Do Rear sway bars help?

[Rambunctious]

I hate to drive my RV in the wind. I do it from time to time but often I try to wait the hard wind out. I heard that a heavy duty rear sway bar would make a windy drive more pleasant. Is this true? And what are the best sway bars for a 1987 class A 27ft ? Any help or advice would be appreciated.

[M & J]

Our 1987 Alegro 27' came witha rear sway as thick as your wrist. Between it and the front air bags theres hardly any body roll.

[GONMAD]

Hi Guy's   Please read my article on the 'PANHARD BAR' install & put one on & pretty much ALL of the high wind stuff will never haunt you again. GONMAD

[eXodus]

I've got a thick rear bar and a heavy duty front bar and still very attractive to wind....
I don't see the use of a Panhard bar in a leave spring setup, (when there is already a sway-bar) they are normally used with coil springs, but for $20 bucks I'm willing to try.

I see a lot of difference when I'm adjusting the pressure of the front Airbags. With 60 psi every Semi passing by requires an action. With 80 PSI only the really large ones which are driving too fast I need to correct.

Had been thinking about adding rear Airbags. Since they are relatively cheap (under $300) easy to install, and gives not only ways to adjust the driving, also it's a nice leveling feature.

Just read that replacing the Sway Bar bushings with Polyurethane should give a much better handling, they are really cheap, $30 for the back and under $20 for the front.
Some people are writing that this is greatest bang for you buck in suspension.

[GONMAD]

Gents, The purpose of a sway bar & a panhard bar are two entirely different devices serving two different functions. The sway bar only reduces the roll side to side while the panhard controls the position of the rear (or front on a straight axle) in relation to the body. It stops ALL the wagging associated with sidereal influences from wind & or passing trucks. I recently installed one on my Nomad & all the sidewalking completely stopped. They are NOT expensive & relatively easy to install. I built my own for under $50.00 for my RV & every Car I build has one on it.
"Success comes in Cans not Cant's" Zig Ziegler.

I hope this helps GONMAD

[eXodus]

yeah GONMAD I see the use in a CAR with COIL springs - here is nothing holding the axle in place.

With a two very heavy leave springs on each sides and a sway bar which is also mounted to the frame (it is centering the axle - but it's not the main purpose of this piece of metal) - there should be not a lot of movement left on a Motorhome.
But I agree - for $20-50 bucks - it wouldn't hurt to try.  It can get only get better.

My way would be - change all bushings on the existing sway bars - see whats going on and then adding a panhard bar.
Simple economy.

[GONMAD]

Panhard Rod Vs. Sway Bar

http://www.ehow.com/info_12196483_panhard-rod-vs-sway-bar.html

What Do Sway Bars Do???

http://www.stealthtdi.com/SwayBars.html

Panhard rod

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panhard_rod

Two separate devices...two separate functions 

[eXodus]

i did replace the rear sway bar bushings a couple of days ago, and it helped quite a bit.

know i can see what gnodmad was talking about, the sway bar is helping to center the axle but due to long arms it is still flexible.  a panhard rod would make a fixed connection, without any room for play.

after laying under the Mh for half a day i would still recommend changing these bushings, all of mine had been worn out after 20 years.

my next step would be changing the front sway bar against soemthing thicker. The rear one is with 1 3/4 good. but the front one has only about 1 1/4. I could bend it with my arms while fitting in the new bushing.
this is not trustworthy to hold up a 4000lbs of a billboard.  there are replacenments for about 250 available. will see how the next trip is.