Sumo Springs 1500 lbs or 2800 lbs ?

[jackreno]

I have a 2021 Ford E-350 super duty chassis 12500 lb GVWR, 158 inch wheel base.

My 25 foot BT Cruiser dry weight is around 10,500 lbs.

So would the 2800 lb sumo springs make my ride to stiff or should go with the light duty 1500 lbs.

Would the 1500 lbs be enough ?

I don't want a stiff ride just better support and sway control, trying out the Sumo springs 1st than see if I need a bigger sway bar.

Check my pic out for the back over hang.

[Charles L]

I recommend getting a new pair (front and rear) of sway bars by helwig or roadmaster. It will make a difference.

[jackreno]

Originally Posted by Charles L

I recommend getting a new pair (front and rear) of sway bars by helwig or roadmaster. It will make a difference.

The front is rock solid no sway, its just the back and its not as bad as my old class A I sold, I think starting with the easy 1st than add more if needed..

[DirtRider]

Originally Posted by jackreno

The front is rock solid no sway, its just the back and its not as bad as my old class A I sold, I think starting with the easy 1st than add more if needed..

Sorry if I’m missing the obvious here. But how does the front sway differently from the rear?

Edit—but I don’t think simply increasing spring rate is what is best here. The sway bar upgrade keeps the spring rate the same over bridge seams and cracks that cover all the rear tires, while effectively increasing the spring rate on the outer wheel in a corner. It’s where I’d start.

[jackreno]

Originally Posted by DirtRider

Sorry if I’m missing the obvious here. But how does the front sway differently from the rear?

Edit—but I don’t think simply increasing spring rate is what is best here. The sway bar upgrade keeps the spring rate the same over bridge seams and cracks that cover all the rear tires, while effectively increasing the spring rate on the outer wheel in a corner. It’s where I’d start.

Well it does sway in back only, sort of side to side not the body roll type sway.

It also has a very small sag in back but when I fill the 42 gallon water tank that's located in back it sags more about 1 inch.

My old bounder I sold did the full body roll sway however this only does the sway/side to side roll in back.

I did just order the 1500 lb light duty Sumo springs and I will see how that goes, its a start to see if it works without dumping a ton of money into it.

I thought Ford made this new 2021 chassis more robust but it appears its not much different than the older ones..

[DirtRider]

Originally Posted by jackreno

Well it does sway in back only, sort of side to side not the body roll type sway.

It also has a very small sag in back but when I fill the 42 gallon water tank that's located in back it sags more about 1 inch.

My old bounder I sold did the full body roll sway however this only does the sway/side to side roll in back.

I did just order the 1500 lb light duty Sumo springs and I will see how that goes, its a start to see if it works without dumping a ton of money into it.

I thought Ford made this new 2021 chassis more robust but it appears its not much different than the older ones..

So, side to side in a lateral way? As in, the unit is wagging it’s tail side to side, but not tipping much while it does it? Again, that doesn’t sound like a problem to solve with more spring rate. I haven’t found a real need to put on a panhard bar, but that’s the symptom they’re supposed to correct, if I’m understanding you right.

It’s always tough to describe these things in text, but I’m sure we’d all see it the same way in person.

[jackreno]

Originally Posted by DirtRider

So, side to side in a lateral way? As in, the unit is wagging it’s tail side to side, but not tipping much while it does it? Again, that doesn’t sound like a problem to solve with more spring rate. I haven’t found a real need to put on a panhard bar, but that’s the symptom they’re supposed to correct, if I’m understanding you right.

It’s always tough to describe these things in text, but I’m sure we’d all see it the same way in person.

Yes a track bar was one of the things I put on my old class A for the side to side movement in back, maybe that is what is needed on this new class C/B+, however it does sag a bit with the water tank in back so I thought I would start with the light duty Sumo springs..

I spent a lot of $$ improving my 08 Bounder to ride nice than up and sold it to move down in size, so I went new thinking Ford made improvements so the new 25 foot class B+ would not need chassis improvements but I sure was wrong..

Just a lot of hype in the Ford brochures about how much better it is over the older ones, not so true expect for the motor/transmission..

But than the new 7.3 has not seen 100,000 miles yet on any owners, time will tell..

