Hey great video! Thanks for choosing to run our product on your truck, pumped you’ve joined the Timbren family. Aren’t dad’s awesome - experience knew the pry bar would be your friend with this one! Go dad!
It's a great product and very easy to install (with Dad's help). If you're needing a good video to show installation feel free to share this one. I think we covered all the bases of what to do and what not to do. 😂 Seriously though, it's a great product and we're happy we chose them. -Chris & Suzannah
@@yourtravelgal7821 The main difference is application and weight capacity. Sumo has different weight capacities where our springs are made to work with any capacity because of the progress spring rate, meaning the more weight put on the spring the more it works to keep your vehicle level and eliminate roll and sway. This means you just need to select the right kit for your vehicle and you’re good to go for all capacities.
@@TimbrenIndustries Also the Sumo springs are in there I would think it would affect normal ride quality where the timbren leaves a gap and allows the axel to move around a bit before making contact
Maybe its just me, ...for what that 3500 is built for and costs, GM, Ford, Mopar etc should have those in there before it even rolls off the assembly line. At that, great vid! Thanks! 🍻
True ! I was just at a performance products store and they were telling me about those Rancho shocks did not holding up “ time “ they are ok for riding around but too load over and over ! They ca take the heat !
For an easy installation, leave the tires on the truck. Jack up the rear bumper as shown in the video, and stack 2 - 2x4 blocks on top of the axle. Slide/wedge the Timbren spring boosters into the opening between the top bump stop cup and the 2x4 blocks on the axle......remove the jack stands, lower the bumper jack so the weight is all on the rear tires. The Timbrens will compress and pop right into the bump stop cup on top! Whole process takes about 5 minutes!
Chevy 2500 HD, Duramax, tow 39 Ft. 5th Wheel, 13,000 Gross Vehicle Weight - Installed Timbrens on rear of truck, they definitely smooth out bumps when towing and nearly completely eliminate up and down spring bounce when hitting a large bump or dip in the road at high speed. Easy installation, $$ well spent.
This is just a thought process i go through when im using jack stands or something similar. The pinch point you have your arms in is between the axle and the frame/bead. If the jack goes the jack stands are not in a position to support the weight of what will get you. Jack stands kill wrenchers a lot, and it not always because they failed. Granted the bead is empty and the suspension will catch itself, but it's something to consider.
Great video. I really enjoyed watching this. Curious about my truck now. We have a dually F-450 with extra after market leaf springs. Our pin weight is 3,750lbs and I’ve never noticed any issues with squat but now I want to get under there and look at these as I put weight onto the truck.
That is a heavy fifth wheel! I didn’t realize that had that large of a pin weight! If you’re riding level it may help out with any side to side. It’s be interesting to see what your gap is between the springs and the axle.
Newbie to the page (subscribed) and to the world of travel trailers. I was looking for something to help with the squat on my Ram 1500. These look lime agreat alternative to airbags. I'm going to order some today after seeing this video.
Used em on my RAM1500 towing my 28' trailer from Inland area over Mountains down into Desert n back (San Diego County). They work excellent under lots of weight (even w/ weight distribution bars on trailer would still sink my 1500) and now in Oregon hauling 1ton pallets of wood Pellets home.. Would be impossible for light duty truck without Tembrens. *BUT.. under No Load they are like Concrete bump stops over every speed bump (hurts my kids' rears even in back seat..!) every pot hole, bump, etc. AND makes my truck skip to the side sometimes with such stiff suspension.. (because they only work as suspension under extreme weight, Otherwise THEY DO NOT GIVE..!) So I switch between stock bumps back n forth when hauling or not. Stock bumps pop off, Timbrens will snap in (no bolt) but usually you have to jack up the axle to get them to pop in, I tried a crowbar, couldn't do it..! $250 but LOVE THESE THINGS..!
I have them too. I didn't take my tires off and it was easy. I put two by fours between the bump and the axle and use a jack under the axle to seat them. I have had them for about four year on a 2500HD with a fifth wheel and I'm glad I went that way instead of airbags. The ride is really great. Safe Travels.
We put the same set on our 2017 Chevy 2500 for hauling a 2500 Lb loaded truck camper. We used them to reduce squat because the truck has a front leveling kit that I didn't want to remove. It worked out to be the best of both worlds, level truck when unloaded and nearly level truck when loaded. Maybe we should of squeezed the trigger on the Severe service ones but only time will tell. FYI - we used a scissor jack and impact gun to get them into position and dropped the truck on them to complete the installation. Great video!
We put about 21,000 miles on ours and they did great. Not sure if the added cost of the severe service once would have been better or not. Very happy with the basic product. I like your idea for installation!!
You’re welcome. These are very affordable and easy to install and worked great for us over nearly 20,000 miles of towing a 15,000lb fifth wheel. Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!
So with the gap between these and the suspension, you’re still going to get that first bit of squat regardless. I have a 2021 GMC 2500 and with my fifth wheel, I squat 2.75”. It looks like you’ll get an inch or so of travel to take up before these engage, so I’ll probably be more like of 1.5”-2” of squat with these installed… sound about right? My pin weight is almost 3500 pounds, so right on the edge of payload for this truck….
Yes, it’ll drop down under weight until the timbrens come in contact with the leaf springs. There will still be some compression after that. Our 3500 dropped down until that gap was filled but it road level while towing a 15K fifth wheel.
I installed Timbren SES units in my previous 1995 Safari Van, 2021 Safari AWD van, 2009 GMC Montana mini-van, 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT and installed in my current 2021 GMC 1500 X.31 . Love Timbren SES units so much, my next future Tow Vehicle will have Timbren SES units as well. Install them, gap them with 1-1.5 inch empty load and leave them. Note: The secret is ensuring 1/2" to 3/4" gap via provided spacer steel plates. IMO, Timbrens should be factory optional inclusions - instead of Air Bags/Air Hoses that leak and a hassle to always air up / air down.... Timbren SES is install and leave it. Towing life should be back to simple solutions....
