seb503 wrote: What do you do when you have to drop it off at the service center for repairs. They can't just hook to it like they would any other TT. Do you leave them with the entire hitch assembly? Or is it easy enough to remove it before you leave it? I guess once the brackets are in place on the tongue it should be pretty easy to remove and put back....
There are 4 ways to move a Hensley-equipped TT without damaging something:
1. Leave your tow vehicle with the TT at the service center.
2. Use a truck and the Hensley hitch bar; just like you do when you trailer it.
2. Use a fork lift that's been modified to pick up the TT at the FRAME and not the hitch.
3. Put a wheel on the tongue jack and shove the trailer around without picking up the tongue.
I've done all of the above. Since our dealer is very close and we have an old F250 we prefer leaving the TT hitched up to one of our trucks.
If not, then I make it clear to the service center that they are not to try to move the TT since they don't have a proper way to do so. Then, check out the hitch very carefully when you pick up the trailer.
Actually, the best bet is to do your own service.
Steve & C. J.
"Gracie" the Rough Collie & "Bo'sun" the Bichon Frise
Mike Schriber wrote: You're already backing away from your claims. You said...
wayne_tw wrote: And I never felt those winds with the Hensley!!! That sold me!
There were no caveats in that statement that I recall reading. My Suburban alone gets blown around in winds like that let alone when towing my trailer. Wind induced sway is usually the result of not enough tongue weight or an incorrectly setup weight distributing hitch.
I've had a Hensley. I sold it and went back to my Equal-i-zer. The Hensley was too expensive and too much hassle for no real benefit.
I've towed through strong winds more times than I can remember (it's SOP out west) and I've never had an ounce of trouble. Sure I get moved around a bit, every vehicle, RV and truck does. A Hensley equipped rig is not immune to the laws of physics.
The OP has a good tow vehicle well matched to his trailer and a good hitch. He's unlikely to realize any benefit from changing to a Hensley Arrow (or ProPride) unless you think having a lighter wallet to haul around is a bonus.
That's what always gets my attention in these Hensley threads. There's always someone preaching the miracle gospel of the Hensley Arrow... it'll find you lost car keys, turn Coke into Pepsi, let you tow through a hurricane and solve all the problems you have towing your Airstream with that Volvo wagon (or Dodge Intrepid if you believe the Hensley DVD).
Reality is another matter.
Mike
I have a friend that's one of those guys that thinks his old Buick Century drives as well as a BMW. Seriously. But, I suspect that even he could tell the difference between towing a TT with a Hensley/ProPride/Pullrite vs. with anything else. The physics are dramatically different even with a nicely matched truck and trailer such as our '04 F350 and the HR 29FKS. We pulled that trailer with 3 different hitches, progressing from a single friction hitch, to a Reese Dual-Cam to a Hensley. The single friction hitch was overwhelmed by the TT, the Dual-Cam tamed the sway, but the Hensley eliminated the sway completely.
We've driven in some very windy conditions with the 35' long 12,000# TT behind that same F350. One day it was so windy that it tore the aluminum paneling loose a the bottom of both slides.
An interesting characteristic of the Hensley (& ProPride) is that since they don't allow the hitch to turn until the truck turns, the entire vehicle behaves as a single vehicle with NO hinge point. The only way the trailer can turn the truck is by first getting several inches closer to the truck. The result is that the truck towing a trailer with a Hensley hitch is generally more stable than the truck by itself. Having towed 3 trailers with two different trucks, this has been my experience.
Are there disadvantages to a Hensley Hitch (or ProPride or even a Pullrite)?
Yes, there sure are:
1. Money. All 3 are much more expensive.
2. Hitching and unhitching. Using a Hensley IS different. Some folks will not do their part in the learning curve and they'll blame the hitch. It does take me about a minute longer to hitch up with a Hensley than it does with a conventional hitch. And I do it solo with no one guiding me. Not a problem.
3. Brake controller. You MUST use a proportional or better brake controller, and the controller must apply the brakes ASAP. If the controller applies the brakes after the TV brakes are actually applied, then the hitch will compress causing the TV to crab sideways some.
4. Disc Brakes. Hydraulic disc brakes on a TT have a delayed application by their nature. The best is about 0.2 seconds. As a result, the hitch will compress and the truck will crab about 3" to one side. It's always the same side, so I quickly adapted by learning to turn the steering wheel a couple of inches when applying the brakes to compensate. IMHO, the disc brakes were worth it but DW says NOT on our new TT.
Well, I still have no dought that it will improve the overall stabilty of the TV and TT, especially at 65mph on the interstate. How much it improves I won't know until I try it. And I will be getting one sometime soon. Kids will be going back to school soon so the trips will be limited. I'm going to wait until I can plan several trips within the return time frame. The ProPride web site says it comes with a minimum of a 30 day 100% guarantee.
Hey, who knows, I might be on one of these videos crying my praises or humiliating my self explaining how I don't have a clue how to back a trailer, but this new hitch made all the difference. Or maybe I will connect my 2001 Explorer to my 34' 8000lbs TT and drive 70 mph in a 45mph wind storm and explain how my 6 y/o son drove.
All joking a side, I am really looking forward to giving it a try. I was able to get a lot of information from Sean Woodruff at ProPride yesterday via e-mail. He was very responsive and answered all my questions in a timely manner. This will be the hitch I go with.
