Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-21-2019, 07:17 AM   #1
Senior Member
 
tonyz1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 527
Ride difference with added Timbrens or Sumos

To those that have added these to their TV, I was wondering how they affect the ride of your vehicle under load? Do they make the backend harsh riding or not much difference? You can definitely tell my F-250 SD is a 4X4 truck by the ride and really don't want to make it a rougher ride but also could stand a little help with the sag when hooked to my camper. So wondering minds want to know, do you sacrifice ride comfort with these? Thanks for any of your observations.
__________________
Tony & Brenda
2017 Ford F-250SD 6.7 Power Stroke
2018 Flagstaff 29KSWS
Happy Camping!
tonyz1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2019, 08:22 AM   #2
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 92
I installed airbags and it made my ride softer unloaded. I have a 2017 F250 4x4 and it rides a lot better loaded and unloaded.
__________________
2019 Forest River Cherokee 294BH Limited
2017 F250 4x4 Diesel
Pure Luck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2019, 08:46 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Napa Valley, CA
Posts: 513
Timbrens worked great for my F-250 and 7K TT. No effect on unloaded ride, and no increase in harshness when loaded - in fact it rides more comfortably when towing. Maintenance free once installed. Since 95% of my truck use is unloaded, it works great for me.
__________________
2015 Rockwood A128S
2010 Rockwood 2604
2014 Ford F-250 CC SB 2WD
2008 Toyota Sequoia 2WD
Big Vic is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2019, 09:18 AM   #4
Senior Member
 
HONDAMAN174's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Big brown desert
Posts: 3,003
In my instance, it made the ride better by removing a lot of the road shock when loaded cause now there is a cushion resting your axle against the frame.

I know OP has a 250 but just giving my experience.
__________________
2014 Stealth Evo 2850- "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra Rock Crawler TRD 5.7- "Clifford"
2013 Honda Accord Coupe V6 w/Track Pack- "Julia"

Just glad to get away
HONDAMAN174 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2019, 09:20 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
BandJCarm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Between Pickles Gap and Toad Suck, AR
Posts: 6,070
I've put Bilsteins and Air Bags with inside remote on my dually. It still rides like a log truck. Some washboard roads (e.g. I-55 north of Memphis, right before Missouri line) make me think I have 3 flat tires.


I've sort of given up. Trailer doesn't bounce any....it's solid. Stuff on top of shelves stays there. But the truck.......geez.
__________________
"Next to prayer, fishing is the most personal relationship of man" Herbert Hoover
"American by Birth, Southern by the Grace of God"Lewis Grizzard

FROG AR-0019-242
2016 GMC Denali 3500Dually--2017 CC 36CKTS
BandJCarm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2019, 12:31 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
Leatherman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Central Maryland
Posts: 140
I just purchased a set of Sumos for my '16 Ram 2500. I will have them installed in the next week or so and will be going on a trip the following week.

I will report back. I have noticed a lot of "chucking" up and down and I wanted to try to address this condition with the SumoSprings.
__________________
Bobby
2021 Nights Camped 53
2020 Nights Camped 44
2008 Rockwood Freedom 1640LTD
2016 Ram 2500 Tradesman CTD
Leatherman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2019, 12:33 PM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 52
F250 with 11000 lb travel trailer. Without Timbrens there was lots of bounce with the wdh and trailer. Once installed timbrens the ride is more stiff with trailer but you do not have to worry about the bounce and spring affect from the wdh. Unloaded do you forget they are there. Put them on and 6 months later you will forget about them. You will not know the difference.

Ps I also had timbrens on my last truck 2500 dodge and results. Slightly harsher ride but once you use it awhile you get use to it and forget about them.
kylemcmahon1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2019, 07:09 PM   #8
Senior Member
 
tonyz1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 527
Thanks everyone for your responses and observations. I am leaning toward the Timbrens simply because of ease of installation and the cheaper price. Love to do the airbags with onboard compressor but that will have to wait till piggybank gets built back up! Bought too many camper accessories this year and the DW says slow down. Lol! Anyway, thanks again to the great forum group.
__________________
Tony & Brenda
2017 Ford F-250SD 6.7 Power Stroke
2018 Flagstaff 29KSWS
Happy Camping!
tonyz1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2019, 08:27 PM   #9
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 92
The airlift 5000 air bags are about the same price as the heavy duty Timbrens. Add the compressor later.
__________________
2019 Forest River Cherokee 294BH Limited
2017 F250 4x4 Diesel
Pure Luck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2019, 08:47 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
tonyz1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 527
I'll check them out. Thanks!
__________________
Tony & Brenda
2017 Ford F-250SD 6.7 Power Stroke
2018 Flagstaff 29KSWS
Happy Camping!
tonyz1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2019, 09:40 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 952
I have about 13k miles on the timbrens. They are a perfect solution for all the reasons mentioned.