@@HintonTheTrail Me too. First time viewer and loved the content. Would it be possible to mount a Go-pro underneath while driving to see them in action?
@@pgwarth Thank you! I did try a GoPro when putting this video together, but it shifted after we started driving and I ended up not getting any footage of the Timbrens. I needed to get the video out so never got the footage. This was filmed over 3 years ago and we no longer have the truck or 5th wheel. Sorry.
We installed these before picking up our fifth wheel. We’d seen a lot of similar setups with the load causing sag and wanted to avoid that. The options were air bag system, timbrens, or sumo shocks. After a lot of research we decided on the timbrens and they worked perfectly for our situation.
Great video! I'm doing what I do to a 4th gen V8 4Runner and I still want to be able to tow a car trailer and maybe a small camper. I got on the Timbren site and these look like exactly what I need. Thanks for the tip
Hi Chris we have been watching your videos since we parked next to you guys last year at Take It Easy RV in Winslow AZ. We are in Massachusetts right now and it looks like our hitch ball moved slightly for our travel trailer. We brought it to a mechanic to have it checked and torque to 450 ft lb. He said even though it moved it is safe and he torqued it to 500 ft lb. Anyways he told me about Timbermen. He said he has a pair off from his truck that would fit. He will give them to us for $125 installed. We don't have much squat because we have a decent weight distribution hitch. We do have a very bouncy/pogoing/porpoising ride on overpasses and dips. He said these things would help a lot with that. I read a ton of reviews and a lot of people were saying it's a rough ride when your not towing. I know it's been a while since you have had them but did you notice a difference between non towing ride quality at all since they don't touch the axle with no weight loaded?
Hello, great to hear from you! Timbrens stop the sag on the rear only and aren't engaged unless there is enough weight on the back to compress them. They don't do anything for the regular ride of a vehicle when there isn't extra weight in it. We had them on a 3500 and the ride without any extra weight wasn't any worse after installing them. Once engaged under weight the ride was great though.
Great video. For anyone looking to fix the rake this thing is legit. 2022 F350 towing a 40 ft 5th wheel with a 3300 lbs pin weight. It used to sag 3-4 inches and the front end became really light on the bridge bumps. After adding this the sag is 1 inch and not to mention actually a better towing fuel economy. Averaged 1-1.5 mpg better economy.
Not sure how much space there is between the Timbrens and the axle on your truck, but there should be about 3/4 - 1" of space before they engage. Unfortunately, that also means a little rougher of a ride unloaded because there's less space for travel.
But if you only really need it for hauling a 5th wheel, do you really care? My ride as a daily driver is good so I’m only concerned about squat and the ride under load, right?
1/2” min. to 1 1/2” max. per directions, it looked like there was a big space (1 1/2”+) after he installed them, seen it on his test load/demo part of the video. They do have an optional 1” spacer to ensure the gap is correct. I’d definitely keep it within manufacture specs setup, it could only help that much more. The Timbren product is meant to work in-conjunction with the factory suspension. Decades ago I used this concept from a different company on my 1/2 Ton truck made a huge difference. Highly recommend the Timbren product, A++++ 💯
I've actually been doing research about the air bags and not convinced but I'm going to give these a try for my ram 2500. Thanks for the video and safe travels!
Think if I wanted to make sure those don't drop out when going down the road unloaded ....couple simple Self tapping screws into those cups ...no way they can get lost after that . otherwise also zero affect on their use after that .
I have Timbren SES rubber springs on my Tacoma 98, my weak springs aren't able to haul much at all, But with Timbren helper springs I can haul way more than the truck is rated for. And the ride is ok for all the weight, it doesn't sag or lean, GREAT install.
Not sure how much it would improve the ride. These really perform when there’s weight pressing down between the frame and the axle. I would definitely reach out to Timbren and ask before you go any further.
you dont need to seat them all the way or use a pry bar. You just get them in enough to not fall and the 2x4 and jack seats them. I don't think it took me 10 minutes start to finish for the install on the same truck
I just swapped out my airbags for Timbrens yesterday. While the airbags are superior in leveling the truck both front to back and side to side (our slide-in truck camper is heavier on the left), they don't help much with body roll or reducing porpoising. I haven't replaced the camper yet but I'm looking forward to evaluating the performance of the Timbrens. Take the tire off. Much easier to install the Timbrens that way.
Nice Flag, nice music, great video. I just bought a set for my Ram 2500 towing a 5th wheel with about 1,000lb load on the truck. Sag loaded was about 2". Waiting for warmer weather to install. And yes taking the wheels off.
I don’t know if you already have it, but you should also consider the Gen Y hitch. I have one for my horse trailer and it really takes the trailer tugging out of the equation. I was looking for other options from the air bags and my husband sent me this video. I just might give that a try before I dive into the air bags. Thanks for the video!
odd question..since you are now using a different area on the rear axle for load support, would that cause any issues as far as bending ect? Hate to do this and have a warranty issue denied due to an " improper modification". Great video!
Not an odd question. The timbrens are basically taking the place of your factory bump stops which would activate in the same location on the axles, just after much more sag. The timbrens allow contact, on the same location, early so your vehicle doesn't sag. The below quote comes from eTrailer for a someone asking a similar question. "You're also covered under the Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. This act says if something breaks on your vehicle and you take it in for warranty repair, the dealer must honor your warranty unless whatever you have added to your vehicle or its installation actually caused the problem in question." Hope this helps!
honestly i feel like alot of people prefer these instead bags because of how easy they are to install but bags in my opinion are the better go to for heavy hauling
I think the main selling point with airbags over Timbren / spring setups is the ability to air down the bags for off-roading. It seems that having softer springs with airbag combo would be best of both worlds approach. But if towing a lot, or never really offroad, this is the clear winner from a cost perspective.
