SuperSprings Self-Adjusting Suspension Stabilizers

Anyone use these with airbags or Timbrens? I know the website says that they are a copliment to the airbags but it seems that they might even potentially avoid airbags or Timbrens, provided you are not towing MASSIVE pin weights.

JC

 

I also found these: Torklift.com | Home of Torklift International

Some of the reviews say that they used them without air bags and they worked better than airbags alone.

My neighbor and I were discussing this earlier and we both agreed that something that contacted the overload springs earlier seemed to make the most sense. That way you could get factory ride when empty and have the overloads kick in when towing heavy. These seem like they would keep the truck doing exactly what it was intended to do, just with a little less sag. Big benefit is the less amount of sway when compared to air bags alone. They also may avoid some of the harsh ride isues with the Timbrens. Install looks dead simple.

Hoping someone on here has some experience with these on the new 2011's.

JC

 

I have done something similar as the sway stops/stable loads on my Dodge Dually with my 5000lb Arctic Fox Camper. I also have Timbrens on the truck, and it is setup for the Timbrens and overload springs to contact at about the same time, a little over an inch from unloaded height. This works great for the heavy load. If you have the overloads and have a heavy trailer tongue weight, this may be all you need to keep the truck from dropping to much, and keeping the headlights aimed better.
Rich

 

I'm not sure where the virtue is in utilizing the overloads. It's true that the airbags prevent overload springs from being used but isn't that exactly what you want to have happen? When I pulled my trailer the first time without airbags, the rear end sagged and engaged the overloads. The effect on the ride was terrible. Jerky and harsh. With the airbags, my truck is level and rides smooth. The airbags remove the bucking and jerking. The marketing literature refers to swaying and I'm assuming they are saying that is caused by the airbags? Perhaps they are referring to airbags that share the same airline which would be a bad idea. This is not my experience.

 

I read a bazillion posts on RV forums last night and the reviews range from too harsh when empty due to being too close to the overloads to perfect, no need for airbags to eliminate air bag sway very well. Almost all said they worked well with maybe about 5-10% saying they were harsh. But in almost all those circumstances folks admitted they were not adjusted properly and were too close to the overloads.

For me this might be the perfect solution. No change in ride when empty. Set and forget. Allow the truck to work as designed.

Yes, like the Timbrens they will allow an inch or so of sag, but if you don't level your truck's front in the first place, you wouldn't sag at all but would likely level out instead.

To me, these would not be as good for someone with a front leveling kit but would likely be great on a stock truck that's jacked up a bit in the back anyway. And if you're real heavy, why not take a little load off the bags and minimize sway at the same time?

 

I can't say for sure, but you were probably just slightly sitting on the overloads instead of having them engaged with a lot of weight on them. If they were engaged sooner, your truck wouldn't have sagged so much, and the spring slapping with harsh engagement wouldn't have been so noticeable. Engaging the overloads sooner increases the spring rate giving more support for the load being carried. This is especially helpfull with a slide-in camper that is top heavy, and causes even the best of trucks to get that rocking side to side sway that is being talked about. Air bags do raise your truck, effectively unloading your leaf springs to a lower spring rate which in some cases does cause the side to side sway, but not something you'll notice with a trailer or 5th wheel as much as with a camper. Some people find that this is all they need for hauling something that is heavy, and not wanting to go the air bag route, plus there is little or no maintenance or airing up and down when the load varies. There are advantages to Airbags, Timbrens, and other load assist products. I've used both and it's just a matter of personal preference.
Rich

 

I might try these when the times comes as a first option. If they don't do the trick, then then airbags could be added as a complement to them as they work in sync quite well from what I have read elsewhere. My thinking here is that if they don't do the trick by themselves, then chances are you have one HUGE trailer in which case having something a little extra to mitigate the potential for sway wouldn't be a bad thing anyway. Of course, for those of you with airbags already and have no issues, probably not worth the extra expense to get these. Would only make sense if you currently experience sway issues. Also, for those who want that extra stability that the dually guys rave about, may not be a bad intermediate option if you can't justify a dually.

 

It looks like the key application for the SS Stops is in heavy, high center of gravity scenarios. They would indeed improve the roll or sway caused by an in-bed camper. Just thinking you'd want to be sure they are installed properly. Engage too soon, you get too stiff of a ride. They have to work very well in that environment.

 

I have written to the SuperSpring folks about the Sway Stoppers for the 2011, and they still do not have a set for anything later than 2010.

The reason Sway Stoppers might work without airbags and be better than nothing, is that they would allow more freeplay between the axle and the yellow bumper stops for a given amount of heavy load. In extreme evenly distributed overload conditions this could give you a false sense of security and set you up for eratic handling in a panic condition. In a medium load environment, or high rear end hitch weights, they might cause the harsh ride expressed earlier.

With airbags pumped up to ride level under heavy load the stock overload springs will never be engaged except in emergency situations. With sway stoppers, the overload springs are engaged sooner to reduce sway. Sure wish they had them for the 2011.

John D