The best thing I like about them is that they are a passive solution and nothing to fail when far away from everything.
__________________
2016 RAM 3500 DRW 4x4 LB LoneStar, w/RDS 33Gal Aux tank, Timbrens, Andersen Ultimate2, SwiftHitch SH04
2018 Chaparral 360IBL w/TST507 TPMS, Lippert GC3 Autolevel, Furrion Backup Cam, Progressive HW50C
2006 RAM 3500 DRW LoneStar Edition
2011 Starcraft 392BHUw/Andersen No-Sway

chaps2018 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-21-2019, 09:43 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
tonyz1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 527
Quote:
Originally Posted by chaps2018 View Post
I have about 13k miles on the timbrens. They are a perfect solution for all the reasons mentioned.

The best thing I like about them is that they are a passive solution and nothing to fail when far away from everything.
Thanks chaps, that is another thing I was thinking about. One less thing to tear up or for me to tear up while miles from home.
__________________
Tony & Brenda
2017 Ford F-250SD 6.7 Power Stroke
2018 Flagstaff 29KSWS
Happy Camping!
tonyz1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2019, 05:59 AM   #13
Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Eastern Shore of MD
Posts: 82
I had air bags installed on a car with coil springs (the air bags are installed INSIDE the coil springs). I took one 1200 mile trip and they worked great. I failed to keep the bags pumped up after the trip, so several months later on the 2nd trip, the bags were torn and not usable. Lesson learned, I now have Sumo springs on my F250.
Artspe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2019, 07:08 AM   #14
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 92
The Load Lifter 5000 ULTIMATE has a jounce bumper built into it, so I'm pretty sure even if it fails, it still provides some use. From their description. "The jounce bumper is made of closed-cell urethane foam in order to eliminate rough ride and provide an air cushion that will absorb shock effect and provide additional stability while towing or hauling heavy loads. This bump stop also gives the driver ability to run the air springs at zero PSI without causing any harm." I like that I can adjust the pressure while driving to find the sweet spot. And like I said before, when the truck is unloaded and the bags are empty "5psi" the truck rides a lot smoother because it's riding on the bags, not the springs. Or at least the bags are dampening the shock. Going over speed bumps with my truck would almost knock your fillings out, after the bags, it was a lot better.
__________________
2019 Forest River Cherokee 294BH Limited
2017 F250 4x4 Diesel
Pure Luck is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2019, 09:15 AM   #15
RiderBloke
 
RiderBloke's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: On the Road
Posts: 453
Suspension Enhancement

Has anyone tried the Roadmaster Active Suspension system? Here is the trailer.com link for my Tundra.
https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Sus...leID=201486764
Thanks.
__________________
Retired Intentional Interim Minister
Saginaw Valley BMW Riders
BMW Riders of Tampa Bay
Habitat Care-a-Vanner
RiderBloke is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2019, 02:57 PM   #16
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 89
Quote:
Originally Posted by RiderBloke View Post
Has anyone tried the Roadmaster Active Suspension system? Here is the trailer.com link for my Tundra.
https://www.etrailer.com/Vehicle-Sus...leID=201486764
Thanks.

I have them on my F150 and they are fantastic. They did change my unloaded ride for the better and have less bounce unloaded and loaded. Also the truck handles better like it has a rear anti sway bar. I will put them on any truck I own.
kurtsont is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2019, 04:36 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
tonyz1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 527
Thanks everybody for the info. I may upgrade to the air lifts in the future but for now I'm going to give the Timbrens a try. Just ordered a pair for my F250SD for 2 bills ( plus tax). Pretty reasonable to give them a try. Thanks again.
__________________
Tony & Brenda
2017 Ford F-250SD 6.7 Power Stroke
2018 Flagstaff 29KSWS
Happy Camping!
tonyz1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-22-2019, 07:28 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2018
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,371
Timbrens

No ride effect when no trailer. On my Tundra, pulling 27VSL, 7300 lb. V-front, prevented bottoming when hitting bumps or railroad tracks w/ trailer. Also, reduced rear squat on truck. The Tundra had an adjustment in the cab for adjusting height of headlights, but helped on that also. It added improved control and softened ride. Given, my trailer is nose heavy, but it was a big improvement in my case and I would recommend.
Tundra 2014 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-12-2019, 12:26 PM   #19
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 44
I started out with the RAS and it helped get rid of some bounce. I have a 2.5" level on my silverado so no matter how well the wdh was set up the truck would sag and bounce. I added timbrens and now it sits level and the bounce is gone. The RAS and timbren combo is working well.
rmk184 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-12-2019, 07:37 PM   #20
Senior Member
 
DavidBo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Texas Coastal Bend
Posts: 844
I'm also very happy with my Timbren SES. The installation was a breeze and totally reversible, and on a smooth road you won't notice a difference. First thing I noticed is that my truck used to almost bottom out in the back after driving over a speed hump, especially if there was any notable weight in the bed. The Timbrens really come into play then and absorb the jolt very well.
I've never towed without those big bump stops so I can't make a fair comparison, but between that and the new Bilstein shocks I'm sure my Equalizer WDH has an easier life.
DavidBo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:25 AM.