In terms of the truck in this video, and considering I have the 24 model year of the same truck, the leafs are too stiff and the wheel travel/articulation too limited to be enough to take advantage of airing bags down. Moreover, the timbrens allow you to keep full extension and when you hit a hole and compress it's like a super bump stop in that it doesnt allow the big shock to be transferred to the chassis. And with these GM 3500 duramax's that weigh over 8k depending on trim level thats a bigger benefit.
I installed Timbrens in the rear of my 2001 1/2 ton 2WD Silverado. Installation was easy. The quality of the parts was very good and the directions were clear. I recently built shelving in the bed of my truck and afterwards I noticed the truck began to wallow in corners. After rolling about a 100 miles on the Timbrens I'm on the fence about the ride quality. It's become very bouncy, almost to the point of becoming annoying. I'm hoping the ride quality will improve over time.
Not really. There is a pretty good sized gap between the timbren and the axle so it would need to compress down hard enough to bring them in to contact.
if memory serves; I believe you can get air bags as an option on the rear of the RAM 2500/3500, and get the 4 corners self leveling air ride on the RAM 1500 standard equipment on the Limited, and the new Tungsten, and optional equipment on all the other RAM 1500.
Squat and sway were huge concerns when we moved up to a fifth wheel and we'd heard great things about Timbrens...and they're more affordable than an airbag system. What do you run on your rig?
@@Nordic_Mechanic We've put over 20,000 miles on our Timbrens now and haven't had any issues. Saved us a lot of money compared to adding air but either one is going to improve your towing ride.
@@HintonTheTrail They are definitely better that stock bump stock in the front. Ill be putting them in the front to counteract my heavy front bumper. I dont see how I could make the truck tow better though. Even with a 15000lbs in the wind truck stays planted. Longest wheelbase dually it tows very well. Air would improve empty truck behavior a lot though. Those older 3500 dually are HARSH! I'll be getting a quote for all new rear springs soon (because of wear) But im betting the cost will be high enough to be worth going to air ride. Spring beam , watts linkage and 2 air springs instead of 20 leaf springs.
Anyone looking for a much better ride? Although expect around 100.00 increase in parts cost, slight increase in installation time, My opinion, well worth it. . If you will lift your truck more inline with empty height so springs are unloaded and off helpers, and are able to work, One will see a much better ride all the way around, This can be achieved by going with something similar to Firestone 2250 ride rite airbag kit, One can always go with manual inflation, Number for your truck will be different, Same effect, Easy Installation, Truck will squat very little. Much better overall performance. . Want an even better ride, Emty or loaded? I recommend Sulastic Shackles, One will not be disappointed with one or both of these options. My first option is going with Firestone ride rite airbags, One will see a major difference in this alone when towing as you are presently! Sulastic shackles will enhance also improve with vibration/smoothness. . Note: Your choice of Timbren stops, would of been better if about 3" longer for your 5th wheel tow. "Nice Truck & Travel trailer.
They worked great for keeping things level with a 15,000lb 5th wheel. Never had any issues and so much more affordable than airbags. Spokane is my hometown but we’re now settled in Maine.
I had a pair on an S-10 and currently on my 2018 Frontier. The were both easier to put on than yours was, and they both worked great when towing my RVs👍
If your camper weighs roughly 15,000 pounds, you’ve got a heavier pin weight than 2300 lbs pounds. Pin weight should be closer to 20% total weight. If that’s not the case in your situation, you have too much weight on your rear axles. Your best way of knowing is go to a CAT scale.
Great Video,.. Next time just take the cup off the bracket with one nut and put it in vice and pop it out push new one,.. put back on truck,.. just sayn,. might be a little easier?!!
I almost choked and gagged when he mentioned $225 yes I have 225 but I'm not going to spend it on two pieces of rubber When I can get actually get heavy duty coil springs For $219 dollars. But it was actually a good video.
If that works for your vehicle and your needs then pull the trigger. I don’t have any experience with heavy duty coil springs added to a 2021 Silverado 3500. The timbrens are replacing the factory bump stops and are very easy to install. Not sure what would need to be done for installing springs. Most important thing is that you improve the ride and towing safety of your truck. However you get there. Good luck.
this was great information....im taking possession of my new truck this week*woo woo* and even though it comes with heavy tow pkg along with heavy payload pkg, im thinking these will be a great add-on...i'll tow a trip first and see how truck repsonds...but this was very informative, thank you!!
i have them on the 22 chevy 2500 , do you feel the ride is harsh when your hooked up to your fith wheel . i just went across counrty and back. i feel it makes the bumps in the road more harsh with the timbrens whats your thought now?
We put over 15,000 miles on our truck towing our fifth wheel and didn’t feel that the bumps were harder. Our fifth wheel was just over 15,000lbs fully loaded and it pulled great. Unloaded it was a bit more jarring when you hit large bumps.
Hey man, I was actually just thinking about you and wondering what you were up to. We’re doing well, living up in Maine and enjoying retired life. Hope you and the family are doing well.
Couple of questions… What is the unloaded gap between the bottom of the Timberen and the top of the perch? Can you give us measurement comparisons of unloaded and loaded of before and after installation of the timberens?
New to the channel! New subscriber! Great video! I have an F-250 and it had a level kit when i bought it. When i am towing my travel trailer i feel the back has too much sag and was looking to get either air bags or timbrens. Due to the leveling kit will the rear still sag with the timbrens?
I can’t answer that because of the leveling kit. I would imagine the Timbrens would stop the sag but it may be best to contact the Timbren folks. It may change what product you need.
Removing my timbren ses from my f250. Picked up my brand new 4840lb trailer loaded it up with my load and my truck squatted a lot. Will replace it with airlift.
Yea, I had to do the same. I have a 2020 GMC 3500 dually hauling a large truck camper. Got the severe service ones and the truck still squatted too much. Had to go to air bags to level my load. Cheers
Ease of installation, much more affordable, no maintenance, and it works. We've been running ours for over a year and 20,000+ miles of towing a 15,000-lb fifth wheel and couldn't be happier.
