Wayne_tw: Hensley is not the only system that prevents sway. Propride works using the same principles as the Hensley. The PullRite is the only other one that is a preventer. Everything else is a sway controller, not preventer. I towed with the Dual Cam for many years and thought it was great. Then I got a PR and there is no comparison. All sway controllers work great, right up until they don't.
mtnguy wrote: ---I like the Hensley Arrow system, but I can't justify the cost unless nothing else will work decent.
Whether anything other than a HA will work decent depends on what tow vehicle and trailer you have. If you provide some info about the TV and TT, it will make for better advice.
Quote: But in both of these systems, if you make a turn, or even a slight correction on the highway, your combination of vehicles will tend to keep that path until you straighten again ??
Any TV steering system with proper toe and caster will tend to return the front tires to a "straight ahead" orientation after a turn. A friction sway control will tend to resist this "self centering" action, but does not necessarily prevent the TV from returning to straight ahead. It depends on how tightly the sway control is adjusted and also on how much weight is maintained on the TV's front axle.
Quote: Also by my understanding, if the Reese system is set up correctly, it will tend you direct you in a straight line, regardless if you have just made a turn or correction.
A Dual Cam will also tend to resist the self centering of the TV -- it just doesn't resist as much as an Equal-i-zer.
wayne_tw wrote: All of the systems, except the Hensley, you mentioned work on friction, and at some point the dynamic forces that create sway will overcome the forces of the friction. Then you have a problem. Steveque posted above that his Reece Dual Cam did not have enough force to overcome sindwinds and moved his trailer 5 to 7 feet in an induced sway. He was very lucky that he did not loose control and flip over.
Yes the Hensley is expensive, but it is the only system you mentioned that actually prevents sway from occuring regardless of the situation. You should seriously consider the Hensley and forget that there even is a thing called sway. If you were Steveque above and experienced the 5 to 7 foot sway, can you then say the Reece Dual Cam did a good job? No, of course not. And he shouldn't endorse the system, either. It failed him and could have very easily caused a terrible accident. Get the Hensley.
Another that might even be better than the Hensley is the Pullrite.
Dang, posted before I read rolnrolnroln's post
Larry
2001 standard box 7.3L E-350 PSD Van with 4.10 rear and 2007 Holiday Rambler Aluma-Lite 8306S Been RV'ing since 1974. TRAILER MODS
Ron Gratz wrote: If you provide some info about the TV and TT, it will make for better advice.
Ron
Ron, I guess I should have volunteered that infomation....just didn't think about it.
My TV is a 2006 F150 Super Cab 4x4, 6.5' bed (145" wheelbase), 5.4L engine with 3.73 final gears. It is rated to tow 9300 lbs. The factory hitch is rated at 9900 lbs. tow weight, 500 lbs. weight carrying tongue weight, and 990 lbs. weight distributing tongue weight.
The trailer that I am looking at is a 2008 Surveyor SV263. The unloaded weight is ~4700 lbs, and I am not sure about the gross weight.....I will check on that tomorrow when I look at the unit again.....but probably in the 6000 lb area. The tongue weight is 590 lbs.
Chap
* This post was
edited 08/15/08 05:47pm by mtnguy *
Ron Gratz wrote: If you provide some info about the TV and TT, it will make for better advice.
Ron
Ron, I guess I should have volunteered that infomation....just didn't think about it.
My TV is a 2006 F150 Super Cab 4x4, 6.5' bed (145" wheelbase), 5.4L engine with 3.73 final gears. It is rated to tow 9300 lbs. The factory hitch is rated at 9900 lbs. tow weight, 500 lbs. weight carrying tongue weight, and 990 lbs. weight distributing tongue weight.
The trailer that I am looking at is a 2008 Surveyor SV263. The unloaded weight is ~4700 lbs, and I am not sure about the gross weight.....I will check on that tomorrow when I look at the unit again.....but probably in the 6000 lb area. The tongue weight is 590 lbs.
Chap
Just an update on the gross weight of the SV263 since I wasn't sure in the previous post. The gross weight is 7559 lbs. The unloaded vehicle weight is 4634 lbs. I think the gross weight is probably figured on 2 3500 lbs Dexter axles as the weak link (tires add up to 7040 lbs), plus the tongue weight of 559 lbs......but that is just my figuring. I don't plan on ever getting to that gross, even with a full water tank.....that is still 1800 lbs. of goodies.
rolnrolnroln wrote: Wayne_tw: Hensley is not the only system that prevents sway. Propride works using the same principles as the Hensley. The PullRite is the only other one that is a preventer. Everything else is a sway controller, not preventer. I towed with the Dual Cam for many years and thought it was great. Then I got a PR and there is no comparison. All sway controllers work great, right up until they don't.
You are right of course, but the OP only mentioned the Hensley, and I kept my response limited to the brands mentioned.
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