Timber Grove Air Bags

[Scooter29]

Yup!
We'll be on the road for Thanksgiving also! And that's a pavement trip to the Eastern Sierra. It's really a shakedown for two weeks in Death Valley in December, where we will be 40 to 60 miles from pavement.

Today I installed our front receiver hitch (Torklift) so we can bring our bikes while riding level on the new air bags!

One thing on my air bag install was the bottom clamp wanted to sit a bit off kilter, leaning towards the front.
I got out my tape measure and it was almost an inch wider in front than the back between the clamp plates. I aired down to nothing, then used a carpenters clamp to pull the top and bottom plates to parallel then I retightened the nuts on the axle clamp.

My instructions said the bags were labeled right and left, but I couldn't see any identifying marks. They seem identical, so I don't know if I swapped right for left, which might cause the bags to be be offset slightly? I'm tempted to call Steve at TG and ask him.

Mine also wanted to lean forward some but after I looked at it some more it followed the leaf springs and they are slightly tilted to the from as well. So even though I could see the airbag itself wasn’t straight up and down and was killing me ha I was ok with it following the pathe of the rest of the suspension bolted to the axle.

 

[Scooter29]

Decided instead of a piece of rubber at one spot that id use some plastic wire wrap to protect the whole air line. Can’t beat $5 from Harbor Freight for 14ft of 1/4”. Looks nicer and is protected way better.

 

[NC Rebel]

Yep, that's exactly what I did.

 

[lighthawk]

Decided instead of a piece of rubber at one spot that id use some plastic wire wrap to protect the whole air line. Can’t beat $5 from Harbor Freight for 14ft of 1/4”. Looks nicer and is protected way better.

That's a clean install. I also noticed you split your right and left air lines at the rear. I ran both lines down the driver's side frame, then had to cross over to the passenger side, dodging the exhaust pipe.

 

[Scooter29]

That's a clean install. I also noticed you split your right and left air lines at the rear. I ran both lines down the driver's side frame, then had to cross over to the passenger side, dodging the exhaust pipe.

Thanks, and ya to me it just seemed easier running each one down each side and it worked pretty well as the frame took up most of the run. I just loaded the camper this evening and put 35psi in the bags. Truck seems to be pretty level now. Tomorrow will be the test going down to Oregon. I leveled it but also made sure the overload leaf was still engaged so I can benefit from the trucks suspension hopefully.

 

[Brutal_HO]

View attachment 25786

Install took me most of a Sunday, with a little help from my wife lifting the crossbar into place with a floor jack.
I was done by 230pm and started around 10am after fussing with the airbag mounts on the rear axle.

Instructions were fairly clear until it talked about removal and cutting of the intercooler shroud. Photo made zero sense. The front air dam came right off with 14 nuts @ 10mm and two clips you need to push in with a screwdriver, plus four bolts on struts, also 10mm. I only notched out the lower air dam, using my multi-tool.

I was able to remove and re-install front tow hooks. Breaking them free requires a 24mm socket and breaker bar. Fishing the bolts with (provided) wires was a first, and it worked, even when I incorrectly thought the side plates bolted to the inside of the frame. I connected everything loose, then it was time to lift the 60lb? crossbar.

My wife helped me and we put the crossbar on a floorjack on top of a 4x4 chunk. Worked like a charm. Then I snugged up the five bolts through the frame, 18/19mm and 24mm using my Makita 1/2" impact driver and socket/wrenches.

It's solid and doesn't hang down too far.

View attachment 25788View attachment 25789

I would locktite or double nut that clamp. Even with the lockwashers, mine would occasionally work loose. I actually found some all steel locknuts (staked) at a local Murdoch's and used those.

 

[Scooter29]

After 150 miles or so down to Oregon the truck rode great with the camper, the 35psi was dead on allowing the leaf springs to do there job while the air bags got the truck leveled right.

 

[lighthawk]

Same here. We did 500 miles round trip with the new Timber Grove bags, including 20 miles of high speed gravel, and 10 miles of rugged mining roads with a 2000lb camper on the truck.

I noticed the truck tracked better on highway curves with the rear "squat" now leveled out.
Handling improved offroad with 8" of articulation in the air bags. Overall a much cushier ride compared to the Timbrens we were using. Still on factory shocks for now.

 

[taserboc]

Anybody have any experience using Timber Grove air bags on a 3500? Or even a 4th gen 3500? Look like good quality and they are all stainless steel. They said they are designed to cycle with the full suspension travel of the truck. Trying to accomplish load support for a 3,000lb truck camper without making the truck any stiffer.

19'-UP RAM 3500 (STAINLESS) Rear ASAM (SQ3814967) — Timber Grove Enterprises, LLC

100% bolt-in 304 stainless steel design for 4x4 models. No more peeling powder or rust. Kit includes stainless hardware, brass DOT compression fittings and single DOT air fill line. Air springs are rated at 6,000 lbs. and max 500 PSI. Will fit 4x2 trucks, Spacer Pads Part# SQ8530490 must be ordered

timbergroveenterprises.com

I have installed them on my 2021 3500 SRW and they are great! Unreal great addition. The truck rides better than stock. Timber Grove Airbags are perfect! High quality stainless and lifetime bags. You will see a noticeable improvement! 3500's should all have airbags. Leafs without airbags is almost useless when carrying/towing.

 

[lighthawk]

Just did a two week trip to Death Valley with the camper on the 3500. Conditions included heavy snow, deep sand, 40 miles of washboard, off camber turns where one wheel lifts off the ground and more.
Timber Grove air bags worked great!

 

[Scooter29]

Just did a two week trip to Death Valley with the camper on the 3500. Conditions included heavy snow, deep sand, 40 miles of washboard, off camber turns where one wheel lifts off the ground and more.
Timber Grove air bags worked great!

What pressure are you running? Your camper looks to be lighter than mine, I’m at 3,000lbs + or - some. I had mine at 35psi to have the overload spring just engaged.

 

[lighthawk]

What pressure are you running? Your camper looks to be lighter than mine, I’m at 3,000lbs + or - some. I had mine at 35psi to have the overload spring just engaged.

I think I had 37psi on the left side (sink, refer, furnace on that side) and 34psi on the left.
FWC weighs 1100 dry, but we had 20 gals water, 7 gals propane and 9 gals extra gas, plus a week of food, with a rocketbox on the roof and two sets of ski gear.
I set the pressure by leveling the truck as measured from wheel well to center of tire.

 

[Scooter29]

Ya I started with trying to go by measurements but then just went to just engage the overloads so I could take advantage of the suspension itself and not ride on just the airbags. Definitely leveled it out nicely. Overall it all works good and happy I went with timber grove.