When it comes to hauling a truck camper, today’s trucks require extra help to ensure the ride is pleasant and safe. One of the best modifications that you can make to your truck is the Timbren Suspension Enhancement System (SES). If you’re not familiar with the Timbren SES, it’s pretty neat. The system consists of two Aeon rubber spring assemblies that are mounted in place of the OEM bumpstops that came with your truck. The springs sit about an inch above the rear axle unloaded. When your truck camper is loaded, the Timbrens engage your rear axle. As you drive, the rubber springs expand and contract, providing your rig with the required support. The Timbren SES Severe Service kit is made especially for hauling extra heavy loads like truck campers and can support up to 8,000 pounds, a full 3,000 pounds more than the typical air bag spring system.
The Timbren SES is a simple yet robust modification. It not only prevents body roll or sway during turns, but also provides load leveling support for your truck. It also protects your truck and camper from severe impacts from potholes and bumps. These jarring impacts can cause severe damage to both your truck and your camper. The Timbren SES also performs the function of a basic bumpstop by preventing metal-to-metal contact between the rear axle and frame of your truck. Most suspension modifications mitigate only one of these hazards. The Timbren SES, on the other hand, performs all four.
Timbren has a saying that their Aeon springs are “stronger than steel, more reliable than air,” and we agree. Timbrens will neither rust nor will they leak. Indeed, many of Timbren’s Aeon springs are still going strong after 30 years of service. The springs are rugged enough to handle all temperatures including subzero Canadian winters and triple-digit heat. As a matter of fact, all SES kits come with a lifetime warranty for as long as you own your truck. If you’re hauling a truck camper you’ll want to get the Severe Service kit, which features a single convoluted spring rather than two. Compared to the double convoluted spring, the single convoluted spring allows for less travel and delivers more load support for truck campers.
Perhaps the best thing about the Timbren SES is its simplicity. The two springs are easy to install and usually takes no more than a hour. As a matter of fact, it’s one of the easiest suspension modifications that you can make to your truck. Furthermore, there are no complex assemblies with moving parts and air lines that can leak. Simply install them and forget about them. Better yet, a set of Timbrens won’t cost you an arm and leg. Depending on the truck, the set can be purchased for less than $300.00. A real bargain when you consider all that the Timbren SES can do.
The Timbren SES Severe Service Spring fully engaged with the rear axle.Several years ago, we reviewed the Timbren SES and enthusiastically gave it a 5-star rating. At the time we had the Timbrens on our 2013 Ram 3500 with a Northstar Laredo camper mounted on back. Since then, the rig has evolved and changed in major ways. We still have the same truck, but the OEM bed was replaced last year with a SherpTek truck bed. We also replaced the Laredo with a BundutecUSA Roadrunner camper. The camper is about 500 pounds heavier with a higher center of gravity. Our friends at Timbren asked us to reevaluate the Timbrens on our current setup and we were happy to oblige. Were there any differences in how the Timbrens handled? Not really. The quality of the ride is the same as before—superb. We recorded our findings in the video below.
Timbren is a great company to work with, their customer service is second to none! I own several trucks (11, at last count), many are used at, or close to their GVW on a regular basis. Three of these trucks have been up fitted with Timbrens. Unless you have the need to continually vary the load carrying capacity of your truck, it is my experience and opinion that changing the trucks leaf springs to more closely match the anticipated load, is a “better” solution. I won’t elaborate on the term “”better” because it is not my intent to discredit Timberen, but let’s just say that load bearing on the Timbren Springs can change the handling characteristics of a loaded truck, in a way that leaf springs don’t. This is just my experience
but what is the weight of your camper?
The camper weighs about 3,300 pounds fully loaded.