Our Honest Timbren SES Review: Better Than Airbags After Years of Leaks
Real-world lessons from ditching airbags for good
“The tougher the setback, the better the comeback.” – Bernard Osei Annang
That quote hits a little harder when you’re standing in your driveway watching your airbag suspension deflate for the third time this month.
You knew towing a heavy fifth wheel might come with suspension challenges—sagging rear ends, awkward leveling, constant adjustments. What you didn’t expect? Constant leaks, high maintenance, and hundreds of dollars down the drain.
We’ve been there. And after years of dealing with airbag failures, we found a simpler, more reliable solution that doesn’t cost a fortune or require a degree in air compression.
In this post, you’ll learn:
- What caused our airbag suspension issues
- How Timbren SES fixed them (with a 10-minute install!)
- Why Timbren vs airbags isn’t even close—for us
- The full cost breakdown (including the costly mistakes)
Let’s dive in.
TL;DR – Timbren SES Suspension Fix
If you’re researching Timbren SES as an alternative to airbag suspension systems, here’s the short version of our story—and why we’ll never go back.
- We upgraded to a large fifth wheel and trusted a Firestone airbag system to handle the load.
- Within two years, the airbags leaked. Replacements and knockoffs failed us, too.
- After wasting over $750, we finally installed Timbren SES rubber springs—no air lines, no pumps, no fittings.
- Install took 10 minutes. Ride quality was excellent. Maintenance dropped to zero.
- Timbren has held up across multiple trips, and we now recommend it over air suspension without hesitation.
Timbren SES turned a frustrating, expensive cycle into a one-and-done solution.
If you’re tired of leaks, complexity, and constant checks, Timbren may be the simpler, smarter suspension fix you’ve been looking for.
Why We Switched from Airbags to Timbren SES
Airbag suspension failures don’t come out of nowhere.
If you take a step back, chances are you’ll spot the warning signs months before that first leak. We sure did—though we didn’t act on them soon enough.
Our Suspension Setup Timeline
We started with a 2002 Silverado 2500. It was rough, worn-out, and rode like what I lovingly called a “ghetto hoopty.” When we upgraded to a 2021 Chevy Silverado 3500 Duramax, the difference was incredible. Towing our AmeriLite travel trailer felt effortless.
Then came the 40-foot Keystone Cougar 364QBH fifth wheel—a big rig that quickly outmatched our stock suspension.
What We Missed:
- The factory bump stops were tiny and ineffective.
- Leveling with our Anderson hitch was nearly impossible.
- The dealership immediately pushed airbags as the solution.
We installed Firestone airbags, and they worked—until they didn’t.
Two years in, we noticed leaks. For a system that cost over $600, we expected better durability. Instead, we ended up chasing leaks, patching issues, and spending more money trying to hold the system together.
Lesson learned: Fancy doesn’t always mean reliable.
What Went Wrong With Our Airbag Suspension
You don’t realize how much time and money air suspension eats up—until it fails.
When our Firestone airbags started leaking, an RV dealer told us it was “most likely just a loose fitting.” We checked. And checked. And checked. Nothing. No leaks we could pinpoint. No obvious failure. Just a system that kept losing air and left us scratching our heads.
It wasn’t.
What We Tried First (Don’t Repeat These Steps)
We fell into a familiar trap: trying to salvage the system instead of replacing it.
Here’s what didn’t work:
- Spent weeks searching for the leak (“It’s probably just a fitting!”)
- Bought off-brand airbags on Amazon to save money
- Paid a mechanic to install the knockoffs
- Watched them fail almost immediately—they didn’t hold air at all
- Tried to return them, got back… $17.33
Let that sink in: $600+ down the drain on the originals, then another $150+ wasted on replacements that never worked.
What We Should Have Done Sooner
If I had accepted the truth sooner—that this setup was more complex than it needed to be—I would’ve skipped the frustration and gone straight to a simpler suspension upgrade.
Here’s the reality:
If your airbags are leaking now, they’re likely going to leak again. And again.
Why keep investing in something that’s high-maintenance and prone to failure?
Don’t Let Another $600+ Repair Catch You Off Guard
Our suspension failure was just ONE expensive lesson. Get our free Ultimate RV Maintenance Checklist and avoid ALL the costly mistakes we made—from water heater failures to roof leaks to electrical issues.
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How Timbren SES Solved the Problem
Sometimes, simpler really is better.
I’ll admit—I almost didn’t try Timbren Suspension Enhancement Systems. Why? Because I thought they were too simple to be effective.
A mechanic even told me it would be a “downgrade” from airbags. That stuck in my head for months.