I’ve had them on 3 different trucks, they are ok if you don’t pull often, but you WILL squat, just not as much. Bags are the only way to go for regular use
Good catch on that. On this specific kit (for a 2021 Silverado 3500HD) the bolt that you see connects the appropriate mounting spacer and SES springs. When you go on the Timbren site and input your year/make/model they give you products built for it. In the case of our truck the Timbren SES comes assembled and just pops in. Different vehicles may require different kits that don't come pre-assembled.
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Hey great video! Thanks for choosing to run our product on your truck, pumped you’ve joined the Timbren family.
Aren’t dad’s awesome - experience knew the pry bar would be your friend with this one! Go dad!
It's a great product and very easy to install (with Dad's help). If you're needing a good video to show installation feel free to share this one. I think we covered all the bases of what to do and what not to do. 😂 Seriously though, it's a great product and we're happy we chose them. -Chris & Suzannah
@@HintonTheTrail Thanks guys 👊🏽
How are these different from SumoSprings? As far as the final result and the ride improvement over SumoSprings?
@@yourtravelgal7821 The main difference is application and weight capacity. Sumo has different weight capacities where our springs are made to work with any capacity because of the progress spring rate, meaning the more weight put on the spring the more it works to keep your vehicle level and eliminate roll and sway. This means you just need to select the right kit for your vehicle and you’re good to go for all capacities.
@@TimbrenIndustries Also the Sumo springs are in there I would think it would affect normal ride quality where the timbren leaves a gap and allows the axel to move around a bit before making contact
Maybe its just me, ...for what that 3500 is built for and costs, GM, Ford, Mopar etc should have those in there before it even rolls off the assembly line. At that, great vid! Thanks! 🍻
We agree. They’re very effective, and inexpensive. Should be a no brainer for the Big Three. Thank you! -Chris & Suzannah
True ! I was just at a performance products store and they were telling me about those Rancho shocks did not holding up “ time “ they are ok for riding around but too load over and over ! They ca take the heat !
Yes and all car should have a better warranty. Car warranty suck
@@tedhicks5431 I agree 3 yr 36k is bs. If Kia can do a 10yr 100k, there's no reason the rest can't.
@@GiantMeteor2024 Im in hvac the residential equipment has 10yr and its alot cheaper than a vehicle
For an easy installation, leave the tires on the truck. Jack up the rear bumper as shown in the video, and stack 2 - 2x4 blocks on top of the axle. Slide/wedge the Timbren spring boosters into the opening between the top bump stop cup and the 2x4 blocks on the axle......remove the jack stands, lower the bumper jack so the weight is all on the rear tires. The Timbrens will compress and pop right into the bump stop cup on top! Whole process takes about 5 minutes!
Chevy 2500 HD, Duramax, tow 39 Ft. 5th Wheel, 13,000 Gross Vehicle Weight - Installed Timbrens on rear of truck, they definitely smooth out bumps when towing and nearly completely eliminate up and down spring bounce when hitting a large bump or dip in the road at high speed. Easy installation, $$ well spent.
Great info! Thank you for sharing. They really do a great job of leveling the ride height out when you’ve got a lot of weight.
We installed new Timbrens on our 3500 Silverado last spring after purchasing our new camper. Absolutely love them. Nice job on the video.
That's great to hear! Thank you for watching and the nice comment. -Chris & Suzannah
Can you tell me quickly what model of Timbrens you used on your 3500 to help with your Camper? SES or Severe Service? Thanks
This is just a thought process i go through when im using jack stands or something similar. The pinch point you have your arms in is between the axle and the frame/bead. If the jack goes the jack stands are not in a position to support the weight of what will get you. Jack stands kill wrenchers a lot, and it not always because they failed. Granted the bead is empty and the suspension will catch itself, but it's something to consider.
That is very good advice. Thank you for taking the time to add the comment!! -Chris
Great video. I really enjoyed watching this. Curious about my truck now. We have a dually F-450 with extra after market leaf springs. Our pin weight is 3,750lbs and I’ve never noticed any issues with squat but now I want to get under there and look at these as I put weight onto the truck.
That is a heavy fifth wheel! I didn’t realize that had that large of a pin weight!
If you’re riding level it may help out with any side to side. It’s be interesting to see what your gap is between the springs and the axle.
I would have liked to see "before" squat and "after" squat
I wish we could have done that. The fifth wheel was three weeks late from the manufacturer so we put the Timbrens on before it showed up.
I have these on my ram 1500 best investment I’ve made on my truck
That's great!!
Very well put together video! I basically learned about this product 10 minutes ago LOL...they seem like a decent alternative to bags.
Thank you, glad it helped. Yes, definitely a great alternative to bags, much cheaper, easy to install, no maintenance. And they just work!!
Newbie to the page (subscribed) and to the world of travel trailers. I was looking for something to help with the squat on my Ram 1500. These look lime agreat alternative to airbags. I'm going to order some today after seeing this video.
That’s awesome. They do work great!
Used em on my RAM1500 towing my 28' trailer from Inland area over Mountains down into Desert n back (San Diego County). They work excellent under lots of weight (even w/ weight distribution bars on trailer would still sink my 1500) and now in Oregon hauling 1ton pallets of wood Pellets home.. Would be impossible for light duty truck without Tembrens.
*BUT.. under No Load they are like Concrete bump stops over every speed bump (hurts my kids' rears even in back seat..!) every pot hole, bump, etc. AND makes my truck skip to the side sometimes with such stiff suspension.. (because they only work as suspension under extreme weight, Otherwise THEY DO NOT GIVE..!)
So I switch between stock bumps back n forth when hauling or not. Stock bumps pop off, Timbrens will snap in (no bolt) but usually you have to jack up the axle to get them to pop in, I tried a crowbar, couldn't do it..!
$250 but LOVE THESE THINGS..!
