Thursday, Mar 14, 2019 at 22:43
G'day Murray.
My comments may not be what some people like to hear but it is based on at least some experience.
The Timbren concept is American, I just read the ad for it.
The ones pictured are quite a way inboard of the spring in the view shown. Not sure if your proposed installation is similar, perhaps you can shed light on it.
Seeing it has a large bracket from inboard of the chassis, if and when it bottoms, ie, comes to it's full compression, the propensity to bend the axle tube is quite real in my opinion. Yours is a BT50 and not a F350. Big difference in axle tube strength.
It is a hollow rubber tube and if it doesn't split it will provide ever increasing resistance, as rubber does, and will still create forces on the chassis above the axle similar to an airbag would do, possibly more suddenand yes, undue additional stress on the chassis. If you must, I would prefer an airbag as I can inflate it to just compensate instead of the totally fixed characteristics of the Timbren.
You mentioned
suspension modifications. That doesn't necessarily mean harder
suspension just higher, maybe. A replacement spring with more set but same characteristics will lift a bit and give greater load holding and distribute forces similar to original design, airbag and rubber stuff NO. When towing something, the ball weight must be accounted for and so a slightly more capable spring is good. Even if the chassis at the rear axle is lifted 50mm, the rise of the sill of the door will be 20mm to 25mm. Principle of levers. Wife still happy.
A 50 mm increase would probably do what you want, but if also towing, the additional mass on rear
suspension should be catered for by having far better shocks fitted which perform and control the induced loads of tray gear and ball weight and pitching and braking and road undulations. If the shocks work better with suitable ride height springs, then you won't be bottoming anyway, unless driving foolishly. Even then the shocks will do a far better job. That is what I would do and have done to a different make vehicle which towed a Tvan over rough stuff.
Comments in the ad of Timbren said,
"I just installed a timbren system in my 2014 f350 4wheel drive ford. our first trip pulling a 36 foot 5th wheel was surprising the ride didn’t feel to bad but when we opened the trailer the ride had obviously been a lot rougher for the trailer. furniture was all over the place the fridge door had jarred open and our printer had been smashed.
Same roads we have traveled before with no damage. can I do something to soften the ride or will that defeat the purpose. I’m concerned for the structual integrity of the trailer.
He didn't like the suddenness of the Timbren system.
AnswerID:
624423
Follow Up By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Friday, Mar 15, 2019 at 13:27
Friday, Mar 15, 2019 at 13:27
RMD
The Timbren system for the BT50 mounts between spring and chassis by replacing the bump stop as do the airbag kits. My concern is that when my camper is fitted the Mazda springs invert which give me 25mm between the top of the bump stop and the chassis and they bottom out on bumps.Maybe a
suspension upgrade of 0 to 300kg constant load may help as they are surpose to retain the 50mm lift with a 300kg load where my camper is around the 550/600kg when fully packed for trips. This may give me more clearance as spring rate would be more and still a desent ride. lf l went this way it would be springs and shocks or maybe just get springs reset and new shocks.
Murray
FollowupID:
897927
Follow Up By: RMD - Friday, Mar 15, 2019 at 19:39
Friday, Mar 15, 2019 at 19:39
G’day Murray,
Seeing the OE springs invert, which on flat springs is normal, the issue is one of clearance. With that being the situation, to me, the only way to remedy or improve ride when loaded and retain a reasonable amount of
suspension upward travel to absorb motion, is to replace
the springs and definitely fit shocks with appropriate control ability. Nearly all modern utes don’t have shocks which can effectively do that. They might not leak and appear ok, but with additional load to control and temp increases when used off road the performance of the OE ones will diminish rapidly.
Decent shocks will hold and or catch the movement before bottoming. My Bilsteins transformed my ute and does not bottom seeing it has sufficient initial clearance.
FollowupID:
897937
Follow Up By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Monday, Mar 18, 2019 at 19:37
Monday, Mar 18, 2019 at 19:37
RMD
The factory shocks are as you say and do not stand up to it when loaded even on the black top which so far is mainly where l been with my camper on. Shocks are definately on the list.
Murray
FollowupID:
897987