AirBags - Timber Grove vs AirLift 5000 Ultimate Plus+

[MayhemMOORE]

Installed the Timber Grove bags last night. Very well thought out kit, and aside from snapping 2 bolts on the top, the install is pretty straightforward. I tightened them too much at first so I couldn't rotate the bags to align them, and when I attempted to loosen the bolts a bit, 2 of them broke off. No big deal, I'll grab some new ones today. Overall it added 3/4" to the rear with 6 psi in them, and the ride doesn't seem much different than stock, but you definitely know they are there if you hit a decent dip in the road.

 

[Zollman12]

Installed the Timber Grove bags last night. Very well thought out kit, and aside from snapping 2 bolts on the top, the install is pretty straightforward. I tightened them too much at first so I couldn't rotate the bags to align them, and when I attempted to loosen the bolts a bit, 2 of them broke off. No big deal, I'll grab some new ones today. Overall it added 3/4" to the rear with 6 psi in them, and the ride doesn't seem much different than stock, but you definitely know they are there if you hit a decent dip in the road.

Do you have a link to where yuou purchased your Timber's. I installed RC 2" leveling struts in my 2019 Laramie. It almost sit too level at this point. I was going to get Air Lift 5000 Ultimate Plus. But now after reading this. Sounds like the Timbers are the way to go! Send me a link please!

 

[MayhemMOORE]

Do you have a link to where yuou purchased your Timber's. I installed RC 2" leveling struts in my 2019 Laramie. It almost sit too level at this point. I was going to get Air Lift 5000 Ultimate Plus. But now after reading this. Sounds like the Timbers are the way to go! Send me a link please!

https://timbergroveenterprises.com/2019-ram-1500

 

[Zollman12]

https://timbergroveenterprises.com/2019-ram-1500

Many thanks!

 

[TexasRebel42]

Curious about the onboard compressor setup. Timber grove is sold out of them from what I can see, except the drop in ones that go into your floor cubby. Any experience with these? Will any on board compressor system (i.e. airlifts) work with TG bags?

 

[Rock Crawler]

Curious about the onboard compressor setup. Timber grove is sold out of them from what I can see, except the drop in ones that go into your floor cubby. Any experience with these? Will any on board compressor system (i.e. airlifts) work with TG bags?

I’ve been in constant contact with Steve regarding these. He had to go to a different air tank supplier. He has been doing a lot of testing to ensure they will meet his standards. The other day he said they did really well and he is working on new mounts for them. Hopefully the kits will start rolling out in the next few weeks. I’m waiting on the auto leveling kit for my Timber Grove 4” drop bags. This way anytime I add a load of any kind, the system maintains the rear height and levels left and right.

 

[Rock Crawler]

Installed the Timber Grove bags last night. Very well thought out kit, and aside from snapping 2 bolts on the top, the install is pretty straightforward. I tightened them too much at first so I couldn't rotate the bags to align them, and when I attempted to loosen the bolts a bit, 2 of them broke off. No big deal, I'll grab some new ones today. Overall it added 3/4" to the rear with 6 psi in them, and the ride doesn't seem much different than stock, but you definitely know they are there if you hit a decent dip in the road.

Make sure to torque the bolts correctly according to the directions. Stainless hardware is soft and will break easily if over torqued.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I would agree with you on timber grove. Nice set of bags. Excellent support from Steve at Timber Grove.

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

+1 for Timber Grove. Steve is very knowledgeable and is more than willing to answer any of your questions. Seems like a really good guy.

 

[JerryBsizzle]

I can't speak on Airlift, but im a lifetime customer of Timber Grove. I've gotten 2 sets of bags, both for 6" lifted trucks. Both times Steve, the owner, called to chit chat and make sure I was getting the right thing. Great guy! Flawless install and performance.

 

[tyromeo55]

As recommended in this thread I ordered a set of Timber Grove helper bags for my 2020 DT. After 4 months on the shelf I finally got them installed today. The truck typically sits a hair less than level due to an oversized Knaack job box (4830) permanently mounted in the bed. With it , ladders and the back seating full of tools/material I figure I tote around 1000# of crap everywhere I go.

15 PSI gets me back the factory rake at the cost of some minimal added bounce. I'll drive it that way for a couple days and then drop to 10 and see which I prefer. I'm excited to see how pulling a scissor lift benefits from the install but that is not in the near forcast. It will be nice to get a good amount of tongue weight without the hillbilly lean towards the back.

 

[DOFF]

I have a lift, off road quite frequently and tow quite a bit during the summers and have had no issues with my Timber groves. Love them.

