What Do Sway Bars For RVs and Campers Do?

Mainline Truck Team • September 26, 2023

Proper suspension is a must for any type of vehicle - but it's particularly important for RVs and campers. Because these vehicles are so tall, that makes them particularly susceptible to sway from crosswinds, and prone to roll over on tight turns. Sway bars for RVs and campers are one of the most common ways of countering this tendency to sway, but the sway bars on many stock vehicles are sadly inadequate for the job.


So in this article, we'll talk about the common suspension problems on RVs, and how improved sway bars can help give you a much safer ride.


Sway Should NOT Be Part Of Your RVing Experience

There's an unfortunate truth about most RVs sold in the US: they're built on top of totally stock chassis intended for pickup trucks. As you can imagine, this is not the best choice for supporting the weight and size of a full camper. Unfortunately, this results in a lot of RV owners thinking that dangerous amounts of sway is something they have to live with.


The most common cause of sway is crosswinds. The first time you get hit by a gust, the RV may lurch to one side, which is a real white-knuckle moment when it happens. You might get used to it, but it's still dangerous every time. Worse, that tendency to sway back and forth can also show up when taking turns, making it surprisingly easy to roll your RV.


These are not things that an RV owner should have to deal with - which is why sway bars for RVs are such a necessary suspension upgrade.

Sway Bars Keep Your Camper Stable

Sway bars are basically long metal bars that run across the bottom of your RV connect to either side of an axle or frame. In practice, they act like torsion springs - if the bar is twisted, it fights against that twist and tries to straighten out.


That's how sway bars stop sway and rollover. Whenever the top of the RV' starts to tip over, it causes the sway bar to twist, and the bar resists that twist. This can dramatically reduce sway when you're on the road, as well as making tight turns safer. You should always be aware of the possibility of rollover when making turns in your RV, but a good heavy-duty sway bar will make it a lot easier to keep your camper upright.


Mainline RV & Truck Service Has The Upgrades You Need 

We're one of the most trusted sources in Ohio for parts and upgrades on all makes of RVs, campers, and commercial trucks. We're known across the state for our huge range of parts and excellent service. Our prices are fair, and we always stand by the work we do. That's why we're a popular destination whenever drivers need an upgrade.


If it's time for new sway bars on your RV, contact us for a service appointment!

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