I congratulate you on the Hensley. It's an amazing piece of equipment.
However, the Hensley is only a band-aid for an underlying issue in your case. It MAY straighten out your sway issue... they do that well. However, the forces that are trying to rip the control from you do not go away with a Hensley, they just get focused somewhere else.
IMHO
You still need to determine WHY the trailer had a tendency to sway. I have followed your purchase from the very beginning (I think I replied on your initial thread ProPride vs Hensley) and this is the first time I recall you referring to your current TT being on the verge of out of control.
1) You may have trailer axles that are not in alignment.
2) Did something on the TV change? IE, new tires, new shocks, ETC.
3) is a brake on the TT hanging slightly, this can initiate a pull
4) Is the TV adequate for the trailer?
5) Is there a suspension issue with the trailer?
6) is the trailer simply badly designed.
7) Are the TT tires UNDER-RATED for the TT?
8) Did you weigh the trailer tongue and make sure that you had strong enough WD bars for the trailer?
I am not trying to be a downer, but the sway forces will be transferred directly to the trailer tongue by the Hensley and the hitch itself..
Hensley Arrow is the absolute best there is... it's even better if you start with everything else in check.
Again, congrats on the new Hensley, I hope you get years and years of use out of it.
Thanks!
Jeremiah
TT: 1995 Layton 2910
Tow Vehicle: 1999 F-350, v10, 2wd, Crew Cab, Dually
Hitch: Draw-Tite Trunnion WD Hitch
Sway Control: Valley dual friction sway control
Brake Control: Tekonsha Voyager
"It's Kind of Fun To Do The Impossible"
~Walt Disney~
fla-gypsy wrote: Congrats on your purchase. The Hensley gets excellent reviews. What do you consider a "smoking deal" on the Hensley? I understand they are quite expensive.
Yes they are exspensive, I cant go into the details, you can check some of my other post and see why I got A hensley. All I can say is it was WELL worth what I paid. Its hard to justify the money until you see what you get. I have never heard anybody have sway issues with these hitches and I exspect the same. my previous hitch was not a pleasent towing experience. No matter how you set it up, when the wind hit the side of the TT or big rigs passed you would feel very bad sway at times. Sometimes it was so bad that I tenced up so much that it felt like the seat came out of the truck when I got out of the truck.
I never understand the reluctance of Hensley owners to tell us what it cost. I have looked on their website and see the numbers quoted but was wondering if they discount that at all. I have no issue saying I have less than $500 in my Reese HP Dual Cam (which works extremely well for me). Are you sworn to secrecy by Hensley? Have to sign a non disclosure agreement or something? It is very curious.
JEREM0621, Thanks for the reply, I have no doubt you are correct. I just have not put my finger on it yet so I will tell you what I know.
1 I think the axles are aligned as I have put several thousand miles on this unit in the past year that I have owned it and the tires are wearing perfectly.
2 Same TV that I have had the entire time. It only has 55k or so on it So I dont think the shocks are worn out yet.The tires are the same I have alway run on every truck I have owned since 04.
3I had thought of this and I replaced all brakes, hubs and bearings with original dexter parts and they are not hanging,getting hot or anything out of the norm.
4 The TV is enough its a 08 F250 psd reguler cab long bed with Heavy duty sping pack and camper package. 9400 gvwr and the truck weighs 6900 with me and full tank of gas. that leaves plenty of payload it also has 23500 gcwr.
5 As far as issues with the TT suspension I cant see any problems it all looks fine but Have thought of replacing the springs and bolts with the new wet bolt kit I think its called. I guess the springs could have lost there spring lol.
6 The TT has the front kitchen floor plan and I have seen the exact same floor plan in several other makers. Bad dessighn? dont know. It has no slides. BTW this is our 2nd TT and we have had 2 5ers and a pop up.
7 the TT tires are 205/75/15 load range c the axels are 3500lb each with 7800lb gvwr for the TT. The tires were brand new when I bought it so I have not replaced them.When I replace them I will go to load range D.
8 The tounge weight is unknown. The previous hitch had 1000lb bars and they did not seem to be able to do the job, but thats JMO. The new bars are 1400 lb bars. I personally think the tongue is much heavier than the advertised weight of arond 800lbs but cant prove it because I have not weighed it. Being a front kitchen model the DW has a lot of stuff up there.
PS flagypsy, I know you dont understand me not telling you the cost. No I did not sign anything preventing me from telling the cost. I was offered a very good price due to cicumstances that had presented themselves at that time. Infact I was so disapointed with another maker I had decided to keep what I had, but was made an offer I could not refuse. The prices are on the web site but that dont mean thats what you will have to pay. If your interested call them and see what they can do for you. It will come with a 60 day money back guarantee no questions asked. but I have never heard of anyone useing it.
Thanks for the suggestions and comments
fla-gypsy wrote: Congrats on your purchase. The Hensley gets excellent reviews. What do you consider a "smoking deal" on the Hensley? I understand they are quite expensive.
Yes they are exspensive, I cant go into the details, you can check some of my other post and see why I got A hensley. All I can say is it was WELL worth what I paid. Its hard to justify the money until you see what you get. I have never heard anybody have sway issues with these hitches and I exspect the same. my previous hitch was not a pleasent towing experience. No matter how you set it up, when the wind hit the side of the TT or big rigs passed you would feel very bad sway at times. Sometimes it was so bad that I tenced up so much that it felt like the seat came out of the truck when I got out of the truck.
I never understand the reluctance of Hensley owners to tell us what it cost. I have looked on their website and see the numbers quoted but was wondering if they discount that at all. I have no issue saying I have less than $500 in my Reese HP Dual Cam (which works extremely well for me). Are you sworn to secrecy by Hensley? Have to sign a non disclosure agreement or something? It is very curious.
fla-gypsy wrote: Congrats on your purchase. The Hensley gets excellent reviews. What do you consider a "smoking deal" on the Hensley? I understand they are quite expensive.
Yes they are exspensive, I cant go into the details, you can check some of my other post and see why I got A hensley. All I can say is it was WELL worth what I paid. Its hard to justify the money until you see what you get. I have never heard anybody have sway issues with these hitches and I exspect the same. my previous hitch was not a pleasent towing experience. No matter how you set it up, when the wind hit the side of the TT or big rigs passed you would feel very bad sway at times. Sometimes it was so bad that I tenced up so much that it felt like the seat came out of the truck when I got out of the truck.
I feel your pain, or I should say I used to feel your pain. Semi truck suck/push will still be there but very little to no steering input should be required on your part. You'll understand after you tow a few times with rigs blowing past you or worse with rings on BOTH sides of you.
I used to try to hide from the big passing semi trucks, and hated the towing experience. Was about ready to sell off the travel trailer, but my wife found the Hensley and said what have we got to lose. It has a 60 day money back guarantee and if it fails to live up to its promise, we ship it back. We installed it one night after work and I said hop in we are going semi hunting. Drove at least 1 hour up and down the roads that used to really bother me, and what a difference. I was extremely impressed the first night. We ended up selling the trailer and selling the Hensley on Ebay then went to a 5th wheel.Should we ever return to a trailer again a Hensley or ProPride will be stuck to the front end.
Stacey Frank
'04 Mobile Suites 36 TK3 #1341
'99 Int'l 4700 Lo Pro MDT
'08 Lexus 400H
Had one for 5 years. Bought it in 1996 and paid $2400.00 back then. It was worth every penny. If I ever go back to a travel trailer, the Hensley would be the first accessory I would buy.
Mike
2004 GMC 8100/Allison 3500 Dually
2004 36' Mobile Suite
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