Question for those that have used the Timbren suspension system...

[worthingtontw]

What capacity did you use and what was the overall weight? Also how did it preform? I can't seem to find any information on what the sweet spot is for the system... (eg. overall weight 70% of capacity). Building a teardrop and hoping to get it ordered in the next day or two but seems to me there is no good info on this....

Thank you in advance.

 

[ottsville]

There's a bunch of old build threads in the manufactured trailer forum, with some that used timbrens.

 

[john61ct]

overall weight 70% of capacity

Good guess! that's about right.

Builders putting in a too-high capacity unit for the weight actually carried, consistently report everything gets shaken to ********, way too stiff.

And of course you don't want to be right at the max all the time.

I have seen a few threads that talk about the steel bits being the same across a couple capacity increments, and

they were able to swap the rubber parts out from a lower capacity unit.

Besides Timbren tech support at (888) 877-3058, there will be some experts at etrailer.com that can help you out.

Please do report back here

 

[jadmt]

Timbren actually answers the phone and you can talk to their tech guys. I had 1200lb springs on a 1600lb trailer and worked great.

 

[john61ct]

Sure you don't mean the other way around?

Used off-road?

 

[worthingtontw]

Thank you for the responses. More or less confirmed my estimations. Going to give them a buzz during lunch tomorrow to confirm selection, but looks like a 3500HD kit will be in my garage soon. Taking lots of photos and notes and will post a build breakdown when I am done. Working in stages, but the plan is to have a viable habitat ready for our annual Saline Valley trip.

Will report back on my experience.

 

[spressomon]

^ Very curious to hear, all things Death Valley, how the Timbren suspension absorbs/damps washboard to say Dexter Torflex.

 

[Teardropper]

how the Timbren suspension absorbs/damps washboard to say Dexter Torflex.

I asked a friend how his Timbren suspension did with washboard. "Just like my truck."

I was toying with Timbrens on my last build. He talked me out of it because of tire wear. I bought another Torflex.

T

 

[Keith B.]

I believe that you can buy a 3500# frame with lighter pads. I should have gone lighter with mine, but they are sweet.

 

[Boonie Buster]

I have the 3500lb HD setup on my trailer I built, trailer weighs 1200lbs empty. With the RTT and two motorcycles on it, it's still pretty stiff on the gravel roads. But I wanted to be able to haul a heavier UTV or other things if i needed, so i was willing to sacrifice a little on the low end of weight. If I built another trailer I would maybe go with a 2500lb setup and build the trailer for a bit more specific purpose with a smaller footprint. It's definitely not as bouncy as a good old fashion leaf spring setup in my opinion.

I also get a little bit of a resonant bounce at 35mph, but that could be coming from my stock leaf springs and air bag setup, it's just a bit bouncy. with the motorcycles on the trailer that resonance goes away.

 

[furbucket]

I called and asked about a year ago, I had (maybe one day I’ll actually build it) plans to build a trailer that probably would have weighed about 2k lbs- I was told to go with the 3500lb version


Sent from an evil pocket calculator with a flashy screen using Tapatalk

 

[jadmt]

Sure you don't mean the other way around?

Used off-road?

No and yes. Was what they recommended. I should have said on a 1600 gvwr trailer. never bounced on or off road. Actual weight probably was always under the gvwr. I ran lots of higher speed highway miles ie 75+ and tires never showed signs of wear Bfg kos

 

[Tonymorr]

I asked a friend how his Timbren suspension did with washboard. "Just like my truck."

I was toying with Timbrens on my last build. He talked me out of it because of tire wear. I bought another Torflex.

T

Did he align it properly? This is part of the install...

 

[john61ct]

Cool, people say loaded 60-80% is required for a good ride

Which is a pain when a 13000 capacity trailer only weighs 1500# most of the time. . .

 

[Teardropper]

Did he align it properly? This is part of the install...

Yes. He's fastidious and quite mechanical.

T