Timbrens,airbags!
Wondering what would work best for leveling the truck. It’s not bad but I do have vehicles flashing their lights at me at night. Put a set of stableloads on truck but that didn’t seem to help...leaning toward airbags.
Forum Discussion
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- I have an 2006 F350 DRW
I got rid of the air bags, I hated them, they did nothing for sway and seemed to make the truck mushy. Made the move to Timbrens, Really made a difference and I like them, no airing up no thinking about if they leak. When its empty rides on the stock springs. - Another option I run across today is https://activesuspension.com/suspension-kits/
What do you think?
Bill MORSNOW wrote:
Highway Runner wrote:
The trucking industry uses airbags. I think there is wisdom in following that lead.
Not even close to being the same thing. However the bounce you see will be the same. Watch a semi trailer as it bounces up and down while going down the highway, who want's that?
You could not be more wrong with that statement! that truck you seen “Bouncing up and down” was not maintained properly, everyone knows that your shocks will stop that. I have been driving trucks for 46 years, the best suspension on the road is air ride! How much money do you want to spend and how long do you plan on keeping your truck? Go to Kelderman air ride systems and check out their website. I installed the full 4 link system in my Ford with the front air system too. It is truly the best on the road! Rides level when empty or loaded to the max. smooth ride with no bounce. They supply a super duty sway bar that is twice the size of factory so there is no sway at all. With all the money spent on air bag helpers, heavier leafs and shocks, spring stoppers, and all the other “Patches” you could buy a system that works perfect all the way around.
Just saying.
Good Luck
WesHighway Runner wrote:
The trucking industry uses airbags. I think there is wisdom in following that lead.
Not even close to being the same thing. However the bounce you see will be the same. Watch a semi trailer as it bounces up and down while going down the highway, who want's that?- On our 2006 F350 DRW LB, we've used quite a few suspension modifications. Here are my thoughts, FWIW:
With the camper (OK 117DBL), we had Firestone bags installed with camper install IN Sieverville, TN. A bit of roll, but manageable. Truck did sit a bit low in back with camper on. A few short trips things were fine, but after a long trip to AZ, the bags failed (caught the mounting bolts and ruptured due to poor install...).
When I got it home, the RV repair shop recommended a spring shop to look at the issue, and the owner suggested I skip replacement bags and look at "Extreme Service" Timbrens (that was the name then, I assume it's different now). Much less roll, more stability, and we used these until 2016 or so.
Along the same time, I added bigger "bump stops" for the overloads. I think I followed some advice on here and used Energy Suspension blocks, though I know some used hockey pucks or other items. That helped as well.
IN 2008, I added Hellwig overloads (I think, they are a spring with a hump in the middle to mount over the existing spring pack". I removed the Energy Suspension mods and that helped, mainly because the existing spring pack was losing some of it's capability.
We quit using the camper as much in 2011, so the existing solution worked fine until 2016. At that point, the suspension was needing some more drastic attention, and so I swapped out all four points for a Kelderman Air Ride.
I've always wanted an air ride with auto levelers, and I like it for our use, but it's a very expensive option and it's not for the non committed. You literally take all the suspension off your truck and replace, so it's not easily removed. I know many that have a fondness for bags, but even the air ride system has a bit more sway than I would prefer, but the Firestone air bags were even more so, in my opinion.
I did not try the overload helpers like Torklift and others offer, so I can't comment on them, but I think the Timbrens are a awesome investment, because they are easy to add and remove, and they only engage under load. That helped keep the lights where they needed to be at all times.
The Kelderman would probably be on the bottom of my recommendation list, mainly because it's expensive, has more roll than Timbrens or springs, and is probably more prone to issues due to the mechanicals and the air system. That said, it's an impressively cool system, and the auto-leveling system with the rear dump (lower the bed) option provides tons of truck cred :-). Boys and their toys, you know...
Jim Highway Runner wrote:
The trucking industry uses airbags. I think there is wisdom in following that lead.
I think you are confusing air suspension in trucks with air bags . Not the same at all .- The trucking industry uses airbags. I think there is wisdom in following that lead.
Edd505 wrote:
Fishhunter wrote:
Wondering what would work best for leveling the truck. It’s not bad but I do have vehicles flashing their lights at me at night. Put a set of stableloads on truck but that didn’t seem to help...leaning toward airbags.
Get the headlights aimed, Google how to or go to a shop.
Agreed, don’t use airbags to adjust your headlights. If the truck handles the load well and sits right, then just adjust the headlights. If you need suspension then add suspension.
Also fwiw, you can shim Timbrens up or down to engage at different points. No idea how yours are setup but you may be able to bump them up to engage sooner if that will help youFishhunter wrote:
Wondering what would work best for leveling the truck. It’s not bad but I do have vehicles flashing their lights at me at night. Put a set of stableloads on truck but that didn’t seem to help...leaning toward airbags.
Get the headlights aimed, Google how to or go to a shop.- I put Firestone air-bags on my 2500 Dodge Ram, LB CC, gas. Worked great. No sway.. even ride. 50# loaded.
