Rear Trac Bar

Planning on doing some suspension upgrades on 2017 E-450 2351.  My thought is to begin with a trac bar thinking I can measure the benefit and it looks like it would be much easier to install sway bars and shocks after trac bar install.  I have looked at the Super Steer bar.  One of my concerns is if I go ahead and install a trac bar will I be able to install Hellwig sway bar, and Koni FSD shocks at a later date. I would
appreciate any thoughts on product, installation, or general thoughts on this plan.

Many thanks, Mike

10 years ago when I had a local shop improve our 2007 E350 suspension, I recall them mentioning that it was very tricky installing the rear Henderson trac bar with the rear Roadmaster heavy duty stabilizer bar in combination.  I never knew the details of the challenge, only that there was a challenge.  I don't know if pictures will help you, but feel free to CLICK HERE to see the pictures I took soon after the installation.  The rear Henderson trac bar parts are blue.

Sailors35.....On two occasions I attempted to install a Blue Ox trac bar on my 3100.  Both attempts were a disaster!!  Attempting to do the installation myself was one problem and just way to much "stuff" running along the frame rails made it very tough.  If you go the trac bar route have some one do the installation.  The front and rear sway bars are a very easy DIY task compared to the trac bar.  good luck

Mike
We tow a 2013 Honda CRV with our 2007 2350 that is on a E-350 chassis.  When the CR-V was connected, it negatively impacted the handling of the RV, especially when passed by large vehicles pushing a lot of air.  This started me down the path of the following suspension improvements:

-  Safe-T-Plus steering damper
-  Rear sway bar (Roadmaster)
-  Rear Trac-bar  (Blue Ox)
-  Front Sway Bar (Hellwig)

This did make a noticeable improvement in the handling of our RV.   For this installation, the RV did not have to be lifted off the ground nor any wheels taken off.  I did not swap the rear shocks off as I recall the top bolts on the shocks were going to be a challenge as they were right up against the floor of the RV - I was not planning on changing them out anyway.  I cannot speak to your 2351 or the E450, so I don't know if you will face different challenges.  Plus your RV is several years newer than ours, so I cannot speak to any changes they may have made in those years. 

Could you please share what is motivating you to make the suspension improvements?  We are considering updating to a 2351 in the future and did not think we would need to make all of these suspension improvements.   I was assuming the upgrade to the E450 (instead of our E350) and weight distribution improvements of the extra foot between the front and rear wheels (2350 vs 2351) and moving the water tank forward (our 2007 has the weight of the water tank all the way back) would have eliminated the handling issues.

Thanks,

JJ

We owned a 2016 2351 on a 450 chassis that I towed a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk with. On occasion, I would get a slight tail wag but couldn't make up my mind to install the track bar that sits in my barn. The only thing I did to the 2351 was install Koni shocks which helped the ride and handling somewhat. I traded the 2351 for a 2017 2552X (extended model) and this unit handles just fine, towing or not. So, the track bar still hangs on the barn wall. All is well.

we have a 2015 2552, stock from the factory,8’12000 miles towing a honda cr-v. it drives great and give no problems.
passing trucks are barely noticeable.
dave

excuse please the 8’ in my post. fat finger problem!!

Mike
We tow a 2013 Honda CRV with our 2007 2350 that is on a E-350 chassis.  When the CR-V was connected, it negatively impacted the handling of the RV, especially when passed by large vehicles pushing a lot of air.  This started me down the path of the following suspension improvements:

-  Safe-T-Plus steering damper
-  Rear sway bar (Roadmaster)
-  Rear Trac-bar  (Blue Ox)
-  Front Sway Bar (Hellwig)

This did make a noticeable improvement in the handling of our RV.   For this installation, the RV did not have to be lifted off the ground nor any wheels taken off.  I did not swap the rear shocks off as I recall the top bolts on the shocks were going to be a challenge as they were right up against the floor of the RV - I was not planning on changing them out anyway.  I cannot speak to your 2351 or the E450, so I don't know if you will face different challenges.  Plus your RV is several years newer than ours, so I cannot speak to any changes they may have made in those years. 

Could you please share what is motivating you to make the suspension improvements?  We are considering updating to a 2351 in the future and did not think we would need to make all of these suspension improvements.   I was assuming the upgrade to the E450 (instead of our E350) and weight distribution improvements of the extra foot between the front and rear wheels (2350 vs 2351) and moving the water tank forward (our 2007 has the weight of the water tank all the way back) would have eliminated the handling issues.

Thanks,

JJ

JJ, We just spent 4.5 months traveling the Midwest following the USAC sprint car circuit from Kansas to Ohio.  I have lived in FL for many years but am a native of Indiana.  I must say my home state and its neighbors appear to have some of the worst highways I have ever experienced.  Expansion joints taller than some of the corn, giant holes from missing concrete, wavy concrete that appears to have been laid by someone who never used a trowel.  We tow a Fiat 500 Sport which really posed little if any problem.  The real issue for me is the bumpiness of the ride, occasional swaying from trucks.  So I think I am going to begin with replacing shocks and go from there.  See my next post on this idea! 

Thanks for the additional information!  Bumpiness and expansion joints have never been an issue for us, I guess a key difference could be the E350 vs E450 chassis.  I will be interested to learn more on how your new shocks perform.
JJ