Timbrens installed on Dodge

First topic message reminder :

After talking with Maxtor about the truck still looking like it was sagging a little,


I decided to install the Timbrens on the truck. Here is a picture of before and after the install.

Before install, about 5" gap from the stop to the axle.


After install, 1.5" gap to the axle


But since its dark and snowing, I wont be connecting up to see if its level or not. I do have a 1" space that goes between the rubber and the bracket that I did NOT use at this time.

oldelmer1 wrote:2 bags of potato chips and a Coke!!!

COKE!!!!!!
I am on my way to your house...

I knew that would get you going.

I did just finish putting the spacers on the Timbrens, so now if/when the snow, sleet, hail, rain, ends and roads are good enough to take the camper out again, I'll let you know what we look like.

I am sure that you will be fine. Now you need to take that trip and break in your new rig. I'll meet you at Quartzsite...

Maxtor wrote:I am sure that you will be fine. Now you need to take that trip and break in your new rig. I'll meet you at Quartzsite...

ITS SNOWING HERE!!!!!

I see on the weather channel that freezing rain and ice are coming your way . It is forecast to be around 70 degrees here today. Hmmmm warm or cold,,,, decisions, decisions...

I would be on my way west, or south.

Tom
May I ask where you ordered your Timbrens and the cost? I have found them for $194.95 with free shipping on the internet. I have been wondering if the DR2500CA and the DR3500CA have the same mounting bolt pattern also. Jim

Hi Jim,

Here is where I got mine from:

http://www.sdtrucksprings.com/timbren-suspension-kits?zenid=7415aca6a16e46f1454232f7eb60c237

They were $224, delivered in 2 days. Mine are the DR3500CA. I don't know what the mounting difference would be between the 2500 and the 3500.

But, Timbren guarantee you will be happy or they will bend over backwards to make you happy. Call them and tell them what you want to do, they should give you advice. And, if your not happy with the 2500's I'm sure they will let you trade for 3500's for free.

$194 is a good price, where is that at?

SDTrucksprings has them for $194.70 on sale right now and free shipping.

Oldelmer,

This seems like a silly question to ponder but are your brakes/drive-line relaxed? Sometimes when the brakes are applied to stop the TV and then put in park when either going forward or reverse the RV and TV is in a squatting or lurch position.

Mainer

p.s.

I have Timbrens on Dodge 2500 and they compress when I put my 32qbbs on it. Yours are not under a load. Love my Timbrens by the way.

Tom
WWW.truckspring.com was where I found Timbrens for $194.95 with free shipping. I think I am going to call the mfg of Timbrens about the difference between the DR2500CA and DR3500CA. I have been told by 3 different Dodge service departments that the only diffenence between the 3/4 ton and 1 ton non-dually was the 1 ton has an extra leaf spring. My 3/4 ton is the heavy duty 4 X4 with trailer towing package. Thanks for the info. By the way it was high 70's here today Jim

On first glance, the DR2500CA are longer and the DR3500CA are shorter, probably to allow for the extra leaf on the 3500 trucks.

EDIT: I called Timbren this morning and they noted that the DR3500CA have a higher weight capacity. They're designed to work on trucks with a larger carrying capacity. However, since the mounts are the same, they are interchangeable. So if you find that your 2500 truck needs a bit more help than DR2500CA's offer, you can throw on a set of DR3500CA springs.

EDIT 2: We also have both of these in stock, so I'm going to pull them out and give them a good look over.

The DR2500CA are a bit smaller. They are 5.09" long and 3.90" diameter. The DR3500CA are 5.22" long and 4.30" in diameter.

The DR3500CA also feel like they are a bit heavier walled inside. Definitely more mass to them to work better for the larger capacity of the 3500 trucks compared to the 2500. I'll get some side by side pictures in a bit.

EDIT: Photos

Patrick
Thanks for the photos, I also called the mfg this morning and Brian said no problem putting the DR3500CA Timbrens on the 3/4 ton Dodge as others have already done it with no problems and were happy with the results. I checked out every site that sold the Timbrens and ended up ordering from SDTRUCKSPRINGS.COM same as Tom, as the their price was $224.95 compared to others as high as $287.74 for the same part number. Thanks again Jim

Wow patrick, thats two sales missed over a 22% discount,,,,
Hint HINT,,,,

Mainer, I know what you mean on that point, I've had a few issued unhooking when there was pressure on the king pin.

Patrick, thanks for the pictures, do you folks sell the Timbrens? The 3500's are a good bit larger.

Jim, be sure to try those out pretty quickly so you can decide if the DR3500CA's are too much for your 2500.

oldelmer1 wrote:
Patrick, thanks for the pictures, do you folks sell the Timbrens? The 3500's are a good bit larger.

Jim, be sure to try those out pretty quickly so you can decide if the DR3500CA's are too much for your 2500.

Tom,
We do in fact sell the Timbrens as well as other supplemental suspension systems from Firestone and Super Springs.

