Adding Sway Bars to Pick-Up; Worth It?

So tomorrow I am going to look at a 2014 2wd F150.

Unless it's a terd or the dealer has a ton of hidden mark up I will likely buy it.

This is part of my plan to trim the fleet. It will replace my campervan and my Outback.

While I haven't really driven a modern truck, I assume it will be better than the 70s - 90s trucks I am used to. 

My concern is if I find it to ponderous would something like upgraded sway bars make a big difference in how it drives.

For those of you who have added sway bars to your pick up did you feel they were a benefit?

Yes yes and yes.

Yes. Ford also sells subtle drop kits with upgraded coil springs that would drop the CoG slightly and level the rake without looking completely "slammed" or reducing the functionality of the truck.

Ford part # 397-M-3000-H4B

Front, yes. Rear, I probably wouldn't bother.

Newer trucks are so stiff suspension wise that you might not notice.

The factory bars tend to the really really huge.

Can confirm very large stock sways. I just did the front sway bar bushings in my 2010 and the bar is like as big around as my fist.

i think you will find it ultra stable in stock form compared to a 70s/80s truck. By 2014 the electronic trailer sway control should be pretty much standard too I think. And I have no idea how that black magic works.

i also have considered a small lowering kit many times, but not for handling. Id just like the bed to be 2 inches closer to the ground haha!

I think that you'll find that the newer truck drives so much better than the older stuff that it doesn't need anything.  However, if it does then it'll respond to bars and shocks just like anything else.

Short of mounting a slide-in camper, or a 5th wheel hitch (neither being likely with a 1/2 ton), I wouldn't bother.  Drive it and see how it works with your use.

That said, a rear sway bar can absolutely help if you're putting a lot of weight up high on the rear.  A Hellwig 'BigWig' bar made a big difference in controlling the rear on our 3500 dually with a 4500lb camper mounted....

APEowner said:

I think that you'll find that the newer truck drives so much better than the older stuff that it doesn't need anything.  However, if it does then it'll respond to bars and shocks just like anything else.

This^ I've driven countless trucks from 1940s to present. They aren't nearly the wallowing pigs that they once were. Drive it a few days and then decide if it's worth the trouble.  

I've got an 2008 E350 van with the extended body. After tens of thousands of miles without complaint, I moved into what can best be described as a mountain community. Now I frequently drive curvy back roads (30-40mph) and a curvy highway (50-70mph). I didn't like how the van felt when on these roads, especially when loaded with 8-900lbs of motorcycles. I added a rear bar and was immediately impressed with the improvement. My wife even asked me what I did to the van, "It feels better on the (curvy) highway. A little while later a larger front bar when on sale for $100. It was a no brainer. It was also a noticeable improvement.

As others have said, drive it for a while before dropping the $.