SteveRankin wrote: ...There are 4 ways to move a Hensley-equipped TT without damaging something...
Here's a 5th way.
I had a coupler welder to a 2" receiver. To allow backing a screwdriver is inserted in the head linkage to prevent movement.
This device is designed for moving the trailer only, not for towing at highway speeds.
I've towed well in excess of 50,000 miles with my Hensley through all the lower 48 states and 5 Canadian provinces. I would not want to tow a travel trailer without one. They really do work.
LAdams wrote: So the Hensley debate rages on ... Look guys - here's the bottom line... The Reese Daul Cam, Equal-i-zer, Drawtite and a ton of other w/d hitches with friction sway bars ALL rely on friction for sway control - PERIOD!!!
Think what you want, but that's the factual truth... The Hensley and Propride with their 4 bar linkage move the pivot point forward and the camming action of the hitch prevent trailer movement until a turn is initiated and approximately 15 degree arc is seen... The Pullrite functions as a 5th wheel hitch UNDER the tow vehicle with the pivot point just behind the rear axle... Neither the Hensley, ProPride, or Pullrite are dependant upon friction to control sway - - the Reese, Equal-i-zer, and standard w/d hitches with friction sway bars are!!! If you can't see this, then you don't understand how these hitches work...
All perform well for the task at hand, BUT, which do you think are REALLY the better hitches for controlling sway
That is the real REALITY of the matter!!!
Les
Thanks Les, you, of course, are correct. At some point the dynamic forces exerted upon the hitch by the trailer will be stronger than the friction, and a sway incident, likely severe, will occur. Most people don't have a clue and that's when an accident seems to occur.
It is very interesting to me that almost always the ones who denounce the benefits of the Hensley are the ones who have never tried one.
Mike Scriber wrote: He's unlikely to realize any benefit from changing to a Hensley Arrow (or ProPride) unless you think having a lighter wallet to haul around is a bonus.
Mike, you're entitled to your opinion, but this statement is irresponsible...since you've never owned or towed with a Hensley or ProPride, how can you state that the OP will see no benefit? Based on what?
As Les said, the designs of these hitches are superior and create a more stable rig, regardless of how stable it is perceived to be now. Maybe not on a calm sunny day on a rural Interstate, but on a stormy day with high winds and in a 20-mile construction zone with heavy traffic. Ask me, I've been there.
And an aerodynamic trailer doesn't "capture" wind but allows it slide off the sides or front corners, unlike a square box trailer. This is a huge difference in trailer towing safety. With independent suspension the trailer is better able to adjust to road irregularities and wind, simultaneously, the sort of things that will upset a leaf-sprung trailer.
Adding a Hensley makes it even better. I've towed in side or quartering winds that had the reefers and dry vans off the road, not to mention motorhomes and fifth wheels. The trailer simply doesn't move independently of the TV any more with a Hensley (or, ProPride).
So, an aerodynamic trailer, independently-suspended, with a Hensley hitch, that's a Porsche compared to the friction-sway, leaf-sprung square box that might as well be a '64 International pickup for roadability.
Quote: And an aerodynamic trailer doesn't "capture" wind but allows it slide off the sides or front corners, unlike a square box trailer.
I can certainly attest to this. Even with the Hensley, our former 30 foot box trailer was buffeted quite a bit by passing MH's and buses (not so much transports). No sway mind you, just a buffeting/rocking action that wasn't helped by our Yukon's high centre of gravity and soft suspension.
The buffeting has essentially disappeared with our Airstream (which admittedly is also 6 feet shorter). Aerodynamics plays a huge role in towing stability.
Gary
2001 Airstream Safari 25SS tugged by 2001 GMC Yukon 5.3L 3.73
Hensley Arrow • Jordan Ultima • Barker 3000 • Mckesh
Les, I don't think there is any debate as to the fact that the Equal-i-zer and Dual Cam use friction to inhibit and control sway and the Hensley design does not.
Burb, the OP states that his rig tows fine now. So what benefit would he realize?
A friend of mine got a Hensley about the same time for his 30' race trailer (also towed with a 3/4 ton Suburban). I drove it with the old hitch and the Hensley and was not impressed by the difference. I then got rid of my Hensley without bothering to install it. I can across my Hensley for a smoking deal (and made money when I sold it) so I was planning to give it a try for the heck of it.
The Hensley is great for masking problems with hitch setup and poor matches between trailer and tow vehicle. If you're towing fine with a Dual Cam or Equal-i-zer the Hensley won't gain you anything. You can get out of the envelope with either type of hitch.
I only saw negatives with the Hensley over my Equal-i-zer. More money and more hassle. I can hitch or unhitch my Equal-i-zer in less than two minutes at any pitch, yaw or roll angle between the tow vehicle and trailer. That's not something you can do with the Hensley.
To each his own as they say but you'll notice for every preacher of the Hensley gospel there are dozens of friction hitch users saying the same thing about their setups.
For every one person who towed through strong winds with their Hensley and was happy with the performance there are 1,000 or more who did the same thing with a conventional hitch and were equally pleased.
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... Look guys - here's the bottom line... The Reese Daul Cam, Equal-i-zer, Drawtite and a ton of other w/d hitches with friction sway bars ALL rely on friction for sway control - PERIOD!!!
