Tim DP
Member
Hi All,
I started my FWC journey last year with no suspension mods, and I thought I'd be OK. After all, I had a '98 Ranger with a heavier Skamper and rode it hard with no suspension mods for many thousands of miles with no problem. Not so. The cheaper/flimsier springs on my '03 Ford Ranger made something necessary, and I opted for a Timbren kit. It leveled it out somewhat and rode and handled better, but the '03 Ranger's flimsy springs meant I was riding on the Timbrens all the time. I smooshed one out (left the Timbren on the ground) on Boulder Mountain in Utah in October, necessitating a tow into Richfield, UT, cutting my fall trip short. I had Firestone sport-rite airbags installed there, and Timbren mailed me a heavier duty 2 piece kit free of charge which I have since mounted.
After storing the camper for winter, the unloaded ride on the Ranger is ridiculously rough - even at the minimum 10 psi. I left the ground on I-70 last week under the speed limit, and even the slightest bump feels like I am driving a WWII era jeep. It's really miserable.
Looking into the matter further, the shop in Richfield, UT installed sport rite 2172s that are specifically forbidden for my truck (not for use on a supercab with a 6 ft bed) to add insult to injury, they marked up the part 125% ($547.00). They say they will make it right (install air-ride bags and refund me some $) but I have questions in the interim.
Has anyone else had the ludicrously rough ride experience? Anyone else installed the 2172s on a ranger supercab shortbed? Am I OK running 0 PSI in the bags with the Timbrens to keep the bags from pinching? Is there anything I can do short of loading a ton of sand to improve the unladen ride? Thanks in advance.
Attached is a photo of the old ruined Timbrens. I have been really unhappy with the Timbrens poor fit and lousy engineering, particularly the platforms - they are not made to sit correctly on the axle.
I started my FWC journey last year with no suspension mods, and I thought I'd be OK. After all, I had a '98 Ranger with a heavier Skamper and rode it hard with no suspension mods for many thousands of miles with no problem. Not so. The cheaper/flimsier springs on my '03 Ford Ranger made something necessary, and I opted for a Timbren kit. It leveled it out somewhat and rode and handled better, but the '03 Ranger's flimsy springs meant I was riding on the Timbrens all the time. I smooshed one out (left the Timbren on the ground) on Boulder Mountain in Utah in October, necessitating a tow into Richfield, UT, cutting my fall trip short. I had Firestone sport-rite airbags installed there, and Timbren mailed me a heavier duty 2 piece kit free of charge which I have since mounted.
After storing the camper for winter, the unloaded ride on the Ranger is ridiculously rough - even at the minimum 10 psi. I left the ground on I-70 last week under the speed limit, and even the slightest bump feels like I am driving a WWII era jeep. It's really miserable.
Looking into the matter further, the shop in Richfield, UT installed sport rite 2172s that are specifically forbidden for my truck (not for use on a supercab with a 6 ft bed) to add insult to injury, they marked up the part 125% ($547.00). They say they will make it right (install air-ride bags and refund me some $) but I have questions in the interim.
Has anyone else had the ludicrously rough ride experience? Anyone else installed the 2172s on a ranger supercab shortbed? Am I OK running 0 PSI in the bags with the Timbrens to keep the bags from pinching? Is there anything I can do short of loading a ton of sand to improve the unladen ride? Thanks in advance.
Attached is a photo of the old ruined Timbrens. I have been really unhappy with the Timbrens poor fit and lousy engineering, particularly the platforms - they are not made to sit correctly on the axle.