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Timbrens worth it - F150 towing 2800BH

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  • Timbrens worth it - F150 towing 2800BH

    We have a '17 F150 3.5L eco boost which tows fantastic. We just towed down to the Carolina's then Key West and back. I've checked our weight at CAT scales and we're within specs on all axles and combined GVWR. The back end is sagging a big even with WD hitch, this is bringing the front of the truck up. Was looking at airbags vs. Timbrens and frankly for towing around New England would prefer to drop $200 vs. $1,000.

    Any feedback on Timbrens positive or negative ?


    - Kevin

    '17 F-150 3.5TT | '21 Grand Design 2800BH

  • #2
    Hi Kevin,

    I can't offer an opinion on the Timbrens, but I can endorse the airbags on an F150.

    I installed the Airlift kit (specifically for F150 - which went well) and the remotely controlled on-board air compressor. This allows me to tune the suspension from the drivers seat for towing, not towing, road conditions, etc. I do not use the airbags to lift the back of the truck more than about 1/2" at 30 psi when towing our Reflection 5th wheel, but this noticeably stabilizes the back of the truck. I have cranked them up to 100 psi (just to see how this would look) and there is a lot of lift capability there is you wanted to use it.

    Timbrens are a "one size fits all" jounce bumper replacement . . . so, if this helps your situation, great. If not, you have no adjustability.

    The $200 solution vs the $1000 solution . . .as you say.

    Rob
    Cate & Rob
    (with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
    2015 Reflection 303RLS
    2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
    Bayham, Ontario, Canada

    Comment


    • #3
      Thanks for the info Rob. We were pretty committed to airbags but I'd really like to move up to an F250 in the near future causing my hesitation on investment. It's impressive you're F150 tows the 5th wheel set up you have. We tried finding one with the HDPP but it seems like a unicorn. Locating one with the HD Tow Pack was hard enough.

      Thanks again for the info, Maple Leads are looking good this year.

      - Kevin
      '17 F-150 3.5TT | '21 Grand Design 2800BH

      Comment


      • #4
        Hi Kevin,

        Yes . . . at most campgrounds, someone has to come over to tell me that I shouldn't be towing a 5th wheel with a half ton. So, we compare door labels (amazing how many RVers don't know that their payload is on the door label) It usually turns out that they are towing a much heavier 5th wheel with a diesel 3/4 ton where the payload is less than my HDPP. Agreed that HDPP trucks are unicorns that have to be a "special order". The attached picture would be with 30 psi in the airbags. With the 5er pin weight up over the HDPP rear axle, the truck has always towed level . . . even with no pressure in the bags.

        I did notice your Avatar . I grew up in a town with a Boston affiliated Junior A team . . . so, was a Boston fan for years. My wife is an avid Leaf fan . . . so, I guess I have been "converted".

        Rob

        Click image for larger version  Name:	IMG_1254.jpg Views:	0 Size:	142.8 KB ID:	49315
        Cate & Rob
        (with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
        2015 Reflection 303RLS
        2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
        Bayham, Ontario, Canada

        Comment


        • #5
          Hi Cate & Rob,

          Not every vehicle has a door label. my 2016 Chevy Silverado 1500 doesn't. It has one for the tires, but that's all. It does have a list of codes in the glove compartment that requires you to look them all up on the internet or consult a dealer. Mine was originally sold in Canada and was a leased truck. I bought it last year and had to do a bunch of research to find out what I could tow with that engine and transmission combination. I wish it had a sticker, but it was interesting doing the research.


          John
          John & Jurie

          Caretakers for Coco and Daisy

          2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
          2021 Imagine XLS 22 RBE


          2014 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport
          ​​​​​​​2021 Transcend 260RB
          2017 Jayco 26BH
          2020 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 FBS

          Comment


          • #6
            J & J Bumblebee amp; J

            Hi John,

            Well before 2016, every vehicle (even in Canada) was required to have a "Tire & Loading Information" label (the "tire" label that you reference). Usually identified by yellow color. On that label above the tire information is the line " The combined weight of Occupants and Cargo should never exceed ??? lbs (or ??? kg on a Canadian label). This is the payload of the vehicle. If that label has been removed, a replacement is available from the manufacturer, specific to the VIN of the vehicle.

