Rear sway bar recommendation- Eibach or Hellwig?

[TowGMC]

My loaded trailer pushes the back end of the Denali around more than I like so want to install a better rear sway bar on it. My old BMW X5 with the factory sport suspension plus H&R lowering and Eibach sways made it a pretty darn good tow vehicle but wheelbase was too short and it was only rated for 6000lb.

Some of the movement is from the sloppy sidewalls of the 20" Bridgestones but nothing I can do about that. So the next weak link is the suspension. Looks like the stock rear bar is a 1.125" hollow bar. My options are:
Eibach- 32mm (1.25") hollow bar, non-adjustable. Without knowing the wall thickness of the stock or Eibach bars, this will be a modest increast in stiffness
Hellwig- 1.25" solid bar, 3 positions of adjustment to fine tune the stiffness.

I've had Eibach products for decades, have probably 20 pairs of their race springs for the race car, and had their sway bars on my previous 2 SUV's (both German). But Hellwig has a great reputation for American trucks and SUVs. And I'm not sure the small increase in diameter of the Eibach will get me much unless the wall thickness is beefier too.

So I'm looking for suggestions please.

 

[Goodinblack]

Are you lowered? I would buy the Airlift 1000 bags for the trailer hauling needs. Make the springs in the back stiffer. I would recommend them to people lowered or unlowered if they haul a lot. If you are unhappy overall then get sway bars. Most people here swear by them. I have not done them however.

 

[TowGMC]

Are you lowered? I would buy the Airlift 1000 bags for the trailer hauling needs. Make the springs in the back stiffer. I would recommend them to people lowered or unlowered if they haul a lot. If you are unhappy overall then get sway bars. Most people here swear by them. I have not done them however.

Nope, stock ride height. It has self leveling rear air bags already though. Just a really soft suspension laterally. Doesn't help that I'm pulling 6,800 lbs with close 900lb of tongue weight. I do run the Reese Dual Cam sway control/ weight distributing system which helps significantly.

I really do not want to get into a lot of suspension mods on the truck, definitely have no desire to lower it and give up a significant portion of the towing capacity. Plus I've got 3 more years and 60,000 miles of full bumper to bumper GM warranty left and if I start modding it I'm going to jeopardize the coverage. So just looking to make small changes.

FWIW, a call to Eibach and I found out that their rear bar is about 14% stiffer than stock and recommended to be used with their front bar at the same time so I might be doing the Hellwig adjustable in the end.

 

[stevek]

Honestly I'd go for getting some 22"s to reduce the tire slop since that will be a portion of your pushing. Some of the GM 22" wheels look REALLY nice (CK375).

 

[TowGMC]

Honestly I'd go for getting some 22"s to reduce the tire slop since that will be a portion of your pushing. Some of the GM 22" wheels look REALLY nice (CK375).

Yea, I've considered that. Like some of the Escalade 22's, but the thought of $3,500 for wheels and tires makes the <$200 sway bar a might attractive first step.

Also considering getting the Continental Cross Track 20's to replace the Bridgestones when they wear out, they're an XL load range while the stock tires aren't. Several friends who've switched to them have said they aren't any harsher riding but a lot less sloppy in the turns. I'll probably need new tires before winter so might try that next.

 

[Goodinblack]

Usually people recommend more sidewall for heavy loads, not less.

I do not think there is any 22 inch tire made that is a "LT". The 20's are the only ones that you can get a "LT" tire or XL.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

[Stresst]

Usually people recommend more sidewall for heavy loads, not less.

I do not think there is any 22 inch tire made that is a "LT". The 20's are the only ones that you can get a "LT" tire or XL.

Someone correct me if I am wrong.

While there are a few 22's which are rated XL you are correct you want more sidewall. I think there is confusion between high speed driving where you want a stiff and low sidewall to prevent "sidewall roll" but when towing its a totally differant "roll" more like the suspension getting out of shape. I would honestly get new tires before doing anything! And to be even more honest 900lb tongue weight is way too much for this truck! Go buy a Sierra Denali and be done with it! LOL

 

[TowGMC]

While there are a few 22's which are rated XL you are correct you want more sidewall. I think there is confusion between high speed driving where you want a stiff and low sidewall to prevent "sidewall roll" but when towing its a totally differant "roll" more like the suspension getting out of shape. I would honestly get new tires before doing anything! And to be even more honest 900lb tongue weight is way too much for this truck! Go buy a Sierra Denali and be done with it! LOL

Yea, agreed, it's the sidewall that is partially responsible for the load rating. Need some heat sink to dissipate heat. I've towed race car trailers probably 100,000 miles over the past 20 years, 10,000 miles in 2010 alone. Unfortunately unlike the old days when I could drive a 3/4 ton truck as a tow vehicle and have a fun sport sedan as a daily driver, these days the family thing means an SUV is a requirement. Too bad GM (or Ford) won't make a 2500 series SUV with a Duramax turbodiesel. So the Denali has to be the compromise tow vehicle. Wife's '11 MDX won't do it.

I'm probably being more picky than most when it comes to towing, there are lots of people quite happy with Tahoes and Denalis as tow vehicles. I just happen to do some long tows (1,000 miles each way from Chicago to VIR) and will often do 12 hour tows straight through. And I'm a firm believer in having a margin of error when it comes to towing too. So while I bet a lot of people wouldn't worry about a slight bit of movement in the rear of the Denali, I like to be comfortable on long tows.

And to be honest my old 3/4 ton 6.0 Suburban did the same thing, but had far less towing power and the old 4 speed trans that was a serious compromise when towing.

Oh, and I've towed with 10-12% tongue weight for decades. With the Reese Dual Cam using 1000 lb spring bars it's no big deal. And frankly the sway is far worse when the trailer is empty and the tongue weight is just 400 lbs. Manufacturer build the trailer with a 12% tongue weight empty, and recommended 10-12% all the time.

Think I'll try the Hellwig purely for the adjustability of the arms, and it comes with all new hardware including pivot bushings and drop links. The Eibach just included pivot bushings. I'll get it on as soon as I receive it and report back.