Leaf Spring Advise Needed

Timbrens have zero maintenance.. Wheelers has their own called superbumps..

 

I was just in a similar situation. I have a 16' double axle trailer that is 1600lbs dry and I just bought a pop up. I just put some firestone ride rites on. I had the TSB done as well and didn't do anything. Definitely not worth your time chasing that one. My springs were about an inch off the bump stop with no weight prior to putting on the airbags. Having put new leafs in one of my older trucks, the airbags were much easier and less time to put in. Good luck

Cheers

 

Wheelers site says you can remove a leaf, did you do this? I'm hoping the lift won't be that extreme with the leaf pulled.

 

The reason I did not go with airbags is the hassle of pumping them up. I load it up unload and load it again. I would be constantly be getting out the compressor. Good example is I load up head to ranch unload and then load up and head home.

 

So, is anyone running with Timbres and going off-road? I have read that when running unloaded with Timbrens, the truck will can be bone jarring when going over bumps. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

A friend of mine had timbrens on the front of his 1/2 ton chevy. He bought them for plowing because the front of the truck would squat like 2 inches when he lifted the blade. For that they worked awesome and it rode pretty good. But with the blade off any good sized bump and you swore you were in a dump truck. For the OP's situation I would go airbags without question. But I will say I just installed a set of replacement leaf springs from General Spring in my 05 and I'm quite impressed. They are stock 3 leaf replacements but they did lift the back an inch or so. Much more controlled (but not overly stiff) ride and it now doesn't seem to have any axle wrap. Of course my stock springs were sagging quite a bit. With 4 adults in it the rear suspension would bottom on a decent bump. I only replaced the springs because one of them broke, but these seem to be a nice upgrade. Pretty cheap too. $159 a side. Of course shipping was a little steep but it is 80 pounds of steel.

 

I can't talk about the fronts.. As for the rears, Timbrens recommends that the bumps are 1" from the frame without weight in the rear. Of course, if your leafs are a bit softer, and sags more than an inch on a bump, then yes, you will contact the Timbrens.
I have done some light off roading, and I have not contacted the Timbrens.. (of course I'm not doing Baja style, not fast through any type of off/dirt road.

I have rear about guys only putting the timbrens on when they tow their trailer or boat.. Maybe easy for certain vehicles, but on a Tacoma, I would see that as a hassle..

 

Yesterday I ordered Firestone Ride Rites Air Bags and a Daystar Airbag Cradle Kit. This is what some others here have put on their mildly lifted trucks and they are happy with this setup. Solves all the problems with towing or carrying loads in your bed and allows mild to moderate wheeling without limiting articulation to much.

 

I went with Air Lifts. They cost a little bit less than Firestone and from what I've read, they are just as good as Firestone. Let me know if you think otherwise - I've yet to install them.

@BradleyScott... pop-ups come in all sorts shapes and forms. I happen to NOW have the largest kind - what they call a "highwall". 3070 lbs dry with a GVWR of 3700+. Between that and the passenger and cargo in the tow vehicle, I think I really need to address the potential sag to minimize any unsafe driving conditions.

My truck is hauling needs is strictly for fun - not work. So I doubt I'd ever get tired of putting air/taking air out constantly. I suppose if I did, I'd just bite the bullet and flip for air controllers for the conveniences. But so far, I still do think that air bags was the right solution for my particular needs.

Thanks all for your feedbacks so far.

 

Firestone ride rite air bags