Shocks for TOWING...ideas ?

For those who tow with their vans, I'm just curious to know what kind of Shocks you prefer to help with the weight - for the rear or front ?

Thanks ! David B. Ram Van Man

I always used Gabriel adjustable E's on the front and air shocks on the back of my 70's and 80's Dodge Vans when I had them.

Monroes, Monroe loadlevlers in the rear

Well, I just discovered a 'new' item that might be helpful for providing support on the rear axle of our Ram Vans, in a different way than coil-over shocks but somewhat similar to 'air-bags' like the Firestone Air Lift, especially for towing situations.

They're called "Timbren-Suspension Enhancement System" and they are like a simplified air bag system - like a heavy rubbber bellows that replaces your stock bump stop, riding just a bit from the axle (when empty), then coming into contact when a load is applied, or when you go around a turn (to provide sway support).

It does appear to have advantages over the 'air bags' like: no air compressor required, nothing to wear out - lifetime warranty. The only trick appears to be adjusting it so it's the correct clearance at the mount. They offer kits for our vans, and almost any other vehicle.

www.Timbren.com and a good online dealer:

www.truckspring.com For my '96 Ram Van the rear pair is $ 154.95 - free shipping. They do make them for the front, too.

I may order some - they're about $ 100 cheaper than the Firestone Air Lift and simpler - nothing to go wrong.

I plan to tow a heavy trailer from CA to TX very soon, so I wanted the max towing set up for the rear axle - proper prep for towing is no accident (pun intended).

I do have the airbags on my Ram Diesel 4by4 Truck but it gets loaded very widely at twice the weight I would ever pull with the van. The Ram Van should be used for occasional trailer loads that will be 1000 to 4000 #'s max.

These can also be used if your springs are sagging a bit to provide support - they install easily - just two bolts to pull out the stock bump stop and in they go.

For research, I searched here on this site and at www.TurbodieselRegister.com (Cummins Ram site) and read hundreds of posts about them - those who own them tend to recommend them strongly.

If I do order a set - quite likely - I'll post back here my experience with them. I thought some of you might want to know about this - these things have been around 40 years and I never heard of them before yesterday !

Drive safe, David B. Ram Van Man

I"ve seen this, but don't know anyone that has it installed. Definitely post some pics and tell us how you like it.

Originally Posted by Dodgevanman

I"ve seen this, but don't know anyone that has it installed. Definitely post some pics and tell us how you like it.

Sure will, Nate. On my research, it seemed like all the guys had them on trucks, Rams, Dakota's & some Fords, but no full size vans that I could locate.

I'm ordering them just now. It's possible that the rears might make the rear sway bar less necessary - we shall see.

I'll report back, Take Care

David B Ram Van Man

I have the RoadMaster Active Suspension kit on both the B1500 and B2500 for towing. There is no sag on the back end anymore. Of course, I'm only towing a 4500lb camper that is loaded.

I'm on the Coachmen MSN forums and RV NET as well.

Originally Posted by stev

I have the RoadMaster Active Suspension kit on both the B1500 and B2500 for towing. There is no sag on the back end anymore. Of course, I'm only towing a 4500lb camper that is loaded.

How do you like that set-up - sounds interesting, I'll have to check it out - I've only just heard of it. There are some very different ways out there to 'skin this cat' of making the Ram Vans handle better.....

I just installed, late last night - (can you say greasy at 4 am !!) my new suspension system for the Ram Van called the Timbren SES, suspension enhancement system. What an immense improvment to the Ram Van - gone is the suspension slop that sort of a pogo-stick motion ride & porposing is over.

Good thing, my wife had a back injury and I had to take her down a super windy country highway (HWY 74 in So Cal) to the doctors office and the van handled like a dream - she & the children commented on the comfort & control of the new ride - no carsickness issues for a change.

I've installed the front & rear units, and have new Bilsteins on the front as well, plus polyurethane sway bar bushings, too.

I guess the Timbren "rubber springs" - kinda like a squishy yet firm extended bump stop that stops body roll, dive & squat effect - have been around for 40 years. Of course, they're at www.Timbren.com and I got them online at the lowest price at www.truckspring.com.

I'll take a peek at the Roadmaster system, too....

Take Care, David B Ram Van Man

David,

The Road Master Active Suspension Kit really stopped the body roll with the B2500 12-passenger van. I would dread taking an interstate exit with a loop since I would have to stay well below the posted yellow/orange caution speed warning for the loop itself. Now, I can do that posted speed or a little bit more.

On the B1500, wheel hop was the issue other than the rear tow sag pulling the 3000# camper.

Other than the benefits the kit offers, I was sold on it since a person can use simple home garage tools to install them. There is no welding or dismantling of any of the van parts. Just clip and bolt on. It sounds simple and is. The longest part of the job is getting the wheel off with a cross bar and a jack.