But after our failed repairs, wasted money, and returned knockoffs, I decided to give Timbren a shot.
| Feature |
Timbren SES
|
Firestone Airbags
|
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Initial Cost | ~$300-400 (one-time) Winner | $600+ |
| 🔧 Installation Time | 10 minutes Winner | 1-2 hours (requires air lines, fittings, compressor) |
| 🛠️ Installation Complexity | Simple – unbolt old bump stops, slide in Timbren | Complex – air lines, compressor mounting, valve installation |
| ⚙️ Maintenance Required | Zero maintenance Winner | Regular air pressure checks, leak monitoring, fitting inspections |
| 💧 Leak Risk | No air = No leaks Winner | High (fittings, air lines, bags all can leak) |
| 🚗 Ride Quality | Equal or better than airbags – progressive spring rate adapts to load | Good when properly inflated, requires constant adjustments |
| 🔄 Replacement Cycle | Lifetime warranty – install once and forget Winner | Every 2-3 years based on our experience ($600+ each time) |
| 📊 Load Capacity | Up to 8,600 lbs (varies by model) | 3,200-5,000 lbs per pair |
| 🏕️ Campground Convenience | Hook up and go – no adjustments needed Winner | Constant inflation/deflation based on load |
| ❄️ Weather Durability | All-weather rubber – works in extreme heat and sub-zero cold | Air pressure fluctuates with temperature changes |
| 💸 Total Cost Over 5 Years | $300-400 Winner | $1,200+ (2-3 replacements) |
| 🎯 Best For | RVers who want simple, reliable, set-it-and-forget-it performance | Those who need adjustable ride height and don’t mind maintenance |
Easy to Install. Shockingly Effective.
I stood there while my mechanic installed them. Here’s how it went:
- Unbolt and remove the old airbags
- Slide the Timbren rubber springs into place where the bump stops go
- Lower the truck to seat them into position
That’s it. No air lines. No compressors. No fittings to leak.
It took 10 minutes.
Real-World Test: Better Than Airbags
We hit the road expecting to notice a rougher ride or handling issues.
We were wrong.
The ride quality with Timbrens was equal—if not better—than airbags. The truck handled the fifth wheel beautifully. And best of all, I wasn’t the guy inflating his suspension in the campground parking lot while everyone stared.
Bottom line: I expected a downgrade. I got an upgrade.
Now that I’ve used Timbren helper springs for months, I’m confident it was the right call—and I’ll never go back to air systems again.
Plan for the Future: Skip the Leaks and Simplify
If you’re still dealing with failing air suspension—or dreading your next leak—you’re not alone.
The good news? You don’t have to repeat the same mistakes we made.
Our Current Setup (and What’s Next)
We’ve been using Timbren SES for months now. Every trip feels stress-free. We don’t check air pressure. We don’t worry about leaks. We just hook up and go.
Here’s our go-forward plan:
- Short-term: Stick with Timbren. It’s simple, strong, and low-maintenance.
- Long-term: Add Bilstein shocks to further smooth out the ride.
We may not be full-on suspension experts, but after years on the road and thousands of miles towing, we know what works.
The Real Cost Comparison
- Firestone airbags: $600+ every couple of years
- Off-brand airbags: $150–$200 (wasted)
- Timbren SES: One-time cost. Zero maintenance. No air to worry about.
And the peace of mind? Priceless.
If you’re tired of dealing with fittings, compressors, and roadside surprises, Timbren SES is worth your attention. It’s not just a product swap. It’s a mindset shift: simpler = smarter.
Final Thoughts: Take Control of Your Towing Setup
If your RV suspension feels like a ticking time bomb—or just more complicated than it needs to be—you’re not alone.
We’ve been there, and we found our way out.
Timbren SES isn’t just a product. It’s a smarter way to tow. One that saves you time, money, and the frustration of failed gear.
If you’re ready to upgrade, here’s what to do next:
- Install Timbren Suspension Enhancement Systems—the same ones we use on our 2021 Silverado 3500
- Consider Bilstein shocks as a next-level pairing
- Download our Ultimate RV Towing Checklist to prep your whole setup with confidence
We’d love to hear how your install goes. Let us know—and know that you’ve got a community here cheering you on.
About Us
We are Mike and Sara, and our kids and dog are exploring the US while camping in our fifth wheel! Since the late 90s we have been exploring the great outdoors one hiking trail at a time. We introduced our kids to hiking while they were young and they love exploring new places. We call Kentucky home and we find ourselves exploring the state parks, national parks, and other wildlands in our area as often as we can!
Our RV camping journey began during the COVID-19 pandemic. Waking up close to the trails we love hiking was enough for us to get hooked on the camping lifestyle! Thanks for following our adventures!
