pacbrake air bags/timbrens

[DaveThiessen]

I have a 2011 2500 wondering if anyone has installed air bags or the Timbrens or the Hellwig Pro-series load control springs. Also, do any of these interfere with the B&W gooseneck hitch brackets. Where would you recommend buying the Timbrens?



Thanks Dave

 

[HBarlow]

I had a set of Timbrens on an '06 Ram dually. Timbrens are inexpensive to buy, easy to install, and functional on a working truck. I was pulling trailers for hire then and the Timbrens kept the rear bumper from dragging the pavement under the load of heavy trailers with the weak, worn out springs on my truck. Under load they provided a good ride. Running empty the truck bounded along bouncing off the Timbrens because the weak springs couldn't hold up the load. It was not comfortable unloaded.

 

[jelag]

I sold a lot of air bags and ran them on all my trucks... we used the exhaust brake air compressor to change the air pressure with a simple air regulator... we'd connect to one of the work trailers and as we changed the load we could re-level the bed before we rolled down the road...

I'm now retired and drive a 05 dually and have a setting when empty, and another setting for when the work trailer is attached and another setting for my 15K lb 5er...

I'm sure Harvey will tell you that his 4500 was hard when empty as was my 08 5500, so when I retired that truck was sold and I drive the 3500 dually. .

 

[Jim W]

I have the Air Lift System 5000 (air bags) on my 08 with an on board air compressor from Air Lift also. The truck will be a little bounce when not loaded by the trailer pin weight as I keep the bags at 10 psi when empty. So to eliminate the bouncing of the truck I keep the hitch in the bed all summer with a loaded tool box this seems to help some. Otherwise the system works great. Cannot answer on the B&W Gooseneck hitch but my bags did not interfere with the hitch installation brackets on the Reese hitch.

Jim W.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have the B&W hitch and I just instsalled the PacBrake air bags with in cab controlls, air compressor,air horns and air hose connection under the hood. Awesome quality and no interference with the B&W. Very easy install.

 

[RonD]

I installed Timbrens in my 2005 after I had just bought it new, as HB said there not comfortable empty, there idea is keep a space between the Timbren when running empty, then when you load the truck the sag will contact the Timbren, loaded they were fine, except it had to sag enough to make contact, empty every little bump it would make contact after 2 phone calls to the company, they said I didn't have a wide enough space, my comment was so I have to have more sag when towing to make them work, they said that is the way it is, I ordered a set of PacBrake air bags and removed the Timbren's, tossed them in the trash can, the air bags worked fine for the next 6 years, I sold the truck, and installed another set of air bags in the 2012,

 

[AH64ID]

Timbren's are good for rigs that are always loaded, with a trailer or service bed. If you are just occasionally using your bed then I wouldn't consider them. Everyone I have personally known with Timbrens removes them in favor of airbags. Airbags are not noticed when empty, and adjust to each load.

 

[GAmes]

Timbren's are good for rigs that are always loaded, with a trailer or service bed. If you are just occasionally using your bed then I wouldn't consider them. Everyone I have personally known with Timbrens removes them in favor of airbags. Airbags are not noticed when empty, and adjust to each load.

Count me as one of the ex-timbren owners. I wish I had installed air bags sooner.

 

[6speed]

Well I did the Timbrens, only because of my pin weight. Yes I am very heavy. I have seen a gross of 27K plus and with approximately 8K on the axle, I was told airbags would not hold up. Yes it rides a little rough when empty, but I adjust the tire pressure to help compensate.

 

[Wertles]

I had Timbreens on my previous truck and loved them, but when I was loaded, it was heavy. I had appropriate amount of space between them and the axle so the unloaded ride was stock. It sucked when you had just enough weight to have them ride just above the axle. Then it was a rough ride. This truck I have pacbrake air bags and it it nice because they are adjustable. I don't have an on board compressor so they definitely are not as convenient as the Timbreens or a system with on board air. If I had to do it again I would go with the Timbreens only because my pin weight is ~3000 pounds so the ride would be a good and I could leave the air compressor out of the camper.

 

[rluft]

truckspring.com
I have bought several times from them and they have air bags(Air Lift), rubber springs(Timbren) and steel springs(Hellwig). I installed Timbren springs to help support the front of an F-750 with tired springs and they work great. I also have Hellwig overload springs on a Chevy 2500 w/ utility box, fuel tank air compressor and tools and they work well also. The adjustability of the air bags would be hard to beat but I have not used them.

 

[LRutigliano]

I have the DR2500CA Timbrens for my 3500. They are approx 1/4" shorter than the DR3500CA AEON rubber springs and rated for 3000 lbs instead of 4300 lbs. Before the Timbrens, my 5er (approx 2500 lbs pin weight) SQUASHED my 3500 and it rode extremely harshly with the 5er in tow. The suspension seemed to bottom out all the time, not quite porpoise, but it just felt very fragile and soft. It would buck when going over uneven/bumps in the road.

I chose the 2500 springs due to their shorter length and reduced capacity (compared to the ones that are supposed to be used with a 3500) I was concerned the 5er pin weight would not deflect the 3500 Timbrens enough.

With the 2500 Timbrens, it rides level and extremely comfortably with the 5er in tow. I don't notice them at all when empty. They do not interfere with the Pullrite hitch or frame brackets.