Rear Sway Bar
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Louisville
Rear Sway Bar
So I purchased a 1999 F150 (5.4 4x4 Offroad and towing package) a couple of months back and will be towing around 5-6k on a semi-regular basis this summer. On the highway it already is not the most stable truck, worse than my previous 1996 F150 4x4, and I was wondering if adding a rear sway bar will help with towing stablity as well as normal driving?
Has anyone added a rear sway bar to their truck?
Thanks.
Has anyone added a rear sway bar to their truck?
Thanks.
Postmaster
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,959
Likes: 9
From: USA
I've never added an aftermarket one, but I have had trucks with and without a rear factory sway bar and it does help to reduce body lean on curvy roads. The benefit of the sway bar will be felt most when hauling something heavy in the back of the truck, like a camper, but it couldnt hurt to have it there for towing a trailer. Air bags, add-a-leafs, and overload springs are also options for beefing up the rear end. The air bags will do more for stabilizing body roll than the extra springs.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 494
Likes: 14
From: Somewhere west of Arizona
You didn't say, but I'll assume your trailer is a conventional tow, not a fifth-wheel. Tongue weight is usually 10%-15%, so let's assume you have maybe 800 pounds of tongue weight. That's alot to hang off the rear end of a 150. If you're not using a weight distributing hitch, get one. That will transfer half of that 800 pounds to the front of your 150; 400 in the front, 400 in the rear. When you get your weight distributing hitch, get a sway control with it. You'll be amazed at the improvement these two items will make.
Like SoCalDesertRider said, the sway bar will help more with weght loaded in the bed of the 150. I'd start with the WD hitch and sway control first.
Like SoCalDesertRider said, the sway bar will help more with weght loaded in the bed of the 150. I'd start with the WD hitch and sway control first.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Louisville
I have the factory hitch, which has a sticker on the side that lists a wieght distributing and also a load (or something like that) values. The WD is 8700 and the other is 5500. With tounge wieghts of 870 and 500.
Why are there two values?
Do I need to buy another part to make the hitch WD?
Why are there two values?
Do I need to buy another part to make the hitch WD?
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 494
Likes: 14
From: Somewhere west of Arizona
Do I need to buy another part to make the hitch WD?
Yes, A WD hitch uses spring bars that transfer a portion of the load to the front of the truck.
Check out this company. They should have something explaining how a WD hitch works.
www.reese-hitches.com
Yes, A WD hitch uses spring bars that transfer a portion of the load to the front of the truck.
Check out this company. They should have something explaining how a WD hitch works.
www.reese-hitches.com
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