Timbren question

[daily_double]

I am thinking of installing Timbrens on the rear of my F350 dually. Do those of you who have them notice a harsher ride?

[SidecarFlip]

The things remind me of the old Freightliner 'Velvet Ride' suspension. Thete is no give. Velvet ride allowed truck drivers to seriously overload without fear of a sagging suspension.. They rode like a lumber wagon as well

Give me air bags and an on board compressor anyday. I can tailor the ride to the load plus the air bags have travel, the Timbrens are just solid urethane blocks. No travel.

[whizbang]

FYI --- after driving around for a week with the extra 1" spacer on, I took then off yesterday.

It was just too stiff without a gap between the Timbrens and the axles.

[starcraft69]

I love mine. Installed them on 2007 3/4 Chevy 6 years ago. First used them for my cab over for years and the ride was really good. Now i have a 5th wheel and still love them smooth ride empty and stable ride with load and still smooth.

[Beau_Bo]

After I installed them I didn't find the ride rougher but I did find it different. The sensation I noticed was that when hitting bumps, highway expansion joints, etc., it feels like a lurch or a launch out of the bump as the springs in the Timbrens decompress. I called Timbren and they sent me replacements with a lower spring rate (no cost to me) and although the sensation was diminished it is still noticeable to me.

[exhaustipated]

I've had them on my truck for the last five years and they perform as advertised and the ride is a lot more stable.

[smooth1]

jimh425 wrote:
I don't have them, but you should make sure your TC doesn't lean to one side or the other. If so, they won't easily fix that.

My camper is heavier on one side (drivers side), and I used to have to run 60R/40L psi in the airbags. Same camper on a newer Ram leaf spring SRW truck (2006 to 2015) and there is no extra sag on the drivers side with the Timbrens.

I also don't have to put the rear camper jacks down to stabilize the camper anymore as it used to rock an roll with the bags and sway bar on the 06.

I tried the camper on the 2015 truck without any mods and the truck sagged bad. All I have added now are Timbrens, the truck rides nice and level, and I feel that is all I will ever need.

I was surprised how well they work loaded and don't notice them at all unloaded. Worth a try for the price.

[jimh406]

I don't have them, but you should make sure your TC doesn't lean to one side or the other. If so, they won't easily fix that.

[2112]

I have been using them on my last two trucks for years towing TT's and FW.

Unloaded I don't know they are there, same ride/feel. The ride is more stable and less sag when loaded.

All my future trucks will have Timbrens installed.

[GeoBoy]

I have had them on 2 different GM 1 ton trucks and they work as advertised.

[whizbang]

I've had Timbrens for about 5 years and my experience up until two days ago matched the other users.

I am now driving around daily with 500 pounds of tools in my truck. The space to the Timbrens decreased to about 1/4 inch. Two days ago, I installed the "optional" one inch rubber spacers so the Timbrens are in constant contact with the axle.

The ride is a bit stiffer. Fortunately, the truck is back to it's original rake, and, there is almost no lean or roll going around corners. And I am expecting one inch less sag when I load the camper.

I like it.

[NHIrish]

MORSNOW wrote:
I have the HD version on my truck. There is about 1-1/2" gap when unloaded so it does not affect the ride at all. When my camper is loaded there is a small gap or they are just touching and provide cushion down the road. I haven't noticed a harsh ride at all even though I was sceptical at first especially when they weren't compressed at all with the camper loaded. I thought the initial impact would be harsh, but it's not.

Ditto...but with a fifth wheel. They were a great addition.

[MORSNOW]

I have the HD version on my truck. There is about 1-1/2" gap when unloaded so it does not affect the ride at all. When my camper is loaded there is a small gap or they are just touching and provide cushion down the road. I haven't noticed a harsh ride at all even though I was sceptical at first especially when they weren't compressed at all with the camper loaded. I thought the initial impact would be harsh, but it's not.

[shellbackcva59]

You normally install them without a load on the truck, leaving about a 1 inch gap before they contact when loaded. I've had them on 2 trucks, and never noticed a harsher ride.