Posted 2012-04-11 9:59 AM (#143011) Subject: Air Bags, Timbrens or nothing?
Regular
Posts: 55 Location: Wright City, Mo
Okay, here goes. We just purchased our first LQ trailer. A 1999 C&C 4h with a 12ft. LQ. Heavy, but not HEAVY!! Total GVWR on the axles is just over 15,000lbs.
Don't know the exact weight yet, haven't had time to get it weighed.
I tow with a 2008 F350 dually FX4 with the tow package. Picked up the trailer in Indiana and drove home to Missouri with no problems. A little rough at times,(depending on the road surface) but nothing outrageous.
I've searched and read as many threads on upgrading my suspension, as I can find on here and Googled AirBags and Timbrens and read everything that I found. Still not sure which way to go or if I even need to do anything.
Here are the stats...
Truck squats approx 2.5 inches when loaded with the trailer. Bump stops originaly have 4.5 inches of clearance now have approx. 2 inches. The upper leaf spring(Overload spring?) barely rests on the upper rear stop and not on the upper front stop at all. While towing it never feels or sounds like the axle is hitting on the bumpstop. No jolt or bang. Feels like there is a range of motion still available in the shocks. Truck visually appears to be sitting just under level, back to front. Towed home from Indiana in the dark and no one flashed their lights at me, so I don't think the headlights are affected too greatly. Have approx. 9 inches of clearance between truck bed and trailer and the trailer when hooked up has just a slight decline from front to back. Doesn't appear to have most of it's weight on just the rear axle, seems pretty even. Steering and stopping doesn't seem to have been affected.
Originally thought that I might need some supplemental suspension, now I'm not so sure. Would like some opinions please.
Posted 2012-04-11 11:03 AM (#143013 - in reply to #143011) Subject: RE: Air Bags, Timbrens or nothing?
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
put the air bags on and buy the kit with a pump. you will be satisfied and it will ride better than stock and empty. just air it up enough to where it feels good. I have had them on about four trucks now. my bloomer weighs 22k loaded full.
Posted 2012-04-11 11:07 AM (#143014 - in reply to #143011) Subject: RE: Air Bags, Timbrens or nothing?
Elite Veteran
Posts: 720
My opinion- you don't need to do anything, except drive & enjoy it. Congrats on the new rig.
I do feel that an airbag system such as the Firestone Ride-rite would somewhat soften the ride, as you can get it up off of the overload. That is just your call of dollars vs. comfort.
Posted 2012-04-11 1:13 PM (#143017 - in reply to #143011) Subject: RE: Air Bags, Timbrens or nothing?
Regular
Posts: 95 Location: East Central Kansas
Both are great ideas. I agree with the other posters on the Airbags. You can adjust the bags as needed. With my New Dodge I looked at the Airbag system. Since I have the overload springs I only need the Timbrens to do the job and 30 min change out to complete the job.
Posted 2012-04-11 5:51 PM (#143027 - in reply to #143011) Subject: RE: Air Bags, Timbrens or nothing?
Regular
Posts: 61 Location: Pueblo, CO
I just put the Firestone Ride-Rites on my 06 Ram 3500 and my trailer is smaller than yours. I did not think they made a huge difference in ride (I did get my truck leveled up with them though) until I drove my wife's 07 Ram 3500 to Lincoln last weekend! I am saving my pennies to put them and the pump on her rig ASAP. I agree that you may not 'need' them, but they are worth the dollars for the better ride and if you get a better ride in the cab then the horses should be getting a better ride. Also, I would expect less wear & tear on your whole rig on the rough roads! IMHO
Posted 2012-04-11 6:41 PM (#143030 - in reply to #143011) Subject: RE: Air Bags, Timbrens or nothing?
Regular
Posts: 55 Location: Wright City, Mo
After listening to everyones comments today, and after talking with our farrier this morning. He has them on his F350 and pulls a smaller LQ. We decided to go ahead and have the Firestone Ride Rite Air Bags installed. I had been having a difficult time finding anyone in our area that installed them, and this afternoon while watching the Cardinals lose to the Reds, a thought crossed my mind and I called etrailer.com. They are an internet based company with their warehouse and service facility located about 15 minutes from my house. Sure enough, they install them, they were in stock and they were on sale. And to top it off, if I let them video the install for their website, the installation is FREE!! So next Wednesday they get my truck for the day and I get my airbags installed for nothing. Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions.
Posted 2012-04-12 12:20 AM (#143036 - in reply to #143030) Subject: RE: Air Bags, Timbrens or nothing?
Expert
Posts: 3853 Location: Vermont
Originally written by riverrat69 on 2012-04-11 6:41 PMAfter listening to everyones comments today, and after talking with our farrier this morning. He has them on his F350 and pulls a smaller LQ. We decided to go ahead and have the Firestone Ride Rite Air Bags installed. I had been having a difficult time finding anyone in our area that installed them, and this afternoon while watching the Cardinals lose to the Reds, a thought crossed my mind and I called etrailer.com. They are an internet based company with their warehouse and service facility located about 15 minutes from my house. Sure enough, they install them, they were in stock and they were on sale. And to top it off, if I let them video the install for their website, the installation is FREE!! So next Wednesday they get my truck for the day and I get my airbags installed for nothing. Thanks for all of your comments and suggestions.
We are going to have a celebrity (or at least his truck) in our midst...
Air Bags, Timbrens or nothing?