            Rob
            Cate & Rob
            (with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
            2015 Reflection 303RLS
            2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
            Bayham, Ontario, Canada

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Cate&Rob View Post
              Hi Kevin,

              Yes . . . at most campgrounds, someone has to come over to tell me that I shouldn't be towing a 5th wheel with a half ton. So, we compare door labels (amazing how many RVers don't know that their payload is on the door label) It usually turns out that they are towing a much heavier 5th wheel with a diesel 3/4 ton where the payload is less than my HDPP. Agreed that HDPP trucks are unicorns that have to be a "special order". The attached picture would be with 30 psi in the airbags. With the 5er pin weight up over the HDPP rear axle, the truck has always towed level . . . even with no pressure in the bags.

              I did notice your Avatar . I grew up in a town with a Boston affiliated Junior A team . . . so, was a Boston fan for years. My wife is an avid Leaf fan . . . so, I guess I have been "converted".

              Rob

              Click image for larger version Name:	IMG_1254.jpg Views:	0 Size:	142.8 KB ID:	49315
              Rob,

              When I was younger worked on and sold boats. Very familiar with how unaware people can be in regards to their tow vehicle. Some of the vehicles people showed up with to leave with a boat I just about refused to hook up due to liability.

              Leafs are due for a championship especially with Matthews, Johnny T, and Marner. I'm also a Morgan Reilly fan who is treated unfairly at times by the city but so are most Maple Leaf athletes. We went to the World Cup of Hockey in Toronto a few years back and are hoping to be back across the boarder in the next year or so.

              - Kevin
              '17 F-150 3.5TT | '21 Grand Design 2800BH

              Comment


              • #8
                Mentioning boats, people pull the same kind of clueless overloading with them. I was pulling a tube behind my boat on a busy lake and as I approached a small cove that had a boat ramp in it, a 12’ jon boat cruised out with a 9.9 outboard, a cooler and 4 beefy guys in it. Maybe 4” of freeboard. I came to a quick stop and circled to protect my rider from the nearly constant stream of boats and waved people off as these idiots blissfully motored right through the middle of the area where the ski boats run.

                I followed at a distance and radioed the conservation officers patrolling the lake. Turns out these guys had no idea boats even had weight limits (theirs was 300 pounds and they were probably triple that) and didn’t have even one PFD in the boat.

                Sorry for the derail, but I’m always amazed when people ignore simple safety information.
                John & Kathy
                2014 Reflection 303RLS
                2014 F250 SC SB 6.2

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Jkwilson View Post
                  Mentioning boats, people pull the same kind of clueless overloading with them. I was pulling a tube behind my boat on a busy lake and as I approached a small cove that had a boat ramp in it, a 12’ jon boat cruised out with a 9.9 outboard, a cooler and 4 beefy guys in it. Maybe 4” of freeboard. I came to a quick stop and circled to protect my rider from the nearly constant stream of boats and waved people off as these idiots blissfully motored right through the middle of the area where the ski boats run.

                  I followed at a distance and radioed the conservation officers patrolling the lake. Turns out these guys had no idea boats even had weight limits (theirs was 300 pounds and they were probably triple that) and didn’t have even one PFD in the boat.

                  Sorry for the derail, but I’m always amazed when people ignore simple safety information.

                  Sounds like you had a "hammerhead" sighting.
                  '17 F-150 3.5TT | '21 Grand Design 2800BH

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Click image for larger version

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                    Originally posted by Cate&Rob View Post
                    J & J Bumblebee amp; J

                    Hi John,

                    Well before 2016, every vehicle (even in Canada) was required to have a "Tire & Loading Information" label (the "tire" label that you reference). Usually identified by yellow color. On that label above the tire information is the line " The combined weight of Occupants and Cargo should never exceed ??? lbs (or ??? kg on a Canadian label). This is the payload of the vehicle. If that label has been removed, a replacement is available from the manufacturer, specific to the VIN of the vehicle.

