Keith99RS
Suffield, CT
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baldag wrote:In my post, and in none of the previous posts on this thread, did I see a "safety" issue mentioned, or references to the "safety of our children". That's why I said it's so polarizing. The point I was making was that if the OP is buying a new truck and trailer and wants to buy the best hitch, why should he (or I, or any Hensley owner) be criticized for that?
Keith said Quote:I will say the Hensley does seem to work well for small vehicles towing a large trailer and that seems to be the intent of the design. That shows a lack of knowledge about the Hensley, and one would hope a little research could correct that. In fact, the Hensley works so well that it is USED to compensate for marginal setups. It was not DESIGNED for that purpose.
George
Thank you for confirming my view and providing a perfect example of some of the Hensley owners. Best does not mean best to you or me or most expensive. Best means for his application and he was looking for opinions. I thought the Hensley looked neat until I saw the price tag. Nothing about that hitch justifies it's retail price other than perhaps low sales volume or small manufacturing line. It does not do anything that a properly set up DC or Equalizer will do with the exception of seeming to work very well on short wheelbase TV's due to its design that moves the tow point (not the exact term) further forward.
A little research shows Hensley advertising it allows you to pull longer trailers with a smaller TV. How am I wrong in that statement? The fact that it is USED on marginal setups does not make marginal any safer. I am sure they have a disclaimer covering them for over loaded and poorly loaded trailers.
* This post was
edited 07/03/08 07:26am by an administrator/moderator *
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Rescue421
Marietta, PA
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I have a Dodge 2500 and pull a 35'+ TT with a Reese DC and have no problems. You will definately be fine with your setup. Our previous TV was a Durango and we pulled a 26' TT with the DC and also had no problems at all. I'm not one to spend $$$ on the best of everything. I purhcase what works for the best price. Just look around at CG's and you will see that most unit do not use a Hensley. Good luck on you new units!
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canoe on top
Denver, CO, US
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I pull a 23 1/2 ft. Nash, (5500lbs), with a Dodge 2500 CTD and an Equal-i-zer hitch. I am very satisfied with the hitch, no sway and easy to set up and hook up. I used this hitch towing the same TT with a Jeep Grand Cherokee and had no sway problems. I tow in the Rockies and the turbo really makes a difference at 10,000 ft. altitude. I do not feel "over trucked" just because I am able to keep up with normal traffic flow. An Equal-i-zer will work very well with your combination. The truck is heavy duty enough that the rear only drops about an inch with around 700lbs of tongue weight without the bars hooked up so I don't need a lot of tension on the bars to put everything level. I use the 1000/10,000 Equal-i-zer per factory recommendation.
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havedreamwilltravel
Southern California
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Keith99RS wrote:You do not need to disconnect the DC to back up. Never needed to on mine. Have done the 90 degree thing too.
Thanks Keith99RS -
I had "heard" that some hitches the sway bars needed to be taken off - It might have been the friction type now that I think about it.
Thanks for clearing that up! 
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Suburban85
Illinois
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The pull-rite is my choice. Choice is the key word. I feel very safe and drive comfortable with the tv & tt. I have never used the Hensley and will not comment on it. The pull rite is very different to use but, easy to hook up and drive. Makes the ride in the tv so smooth compared to the old Reese friction set up. It did eliminate the sway in cross winds and when a 18 wheeler passes your not trying to settle the trailer down from sway!
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Keith99RS
Suffield, CT
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You really can't compare any of the hitches with integrated sway control to a friction unit in all honesty.
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lottknox1
north carolina
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These threads are always amusing to me. Bottom line is you just would not understand until you've had a hitch like the equalizer and then changed to a hensley.
I've had the equalizer then went to the hensley. Huge, huge difference. Driving experience and safety for my family is more than worth the money I paid.
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havedreamwilltravel
Southern California
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Keith99RS wrote:You really can't compare any of the hitches with integrated sway control to a friction unit in all honesty.
Wasn't trying to. Just remembered after you said you don't take your sway bars off where I'd heard that you did - and I looked up the thread and it was a friction sway.
The integrated one's are MUCH better and way easier anyway. I think the OP would be happy with either the Reese Dual Cam or the Equalizer with his setup.
BTW: I enjoy your posts. Very common sense and I agree with most everything you say! 
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Suburban85
Illinois
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Quote:The pull-rite is my choice. Choice is the key word. I feel very safe and drive comfortable with the tv & tt. I have never used the Hensley and will not comment on it. The pull rite is very different to use but, easy to hook up and drive. Makes the ride in the tv so smooth compared to the old Reese friction set up. It did eliminate the sway in cross winds and when a 18 wheeler passes your not trying to settle the trailer down from sway!
Keith99RS wrote:You really can't compare any of the hitches with integrated sway control to a friction unit in all honesty.
All have to compare is what I had to what I have currently. If I can't give a honest opinion on what I have used then I guess I better go back to being a troll.
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Keith99RS
Suffield, CT
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Suburban85 wrote:Quote:The pull-rite is my choice. Choice is the key word. I feel very safe and drive comfortable with the tv & tt. I have never used the Hensley and will not comment on it. The pull rite is very different to use but, easy to hook up and drive. Makes the ride in the tv so smooth compared to the old Reese friction set up. It did eliminate the sway in cross winds and when a 18 wheeler passes your not trying to settle the trailer down from sway!
Keith99RS wrote:You really can't compare any of the hitches with integrated sway control to a friction unit in all honesty.
All have to compare is what I had to what I have currently. If I can't give a honest opinion on what I have used then I guess I better go back to being a troll.
Did not mean to offend. Just saying comparing friction control to integrated is like comparing a Chevy and a Cadillac. There is a big difference in method and design. Going to a Hensley over a friction bar is quite the jump and definitely safer IMHO.
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