Great info. They are pretty rough when not under load for sure.
I have them too. I didn't take my tires off and it was easy. I put two by fours between the bump and the axle and use a jack under the axle to seat them. I have had them for about four year on a 2500HD with a fifth wheel and I'm glad I went that way instead of airbags. The ride is really great. Safe Travels.
Thank you for sharing!
We put the same set on our 2017 Chevy 2500 for hauling a 2500 Lb loaded truck camper. We used them to reduce squat because the truck has a front leveling kit that I didn't want to remove. It worked out to be the best of both worlds, level truck when unloaded and nearly level truck when loaded. Maybe we should of squeezed the trigger on the Severe service ones but only time will tell. FYI - we used a scissor jack and impact gun to get them into position and dropped the truck on them to complete the installation. Great video!
We put about 21,000 miles on ours and they did great. Not sure if the added cost of the severe service once would have been better or not. Very happy with the basic product. I like your idea for installation!!
your having a lot of trouble, should have watched a video how to install, hahaha
I did. 😂😂
Nice to see you pull the trigger on the bump stops. :) The pry bar was a great idea. Much more cost effective than the airbag option. Thank you!
Thank you!
Thank you for this review. I was going to go with Air Bags. But this helped me to to decide to go with the Timbren. Safe travels
You’re welcome. These are very affordable and easy to install and worked great for us over nearly 20,000 miles of towing a 15,000lb fifth wheel.
Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!
I have timbren on my ram, it definitely helps reduce the squat when towing. It can be a bumpy ride depending on what kind of road your on when towing.
True.
I would give up a little ride comfort for stability when towing !
do you leave them on when not towing? if so how does it affect the ride?
So with the gap between these and the suspension, you’re still going to get that first bit of squat regardless. I have a 2021 GMC 2500 and with my fifth wheel, I squat 2.75”. It looks like you’ll get an inch or so of travel to take up before these engage, so I’ll probably be more like of 1.5”-2” of squat with these installed… sound about right? My pin weight is almost 3500 pounds, so right on the edge of payload for this truck….
Yes, it’ll drop down under weight until the timbrens come in contact with the leaf springs. There will still be some compression after that. Our 3500 dropped down until that gap was filled but it road level while towing a 15K fifth wheel.
I installed Timbren SES units in my previous 1995 Safari Van, 2021 Safari AWD van, 2009 GMC Montana mini-van, 2017 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT and installed in my current 2021 GMC 1500 X.31 . Love Timbren SES units so much, my next future Tow Vehicle will have Timbren SES units as well. Install them, gap them with 1-1.5 inch empty load and leave them. Note: The secret is ensuring 1/2" to 3/4" gap via provided spacer steel plates. IMO, Timbrens should be factory optional inclusions - instead of Air Bags/Air Hoses that leak and a hassle to always air up / air down.... Timbren SES is install and leave it. Towing life should be back to simple solutions....
That’s great, thank you for sharing!
This is a 3500 u have. You have duty lift springs. This other stuff is just snake oil
Thanks for watching.
Been using them for 20 years .Great product
That’s awesome!!
Not necessary...a properly equipped and set up rig will NOT need them.
Disclaimer...we've only been towing RV trailers 37'yrs and noe nutt'n.
Thanks for watching.
Just band aids
Thanks for watching.
Very helpful. Now I can install mine easily! Thank you
Thank you, glad we could help!!
One of the best reviews and Install videos that I have seen. You have answered a lot of questions for me. Thanks!!
Thank you, that’s awesome to hear!!!
I hate the squat on my 2024 2500 AT4. My F-250 didn’t squat as much.
Time for Timbrens or airbags.
You've maxed that thing out! Next upgrade you'll need a new driver's license..
Ha ha. Might need to!
Based on the gvw of the truck and trailer, he legally needs a class A now
@@josh223tango I think that varies by state - and he would know.
I'm first time viewer at your channel, great content, thank you!
That’s awesome to hear! Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment!!
@@HintonTheTrail Me too. First time viewer and loved the content. Would it be possible to mount a Go-pro underneath while driving to see them in action?
@@pgwarth Thank you! I did try a GoPro when putting this video together, but it shifted after we started driving and I ended up not getting any footage of the Timbrens. I needed to get the video out so never got the footage. This was filmed over 3 years ago and we no longer have the truck or 5th wheel. Sorry.
Before you installed the Timbrens, was your truck raked in the back or was the front level?
We installed these before picking up our fifth wheel. We’d seen a lot of similar setups with the load causing sag and wanted to avoid that. The options were air bag system, timbrens, or sumo shocks. After a lot of research we decided on the timbrens and they worked perfectly for our situation.
Great video! I'm doing what I do to a 4th gen V8 4Runner and I still want to be able to tow a car trailer and maybe a small camper. I got on the Timbren site and these look like exactly what I need. Thanks for the tip
Thank you! We’ve now put over 7,000 towing miles on them and extremely happy with them!
Hi Chris we have been watching your videos since we parked next to you guys last year at Take It Easy RV in Winslow AZ. We are in Massachusetts right now and it looks like our hitch ball moved slightly for our travel trailer. We brought it to a mechanic to have it checked and torque to 450 ft lb. He said even though it moved it is safe and he torqued it to 500 ft lb. Anyways he told me about Timbermen. He said he has a pair off from his truck that would fit. He will give them to us for $125 installed. We don't have much squat because we have a decent weight distribution hitch. We do have a very bouncy/pogoing/porpoising ride on overpasses and dips. He said these things would help a lot with that. I read a ton of reviews and a lot of people were saying it's a rough ride when your not towing. I know it's been a while since you have had them but did you notice a difference between non towing ride quality at all since they don't touch the axle with no weight loaded?
Hello, great to hear from you! Timbrens stop the sag on the rear only and aren't engaged unless there is enough weight on the back to compress them. They don't do anything for the regular ride of a vehicle when there isn't extra weight in it. We had them on a 3500 and the ride without any extra weight wasn't any worse after installing them. Once engaged under weight the ride was great though.
