Airbags vs Timbren SES for lifted trucks: Should you get air or go for spacer kits and Timbren SES?
Towing a trailer can be dangerous at the best of times. If your truck has been lifted, you’re faced with a whole new ball game with a different set of rules. Will suspension upgrades still work effectively on a lifted truck?
If you want both flair and function from your lifted truck, you’re gonna need a suspension upgrade that can accommodate the additional space between frame and axle. If you decided to get air for your lifted truck, there is a way to make it work.
This short article has important information about airbags for lifted trucks as well as some good news for Timbren customers whose tow vehicle has been lifted.
Can airbags lift an already lifted truck?
Airbags like those from Air Lift are designed to replace the original bump stops from the factory. So, they are made to fit nicely between the frame and the axle with mounting brackets for the both the frame above and the axle below.
If the vehicle has been up lifted, the airbags will need to be adjusted to accommodate the extra ride height. How is that done? Because airbags are attached to the frame above and the axle below, airbag spacers are added to the mix in order to fill up the additional space and prevent damage to the airbags.
The required height of the spacer may vary from the ride height added to your vehicle by your lift kit. This is because many lift kits lift the front of the vehicle more than the rear. To avoid problems, make sure you use an appropriately sized spacer: Sizes vary from 2 - 6 inches in height.
Note: Spacers may not be required if your air bags are mounted on top of a leaf spring. This is because when you add lift with a block, the added space is between the bottom of the leaf spring and the axle.
How do Timbren SES upgrades work on a lifted truck?
If you bought a Timbren SES kit for your newly-lifted truck and had it installed over the rear axle, no doubt you now realize that the Timbren SES upgrade isn’t helping to level the suspension when you hook up your trailer. What can be done?
There’s an easy solution. They’re called Timbren Spacer Kits.
Just like the metal spacers used with airbags, Timbren has created a Spacer Kit for every SES kit used on Ford, Ram, Chevy, and Toyota trucks. *Timbren spacer kits that are installed with an SES kit are backed by Timbren’s Lifetime warranty and 100-Day money back guarantee.
You don’t need to sacrifice towing and hauling performance just because your pickup sits a little higher than stock. A simple-to-install spacer kit will compensate for the extra height.
Here’s how it works:
Each spacer kit comes with two 1 inch and two 1/2 inch spacers along with all the necessary hardware to allow customers to mix and match in order to achieve their desired ride height.
And the good news is... Timbren Spacer Kits make it possible for Timbren SES kits to work just as effectively on a lifted truck as they do on trucks with a standard ride height. You don’t have to sacrifice function for style. Timbren SES spacer kits give lifted trucks maximum suspension performance that consumers have come to expect.
Should you get air or go for Timbren SES with spacer kits?
The concern about lifted trucks has always been stability. While suspension lifts can improve off-road performance, they can negatively impact your truck's highway driving and towing ability. Trucks with lifted suspensions have a higher center of gravity that makes them less stable on the road and can make it less safe to tow heavy loads. For this reason, it’s best to lift a tow vehicle no more than 2-3 inches.
If you’re thinking about adding a lift kit to your tow vehicle, we suggest you stick with a suspension upgrade that guarantees maximum stability and safety: Timbren SES.
Why Timbren SES upgrades? Technically speaking, a Timbren hollow rubber spring has certain unique characteristics that you won’t find with other spring helpers. For instance, hollow rubber springs...
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Are self-damping:
These two characteristics offer some unique advantages:
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Their progressive spring rate means they automatically adjust to the load
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Increased stability even with super-heavy applications
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Self-damping means they act like a shock absorber
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A soft, comfortable ride empty or loaded
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Prevents damage to your suspension
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Installs quickly and easily
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Reasonably priced
Timbren SES upgrades are the bulletproof towing option that have fit 400+ makes and models for over fifty years. Adding a Timbren Spacer Kit that accommodates a truck with a 2 inch lift allows the Timbren SES upgrade to perform to the max and remain bulletproof.
If you wish to tow with your Ford F-150, we recommend that you limit the modification to two inches. Anything beyond 2 inches creates a dangerous situation for towing. That’s why Timbren lift kits are designed to add up to 2 inches of space and no more.
Always use an approved Timbren lift kit with your SES suspension kit to ensure that your purchase will remain under a Lifetime Warranty.
In addition to Timbren’s features and benefits listed above, every Timbren SES upgrade comes with a No B.S. Lifetime Warranty and a 100-Day Money Back guarantee.
Click here for more information on Timbren SES suspension upgrades or to visit Timbren.com