Jim,
I agree whole-heartedly with Tom. Neither kit should make contact when un-loaded, so you won't know if they're going to be too stiff until you hitch up and go for a drive. I'd try to hit a variety of roads; smooth, bumpy, hills and some banking turns.

Admin wrote:Wow patrick, thats two sales missed over a 22% discount,,,,
Hint HINT,,,,

We started looking into the pricing differences this morning.

In the meantime, etrailer.com does have a Lowest Price Pledge. If you find the same item in-stock on a different site for less, out-the-door total, let us know before hand or within 30 days of purchase. Then we'll refund you 110% of the difference. We want to make sure we are as competitive on prices as possible, so we have this program to thank our customers for helping us. Here's the details:

http://www.etrailer.com/lowest-price-pledge.aspx

Patrick
Thanks again for the photos as they helped me make my decision on going with the DR3500CA vs DR2500CA's. Sure wished it had been stated on etrailer web site about "Lowest Price Pledge' as I will always support people or their companies that support this Forum. As far as testing the Timbrens after installing them on different type roads, no can do as I am in Cocoa Beach, FL flat, staight, no bumps, or banked curves. They will get a good test in late March heading home. Thanks again for the help Jim

I was thinking about Timbren on my trucks but am going to purchase and install Super Springs on my truck within the next few months instead. This adds an overload spring that has shackles and rollers so that it doesnt stiffen the ride and I can pre-load them if I wish to change the ride height of the rear of the truck...

The SSA23's? These guys here:

I thought about the Super Springs, but I have the overload springs on my spring pack. I was told(by not official installer) that I would have to remove the overloads before I can install the Super Springs.

oldelmer1 wrote:I thought about the Super Springs, but I have the overload springs on my spring pack. I was told(by not official installer) that I would have to remove the overloads before I can install the Super Springs.

Super Springs offers multiple versions, some for trucks with overloads and some without. For example:

03-07 Ram 3500 - Without Factory Top Overloads - SSA10 or SSA15 (Mount Kit Required)
03-11 Ram 3500 - With Factory Top Overloads - SSA23 or SSA24 (No Mount Kit Required)

If I recall correctly, after the 2007 model year, all Ram 3500s had the factory overload springs.

Tom, for your 2011 Ram 3500, Super Springs recommends the SSA23's. They note that the SSA24's should only be used on commercial applications. They're probably built heavier for guys that haul everyday or more regularly than summer camping. Here's a link to their fit chart.

http://www.supersprings.com/supersprings_fitchart_dodge.asp

I quickly looked through the instructions for the SSA23 springs, and it appears they just install over the factory overloads. Here's the instructions:
http://www.etrailer.com/instructions.aspx?pn=SSA23

Thanks Patrick....

Took the truck and camper out Monday, in between snow storms, and here is a side by side comparison of the timbrens with & without the spacer. Doesn't look like there is much of a difference to me.



Also a picture of both truck & camper with spacer installed. But I think the road w on an uphill angle.

Tom
You should have headed South while you were Hooked UP. I installed the DR3500CA Timbrens on my 3/4 Dodge and they will get their first test on Friday as we head to the West Coast of Florida from Cocoa Beach, FL. By the way we are in the low 80's down in this area. Jim

Jim,
Yes, your right, we should have left them. But I think my camper door is froze shut.

If you can, take a picture of what your Timbrens look like with your Challenger connected.

Low 80's, WOW, that beats Maxtor at 75. Have fun....

Tom
Haven't gotten around to taking pictures but I pulled about 180 miles yesterday and could tell there was a difference. I have about a 1/2 between the Timbrens and axle before I connect the 5th wheel and they compress a little more than yours after I hookup. By the way I did not have enough clearance to use the spacer on my truck. I am very pleased with the results. Maybe in a week when we head to St Cloud, FL I can get some pictures. We had to turn the AC on yesterday as it got to 87 degrees and humid. Jim

Jim,
Glad to hear you are happy with them. It seems odd that you dont have the room for the spacer also.

How long are you in Florida? Are you just going from 1 CG to another?LOL

Tom
We spent a little over 5 weeks at Cocoa Beach, FL, will spend a week here in Port Richey, FL, head over to St Cloud, FL for a week, then to Bee's RV Resort in Clermont, FL for a couple weeks before heading up to Jacksonville, FL for a week or so before heading back to the Mountains. While in Florida we take a lot of day trips so we cover a good portion of the state. The DW and myself were raised just south of where we are at so we still have friends and relatives down here to check on. If the winter weather at home doesn't improve in March we may just stay longer down here and go further south. Hope your weather gets better. Jim

oldelmer1 wrote:Jim,
Yes, your right, we should have left them. But I think my camper door is froze shut.

If you can, take a picture of what your Timbrens look like with your Challenger connected.

Low 80's, WOW, that beats Maxtor at 75. Have fun....

We are gaining on him, forecast to be 76 today.