Aliceinwl
AZ
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Joined: 05/29/2007
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Our TC is a S&S Ponderosa 9'5". I'm always nervous when we take it on our 2007 Chevy Silverado HD2500, LB, 4door cab with Single Rear Wheels, air bags and 17" tires. It just seems to sway too much to me and I get up tight if the wind is really blowing too.
My DH is tired of hearing me whine and I'm wondering what could I have done to the truck to handle the load better? Or is this just too much TC for this truck and we need to bite the bullet and get a bigger truck?
GalinAZ
2005 S&S Montana 9.5 TC
2007 Chevy Silverado 2500HD
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Kalabin
Alaska
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Joined: 07/07/2010
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You might want to look into a Hellwig rear sway bar and possibly better shocks. I have about the same setup with my camper on order, if it sways a bit i'll be ordering them myself and going from there. Most guys have told me the chevy rides smoother but at the cost of softer shocks and no sway bars.
For a reference ford and dodge trucks come with the sway bars.
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD 6.0, 3.73, Firestone Air Bags, CCSB LTZ
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Camper_Jeff_&_Kelli
Seattle
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I have a 2000 S&S 9.5 on a Ford F250. I have the original shocks and about a 1" thick factory rear sway bar on my truck and the ride is pretty stable. I would get a rear sway bar.
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Your Old Dog
Western New York
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I had that problem with a 2001 F350 diesel and it turned out to be the tires. It was suggested I buy tires with an 8ply rating and that took care of my sway problems. If your sidewalls are too light there is no amount of swaybar and stabilizers going to help you much.
Unless tomorrow has been promised to you, you better get busy today.
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JIMNLIN
out here
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Joined: 09/14/2003
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All trucks will exhibit some sway with a heavy 9.5' TC. Air bags pumped up with too much pressure can cause sway issues also.
"good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment" ............ Will Rogers
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mooring product
Pompano Beach Florida
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Your Old Dog wrote:I had that problem with a 2001 F350 diesel and it turned out to be the tires. It was suggested I buy tires with an 8ply rating and that took care of my sway problems. If your sidewalls are too light there is no amount of swaybar and stabilizers going to help you much.
8 ply no. 10 ply yes.
2003 F250 CC SB 6.0 Diesel. ARP studs. EGR delete. NOS. GT 4088 Turbo. Stable loads.
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billtex
RI
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I agree...sounds like too much air in the bags..what psi are you at? Keep it on the overloads a bit.
Also find out what you are running for tires, and you should scale the whole set-up and post back here...
Bill
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wldbill
SD
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AkJason wrote:You might want to look into a Hellwig rear sway bar and possibly better shocks. I have about the same setup with my camper on order, if it sways a bit i'll be ordering them myself and going from there. Most guys have told me the chevy rides smoother but at the cost of softer shocks and no sway bars.
For a reference ford and dodge trucks come with the sway bars.
I have a 2007 Dodge 3500 Diesel Dually and it did not have a reear sway bar. I had a Hellwig Rear Sway Bar (1 1/8" diameter) installed and it did a great job reducing the the sway caused by the high center of gravity on my Northern Lite 10'2" CDSE.
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elkhornsun
Monterey
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The function of the truck's shocks is to counter sway on both sides of the vehicle but the factory shocks are not designed for a tall and heavy load like a camper. I would start with Rancho 9000 shocks and if that is not enough then add a sway bar to the rear.
With a 2007 year truck the current shocks are most likely in need of replacement anyway. I have never had GM/Chevy OEM shocks last 30,000 miles on any truck or SUV and bad shocks hurt control and also accelerate tire wear.
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SoCalDesertRider
SanDiego, CA, USA
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Joined: 12/14/2003
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Change the shocks. Bilstein, KYB and Rancho all make good shocks.
Change the factory rubber front sway bar bushings for stiffer polyurethane bushings from Energy Suspension or Prothane.
Add a rear sway bar, with polyurethane bushings. Helwig and Roadmaster make sway bars for your truck.
Add a leaf to each rear spring pack. Any local spring shop can do this for you.
Make sure you have stock size E load rated tires and have them filled to full 80 psi rating printed on the tire side wall.
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