Truck camper helper springs: Why Timbren SES beats the Hellwig leaf spring suspension by a country mile
Ever since the Covid pandemic, sales for the RV industry have mushroomed. And that includes truck campers aka slide-in campers. And why not? They’re a stripped-down version of a full sized RV that will save you big bucks from the day you buy it until the day you trade it in.
As great as that may seem, installing a heavy truck camper into the bed of your pickup truck has its problems. One problem in particular is side-to-side roll and sway created by the top-heavy weight of the truck camper.
This short article will introduce you to the best solution to eliminate the problem of truck camper roll and sway: 1) Hellwig truck camper helper springs and 2) Timbren SES truck helper springs.
What are Hellwig truck camper helper springs?
Hellwig truck camper helper springs are designed to sit on top of the existing leaf springs at the rear of your truck. They work in conjunction with the factory leaf spring pack to increase the truck’s spring rate. Hellwig offers several types of leaf helper springs with different load capacities and applications. The price of a Hellwig leaf spring kit ranges anywhere from $100.00 - $1000.00.
Hellwig leaf springs support systems can add an additional load capacity ranging anywhere from 500 lbs up to 3500 lbs. These helper springs increase the suspension’s spring rate but do not increase the GVWR.
A first-time installation of the Hellwig leaf spring suspension could take up to 2 hours.
What are Timbren SES truck camper springs?
Timbren SES truck helper springs are made of natural rubber designed to replace the existing bump stops. Depending on where the bump stops are located, SES rubber springs typically fasten to the frame, the axle, or the truck’s leaf spring suspension.
Designed as a helper spring to assist with heavy loads, Timbren SES upgrades do not replace or override the existing suspension. Most SES kits for pickups are rated for 6000 lbs additional capacity while others add up to an additional 12,000 lbs.
The average SES kit for a half ton pickup lists for about $300.00.
Installation a Timbren SES is fairly easy. Below are five simple steps to install an SES kit for a 2023 Chevy Silverado - part # GMRS15:
-
Raise vehicle
-
Remove OEM bump stops
-
Assemble Steel disc, rubber spacer and Aeon rubber spring (as shown in diagram).
-
Mount to vehicle frame using Timbren supplied fasteners.
-
Lower vehicle
This easy installation takes less than 30 minutes.
How does Hellwig truck helper springs compare to Timbren SES helper springs?
To simplify things, we’re going to restrict our comparison to the following two products: Timbren SES part # GMRS15 and Hellwig EZ-990 Helper Spring Kit.
SIMILARITIES
Both Timbren SES and Hellwig EZ-990 helper springs...
-
Provide additional lift
-
Prevent sagging and squatting
-
Stabilize the load
-
Require very little maintenance
DIFFERENCES
-
The first (and obvious) difference between the 2 products is the material: The Hellwig EZ-990 helper springs are made of tempered steel; Timbren SES upgrades are made of natural rubber.
-
The second and not-so-obvious difference between the 2 products is their spring rate: Hellwig metal springs have a linear spring ratee. the metal springs deflect at the same rate all the way to full deflection. On the other hand, SES hollow rubber springs have a progressive spring rate, i.e. the spring rate increases as they deflect down to full deflection.
-
The maximum additional load capacity of the Hellwig EZ-990 = 2,000 lbs. designed for lighter assistance. On the other hand, SES upgrades provide up to 12,000 lbs. designed for heavier assistance.
Why does Timbren SES beat Hellwig leaf springs by a country mile?
In order to understand why Timbren SES are superior to Hellwig leaf springs, you need to understand two innate characteristics of an Aeon® hollow rubber spring - used in every Timbren SES product:
-
Progressive spring rate
Unlike metal springs that have a linear spring rate, Aeon® rubber springs have a progressive spring rate, a rate that increases as more weight is added to the truck.
-
Hysteresis (self-damping)
Unlike metal springs that need shocks to absorb the energy created when they compress, Aeon® rubber springs are self-damping, able to absorb the kinetic energy by themselves.
These two characteristics offer some unique advantages:
-
Their progressive spring rate means they automatically adjust to the load, preventing sag and squat
-
Increased stability (reduced roll and sway) when towing or hauling super-heavy applications
-
Self-damping means they act like a shock absorber providing the smoothest ride even with the heaviest loads
-
A soft, quiet ride empty or loaded
-
Prevents damage to your suspension
-
Installs quickly and easily
-
Reasonably priced
-
Comes with a Lifetime Warranty & a 100-Day Money Back Guarantee
As you can see, Timbren SES rubber suspension upgrades beats Hellwig Leaf Springs by a country mile! For more information about Timbren SES visit Timbren.com
