Roadmaster Suspension Solutions Anti-Sway Bars

No More White Knuckle Driving

If you have been around RV’s for awhile you have probably heard of the term “sway,” even if you don’t pull a trailer. It’s a common term in the RV industry and it means a side-to-side movement. Sway is normally associated with a travel trailer being pulled by a tow vehicle, but it can take on a whole new meaning for motorhome owners too.

Recently we purchased a new, 35’ Class A motorhome. The first time I drove it on the interstate I experienced this thing called sway, when a semi truck passed us. Rather than calling it sway, when a truck passes, I refer to it as the “push-pull effect.” As the truck is passing you, the first thing you feel is the air pressure from the truck pushing against the side of the motorhome. Then as the truck starts to go past the motorhome it pulls you back in. This sensation makes the motorhome feel top heavy.

Other terms used for sway, as it pertains to motorhomes, are “body roll” and “pitch.” You will experience these different types of sway whenever pressure is exerted against one side of the motorhome. It can be caused by a gust of wind, or due to a shift in weight while cornering. The effects of sway on a motorhome are increased because of the height and mass of the motorhome. Regardless of what term you use for sway, over time it takes its toll on the driver.

The solution to sway is in the motorhome suspension. Chassis manufacturers are aware of this problem and in an effort to reduce sway they use what is referred to as a sway bar. The sway bar is the link between the suspension system and the vehicle frame. The sway bar uses the weight of the rear axle as a brace against the chassis, so any pressure exerted against either side of the motorhome is countered by the sway bar. The problem with this, in many cases, is the stock sway bar, installed by the manufacturer, is not strong enough to absorb or counter the effects of sway or pressure against the sides of the motorhome.

Now that we know what the problem is, what can we do to fix it? Camping World has the solution and it’s an RSS sway bar by Roadmaster Inc. RSS sway bars have a thicker diameter than stock sway bars. They’re made of 4140 “chromoly” steel which is stronger and more durable than the spring steel used in most stock sway bar applications. The RSS sway bar works by reducing the body roll and balancing the weight transfer during cornering.

Another problem related to stock sway bars are the bushings they use. Sway bars pivot as pressure is constantly being countered by the bar. Most stock sway bars use rubber bushings at these pivot points. Rubber bushings harden and wear over time, causing the motorhome to roll or lean even more, from the same amount of pressure exerted against the side of the motorhome.  RSS sway bars use polyurethane bushings. Polyurethane won’t wear like rubber, and it holds up much better at these pivot points.  

The installation took me about three hours. Our motorhome is on a Ford F-53 super duty Class A motorhome chassis. One step in the installation instructions said to torque the U-bolt nuts to the original manufacturer’s specifications. It took a couple of phone calls to find out what these torque specifications were. I also had to purchase a new torque wrench before I could start the installation. My torque wrench only went to 150 foot pounds and I needed one capable of 300 foot pounds. If you have the proper tools and facilities the installation is not that difficult. Pneumatic tools would help immensely. Some of the parts are heavy and bulky, so you will probably want an assistant to help with the installation. If you don’t have the proper tools, or if you don’t feel like tackling the installation by yourself, you can purchase your RSS sway bar at any Camping World Supercenter and let the pros install it for you. Call ahead to make sure they have the model you need on hand; Roadmaster makes these sway bars for specific motorhome chassis applications.

The real test was going to be how the motorhome handles on the road. Soon after I installed the RSS sway bar we loaded the motorhome and headed out on a trip to Niagara Falls. I drove the motorhome slightly over 7,000 miles without the RSS sway bar. After driving it 750 miles with the RSS sway bar all I can say is the difference is like night and day. I wish I had it on the motorhome the first 7,000 miles. The motorhome is more stable on the road, it handles and corners better and the body roll or sway was drastically reduced. And now when a truck passes it’s hardly noticeable. The RSS sway bar really makes getting there half the fun now.

Happy Camping!
Mark J. Polk

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