Airbags for ride quality.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
People that mention "HARSH RIDE" know your tire/axle weights and run the recommended inflation plus 5psi on the weight/inflation charts for your tire size and load range.

Good point. I'm sure I don't need to run as high as I do but the dang light comes on and drives me nuts.

JIMNLIN wrote:
I've used Timbrens on my '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins. I ordered them online from another supplier and they shipped the wrong part number for my 2wd Dodge. I made a 1-800 number to Timbren about my problem. They shipped me two sets to choose from for the gap I needed along with a return all paid UPS postage.
Give them a call and tell them how much gap you want. Timbrens come in all different lengths to customize your particular trucks needs.

Thanks! I'll give them a call. Would be nice to get somewhat of a custom fit.

IdaD wrote:
Yeah I have a 2500 with coils. I think it actually rides a bit higher in the back compared to a 3500 but the Timbrens may be slightly different to nullify that. Mine only came with one set of spacers that pretty much lowered the Timbrens down to where it was barely contacting the axle empty, so any load or bumps would engage it immediately. I didn't ever try it with the spacers so I can't compare how it would ride with those compared to how it rides without. I'm totally satisfied with them, though. Simple and zero upkeep, they ride the same unloaded but improve the bouncing at speed with a load on. And at $200 or thereabouts they're a bargain. Also as I mentioned, since they only connect at one end to the truck there's no worry about tearing a bag offroad if you droop one side of the rear axle too much.

Thanks for the info. Looks like Timbrens are basically fancy, oversized bump stops, which is what we need. Don't have any significant sag issues with our Ram 3500. But, after our last trip I noticed the bump stops had contacted the axle housing a few times. Probably happened on I10 in LA. Every interstate has its share of bumps, but there's a stretch in Louisiana that jars your kidneys like no other stretch of interstate I've driven. Every single concrete slab for 30-40 miles has separated vertically about 3-4 inches causing a violent dip and rise every 40-50 feet. So, to be safe, figured we'd install some Timbrens to reduce the chance we'll damage something from driving on bad roads like this.

People that mention "HARSH RIDE" know your tire/axle weights and run the recommended inflation plus 5psi on the weight/inflation charts for your tire size and load range.

CampingN.C. wrote:

IdaD wrote:

otrfun wrote:

IdaD wrote:
That's the other thing I liked about the Timbrens. I installed them without the spacer so I get about 3/4" of travel before they contact the axle. I can't tell any difference in the unloaded ride.

IdaD, do you drive a Ram 2500 with coil springs? You mentioned you have 3/4" of travel empty. That sounds like a good distance so the ride empty isn't affected. Is there any way to adjust this distance in small increments with these spacers you mentioned?

Our 3500 with leaf springs rides harsh enough as it is. We don't want to take the chance of a harsher ride empty with air bags, so we're considering the Timbrens. Thanks.

Yeah I have a 2500 with coils. I think it actually rides a bit higher in the back compared to a 3500 but the Timbrens may be slightly different to nullify that. Mine only came with one set of spacers that pretty much lowered the Timbrens down to where it was barely contacting the axle empty, so any load or bumps would engage it immediately. I didn't ever try it with the spacers so I can't compare how it would ride with those compared to how it rides without. I'm totally satisfied with them, though. Simple and zero upkeep, they ride the same unloaded but improve the bouncing at speed with a load on. And at $200 or thereabouts they're a bargain. Also as I mentioned, since they only connect at one end to the truck there's no worry about tearing a bag offroad if you droop one side of the rear axle too much.

IdaD. What's the pin weight of your 5er? Reason I ask is, I've got around 1400lbs on the ball which squats the truck about two inches and rides level with the WHD hitch engaged.
Just wondering if I'd get them same results as you.

A bit over 2000 lbs.

IdaD wrote:

otrfun wrote:

IdaD wrote:
That's the other thing I liked about the Timbrens. I installed them without the spacer so I get about 3/4" of travel before they contact the axle. I can't tell any difference in the unloaded ride.

IdaD, do you drive a Ram 2500 with coil springs? You mentioned you have 3/4" of travel empty. That sounds like a good distance so the ride empty isn't affected. Is there any way to adjust this distance in small increments with these spacers you mentioned?

Our 3500 with leaf springs rides harsh enough as it is. We don't want to take the chance of a harsher ride empty with air bags, so we're considering the Timbrens. Thanks.