Great video. For anyone looking to fix the rake this thing is legit. 2022 F350 towing a 40 ft 5th wheel with a 3300 lbs pin weight. It used to sag 3-4 inches and the front end became really light on the bridge bumps. After adding this the sag is 1 inch and not to mention actually a better towing fuel economy. Averaged 1-1.5 mpg better economy.
Thank you! Yes, these things are legit!
“Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world. ”
― Archimedes
Thanks for the video.
Great quote!
Not sure how much space there is between the Timbrens and the axle on your truck, but there should be about 3/4 - 1" of space before they engage. Unfortunately, that also means a little rougher of a ride unloaded because there's less space for travel.
Exactly. There is a space so the everyday ride isn’t improved by the timbrens. The performance comes when you’re under load.
But if you only really need it for hauling a 5th wheel, do you really care? My ride as a daily driver is good so I’m only concerned about squat and the ride under load, right?
1/2” min. to 1 1/2” max. per directions, it looked like there was a big space (1 1/2”+) after he installed them, seen it on his test load/demo part of the video. They do have an optional 1” spacer to ensure the gap is correct. I’d definitely keep it within manufacture specs setup, it could only help that much more. The Timbren product is meant to work in-conjunction with the factory suspension. Decades ago I used this concept from a different company on my 1/2 Ton truck made a huge difference. Highly recommend the Timbren product, A++++ 💯
grease much better than soapy water
Good advice!
I've actually been doing research about the air bags and not convinced but I'm going to give these a try for my ram 2500. Thanks for the video and safe travels!
Good to hear! These are simple, affordable, easy to install, and work. Thanks for watching and stay safe out there!
Chock front tires folks, keep from rolling/falling off jack.
Thank you for the advice
Think if I wanted to make sure those don't drop out when going down the road unloaded ....couple simple Self tapping screws into those cups ...no way they can get lost after that . otherwise also zero affect on their use after that .
We didn't think of that. Good idea!
You’re looking for a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist.
I have Timbren SES rubber springs on my Tacoma 98, my weak springs aren't able to haul much at all, But with Timbren helper springs I can haul way more than the truck is rated for. And the ride is ok for all the weight, it doesn't sag or lean, GREAT install.
They really do change the ride and help with the sag. Glad they worked well for you!
Yes we put them on my wife's 4runner. We pull a small camper with it. We love them. Still rides great
main question...does it stop the truck from sagging?
Yes. Even under the weight of our fifth wheel the truck rode level. If you watch at the 9:51 mark of the video you’ll see our setup and how it sits.
Why would you not hook up a trailer to show them in action? Let down at the end
Skip ahead to about the 11:00 mark on this video and you’ll get some action shots.
m.ruclips.net/video/E0brf8Wa4_M/видео.html
Will those help smooth the ride of on a lower 2 wd Chevy suburban? I just did a reverse 2" leveling on the rear but now the ride is not so great.
Not sure how much it would improve the ride. These really perform when there’s weight pressing down between the frame and the axle. I would definitely reach out to Timbren and ask before you go any further.
THEY WILL BEAT YOU TO DEATH HAD THEM ON 3 OF MY TRUCKS TOOK THEM OFF AND WENT WITH AIRBAGS.
Why not just lower the jack to push in the part?
That’s what you end up doing at the end to seat it in. Guess you could do it that way too.
Great DIY. Thanks so much for sharing. Its amazing what a little leverage will do. lol. Take care guys. KTKamping Kent and Tami
😂😂it is amazing what leverage can do. So happy my Dad has his thinking cap on that day. -Chris
you dont need to seat them all the way or use a pry bar. You just get them in enough to not fall and the 2x4 and jack seats them. I don't think it took me 10 minutes start to finish for the install on the same truck
Great info, thank you for sharing!
Great info, thank you for sharing!
2021 Denali sierra 2500 4x4 Installed Timbrens pulling 26’ gooseneck horse trailer. Having a great experience so far. Excellent product
That's great to hear, thank you for sharing!
I just swapped out my airbags for Timbrens yesterday. While the airbags are superior in leveling the truck both front to back and side to side (our slide-in truck camper is heavier on the left), they don't help much with body roll or reducing porpoising. I haven't replaced the camper yet but I'm looking forward to evaluating the performance of the Timbrens. Take the tire off. Much easier to install the Timbrens that way.
That’s awesome, great feedback! Yes, definitely easier with the tires off.
Have used these for several years. Way better than bags. Love Timbren
We’ve already towed over 13,000 miles with them and they’re awesome. So glad we chose to do this vs airbags.
Nice Flag, nice music, great video. I just bought a set for my Ram 2500 towing a 5th wheel with about 1,000lb load on the truck. Sag loaded was about 2". Waiting for warmer weather to install. And yes taking the wheels off.
Awesome. They’ll work well for you. Easy install and great performance.
It would have nice to see your truck connected and the sag, before and after pics of the Tims install, but great video nonetheless!👍🏽
Yea, unfortunately we had to get it done and we didn’t get the fifth wheel until a week later. Wish we’d been able to make it happen. Thank you!
I don’t know if you already have it, but you should also consider the Gen Y hitch. I have one for my horse trailer and it really takes the trailer tugging out of the equation. I was looking for other options from the air bags and my husband sent me this video. I just might give that a try before I dive into the air bags. Thanks for the video!
Something to look into. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks!!! Going to but a kit ASAP for my Dodge 2500. Good video
Awesome. Glad we could help.
odd question..since you are now using a different area on the rear axle for load support, would that cause any issues as far as bending ect? Hate to do this and have a warranty issue denied due to an " improper modification". Great video!
Not an odd question. The timbrens are basically taking the place of your factory bump stops which would activate in the same location on the axles, just after much more sag. The timbrens allow contact, on the same location, early so your vehicle doesn't sag.
