Dancing with a pig

[ardvark]

Man, in terms of handling, the switch from our former Hallmark pop top to our hard shell NorthStar is really an eye opener. What’s the point of manufacturers offering a “camper package” when getting decent handling and ride requires so much modification. Ranchos all the way around are doing a pretty good job with jerking as I continue to tweak the settings (5 front, 7 rear for now) but the factory sway bar is just not ready for prime time. Way too much body roll. When motorhomes used to handle this way, we called it “dancing with a pig” and that is surely the case here.

Calling Hellwig tomorrow. The OEM sway bar is less than 3/4″. Hellwig offers four different bars starting at 1 1/8″ and going all the way up to 1 1/2″ for this truck. I don’t want anything that cracks the whip, but there has got to be a way to settle this thing down. I want to see what they recommend.

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Jay]

Hi I have a f350 diesel srw and a lance 825 about 11200 loaded.
I installed the hell wig 1 1/2 rear sway bar, air bags, nitto terra gabber 2 tires.It was very stable at all speeds and when we hit some heavy cross winds.

[ardvark]

Thanks for the input. You went “go-big-or-go-home” with the sway bar sizing. 🙂

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[ardvark]

Talked to Hellwig, Going with a Big Wig. Was a bit concerned about oversteer with the heavier bar, but was told that is not going to be an issue. Guess I’ll see.

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Mello Mike]

Steve,
You can adjust the tension to the sway bar which should alleviate any concerns with “oversteer.”

[Jay]

Not sure what over steer is or feels like but i know it work well for me. good luck.

[Jay]

What is over steer and how do you know if its happening?

[ardvark]

Oversteer and understeer are kind of easy to remember because the words pretty much define the action. Oversteer means that the vehicle turns more sharply than intended so it steers into a curve more than you intended or oversteers. In severe cases it can result in a spin. Vehicles are built with a tendency to understeer plow straight ahead as that is an easier thing for the average driver to correct.

It was often said which end of the vehicle hits first is the key. If your vehicle understeers the front end hits first, it yours oversteers, the butt end hits first. Going with a very stiff rear sway bar and little or no sway bar in the front can induce a tendency to oversteer so you feel the back end start to slide out if entering a ramp too fast and suddenly slowing. It is not a common condition as manufacturers bias so strongly towards understeer.

Since I am stiffening the rear, but not increasing stiffness in the front, I wanted to make sure Hellwig had considered that and was assured the bar I was adding was matched to the front end’s existing components. They didn’t know why Ford used such a small bar in their camper package. This issue was addressed in other forums and one post noted the addition of a bar with none in the front led to a drift on an entry ramp – one time!

There is a great deal of information on this topic and others related to handling on the Internet. Fascinating stuff. If there are folks in this forum who have raced or are currently, I am sure they can add. 🙂

Steve and Andra
2012 F350 6.2 gasser SRW LB
Fab Fours front and rear in case we run into a rhino
2019 Northstar Laredo SC

[Author]

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