Do I need a sway bar?

[wynot]

I can remember stories of dealers that would not let them off the lot without either a sway bar or a signed waiver releasing the dealer from all liability w/r/t sway.
 
Austin

Our salesperson told us we could either buy the sway bar when we took delivery or when we turned around and came back to the lot on the way home.
 
Think he knew about the sway problem?

[flyfisherman]

My truck is rated to tow 6000 lbs.  My unloaded camper weight is approx. 1500 lbs.  Do I need a sway bar for this setup?

Thanks

I tow with an '02 GMC Sierra 1500, with about the same tow capacity as your Ford, which is rated to tow over twice what my little Starcraft weights. The problem is not with the popup being towed but with all the junk I carry in the truck ... chain saw, charcoal grill, lawn chairs, outboard motor ... and this is just the beginning of the list!  As everybody knows, cargo weight is subtracted from the towing capacity, but just that weight alone in the truck bed effects the truck's handling characteristics. I've been driving pick-up trucks for years and for sure the newer ones ride so much better then the one's of yester-year. However, that nice ride comes with a price; the older ones handled a load much better and that's because they were stiffer sprung. Of course, you can order out a stiffer suspension model, but the run-of-the-mill 1/2 ton pick-up trucks of today don't come that way standard.
So if your like me, bringing along all kinds of "stuff" and maybe the truck is doing a "squat" routine (before you ever hitch-up!), you might consider something like this:

//www.activesuspension.com

I don't have this system but have run across a couple of trailer towers who do and they say this is a big help.



Fly

[AustinBoston]

//www.activesuspension.com

"Up to 10% fuel savings" for a suspension enhancement?  Hmmm....


Austin

[flyfisherman]

"Up to 10% fuel savings" for a suspension enhancement?  Hmmm....


Austin

Now, look here A.B. ~ remember how you cast aspersion on my nitrogen filled truck tires ...?  Well, to date, there is an increase of overall mileage (.02 mpg)  since I began the "experiment" ... so there!

Now, maybe there's something to this truck sway, maybe the truck's consuming a little extra fuel to combat it ... who knows?  But saving fuel was not my idea of posting the site; it was more about being able to stabilize the truck's load if that was indeed a factor.

Besides ... remember that old advertising admonishment of times past ... "sell the sizzle, not the streak!" ~ Maybe that's got something to do with the fuel savings.  Got to admit ... that's a lot of gas savings.  Maybe I should look into this, too ... what's another experiment or two?



Fly