Yeah I have a 2500 with coils. I think it actually rides a bit higher in the back compared to a 3500 but the Timbrens may be slightly different to nullify that. Mine only came with one set of spacers that pretty much lowered the Timbrens down to where it was barely contacting the axle empty, so any load or bumps would engage it immediately. I didn't ever try it with the spacers so I can't compare how it would ride with those compared to how it rides without. I'm totally satisfied with them, though. Simple and zero upkeep, they ride the same unloaded but improve the bouncing at speed with a load on. And at $200 or thereabouts they're a bargain. Also as I mentioned, since they only connect at one end to the truck there's no worry about tearing a bag offroad if you droop one side of the rear axle too much.

IdaD. What's the pin weight of your 5er? Reason I ask is, I've got around 1400lbs on the ball which squats the truck about two inches and rides level with the WHD hitch engaged.
Just wondering if I'd get them same results as you.

IdaD, do you drive a Ram 2500 with coil springs? You mentioned you have 3/4" of travel empty. That sounds like a good distance so the ride empty isn't affected. Is there any way to adjust this distance in small increments with these spacers you mentioned?

Our 3500 with leaf springs rides harsh enough as it is. We don't want to take the chance of a harsher ride empty with air bags, so we're considering the Timbrens. Thanks.

I've used Timbrens on my '03 2500 Dodge/Cummins. I ordered them online from another supplier and they shipped the wrong part number for my 2wd Dodge. I made a 1-800 number to Timbren about my problem. They shipped me two sets to choose from for the gap I needed along with a return all paid UPS postage.
Give them a call and tell them how much gap you want. Timbrens come in all different lengths to customize your particular trucks needs.

otrfun wrote:

IdaD wrote:
That's the other thing I liked about the Timbrens. I installed them without the spacer so I get about 3/4" of travel before they contact the axle. I can't tell any difference in the unloaded ride.

IdaD, do you drive a Ram 2500 with coil springs? You mentioned you have 3/4" of travel empty. That sounds like a good distance so the ride empty isn't affected. Is there any way to adjust this distance in small increments with these spacers you mentioned?

Our 3500 with leaf springs rides harsh enough as it is. We don't want to take the chance of a harsher ride empty with air bags, so we're considering the Timbrens. Thanks.

Yeah I have a 2500 with coils. I think it actually rides a bit higher in the back compared to a 3500 but the Timbrens may be slightly different to nullify that. Mine only came with one set of spacers that pretty much lowered the Timbrens down to where it was barely contacting the axle empty, so any load or bumps would engage it immediately. I didn't ever try it with the spacers so I can't compare how it would ride with those compared to how it rides without. I'm totally satisfied with them, though. Simple and zero upkeep, they ride the same unloaded but improve the bouncing at speed with a load on. And at $200 or thereabouts they're a bargain. Also as I mentioned, since they only connect at one end to the truck there's no worry about tearing a bag offroad if you droop one side of the rear axle too much.

IdaD wrote:
That's the other thing I liked about the Timbrens. I installed them without the spacer so I get about 3/4" of travel before they contact the axle. I can't tell any difference in the unloaded ride.

IdaD, do you drive a Ram 2500 with coil springs? You mentioned you have 3/4" of travel empty. That sounds like a good distance so the ride empty isn't affected. Is there any way to adjust this distance in small increments with these spacers you mentioned?

Our 3500 with leaf springs rides harsh enough as it is. We don't want to take the chance of a harsher ride empty with air bags, so we're considering the Timbrens. Thanks.

If you put air bags on the truck in addition to the factory springs they increase your spring rate loaded or empty and will make your ride harsher. As some have noted before if you use them to lift your truck off of the overloads or better yet remove them and the airbags will probably add less harshness than the steel springs did and give a net improvement in ride. At one time my father and I have very similar trucks and loads. I had the factory overloads and he opted for airbags. I thought that his truck rode much better than mine when loaded. One thing that I have not heard of in a pickup but came as standard equipment on my Freightliner is ping tanks. They are simply tanks in the air line going to the spring and are used to absorb some of the air from the air springs when you hit a bump, thus reducing the spring rate of the airbag and softening the ride.

I am really curious about those Sulastic shackles, I may have to try them on my new truck to help the empty ride.