Originally Posted by stev

David,

The Road Master Active Suspension Kit really stopped the body roll with the B2500 12-passenger van. I would dread taking an interstate exit with a loop since I would have to stay well below the posted yellow/orange caution speed warning for the loop itself. Now, I can do that posted speed or a little bit more.

On the B1500, wheel hop was the issue other than the rear tow sag pulling the 3000# camper.

Other than the benefits the kit offers, I was sold on it since a person can use simple home garage tools to install them. There is no welding or dismantling of any of the van parts. Just clip and bolt on. It sounds simple and is. The longest part of the job is getting the wheel off with a cross bar and a jack.

Stev,

Thanks for the feedback ! Sounds super, really effective.
I know from towing a heavy '38 TT with my Ram Truck (before towing improvements) that a bad tow set up can really scare the wits out of you - and your passengers ! Must be a good feeling to tow with confidence & safety.


My impression from what you've shared is my buddy with his newly acquired B3500 should consider using the Roadmaster on his rear, and the Timbren kit on the front - (along with Bilstein shocks, too).

Couple questions more if you dont' mind -

1) What was the cost of the Roadmaster system - the website didn't say that I could find...

2)Have you seen the Timbren system ? I wonder how they do in direct comparison ?

My buddy is kinda 'budget challenged' so it might come down to simple economics - the Timbren being very simple, it's only around $ 150 - 200 for the rear & $ 150 for the front - the Roadmaster looked a bit more involved and so I presume the cost is a bit higher. I know safety is priceless, so really whatever it is, it's worth it.

I spent $ 2400 on my 'Hensley Arrow' sway cancelling hitch system for my huge travel trailer .....

thanks David

David,

Here's the link I have for the Road Master Active Suspension for pricing from a national dealer in the south mid-west.

http://www.roadmasterok.com/pricing.htm

Right now, they are really discounted by 30 to 80 dollars. Shipping wasn't that much either at only $6.

I would go with the XX heavey duty kit for a B3500. That's what I have on the B2500. The B3500 is the longest Ram Van made for 15-passengers. I only went with the standard X on the B1500 conversion van.

So, MK II (XXF) is the best kit to use. The pricing now is $239. The kit includes two active suspension assemblies for each rear wheel and leaf-spring. The nice thing about the RMAS is that they can be fine tuned to being stiffer or a little relaxed. A simple wrench makes the adjustment.

The Timbren up front would do well to prevent any front road hop from dips in the road while traveling.

Stev

i just got the timbren set put on my van they work great with heavy loads like carpet and pad (1000lbmax)in the 96' 2500 i own. i would sugest these over the airbags any day....the local shop did it for $400 and took them an hour and a half.

Originally Posted by danthewolf

i just got the timbren set put on my van they work great with heavy loads like carpet and pad (1000lbmax)in the 96' 2500 i own. i would sugest these over the airbags any day....the local shop did it for $400 and took them an hour and a half.

Dan, cool deal. Did you get front & rear sets ? What shocks do you run ?

The Timbrens are great. This post is old, to update, I now have Timbren on both front & rear in my '96 B-2500 Van. (plus Bilstein shocks) It's handling is now top notch.

Plus, my rear Firestone airbags on my Cummins Ram 4x truck started leaking, and I found a 'deal' on the rear Timbren set and installed them to take the place of the leaky airbag. BINGO - they work super ! No leaks possible, heh heh.

Ok, so here's a question (maybe for Stev mainly); can I go ahead and install the Roadmaster units on the Van, even though I have the Timbrens ?

Would they interfere ? Use heavy or light duty ones ?

It seems like more anti - roll stability could still be achieved....these raised roof units are so top heavy, you know !

Happy New Year, by the way

Thanks, David B.

David,

I didn't go with the rear Timbren since the Roadmaster AS did that job and much more. If the Timbrens are clear of the leaf spring and clear of the axle area needed for mounting, you can add the Roadmaster AS without any issues.

Over at the RV.net forums in the towing section, many people discuss what works for their vehcile and towing needs. I wanted a setup that didn't cost and arm-n-leg, but covered the most use needed. People will push the air-bag setups, but I didn't want the inspection process and to maintain the operation at different loads.

JC Whitney offers the Roadmaster AS kits as well. However, the price is somewhat higher.

I hope that you and your family had a blessed Christmas.

Shalom!

Stev

i run monroes in the front and gabrials in the back and only had timbren put in the rear of the van to help with heavy loads....even with about 500lbs of weight i get really good mpg on the highway(about 400miles to a tank).and in the city (380miles a tank).and yes it's a 318 with i think the 36gal tank.