                    Rob
                    Hey Rob,

                    The yellow tire sticker I have. It's the grey and black one with the other numbers that are lacking. I have the RPO codes and a camper loading sticker and that's it. With the RPO codes I determined with the 5.3L engine and the rear axle ratio of 3.42 I can tow a maximum of 9,200 pounds. Click image for larger version

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                    John & Jurie

                    Caretakers for Coco and Daisy

                    2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
                    2021 Imagine XLS 22 RBE


                    2014 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport
                    ​​​​​​​2021 Transcend 260RB
                    2017 Jayco 26BH
                    2020 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 FBS

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by J & J Bumblebee View Post
                      The yellow tire sticker I have.
                      So . . . what does that label show for payload?

                      Rob
                      Cate & Rob
                      (with Border Collies Molly & Angel + Kitties Hazel & Elsie)
                      2015 Reflection 303RLS
                      2022 F350 Diesel CC SB SRW Lariat
                      Bayham, Ontario, Canada

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        It says.....1762
                        John & Jurie

                        Caretakers for Coco and Daisy

                        2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
                        2021 Imagine XLS 22 RBE


                        2014 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport
                        ​​​​​​​2021 Transcend 260RB
                        2017 Jayco 26BH
                        2020 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 FBS

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I took the truck with the pups in it to two different scales on Saturday. We weighed 5950 pounds. Sunday since there was very little traffic early in the morning I hooked up the trailer took the pups and my wife to the scale on I5 which should be a bit more accurate and the truck sitting on the scale attached to the trailer weighed 7000 pounds. The trailer weighed 6350 while attached to the truck.

                          I found it odd because the trailer out of the factory weighed 6414 pounds.

                          So, the tongue weight is in there somewhere and I'm trying to figure it all out.

                          John
                          John & Jurie

                          Caretakers for Coco and Daisy

                          2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
                          2021 Imagine XLS 22 RBE


                          2014 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport
                          ​​​​​​​2021 Transcend 260RB
                          2017 Jayco 26BH
                          2020 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 FBS

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by J & J Bumblebee View Post
                            I took the truck with the pups in it to two different scales on Saturday. We weighed 5950 pounds. Sunday since there was very little traffic early in the morning I hooked up the trailer took the pups and my wife to the scale on I5 which should be a bit more accurate and the truck sitting on the scale attached to the trailer weighed 7000 pounds. The trailer weighed 6350 while attached to the truck.

                            I found it odd because the trailer out of the factory weighed 6414 pounds.

                            So, the tongue weight is in there somewhere and I'm trying to figure it all out.

                            John
                            John

                            You weighed the truck with the pups at 5950 lbs. With the trailer attached, the truck weighed 7000 lbs. with you, the pups, and your wife. Add the weight of your wife to the 5950 that the truck weighed with you and the pups, and subtract that number from 7000. That will be the load on the truck from the trailer. (tongue weight). Add that number to the 6350 that the trailer weighed while attached to the truck, (i.e. trailer axles) and you get the gross trailer weight.

                            I hope this helps.

                            Bob
                            Last edited by RJAPCOK; 04-06-2021, 08:59 PM.
                            Bob & Lynne

                            2020 Imagine 2970RL
                            2019 GMC Sierra 2500 Denali HD 4x4 Duramax

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Hi Bob,

                              Thank you. I guessed at my wife's weight and came up with 7370 for the gross trailer weight and 920 for the tongue weight. There's a Cat Scale nearby that I'll use and get another measurement.

                              I think I'm well within the towing limits for the truck. It does tow nicely.

                              John
                              John & Jurie

                              Caretakers for Coco and Daisy

                              2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
                              2021 Imagine XLS 22 RBE


                              2014 Toyota Tacoma TRD Sport
                              ​​​​​​​2021 Transcend 260RB
                              2017 Jayco 26BH
                              2020 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108 FBS

                              Comment

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