Timbrens with WD

I am considering purchasing a set of timbrens to limit rear sag and porpoising over dips in the road while towing my camper .

I am concerned that the timbrens may change the effectiveness of the weight distribution hitch by limiting rear suspension travel .

Just as a side note my wd hitch is dialed in currently with the front of the truck sitting exactly at unloaded height when my trailer is attached , Rear seems to have about a 2" squat , truck and trailer sit level as well .

Does anyone have experience with running timbrens and wd distribution hitches ?

 

Yes I do have experience with timbrens and WDH. I wouldn't recommend it, When towing it feels like the rear suspension has no movement at all. very harsh ride feeling like you're tires are the suspension. I upgraded the tires on the truck and trailer, makes a world of difference. E-rated for the truck and Goodyear Endurance for the trailer. Not cheap but worth it I.M.O.

-Jason

 

thanks for the heads up ! , I do already run 10 ply E rated tires , I do agree it makes a huge difference !

 

I have sumo springs in their softest variety, the blue color. I ended up cutting off one bump as I found the ride irritating with them in constant contact. I have no problem with them now. The only time they touch is on big hits, or if my trailer is connected with a good load of gear in the bed

 

I run blue sumos when towing. I love them when loaded up.

 

Now remember the original question. The OP has a weight distribution hitch. If your not towing with one you have no experience, towing with timbres or sumo's WITH A WDH. Just making sure everyone is on the same page.


-Jason

 

I do use a weight distribution hitch. helper springs have no affect on the leverage of a wdh. The only way you could change anything is if you set up the wdh then added springs after

If you change the rear ride height after setting the hitch there is a chance you could slightly unload the front axle. You would need to go to a scale to confirm this change however it is most likely minor.

Add the springs, check the height of your front end, and then change the set up of your hitch as needed.

your good to go.

 

OK! read the entire post, shoe07. Do you have timbrens or sumos on your truck, With a WDH? Otherwise don't try to be a keyboard badass!

-Jason

 

I’m not sure why I’m responding to you again.
Maybe you shouldn’t have gotten timbrens Jason?
Timbrens come in one flavor - 7k lbs of support.
Sumos come in three varieties, blue (1k lbs), black (1.5k lbs), and yellow (2.8k lbs)
Suspension should be compliant, but also suspend the vehicle. You don’t want a log cart, you want something compliant. For sumo springs, the density of the material deflects through half its height when holding the rated weight, they can hold much more weight than the rating, that is just the level of help they offer.

As I stated before, and maybe the OP already got it, but I’ll explain again for those unable to read or comprehend:

I tow a trailer.
I use a weight distribution hitch (Anderson no-sway).
I use helper springs (blue sumos).
I’ve been using these together for 7200 miles of towing my travel trailer and other trailers since January of this year.

As I previously stated but with more detail:
add the helper-springs of your choice if you so desire, then go back through the procedure of setting up your wdh. You will most likely come to the exact same setting, or you may have to go a little tighter (one more link, an extra washer, one more bolt hole higher, or one more turn of the threads depending on your wdh adjustment style) since the rear of your truck will be higher when loaded which will change the angle between you truck and trailer.

I cut 1 donut (1 inch) off my sumos so they wouldn’t come in to play in my daily driving as the extra stiffness was annoying.
I would recommend going light rather than heavy on the extra help as suspension again should be compliant, unfortunately the dampers (shocks) are tuned for a primarily empty truck so are not as suited to being fully loaded hence the porpoising that is often experienced.

Jordan, if you have any questions about my setup or how the weight distribution hitch works send me a pm, I’ll be a keyboard badass in private rather than for the whole forum to see .

 

I've been using a Blue Ox WDH and Timbrens for a few years now. Without the Timbrens I'll porpoise, I forget but I think it sits on them loaded. I do try to keep TW and payload down by filling a 2nd vehicle camping as we go for at least week(s) long stretches. The TT is about 7.5K full, feels pretty good back there control wise like I'm not pulling that much, no swaying that I have to remind myself stopping distance when I start out. Tekonsha P3, and the PowerStop HD rotors/pads are great. We don't feel any suspension harshness although I don't know if my situation is unique with 1.5" shackles, spacers with the Timbrens, and riding on planted 295/70R18 NRG's, ymmv. I'm never in any hurry, typically the same speed and between transport trucks. We camp about 3 or 4x/year, outside of towing season I remove the spacers and it never hits the Timbrens. The stock bumpstops are in my garage somewhere.

 

Arrived at a park yesterday, rode on them loaded the whole way, no jarring for the 4h drive, made sure it wasn’t something we had just gotten used to over the years but the hard bumps aren’t there. That said, the dialed in WDH is preventing most of the overall dipping at the fulcrum. I don’t think Timbrens will work for everyone if it’s floating over them but we’re probably at max payload towards the hitch.

 

Please take a picture of your suspension hooked up to the trailer, a little further away. The pic you posted makes the springs look bent backwards .

-Jason

 

The tundra rear springs look inverted when nearing bump

 

equalizer hitch With timbrens here. No problem.

 

@PRO BLANCO nice setup! Maybe go up one hole on your shank and the trailer will sit more level?

 

Ya I was thinking about that, but my leveller says I’m just level front to back lol. but ya wouldn’t hurt to try go up one more.

 

I see what ya mean. Yes the truck looks dead level, the trailer looks nose down, but stinks that you would have to re-adjust the wdh maybe if you raised the ball

 

Good eye, there is some axle wrap but still arc’d unloaded. It won’t be hooked up again for at least another week and I keep the bed light with a 2nd vehicle but my springs are definitely worn after 5y of towing, bobbing before Timbrens didn’t help. I’ve got new springs on order. We’ve been looking at cottages so towing is coming to an end anyway.

 

@JoshuaA

Can you tell me what spacers you’re using with your Timbrens, please? I just put them on my ‘16 and am really happy with them. But do plan to put CB shackles on the back, so will need a spacer for the Timbrens.

 

I can’t remember what size bushing our Timbens are, check yours, you’ll also need a longer bolt to account for the spacer(s). I bought them from here:
https://www.etrailer.com/s.aspx?qry=Timbren+spacers&furl=-pg-Accessories_and_Parts

Shackles slightly change the geometry of the springs and resulting pressure points, do regular inspections.

 

Thank you very much!