Oct-30-2020 09:54 AM
Nov-02-2020 04:52 PM
Nov-01-2020 03:55 PM
Haloo wrote:
Ah yes, many more suspension stories out there. I’ve looked all over various forums (fora) and discovered huge variations and disagreement. Some people love airbags, others hate them. Same with sway bars, stable loads, Timbrens, helper springs, etc... I have now heard or read polar opposite opinions on each of these and more.
As a motorcyclist, if you can’t have/afford a completely dialed in suspension you at least want predictable suspension. You want the feedback to be giving you a consistent message. Right now this is what I’m aiming for with my truck and camper. I’ll get there. But it looks like a process of trial and error. So be it.
Nov-01-2020 02:21 PM
Haloo wrote:
Right now this is what I’m aiming for with my truck and camper. I’ll get there. But it looks like a process of trial and error. So be it.
Nov-01-2020 01:46 PM
Nov-01-2020 11:49 AM
Haloo wrote:billtex wrote:Haloo wrote:srschang wrote:
What are you running for air pressure in the front & rear tires? Are the tires load Range E? F? G? A tire with a firm sidewall makes a big difference in side to side sway. As others have said, some of it is a learning experience, especially when entering and leaving parking lots. You generally want to do it as square as possible, if you are at an angle one of the front tires will go over any dip or bump first, starting the camper rocking, then when the rear tire go through it one at a time, it really gets to rock & rolling.
Scott
60lbs front, 80lbs rear. Load range E, 20” tires.
The primary issue is kind of a skittish feeling, not a roll so much as a sudden dipping to the outside of the curve — like it dips then catches.
We drove the camper home 1200 miles on the stock springs. There was some sway and roll, but no big deal. After the new springs were added it feels different as I describe above.
I think you answered your own question. NL are not very heavy and should be well within 1 ton stock suspension.
OE shocks should be fine...can’t believe they are worn already. “Adjustable” shocks are useless in snow country. They won’t be adjustable for long.
Of all the suspension mods I have done (many!) sway bar was the most useless. Made no difference IMO.
Go back to your OE suspension and put on a few miles. Then re-evealuate.
Yep. I’m going to remove the springs and give it another go. And yes, our camper will not exceed our payload. In fact, I have unbolted some weight from our camper, so we have even more room for gear if we want. I’m guessing we are at about 2600 lbs dry.
Ford adds a sway bar with their Camper Package. Our truck did not come with a sway bar. Truck camper forums are stuffed full of threads on the virtues of sway bars. You are only the second person to tell me to not get a sway bar. The other guy told me to get air bags instead.
So...since you mentioned it, what suspension mods have you done that were worthwhile?
Oct-30-2020 07:55 PM
billtex wrote:Haloo wrote:srschang wrote:
What are you running for air pressure in the front & rear tires? Are the tires load Range E? F? G? A tire with a firm sidewall makes a big difference in side to side sway. As others have said, some of it is a learning experience, especially when entering and leaving parking lots. You generally want to do it as square as possible, if you are at an angle one of the front tires will go over any dip or bump first, starting the camper rocking, then when the rear tire go through it one at a time, it really gets to rock & rolling.
Scott
60lbs front, 80lbs rear. Load range E, 20” tires.
The primary issue is kind of a skittish feeling, not a roll so much as a sudden dipping to the outside of the curve — like it dips then catches.
We drove the camper home 1200 miles on the stock springs. There was some sway and roll, but no big deal. After the new springs were added it feels different as I describe above.
I think you answered your own question. NL are not very heavy and should be well within 1 ton stock suspension.
OE shocks should be fine...can’t believe they are worn already. “Adjustable” shocks are useless in snow country. They won’t be adjustable for long.
Of all the suspension mods I have done (many!) sway bar was the most useless. Made no difference IMO.
Go back to your OE suspension and put on a few miles. Then re-evealuate.
Oct-30-2020 07:35 PM
Haloo wrote:srschang wrote:
What are you running for air pressure in the front & rear tires? Are the tires load Range E? F? G? A tire with a firm sidewall makes a big difference in side to side sway. As others have said, some of it is a learning experience, especially when entering and leaving parking lots. You generally want to do it as square as possible, if you are at an angle one of the front tires will go over any dip or bump first, starting the camper rocking, then when the rear tire go through it one at a time, it really gets to rock & rolling.
Scott
60lbs front, 80lbs rear. Load range E, 20” tires.
The primary issue is kind of a skittish feeling, not a roll so much as a sudden dipping to the outside of the curve — like it dips then catches.
We drove the camper home 1200 miles on the stock springs. There was some sway and roll, but no big deal. After the new springs were added it feels different as I describe above.
Oct-30-2020 07:32 PM
Haloo wrote:TxGearhead wrote:
You might check and see if Roadmaster has a sway bar for your Ford.
roadmasterinc.com
Call around and checking delivery dates might be good as well. eTrailer, Tweety's, etc.
Roadmaster doesn’t make a sway bar for my truck. I called them and asked.
I called all around the country trying to find a Hellwig Big Wig. No luck.
Oct-30-2020 05:53 PM
mbloof wrote:Haloo wrote:
2019
Yep, I understand that some sway and roll come with the territory. It did for the 1200 mile drive home with the camper. After I added the helper springs there is the initial tippy thing that wasn’t there before.
It sounds like you now have to much spring. (to stiff?) If it rode better before I'd remove the helper springs.
I have a 9.6 on a 17' F250 and only added airbags to level out the headlights. (the 9.6 and 8.11 weigh about the same)
As you and others have mentioned, some side to side sway goes with a top heavy setup. Some of the sway will be from the suspension and some will be from sidewall flex of your tires.
Personally, the sway I was getting from the stock Ford OEM tires (rated at only 3450lbs) was to much to bear so I swapped the tires and rims for 19.5 Vision heavy hauler 81's and 265/70 Toyo M608Z's.
I have no sway bar.
Essentially I fixed my sway/handling issues with tires+rims.
YMMV.
- Mark0.
Oct-30-2020 05:39 PM
TxGearhead wrote:
You might check and see if Roadmaster has a sway bar for your Ford.
roadmasterinc.com
Call around and checking delivery dates might be good as well. eTrailer, Tweety's, etc.
Oct-30-2020 05:36 PM
KD4UPL wrote:
Have you checked the availability of KYB Monomax shocks? I have them on my 2005 Chevy dually. I used it to carry a 4,000 pound camper and thought the shocks did really well.
Oct-30-2020 05:32 PM
Geo*Boy wrote:TxGearhead wrote:
You might check and see if Roadmaster has a sway bar for your Ford.
roadmasterinc.com
Call around and checking delivery dates might be good as well. eTrailer, Tweety's, etc.
Roadmaster 1139-173, is the bar for your truck.
Oct-30-2020 05:10 PM
Oct-30-2020 04:30 PM