18w workhorse trac bar vs sway bar

[hut2go]

Recently bought a 2006 Winny Itasca Sunova 26p class A. Been 5th wheeling for 12 yrs. What a different driving experience. More bouncy and requires much more attention to steering. Effected by passing semis.
Considering new Koni shocks, and either f&r trac bars or sway bars. Don't understand the difference tween the two.
Any clarification would be appreciated.

[Cloud Dancer]

"sway bar" is a misnomer, in this case. What they mean is a anti-roll bar. "track bar" is a panhard link. If I were you I would Google the definitions.
It could be that the ads use sway bar and track bar interchangeably.

[70ChevelleSS]

It's actually an anti-sway bar. It attempts to keep both ends of an axle the same distance from the chassis. Whether by wind or cornering the coach wants to sway to one side. The springs on that side start to compress. The anti-sway bar transfers that force to the other side so that both springs stay compressed the same amount.

A track bar addresses a different handling issue. With solid axles on leaf springs wind from say a passing semi pushes the coach to the side. The axle doesn't remain centered under the coach. So you're forced to correct the steering as the coach moves over the axle from side to side. A track bar attaches to the axle and the frame and keeps the axle centered.

So which problem are you trying to solve. The coach rolling side to side, sway? Or the coach being pushed around by passing semi's. Or maybe both.

[Cloud Dancer]

And, the anti-roll bars resist excessive side "tilting" of the body on its roll axis. Basically, a motorhome will have anti-roll bars installed from the factory. This bars are transversely mounted to the frame rails with pillow blocks, and will have arms on both ends (which are linked to the suspension). They act as cross torsion bars.
The track bar, or panhard link, is a straight link with ball ends on both ends, with one ball end attached to the frame rail and the other end attached to the suspension on the other side.

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

Congrats on the new rig! Sorry I can't help with your questions. Keep her between the ditches!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[Gary RVRoamer]

70ChevelleSS covered it well. They deal with different things.

I'd go with the track bar first, if it doesn't already have one in the front (Ford began including them on the F53 some years back). It will likely do the most for steering and the effects of passing semi's. Will do nothing for bouncing, but I'm not real sure what your "bounce" is. Like after bumps, or what?

Shocks are for repeated bouncing (excessive spring rebound), but they are primarily designed to keep the wheels in contact with the road. They really don't do much for ride comfort.

You are driving a heavily loaded truck, so its never going to be like a car or even a pick-up.

[hut2go]

Appreciate the learned info. Will have more questions in the future.