TIMBREN Suspension Enhancement

[Rickf191]

Anyone have any experience with their products ?  I'm looking at their NRNVHD kit for towing my 24' enclosed car trailer. I have some sag in my 2500. Towed with Ford E-350 for years with no problems. Thanks

[ASD Dad]

Used them for 4 years on my Tundra towing various campers. Most half ton trucks have suspensions tuned for ride comfort and not hauling so I had a lot of sag/bounce even with my WD hitch setup perfectly. They worked fantastically. When unloaded you'll never know they're installed unless you go over a speed bump or similar. Loaded they took all bounce and sag away. I prefer them to airbags or springs. They're dead simple with nothing to fail and they're quiet.

 

I'm actually considering them for my 3500. I've got a heavy tongue weight with the toy hauler

[Rickf191]

Used them for 4 years on my Tundra towing various campers. Most half ton trucks have suspensions tuned for ride comfort and not hauling so I had a lot of sag/bounce even with my WD hitch setup perfectly. They worked fantastically. When unloaded you'll never know they're installed unless you go over a speed bump or similar. Loaded they took all bounce and sag away. I prefer them to airbags or springs. They're dead simple with nothing to fail and they're quiet.

 

I'm actually considering them for my 3500. I've got a heavy tongue weight with the toy hauler

Thank's ASD Dad. Ordered a set from Summit Racing. $287 shipped with the racers discount. I will have some feedback after I install them. Rick

[ASD Dad]

Do a review when you get them installed!  On my Tundra installation took all of 45 minutes and that was with one of my little guys helping.  That's a great price, lowest I have found was around $305 shipped.  

 

I've got a 1000 mile tow coming up in two weeks (going to FL and back) which will be my longest in the NV so far.  I plan on loading up my TH differently to see if I can get some weight off the tongue but I'll be interested to hear how they work out for you.

[vanguy]

Please give us some feedback once you've used them for awhile.

 

I had air bags on my old Chevy 1 ton van. They worked very well when I towed my 32 ft 4 ton trailer. Trailer had a tongue weight of 1800 lbs. Air bags are more maintenance intensive for sure. So I would like to see how these work out.

[ASD Dad]

That's why I picked them over air bars or springs.  The Timbrens is just a big hollow block of rubber.  Nothing to fail.  Air bags you need to worry about leaks.  Helper springs like Supersprings can squeak or rattle like crazy.  I have heard decent things about Roadmaster springs but they're always under tension so ride is affected as well as ride height.  When empty the Timbrens should still have a small amount of clearance so the ride is totally stock unless you hit a bump big enough to compress the suspension to make contact.  Timbrens arent adjustable (although some have had varying degrees of success trying) but they're simple and reliable.

[Rickf191]

Received the Timbrens from Summit. Installed in 20 min. Took more time to jack up and set jack stands. My van is loaded for work. The van sat an 1 1/2" lower in the back. Measuring wheel well opening. after install van sits perfectly level. Did not change the ride performance at all. Next test trailering. I'll keep you posted.

[KMG]

Thanks for the information.  So with the load you carry for work the Timbrens are always in contact and they raised your rear ride height by 1 1/2"?  Continually being in contact didn't change ride quality?  

[Rickf191]

yes they are in constant contact. Ride comfort is the same. A little more firm but not really noticeable.

[ASD Dad]

Looking forward to a towing report.  Just got back from over 1200 miles of towing our camper and I think I need stiffer spring bars or the Timbrens to get the rear of my van up a bit.

[breto33]

I have had these installed for 4 months and I think the ride is much worse with them. Every little bump is noticeable and the roads in Iowa and Missouri it feels like you are constantly bouncing. I also notice a lot more interior popping and creaking since I installed them. I really wish they had some clearance from the axle with no load. I think I am either going to cut an inch or so off the bottom or go back to the factory ones. I haven't towed my camper with them yet but my regular trailer definitely feels a lot heavier after installing these. And it seems like my tires spin much easier in wet grass now and don't get traction with the trailer hooked up.

[ASD Dad]

Timbrens are not supposed to contact anything unless there is a load on the rear suspension.  There is supposed to be some clearance, on my Tundra there was a little over an inch.  That way there is no change in ride when unloaded, I only felt them when I hit something like a speedbump.  If they are in contact you basically have a solid connection from the frame to axle and the ride would be terrible.

 

Traction could be an issue - they can reduce weight transfer to the rear axle.

 

I would email or call Timbrens and ask what the height of the part should be and if they should be in contact unloaded.  

[breto33]

Update - I called Timbren and they sent me shorter ( i think like 1 1/2" shorter) rubber springs to swap out and now the ride is back to what it was before i installed.  Still rougher than factory because i put a little larger AT tires on it, but definitely not as bouncy.  Havent towed yet since the change.

[Glidedon]

I installed these last week. Mine are in constant contact, but I never completely unloaded the vehicle. The rear-end sits a little higher, ride a little stiffer. I had these on my previous van also and they worked well.

[KMG]

Timbrens are not designed to be in contact with the frame under normal loads.  A shock absorbing bump stop eases the impact when your suspension becomes over loaded from the combination of the temporary heavy load and a force on the suspension (bump).  If your daily load is enough to cause a correct length Timbren to be in contact, you need to improve the suspension with better springs or an air bag system.

[Ambulock]

Hellwig is great.