Hi! I'm wondering if anyone here has experience with Timbren Suspension Enhancing Jounce Bumpers. I see them for sale, but I can't find a single video or picture of them being used on a Ram Van.
Occasionally, on the freeway, my campervan (pictured) encounters a bump or dip which puts the van down on the bump-stops a little harder than I'd like. Just wondering if these Timbren things are a good solution to that problem.

https://www.etrailer.com/Suspension-...etails=.photos

 

I have the Timbren model DVF350 on my 1998 Ram 3500 campervan. They do provide a firmer ride at the front, and solved the occasional hard impact that you describe.

One thing; the instructions mention that the front rubber springs should be in contact at normal ride height. if you have the optional 4,000 lb. front axle, you will also need the rubber spacer disks, which are not included with the standard DVF350 kit. Without the spacers, you will have about a 1/2" gap, and a bouncier ride. Timbren sent me the spacers - and longer bolts - at no extra cost.

Hope this helps.

 

rhennick, this info totally helps! I've just ordered them! Thanks for sharing your experience!

I do have the 4000lb axle, so that is good to know also.

Is it a safe assumption that you've encountered nothing undesirable about these (aside from maybe the price, lol)?

 

Nothing undesirable to report so far, is all I can say.

My ride is a 1998 Pleasureway wide-body (or Class B RV if you prefer). The weight distribution sucks, with a *lot* of the added weight behind the back axle (30-gallon freshwater tank, two lead-acid house batteries, furnace, water heater, door-mounted spare tire carrier, rooftop A/C, electric sofa-bed), so it tends to "porpoise", with lots of front end bouncing apparently driven by the rear end. Glad I don't have a generator too, and our only passenger in the back is a small dog.

I run 80 psi on the rear tires and 60 on the front, load rating E. Have replaced front and rear shocks with Monroes specially rated for RV conversion use. Others swear by Bilsteins, if you can afford them.

I really wish Pleasureway had ordered their base conversion vans with the heavy-duty seven-leaf rear springs, but I have found that two suspension upgrades have helped a lot. By far the biggest improvement was installing Roadmaster Active Suspension on the rear. And on the front, the Timbrens have sure helped too.

The thing to remember about an RV is that it is essentially running fully-loaded *at all times*. And the base model for a van conversion was never designed with that in mind; it was a compromise between loaded and unloaded performance/comfort. Ford, Chevy, Dodge; they all have the same basic problem.

My $0.02, and it's Canadian so worth even less...

 

I'm glad to say that I'm very pleased with the weight distribution in my van. I bought the Bilsteins as the factory shocks were toast when I bought this van a year ago.
My only gripe aside from an occasional creaking sound which I suspect is coming from the strut rod bushing area, and of course the sloppy Dodge steering, is the hard landing on the bumpstops which the Timbren should hopefully solve. I'm a happy camper. Thanks for the input!