Timbren Springs and Firestone Ride-Rite Comparison for a 2013 Ram 2500 Towing a 5th Wheel Trailer

Question:

I have a 2013 ram 2500 crew cab short bed with aftermarket Bilstein shocks,Im in the process of buying a 5th wheel with a pin weight of 1650lbs,max weight 11960lbs. Im flip flopping between Timbres or Firestone bags,what do you recommend or do I even need anything? Thanks

asked by: AL

Expert Reply:

There are a few things to consider when purchasing suspension enhancement for towing a fifth wheel trailer. The Bilstein shocks will certainly help, but it also does not hurt to add suspension enhancement like Timbren springs or Firestone air bags either. They will reduce sag, improve stability and prolong the life of your stock suspension.

Timbren and Firestone make excellent products. We use Timbren springs on our Ram 2500 when towing our fifth wheel trailer and they do an excellent job. The benefits to the Timbren springs are that they require zero maintenance and no adjustments after they are installed. With everything you have to worry about for each camping trip, it may be nice if you have one less thing to worry about.

The downside to the Timbren springs is that they could be noticeable with an empty bed when you hit large bumps. The springs are designed to handle heavy loads and when the bed is empty, the springs can bottom out on the axle on large bumps. They are not noticeable with average road conditions. If you are interested in Timbren springs for your truck, you will want part # TDR2500CA.

The Firestone Ride-Rite Air Helper Springs will work great as well. The nice thing about using air bags is that you can adjust the air pressure to the most comfortable ride for your towing setup. You can also reduce the air pressure when you are not towing or hauling anything. I strongly recommend reducing the air pressure when you are not towing, otherwise you will have a rough ride.

The downside to air springs is that they may require maintenance from time to time and trying to locate a leak in the system can drive a person crazy. If you are interested in the Ride-Rite system, you will want part # F2701. A few other components that you may be interested in are a Tubing Cutter, # AL10530, if you plan on doing the installation yourself and the Firestone Level Command II Dual-Gauge with Heavy-Duty Compressor, # F2219. This will allow you to adjust the air pressure from inside your cab.