Timbrem or Sumos on F150

I also used Timbrens on my Ram 1500... for about 250 miles. Way too jarring. Sumo Springs offers a couple different densities. The lower density one sounds promising if you don't need extreme support. I don't have hands on experience though.

Haven't tried Timbren but put a set of Sumo on our F250 and seems to work well...no jarring. They are set with about a 1 inch gap.

They are progressive, so the initial compression doesn't apply much force but as they compress the force increases faster than the compression.

Sumo better ride empty

I had Timbrens and HATED them. Go with air bags and don’t look back.

I went with Hellwig overload springs. Had them on my 97 F150 and got them for the 13 F150. Yeah, they firm up the ride a tad, but for the better IMO and still better than stock and rides better than the wife's 2003 Rav4!



Mitch

I love my SumoSprings on my F150! I chose them because of the more modern microcellular urethane material, over old tech hard rubber.
They work as advertised.

IMO, leaving the gap creates the SLAM effect. When I used something similar with my cabover camper, I had the block just barely engaged with the spring.

Hi Dan, did you go with the blues (1000lbs) or black Sumos (1500)?

We are towing 7500 lbs. It sounds like the blues are softer and may be easier over bumps.

BTW, the gap doesn't create the slam effect when towing as the rubber is in full contact and compress. I think it is the hardness of the rubber in the Timbren that causes the jarring effect.

MC

Super_Dave wrote:
IMO, leaving the gap creates the SLAM effect. When I used something similar with my cabover camper, I had the block just barely engaged with the spring.

When fully loaded, the gap goes away before you hit the road, so it's already carrying some weight and generally not slamming with either option.

When running empty, they engage only when you hit a bump (ie: the gap is used up):
- Timbrens apply full resistance as soon as they touch. X lbs/inch of compression.
- Sumo gradually increases resistance after they touch Y lbs/inch/inch

So all else being equal, the sumo will apply far less for the first inch of compression but will quickly ramp up as compression increases creating a smoother feel as they engage.

If you take away the gap with Timbrens while running empty, it will give a rough (but not slamming) ride as the resistance is enough in that they lift the empty bed rather than compress the springs & timbrens.

Airbags get around this by adjusting the pressure to the load but they are more complex and prone to failure.

valhalla360 wrote:

Super_Dave wrote:
IMO, leaving the gap creates the SLAM effect. When I used something similar with my cabover camper, I had the block just barely engaged with the spring.

When fully loaded, the gap goes away before you hit the road, so it's already carrying some weight and generally not slamming with either option.

When running empty, they engage only when you hit a bump (ie: the gap is used up):
- Timbrens apply full resistance as soon as they touch. X lbs/inch of compression.
- Sumo gradually increases resistance after they touch Y lbs/inch/inch

So all else being equal, the sumo will apply far less for the first inch of compression but will quickly ramp up as compression increases creating a smoother feel as they engage.

If you take away the gap with Timbrens while running empty, it will give a rough (but not slamming) ride as the resistance is enough in that they lift the empty bed rather than compress the springs & timbrens.

Airbags get around this by adjusting the pressure to the load but they are more complex and prone to failure.

Yes, no gap when loaded should be the idea, not running empty.