The below quote comes from eTrailer for a someone asking a similar question.
"You're also covered under the Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. This act says if something breaks on your vehicle and you take it in for warranty repair, the dealer must honor your warranty unless whatever you have added to your vehicle or its installation actually caused the problem in question."
Hope this helps!
We use Timbrens - they are great!
They are aren't they!!
Installed them on my 22 tacoma. Their customer service is top notch
Nice!
honestly i feel like alot of people prefer these instead bags because of how easy they are to install but bags in my opinion are the better go to for heavy hauling
I agree. These are affordable, easy, and do a great job...with no maintenance! Thanks for the comment.
i have these on the front of my 1500 ram as well.... really helps for snow plowing
Great to hear. We have friends with plows and we recently recommended that hey add them to the front. Great to hear that they work well!
I'd close up the empty gap an inch.
Thanks for the input and for watching!
How much gap is there when the truck is unloaded? The gap looked big - is it supposed to be that big?
That’s the gap and what it supposed to be. Once you start putting weight on the truck it closes pretty quick.
I installed a one inch spacer so now it only sits 1 inch above
I think the main selling point with airbags over Timbren / spring setups is the ability to air down the bags for off-roading. It seems that having softer springs with airbag combo would be best of both worlds approach. But if towing a lot, or never really offroad, this is the clear winner from a cost perspective.
Well said.
In terms of the truck in this video, and considering I have the 24 model year of the same truck, the leafs are too stiff and the wheel travel/articulation too limited to be enough to take advantage of airing bags down. Moreover, the timbrens allow you to keep full extension and when you hit a hole and compress it's like a super bump stop in that it doesnt allow the big shock to be transferred to the chassis. And with these GM 3500 duramax's that weigh over 8k depending on trim level thats a bigger benefit.
New subscriber here. Great explanation. Thanks for your video.
Thank you for hopping on! Glad you liked the video and happy to have you in our little community. -Chris & Suzannah
I installed Timbrens in the rear of my 2001 1/2 ton 2WD Silverado. Installation was easy. The quality of the parts was very good and the directions were clear.
I recently built shelving in the bed of my truck and afterwards I noticed the truck began to wallow in corners. After rolling about a 100 miles on the Timbrens I'm on the fence about the ride quality. It's become very bouncy, almost to the point of becoming annoying. I'm hoping the ride quality will improve over time.
Not sure if they soften over time. We were pulling a fifth wheel with a lot of weight and they worked great for that application.
Sounds like you need to replace your rear shocks
Id say its your 22 yr old truck pal not the brand new timbrens i have a set they work great
You don’t have to take the tires off to do this folks
No, no you don’t. Made it a little easier to get to but you do NOT need to remove tires to put these on.
Unloaded going over bumps, notice any different then?
Not really. There is a pretty good sized gap between the timbren and the axle so it would need to compress down hard enough to bring them in to contact.
Yes you can feel a double bump, especially over speed bumps. I can feel them make contact every time they do.
Old Age = Wisdom
Yes it does.
Dad for the save
Very true!
if memory serves; I believe you can get air bags as an option on the rear of the RAM 2500/3500, and get the 4 corners self leveling air ride on the RAM 1500 standard equipment on the Limited, and the new Tungsten, and optional equipment on all the other RAM 1500.
Thanks for sharing.
May be a dumb question, but are these adjustable so you could have slightly more or less gap when not under load?
They’re not adjustable. The trade off for a much more affordable and maintenance free option to airbags.
@@HintonTheTrail thanks!
Squat and sway were huge concerns when we moved up to a fifth wheel and we'd heard great things about Timbrens...and they're more affordable than an airbag system. What do you run on your rig?
Nothing on mine for now, never been able to make it sway but im DRW. I have some leaf spring wear now and may change everything to air though
@@Nordic_Mechanic We've put over 20,000 miles on our Timbrens now and haven't had any issues. Saved us a lot of money compared to adding air but either one is going to improve your towing ride.
@@HintonTheTrail They are definitely better that stock bump stock in the front. Ill be putting them in the front to counteract my heavy front bumper. I dont see how I could make the truck tow better though. Even with a 15000lbs in the wind truck stays planted. Longest wheelbase dually it tows very well. Air would improve empty truck behavior a lot though. Those older 3500 dually are HARSH!
I'll be getting a quote for all new rear springs soon (because of wear) But im betting the cost will be high enough to be worth going to air ride. Spring beam , watts linkage and 2 air springs instead of 20 leaf springs.
I have these on my 2017 chevy and wow made a huge difference!!
They’re great right?! We love them.
Anyone looking for a much better ride? Although expect around 100.00 increase in parts cost, slight increase in installation time, My opinion, well worth it.
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If you will lift your truck more inline with empty height so springs are unloaded and off helpers, and are able to work, One will see a much better ride all the way around, This can be achieved by going with something similar to Firestone 2250 ride rite airbag kit, One can always go with manual inflation, Number for your truck will be different, Same effect, Easy Installation, Truck will squat very little. Much better overall performance.
.
Want an even better ride, Emty or loaded? I recommend Sulastic Shackles, One will not be disappointed with one or both of these options. My first option is going with Firestone ride rite airbags, One will see a major difference in this alone when towing as you are presently! Sulastic shackles will enhance also improve with vibration/smoothness.
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Note: Your choice of Timbren stops, would of been better if about 3" longer for your 5th wheel tow. "Nice Truck & Travel trailer.
Thanks for sharing
Are the Rancho shocks stock?
They are part of the Z71 package. Pretty good for a stock option.
Great video, looks like a great way to level things out. You are i my neck O the woods, just bought my new truck from Knutdsen.
They worked great for keeping things level with a 15,000lb 5th wheel. Never had any issues and so much more affordable than airbags.
Spokane is my hometown but we’re now settled in Maine.
I had a pair on an S-10 and currently on my 2018 Frontier. The were both easier to put on than yours was, and they both worked great when towing my RVs👍
That’s awesome!
