth wheel from causing body roll...and it would feel very uncomfortable to drive.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 66
From: Coastal VA
Hummm... interesting. So I shouldn't expect to experience sway just from the 14,000 lb. fifth wheel (pin weight about 3,000 lb.)? I am concerned about a harsher ride as well (I've aired down to 55 psi in all four tires and I've replaced the factory shocks with Bilstein 5100s). I don't experience any sway driving unloaded, but I drive kind of like the old man that I now am.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,674
Likes: 376
Hummm... interesting. So I shouldn't expect to experience sway just from the 14,000 lb. fifth wheel (pin weight about 3,000 lb.)? I am concerned about a harsher ride as well (I've aired down to 55 psi in all four tires and I've replaced the factory shocks with Bilstein 5100s). I don't experience any sway driving unloaded, but I drive kind of like the old man that I now am.
All fiver hitches can pivot from side to side. I've seen one hitch that could be locked to prevent pivoting and believe me you don't want it locked to prevent pivot....the fiver would constantly roll the truck back and forth...you'd feel every uneven spot on the road.
Guessing you're airing down tires only while empty. Definitely air back up to spec when hitched to the fiver.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 701
From: Minnesota
It is an anti-roll bar often called anti-sway. And there is a huge difference when towing a fifth wheel in the wind. The pivot does nothing. The "pressure point" for a fifth wheel is well above the vehicle's center of gravity. Gusty side-winds put plenty of roll into the truck. You will be glad you added a rear bar. I never upgraded the front bar. It should do the job.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,674
Likes: 376
It is an anti-roll bar often called anti-sway. And there is a huge difference when towing a fifth wheel in the wind. The pivot does nothing. The "pressure point" for a fifth wheel is well above the vehicle's center of gravity. Gusty side-winds put plenty of roll into the truck. You will be glad you added a rear bar. I never upgraded the front bar. It should do the job.
I have been in wind strong enough to rock the fiver...even when parked at a gas station. I felt the need to drive slower than normal because of the camper dancing but did not feel truck roll.
Not trying to be ornery, but if you think the pivot does nothing, try wedging it with something to keep it from pivoting and drive a few hundred miles with the camper... then you'll see why the hitch has a pivot.
Adding a sway bar won't hurt anything unless the plan is to do off-roading on very uneven ground. I just highly doubt anyone can differentiate a truck with it vs a truck without it when towing the same fiver.
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Tuned
Joined: Aug 2024
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You have to be careful- too much rear bar and you can set the truck up to understeer. You are better off with the rear end breaking loose than the front end pushing.
I have the factory “Camper Package” rear bar on my CCSB 7.3 F350 and it handles like it’s on rails.
Good shocks like Bilsteins will make a much more noticeable seat of the pants difference.
I have the factory “Camper Package” rear bar on my CCSB 7.3 F350 and it handles like it’s on rails.
Good shocks like Bilsteins will make a much more noticeable seat of the pants difference.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,429
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From: Minnesota
Perhaps it's different with 4wd trucks or anything with a high center of gravity. One of my 3/4 tons has no sway bars, the other has front and rear. I've never felt roll with either while towing the fiver.
I have been in wind strong enough to rock the fiver...even when parked at a gas station. I felt the need to drive slower than normal because of the camper dancing but did not feel truck roll.
Not trying to be ornery, but if you think the pivot does nothing, try wedging it with something to keep it from pivoting and drive a few hundred miles with the camper... then you'll see why the hitch has a pivot.
Adding a sway bar won't hurt anything unless the plan is to do off-roading on very uneven ground. I just highly doubt anyone can differentiate a truck with it vs a truck without it when towing the same fiver.
I have been in wind strong enough to rock the fiver...even when parked at a gas station. I felt the need to drive slower than normal because of the camper dancing but did not feel truck roll.
Not trying to be ornery, but if you think the pivot does nothing, try wedging it with something to keep it from pivoting and drive a few hundred miles with the camper... then you'll see why the hitch has a pivot.
Adding a sway bar won't hurt anything unless the plan is to do off-roading on very uneven ground. I just highly doubt anyone can differentiate a truck with it vs a truck without it when towing the same fiver.
I added a rear bar to a previous truck and it made a HUGE different in the wind with a fiver. I 30 mph crosswind in Oklahoma will make that obvious.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 2,674
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It may be a center of gravity thing with new trucks (especially 4wd) sitting higher than necessary or useful...wouldn't be the first time Ford and other manufacturers messed up a good thing.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 701
From: Minnesota
It's possible that results vary from truck to truck and camper to camper. For the OP, I wouldn't buy one until I tried it without so I could see if there is a change.
It may be a center of gravity thing with new trucks (especially 4wd) sitting higher than necessary or useful...wouldn't be the first time Ford and other manufacturers messed up a good thing.
It may be a center of gravity thing with new trucks (especially 4wd) sitting higher than necessary or useful...wouldn't be the first time Ford and other manufacturers messed up a good thing.
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 129
Likes: 66
From: Coastal VA
The only time I notice my Hellwig rear sway bar is when I cross speed bumps at an angle. If I cross them straight on, I don't notice the sway bar. I was really impressed with how more controllable the truck was after installation of the bar. Best money I've spent on the truck other than replacing the factory shocks with Bilstein 5100s.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 262
Likes: 72
From: SW Cook County, Illinois
You have to be careful- too much rear bar and you can set the truck up to understeer. You are better off with the rear end breaking loose than the front end pushing.
I have the factory “Camper Package” rear bar on my CCSB 7.3 F350 and it handles like it’s on rails.
Good shocks like Bilsteins will make a much more noticeable seat of the pants difference.
I have the factory “Camper Package” rear bar on my CCSB 7.3 F350 and it handles like it’s on rails.
Good shocks like Bilsteins will make a much more noticeable seat of the pants difference.
I think your wrong, as too big rear bar will cause oversteer!
