tundra lad
Cornwall Ontario
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We have been shopping for a travel trailer for the last two months. Finally we think we have made a choice of the Jayco Jayfeather 29X 2008. One concern I do have is that I have heard that these light weight trailers use lighter gage steel in the frames. How will this frame stand up over time?
We have been reading a lot about the Hensley hitch. We watched the video and watched some reviews. We were wondering if this would be a good hitch to buy for this trailer?
Which would be more stable a fifth wheel or a travel trailer with a Hensley hitch?
Our Tow vehicle is a 2008 Toyota Tundra.
 Happy Camping
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kknowlton
Wisconsin Border Country, IL
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Possibly the TT with Hensley will be more stable - but in any case, you'll get a whole lot more trailer with a TT than with a 5th wheel. The new Tundra is a great towing machine, but only for "bumper-pull" trailers. Payload capacity is too low for anything but the smallest 5ers.
2007 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 5.7L V8 w/ tow pkg, Equal-i-zer
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thenkler
Goshen, NY
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While the Hensley is a fine hitch, it is probably overkill for a Jayfeather. I use the equalizer with the cams for sway control and it works great. The set up is easier to tow than our popup was.
I have had the Jayfeather for a year now and am quite happy with it (after we got the tank drain rerouted). I guess the proof will be how I feel in 5 years???
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forty4san
Hollywood, FL
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When we first bought our Hensley our trailer was a 25' Caravan by Fleetwood. The box was 22'. The Hensley does more than W/D and no sway .. we were able to drive down the road with 3 wheels due to loosing everything (studs and all) and couldn't put on a spare. It is now on it's 3rd TT. We could have bought a 5th wheel when we were looking for a new Rig .. The Hensley played a large part in why we went with another TT .. but not the only reason.
Susan I
2008 McKenzie Starwood 32 FKD TT
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SteveRankin
Sequim, WA
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You're asking 2 questions.
1. The Jay Feather is a lightweight trailer. The 29X GVWR is 7,350# and is 31' long. By comparison our Arctic Fox 29V GVWR is 11,700# and is a foot shorter. An empty Jay Feather weighs nearly 3,000# less than the AF. Naturally, we wouldn't expect a Jay Feather to be as rugged or durable as the AF, but it is durable enough for your use? That depends on how often, how long, how hard you will use it as well as what kinds of roads you intend on using it on. It isn't just the strength of the frame, but the ability of the house and interior to sustain the constant jiggling that a trailer endures.
2. IMHO, the Hensley Hitch is worth it's weight in gold. We just bought our second Hensley. The first one was for a 9,450# 29' Holiday Rambler we pulled with a Ford F350 4X4 diesel. We tried using a Reese Dual-Cam hitch and it worked semi-OK. We didn't blow around, but driving on mountain roads left no doubt that the tail could wag the dog if it wanted to. The Hensley cured that. Later we pulled a 12,000# 32' Holiday Rambler with the same hitch & truck and it was still great. A Jayco 29X behind your Tundra would probably be proportionately similar to our 29' HR behind the F350 - a Reese Dual-Cam would work and be less expensive, but . . . It's your money.
Steve & C. J.
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scbwr
Wilson NY
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It may be a good idea to contact Jayco and see what they say about using a Hensley hitch with the trailer. I seriously doubt that it will be a problem.
As a Hensley owner, I have no regrets about spending a few more $$ for it. There's no doubt that the Equalizer or the Reese Dual Cam are good hitches, but the Hensley does perform at a higher level. (Please, spare this poster the inevitable debate about this!)
If you look around, you may be able to find a used Hensley for about half the new price. If you do, the Hensley is a bargain.
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pacificnw
Great Northwest
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thenkler wrote:While the Hensley is a fine hitch, it is probably overkill for a Jayfeather. I use the equalizer with the cams for sway control and it works great. The set up is easier to tow than our popup was.
I have had the Jayfeather for a year now and am quite happy with it (after we got the tank drain rerouted). I guess the proof will be how I feel in 5 years???
Me too.
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BarneyS
S.E. Lower Michigan
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The Hensley hitch is no different than any other WD hitch when it comes to stresses placed on the frame of the trailer. If you can use a normal WD hitch then you can use a Hensley. The weight of the hitch head stays on the trailer compared to the normal hitch being carried by the truck but I can't see that being a factor in the trailer you are considering. The only frames that could be a problem when using a WD hitch are the very small ones, like on some pop-ups, that cannot take the force place on them by the WD bars when they are under tension. The Hensley is no different. I am sure the Jayco Jayfeather 29X is designed to use a WD hitch, so if you feel the benefits of the Hensley are for you, then go for it!
Barney
2004 Sunnybrook 30FKS TT
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thenkler
Goshen, NY
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The other consideration is the weight of the Hensley. If I remember it is heavier thus adding to the load on the TV.
I did not see the need to spend the extra $$ and it added to my total weight which was more of an issue for me.
To each his own.
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mikeb9550
MI
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BarneyS wrote:The Hensley hitch is no different than any other WD hitch when it comes to stresses placed on the frame of the trailer. If you can use a normal WD hitch then you can use a Hensley. The weight of the hitch head stays on the trailer compared to the normal hitch being carried by the truck but I can't see that being a factor in the trailer you are considering. The only frames that could be a problem when using a WD hitch are the very small ones, like on some pop-ups, that cannot take the force place on them by the WD bars when they are under tension. The Hensley is no different. I am sure the Jayco Jayfeather 29X is designed to use a WD hitch, so if you feel the benefits of the Hensley are for you, then go for it!
Barney
To take it a step further, the lower part of the Hensley (black part of the main hitch body) and the spring bars are not part of the trailer tongue weight. It should be counted with the total tongue weight for your GVWR and your hitch limits but it doesnt put any more load on your trailer frame if thats what you are worried about. This is the heaviest part of the Hensley.
I wont have a trailer without a Hensley after owning one.
* This post was
edited 04/27/08 07:19am by mikeb9550 *
Mike
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