 

[tyromeo55]

UPDATE:
With the weight I carry around every day (guess 1000#). 15psi seems to be the minimum pressure I need to run if I want to keep the truck from bottoming out the bags over decent bumps in the road. Guess I must of been relying on the jounce bumpers a lot more then I realized over the past couple years.

Ground to bottom of fender well was 36" prior to the bags and 37.5" at 15# pressure.

So far it looks like a great solution for anyone in the same situation.

 

[tyromeo55]

1.5 year update

20psi is perfect for the weight I typically carry around. Bags with that pressure made the truck a little bouncy going down the road and back end would slam down a little harder than I liked if at any speed and a good dip. Bilstein shocks fixed that issue and I’ve been happy ever since

 

[JerryBsizzle]

Update on mine, I took them off. Noticed the ride was uncomfortably stiff in the rear. Figured out the internal bump stops were bottoming out and it didn't seem like I had much travel. Also having the axles tied to the frame via the bags just made it stiff.

Once removed and oem bumpstops installed I instantly noticed how much better it rode. (Tried every air pressure from 5-25). My wife noticed also without me even telling her.

 

[frisby5]

AirLift LoadLifter 5000 ULTIMATE PLUS
eTrailer - $433 free shipping

Timber Grove ASAM
Timber Grove $423 shipped


AirLift has a great, long term reputation...this specific AirLift kit is stainless brackets and hardware, along with stainless braided AN lines, and the AirLift airbag has an internal jounce/bumpstop

Timber Grove has a cult following it appears (I've not heard of them before), they have stainless brackets and hardware and otherwise use standard Firestone airbags, but have standard barb-style plastic airlines



I'm leaning towards the AirLift, but want some opinions

I was going to ordet timbergroves it was $470 after shipping did you have a discount code?

 

[tyromeo55]

I was going to ordet timbergroves it was $470 after shipping did you have a discount code?

That price was 3 1/2 years ago.

 

[tyromeo55]

Update on mine, I took them off. Noticed the ride was uncomfortably stiff in the rear. Figured out the internal bump stops were bottoming out and it didn't seem like I had much travel. Also having the axles tied to the frame via the bags just made it stiff.

Once removed and oem bumpstops installed I instantly noticed how much better it rode. (Tried every air pressure from 5-25). My wife noticed also without me even telling her.

For me, the Bilsteins really helped in that regard. Night and day. Unless someone tows with a lot of tung weight or 24/7 carry around a 1/2 ton of tools and material like I do they probably don't make a lot of sense. If I didn't have a need to safely carry the added weight I 'd probably go without also.

 

[JerryBsizzle]

For me, the Bilsteins really helped in that regard. Night and day. Unless someone tows with a lot of tung weight or 24/7 carry around a 1/2 ton of tools and material like I do they probably don't make a lot of sense. If I didn't have a need to safely carry the added weight I 'd probably go without also.

I put Fox 2.0's, they made it a little better but on big bumps and stuff I could feel the airbag bumpstops engaging. Also, I don't haul as much as I once did so they are not really needed.

 

[silver billet]

There are reports of cracked frames right in the bump stop area when guys replaced the bump stops with timbrens, I don't remember if I saw any with air bags but I'd be very careful with all these suspension helpers.

I was having trouble with porpoising in my truck until I replaced my WDH with an Andersen and at that point the suspension helpers were irrelevant other than maybe making it look visually a little nicer, but a little bit of sag is fine and nothing to worry about, the truck is designed to work like that.

If you absolutely need them then perhaps that's a sign that too much is being asked of a small truck.

Just my pair of pennies.

 

[tyromeo55]

There are reports of cracked frames right in the bump stop area when guys replaced the bump stops with timbrens, I don't remember if I saw any with air bags but I'd be very careful with all these suspension helpers.

I was having trouble with porpoising in my truck until I replaced my WDH with an Andersen and at that point the suspension helpers were irrelevant other than maybe making it look visually a little nicer, but a little bit of sag is fine and nothing to worry about, the truck is designed to work like that.

If you absolutely need them then perhaps that's a sign that too much is being asked of a small truck.

Just my pair of pennies.

Had my Timber Grove setup for over 1.5 years. Haul a minimum of 1000# tools and material every where I go (never leaves the truck). Haul trailers with everything from scissor lifts to large transformers that push the GVW of my truck to the max. Zero issues. Really quick google search and i didn't find frame a mention of damage claims. it would be interesting to know what to look for.


asking too much out of a 1/2 ton truck? oh yea. The dealership rep loves to point at the hood badge and say "you need a 2 here". meh. no thanks. The 4 Fords didnt care at 200K each The 4th gen kinda cared but not enough to keep me from buying the one im in now.