Great question. Was wondering the same thing. I have a 40ft toy hauler on a 3/4 ton and would love to hear some opinions also.

 

Airlift sells bags with an internl bump stop so you can run them at 0psi

 

I haven't used Timbrens but I do have air bags. Air bags can be adjusted for light or heavy loads as needed. Timbrens can't and that gives air bags a definite advantage. I like about 20 psi in my bags even when not loaded but every person has their own likes and dislikes. I added an Airlift compressor to the truck so changing pressure in the bags is a simple task. I'd hate to be without them.

 

If Timbrens are a consideration, I’d first try Sumo Springs. I had both on a previous 3/4 ton. Timbrens we’re harsh when they engaged. The Sumos were just right. Added support but softer engagement. Same concept though.

I saved them when I picked up my 3500 and may install them just to see if towing is any different or better. Trailer is only 11-12k loaded so Just an excuse to tinker.


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I just set my 40' Toy hauler on my 2021 SRW 3500 too haha. Dropped about 3" or so. I had Air Lift 7500 on my 2016 and really liked the anti sway with the larger bags. Hope the bags come in before this next trip, they are behind on shipping.

No experience with Timbrens.

 

Timbrens work great but have almost zero give so you definitely want to remove them when unloaded. Air bags work great but still get side to side movement and leaning in corners. If you dont want to sacrifice ride quality with air bags, get a set of Daystar cradles and make a vacuum to suck the bags empty when not in use. I know tey say run 5-10 psi minimum but ride quality is more important than having to replace a bag several years down the road to me.

 

I have the Airlift 5000 Ultimate Plug bags (the ones with the internal jounce bumper). I ran them a couple weeks on my 2020 2500 AT4 HD, and then pulled them off when I traded if so I could put them onto the new 2021 3500 AT4 HD SRW.

We also have a 40' fifth wheel that I haven't hooked on to yet with this truck - I don't plan to hook up until I have the bags on.

Also, I have the Airlift wireless compressor that also does Bluetooth. It makes adjustments incredibly easy and you can adjust on the fly too. It could be very useful when you actually want to have squat to clear slight inclines when backing the trailer. Our driveway has a slight uphill slope when backing the 5er up it. Squatting the truck would help give a little more breathing room.

 

Okay sounds like consensus is to go with bags. I’ll research into needing the 5k or 7500 bag

 

The nice thing about the Airlift 5000 Ultimate Plus bags is that you can run them at 0 PSI if you like because they have the internal jounce bumper. The website even says so as one of the advantages for those particular bags.

I just reinstalled the bags on my 2021 3500 last night. Install is pretty easy, and just basic tools are required. All I have left to do is run the wiring for the compressor, which shouldn't take very long. All the air lines, etc have been completed.

When I ordered my kit in January, this site had the best pricing.

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I love air bags and have had them on my last 3 3500's. Like an earlier comment mentions, they ride better unloaded with more pressure in them than the minimum 5#. At 5# you're just riding on the leaf springs so expect a normal one ton bucking ride. At 25-ish psi, you're taking most of the pressure off the leaf springs and applying it to the air bags which provide a softer ride over rough spots in the road. If you air up the bags until the shackle bolts are all loose, you've essentially created an air ride truck with leaf spring overloads.

I have typically ran 25-30 all the time and liked the empty ride on my duallys. Now I'm back to a SRW and the 2021 rides so damn good empty, I'm not sure about putting the bags on it. Of course, they'll be fine with a load but I don't know how it could ride any better empty than it does right now, bone stock. Maybe Sulastics, but that's a whole nuther topic.

 

I've been using Timbrens on my 2500 for the past couple years. Levels out the 5er and I have a stock ride without. Simple to install, too. They do have give, dependent on the weight in the bed/pin. I've not had an issue with a harsh ride or jounce since using them, regardless of loaded or unloaded.

 

I have the Timbrens on my 21 3500 SRW Denali, had them on my 2015 3500 SRW too, they worked great. On the 21 without the trailer they aren't engaged even with the 400+lb Hijacker Autoslide installed, probably an inch to spare. I can feel it hit on really rough pavement or going through an unleveled crossroad at over 45mph, but generally can't tell they are there until the trailer is installed. Haven't towed with them on the new truck yet (43' Toyhauler), but no doubt they will keep it level. I didn't care for the amount of sag either without them.

Install was less than 30 minutes and probably could have done it in 15.

 

I run Timbren on my 2015.5 3500 SRW. Previous 5th wheel was 36 feet 11,000. New 5th wheel is 41 and 12,500. Squats a little more due to pin weight but Timbrens engage and I still am level and that's with front torsion turned up to take some rake out. I have had great luck with them towing. They can get a little rough unloaded but you need to hit some nasty road.

 

+1 on the timbrens, has zero effect on the ride unloaded, really helps with porpoising while pulling my T/T. The best part is it consists of exactly 1 piece, nearly impossible to break.

 

Agreed, +1 on Timbren’s. Simpler and no maintenance. No harsh ride empty either.

 

what about adding helper springs?

 

That’s an option as well. More work to install though and no adjustability. My 2021 doesn’t have the spring purch so typical helper setup spring won’t work.

 

Just took the Timbrens off my 2022 3500 SWR and put air bags on. Tow a 43’ 5th wheel 16,000 loaded, pin weight 3050#, rated for 3180#. Bottoms out really bad on dips to the point of thrashing things around in front of the 5er. To each is own but far to stiff with no give one you hit the bump stop.

 

I like my sumosprings

 

I put the RAS system on my 2500HD and it made a big difference. My fifth wheel has 2,400 pounds of pin weight and the RAS levels the truck out nicely when it's hooked up.

 

I got a buddy that put the RAS on his Ram. He said it did basically nothing. He ended up going with bags.

 

I'm guessing that he didn't have them set correctly, I had to ad more preload to mine once I hooked up to the trailer as it still wanted to sag some. Once I got them adjusted correctly they worked as expected. I've had bags in the past and they worked great when the truck was loaded but I didn't like how it affected the ride unloaded though. I think it boils down to personal preference.

 

I think timbrens are the easiest most cost effective way for sure.
however airbags are like the “have your cake and eat it too” solution. But it does come at a price with parts to go wrong

 

I've ran bags for 100's of 1000's of miles on 3500 trucks and yet to have a failure. I did have to fight an air leak on a fitting one time but once that was solved, no more issues. It was an installation issue.

I've ran Firestone and Airlift, prefer the Stones. I noticed a quality issue with the Airlift bags, although it didn't end up being detrimental to performance.

I like the adjustability of bags, especially when heavily loaded from time to time. Timbrens are probably fine for normal conditions but not sure how effective they'd be for heavy loads like I encounter when hauling equipment, hay, etc.

 

FWIW here's what a 2017 3500SRW looks like with Timbrens with almost 9k on the rear axle.

 

Anybody using Firestone Red bags? I looked at the mounts and installation vs Air Lift and I think I like the design better. They seem to center up better on frame/axle. 200 PSI max as well. Price is about the same too.

 

Just installed Timbrens on my 21, 2500. Did a 20 mile drive unladen. I’m impressed with the ride. Got rid of the porpoising over dips. Less lean while cornering too. If anything, it rides better than stock. Was considering adding a rear sway bar but I don’t think that will be necessary (I have a Helwig installed up front). Was rotating tires and added maybe 10 minutes to the process. Look forward to testing next month when I hook up to my 9-10k travel trailer for a month long journey to FL.

 

I've had both and the air bags are the way to go if you ask me. greater versatility