[Ron Dittmer]

There are on-line videos of people changing their Ford E350 and E450 stabilizer bars comparing the original Ford bar with a heavy duty version. They are visually different in thickness by a lot. Also the stock bar utilizes rubber bushings, the heavy duty bar utilizes polymer bushings that compress less.

The choice of replacing just the rear bar or both bars is a matter of the investment. The front bar helps the rear bar be more effective. It is especially noticed and appreciated when driving down curvy mountain and canyon roads. Both bars in unison keep all 4 corners firmly planted on the pavement with down-forces distributed better for improved control and braking. The "confidence factor" and "safety factor" increase immensely.

I do not know if the latest generation 2021 Ford E350 and E450 chassis with the new Godzilla 7.3L-V8 is outfitted with heavy duty stabilizer bars straight off the Ford assembly line. If they are, then you are covered. You would have to compare dimensional specifications to be certain. All I know for sure is that if you have the Ford Triton 6.8L-V10 engine, your stock Ford stabilizer bars are NOT heavy duty.

CLICK HERE for a simple "test when parked" method to determine if your rig might benefit from suspension upgrades.

[twinboat]

I had Sumos in the front of my E450, installed by the previous owner.

One trip and I took them out. The rubber bouncing rebound feeling was to uncomfortable.

[jackreno]

Originally Posted by twinboat

I had Sumos in the front of my E450, installed by the previous owner.

One trip and I took them out. The rubber bouncing rebound feeling was to uncomfortable.

In front you would notice them, I don't tend to do the front its OK, my back might benefit from them but time will tell, I did go with the light duty ones so it wont be to ruff of a ride, they also come with a 1 inch spacer and I might leave that off so the Sumo spring don't come into contact of the axel unless it leans or bottoming out from pot holes and such.

[jackreno]

Originally Posted by Ron Dittmer

I do not know if the latest generation 2021 Ford E350 and E450 chassis with the new Godzilla 7.3L-V8 is outfitted with heavy duty stabilizer bars straight off the Ford assembly line. If they are, then you are covered. You would have to compare dimensional specifications to be certain. All I know for sure is that if you have the Ford Triton 6.8L-V10 engine, your stock Ford stabilizer bars are NOT heavy duty.

Yes mine is the new 7.3 2021 E-350 chassis, did Ford make the sway bars more robust I don't know, if they did it was probably just a tad thicker, that is what they do to justify its more rugged upgraded when it fact its not really..

Maybe someone with the knowledge of the older vs new can chime in and let us know.

However I do like the power of the 7.3 and the 6 speed transmission, almost has the power of a diesel..

[DirtRider]

Originally Posted by jackreno

Yes mine is the new 7.3 2021 E-350 chassis, did Ford make the sway bars more robust I don't know, if they did it was probably just a tad thicker, that is what they do to justify its more rugged upgraded when it fact its not really..

Maybe someone with the knowledge of the older vs new can chime in and let us know.

However I do like the power of the 7.3 and the 6 speed transmission, almost has the power of a diesel..

I really thought all their talk about upgrading the roll capability and sway and all that was just the F-53 chassis, which did get bigger sway bars. Maybe I missed it, but I don't think they talked about any of that stuff on the E-350 and E-450. I don't think they gained any GVWR or GCWR, either.

[jackreno]

Originally Posted by DirtRider

I really thought all their talk about upgrading the roll capability and sway and all that was just the F-53 chassis, which did get bigger sway bars. Maybe I missed it, but I don't think they talked about any of that stuff on the E-350 and E-450. I don't think they gained any GVWR or GCWR, either.

Well I did go and just checked on the Ford site and yes your right, maybe with all the new HP 7.3 talk and the upgraded drive shaft, the traction control, new instrument panel, blue tooth, adaptive cruise control etc etc and the fluff and puff stuff they talk about I though Ford also upgraded the sway bars like they did on the new F-53 chassis, but it appears they did not.

Well maybe a new stronger rear sway bar might be in my future if I don't like the Sumo springs..

[wanderso]

I added a Hellwig rear sway bar to an E350 Chinook Concourse I used to own and it made a huge difference in reducing sway. It did not make the ride any more harsh. I added Sumos to my 2008 Winnebago View sprinter chassis and it made a big difference in reducing sway. Can’t say how the sumos would help you on an E350, but they were good on the sprinter. If I needed to do it again on a Ford, I’d probably go with the sway bar just due on my prior experience.