Big help! Thanks
You're welcome!
If your camper weighs roughly 15,000 pounds, you’ve got a heavier pin weight than 2300 lbs pounds. Pin weight should be closer to 20% total weight. If that’s not the case in your situation, you have too much weight on your rear axles. Your best way of knowing is go to a CAT scale.
This was filmed the day before picking up the rig so we didn’t have all the exact info.
Great video.
Thank you
Great Video,.. Next time just take the cup off the bracket with one nut and put it in vice and pop it out push new one,.. put back on truck,.. just sayn,. might be a little easier?!!
Good info. Thank you!
Here comes PAPA with the Wisdom!!! lolololol The way I laughed!!!!
It was a pretty funny moment. He’s wicked smart.
You should never lean your tire against the truck when it is on a jack, if the truck drops the tire can destroy your body panel or door.
Thanks for watching.
They’re too hard they make the truck Have a jerking motion when you hit a bump in the road with the fifth wheel. Hooked up.
That’s good feedback. They are harder than airbags but we didn’t have any issues with the 5h wheel hooked up.
I almost choked and gagged when he mentioned $225 yes I have 225 but I'm not going to spend it on two pieces of rubber
When I can get actually get heavy duty coil springs
For $219 dollars. But it was actually a good video.
If that works for your vehicle and your needs then pull the trigger. I don’t have any experience with heavy duty coil springs added to a 2021 Silverado 3500. The timbrens are replacing the factory bump stops and are very easy to install. Not sure what would need to be done for installing springs. Most important thing is that you improve the ride and towing safety of your truck. However you get there. Good luck.
this was great information....im taking possession of my new truck this week*woo woo* and even though it comes with heavy tow pkg along with heavy payload pkg, im thinking these will be a great add-on...i'll tow a trip first and see how truck repsonds...but this was very informative, thank you!!
I’m glad it helps. You’ll know if you need them when you first hitch up. You’ll see right away if it’s sagging. Congratulations on the new truck!!
i have them on the 22 chevy 2500 , do you feel the ride is harsh when your hooked up to your fith wheel . i just went across counrty and back. i feel it makes the bumps in the road more harsh with the timbrens whats your thought now?
We put over 15,000 miles on our truck towing our fifth wheel and didn’t feel that the bumps were harder. Our fifth wheel was just over 15,000lbs fully loaded and it pulled great. Unloaded it was a bit more jarring when you hit large bumps.
Chris, what's going on man, how have you been? What's been up with you? It's Charles we were at training together!
Hey man, I was actually just thinking about you and wondering what you were up to. We’re doing well, living up in Maine and enjoying retired life. Hope you and the family are doing well.
I'm having these installed on my F150. The info you provided helped assure me, this is a good decision.
That’s great, thank you for sharing!
Thinking about installing. Added a 2.5 lift to my 2020 f250. I can see the old bumps hoping it's not too hard.
The lift will probably make installation easier. Ha ha.
Does it cause a ruff ride when empty ✌️🙏🇨🇦🇺🇸
Overall no. There is a gap between it and the leaf springs when there is no load. If you hit some hard bumps you feel it a bit.
Couple of questions… What is the unloaded gap between the bottom of the Timberen and the top of the perch?
Can you give us measurement comparisons of unloaded and loaded of before and after installation of the timberens?
I wish I’d taken those measurements but unfortunately I didn’t.
New to the channel! New subscriber! Great video! I have an F-250 and it had a level kit when i bought it. When i am towing my travel trailer i feel the back has too much sag and was looking to get either air bags or timbrens. Due to the leveling kit will the rear still sag with the timbrens?
I can’t answer that because of the leveling kit. I would imagine the Timbrens would stop the sag but it may be best to contact the Timbren folks. It may change what product you need.
How do they affect your rigs off-road capability? The the axle still have the flex it rally has stock?
We never tested that out. I’m guessing you would have a little less space for compression on large bumps due to the size of the Timbren vs stock.
Old age and wisdom will beat out youth and skill anytime 😂
🤣🤣
Removing my timbren ses from my f250. Picked up my brand new 4840lb trailer loaded it up with my load and my truck squatted a lot. Will replace it with airlift.
Thank you for sharing.
Yea, I had to do the same. I have a 2020 GMC 3500 dually hauling a large truck camper. Got the severe service ones and the truck still squatted too much. Had to go to air bags to level my load. Cheers
How's the everyday ride quality?
The ride is the same as stock when you don’t have weight in the bed. There is a gap between the Timbren and the axle until you add weight.
@@HintonTheTrail Thank you for your response. I just put an order in today.
@@tigerblood6823 No worries, glad we could help. Let us know how the install goes! -Chris
Why would something Non Adjustable be any better .
Ease of installation, much more affordable, no maintenance, and it works. We've been running ours for over a year and 20,000+ miles of towing a 15,000-lb fifth wheel and couldn't be happier.
Shop like that you should have an air tools for that tire and an airbag jack
My Dad keeps adding more tools every year.
Dad walks over too the tool box and comes back with pry bar ! Work smarter not harder son !!!
He's a smart dude!
thank you for the video, you have saved us viewers 26 days of headache in total with the pry bar trick!
😂😂😂 you’re welcome
I’ve had them on 3 different trucks, they are ok if you don’t pull often,
but you WILL squat, just not as much. Bags are the only way to go for regular use
We RV full time and have had these on since Jan ‘21 and put over 31,000 miles on our truck. No sag yet.
The vid showed a glimpse of the bolt inside the timbren tube, but he said nothing about it. What is that bolt connecting?
Good catch on that. On this specific kit (for a 2021 Silverado 3500HD) the bolt that you see connects the appropriate mounting spacer and SES springs. When you go on the Timbren site and input your year/make/model they give you products built for it. In the case of our truck the Timbren SES comes assembled and just pops in. Different vehicles may require different kits that don't come pre-assembled.