2014 F53 with stock trac bar?

[WineLuvrs]

Can anyone here verify whether or not the 2014 F53 has a OEM track bar on the front? I have been told this but feel the need to verify. Thanks in advance.

[Lostdog]

Please research "CHF" or Cheap Handling Fix. You will find tons of info. And go ahead and do it. World of difference.

[aauummm]

Originally Posted by WineLuvrs

Can anyone here verify whether or not the 2014 F53 has a OEM track bar on the front? I have been told this but feel the need to verify. Thanks in advance.

Mine's a 2011 F53 and it had the OEM track bar in front, pretty heavy duty one too. I don't think that Ford would drop it off of the 2014's but you never know.

The fleet.ford.com website has the 2014 specs and it says that the front track bar is standard on the F53.

The OEM track bar is the round horizontal bar just above the front axle in this pic:

[TeJay]

Correct information. We have the 2013 chassis and it came with the front track bar. I built a rear track bar and it helped a bunch. It is my understanding that they started putting the front track bar on the 2007 units. I also found out that Ford started using a poly bushing on the front and rear sway bars in 2012. That's good because the poly is heads above the stock rubber bushings that were originally used.

In order for the sway bars to be effective they have to rotate or twist within those bushings. If you perform the CHF, which I wouldn't understand why you wouldn't do it, you need a better bushing to handle the extra stress placed on those bushings.

TeJay

[C-Leigh Racing]

My gosh TeJay, by how its looking from what Ford is adding as STD, it just might be someone from Ford finely reading what we are posting on the RV sites.
Now if they would just WAKE UP & start adding the air ride to the F53 chassis, sales might go up.
Neil

[Camper Ken]

is that a Trac Bar or Sway Bar? There is a difference. My 2013 has stock sway bars front and rear, but no trac bar on either front rear. It was my understanding that trac bars are not standard equipment on Ford F53 chassis. I upgraded to a thicker fron sway bar, an auxillary rear sway bar (in addition to the stock sway bar) and added a rear trac bar to improve handling.

Ken

[aauummm]

Originally Posted by Camper Ken

is that a Trac Bar or Sway Bar? There is a difference. My 2013 has stock sway bars front and rear, but no trac bar on either front rear. It was my understanding that trac bars are not standard equipment on Ford F53 chassis. I upgraded to a thicker fron sway bar, an auxillary rear sway bar (in addition to the stock sway bar) and added a rear trac bar to improve handling.

Ken

In my previous picture that is a HD trac bar that came standard on my 2011 F53. Here's the stock anti-sway bar. These are stock OEM pictures that I took before adding the Kelderman Air Suspension System, etc.:

[dwaugh10]

My 2013 Vista 27N came standard with a front Trac bar, a front sway bar, and a rear sway bar.

David
2013 Vista 27N

[Dwight]

aauummm
Very clear pictures of the front axle track bar and the anti-sway bar.
In 1999 a Ford Factory Representative suggested that I would have improved steering if I added a Davis TruTrac bar on my F53 front axle.
Dwight

[Sweetbriar]

Starting with the 2006 chassis model a front track bar became standard on all wheelbases except the 15.7K lb. GVWR. This was the same year of the 3 valve heads with an electronic throttle, five speed transmission with Tow/Haul and 10 lug on the 19.5" wheels.

The trac bar is very easy to see in the images posted. Sway bar is in front of the axle while the trac bar is behind the axle. Also the trac bar will only attach to one side of the frame and suspension.

[Lincolnut]

On my 2005 HR sitting on a 2004 F53 has a factory front track bar and I have made my own rear track bar the handling is very much better.....The front track bar looks just like the ones in these photos.....So Ford started putting front track bars in at least 2004........Maybe it was an option in '04.......I am Ok with it being there either way .........

Mike

[TeJay]

What I really don't understand is the fact that some of the upgrades that many of us have added to the F-53 chassis to improve the ride/handling should/could be offered as options. I know I would have paid the price to have an air ride installed from the factory. With their buying power in large quantities the price would not have been bad at all and well worth the $$$$.
I have also heard that Ford added the front track bar when they changed from 2 to 3 valve engine around 2006 or 07. Some forget that most all MH's have a chassis that is 1 year older than the coach. That adds to the confusion of when something was added. Now I'm hearing that some units came with a front track bar as far back as 2004. I guess it does not really matter as long as your unit has one.

TeJay

[Camper Ken]

Originally Posted by dwaugh10

My 2013 Vista 27N came standard with a front Trac bar, a front sway bar, and a rear sway bar.

David
2013 Vista 27N

I stand corrected. I took a closer look today and yes there is a stock front trac bar.

Ken

[Lostdog]

Originally Posted by aauummm

In my previous picture that is a HD trac bar that came standard on my 2011 F53. Here's the stock anti-sway bar. These are stock OEM pictures that I took before adding the Kelderman Air Suspension System, etc.:

Also this photo shows the sway bar BEFORE the Cheap Handling Fix.