Community Forums

oldF1fan · 02-07-2010, 06:00 AM

We bought our 28' Palomino travel trailer new in 2004. After years of towing a pop-up, I was quite surprised by the sway we experienced with the heavier TT, especially when being passed by an 18 wheeler!
We were using a conventional anti-sway hitch, but it just didn't do the job to our satisfaction. A lady my wife met in a Camping World store told her about the Hensley hitch she used and how much she liked it.
So I checked out Hensley's web site and ordered a DVD video they offered. I was impressed by the video and promptly ordered one.
We've used our Hensley now for over 5 years and I'll never tow a large tongue-pull trailer again without one. I actually have to remind myself that I'm towing or I'll forget!
It was a little tricky learning to hitch and unhitch, but the folks at Hensley were very helpful with advice. Now that I'm accustomed to it, I find it's easier to hitch and unhitch than a normal ball-type and much easier if you are using a conventional anti-sway device on a normal hitch.
In the 5 years that we've used our Arrow, we have only encountered one other Hensley user. I was just wondering how many other happy Hensley users are out there?

DriVer · 02-07-2010, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldF1fan

I was just wondering how many other happy Hensley users are out there?

Welcome to iRV2 oldF1fan! Please do come back and visit us often.

I'm sure that there will be other HA owners here that will share their experiences with you as soon as they pick up on your post.

For much the same reasons, "stability", we owned a Pullrite hitch for a number of years. That thing helped me pull a 29 foot trailer without any anti-sway devices and it was great!

Take care and we'll see you on the boards!

RVfulltimer · 02-08-2010, 01:46 PM

I don't have a Hensley Arrow but I do have the new hitch designed by Jim Hensley. It's called a ProPride 3P. He doesn't work with the company that he designed the Arrow for anymore. You can read about that here The Jim Hensley Hitch Story | ProPride, Incorporated

I did a lot of research because I had always wanted a Hensley hitch and was happy to see there were some upgrades to the old design.

The only way I know my 34' Airstream is behind me is the weight. There is absolutely no sway. I live in my Airstream about 10 months a year and tow quite a few miles. I've been using the 3P now for about 12 months and I wouldn't tow a trailer without one again.

I also can't say enough about working with the company. Sean Woodruff provides service even when I send him a question on Sunday night.

MuckSavage · 02-08-2010, 02:06 PM

My bro-in-law uses one. When he purchased a 28' Gulfstream TT, I loaned him a Reese WD hitch that I had. He didn't like it. He then tried another brand of WD, still was uncomfortable with the sway. He sought the advice of his uncle who towed with a Hensley. He bought one, installed it & is very pleased with it! He's almost a little too comfortable towing as his speeds are a little too fast for comfort.

wingnut60 · 02-09-2010, 08:12 AM

Had a Hensley and it worked great--suggest you seriously consider the ProPride 3P mentioned above.

oldF1fan · 02-09-2010, 04:20 PM

The ProPride hitch sounds great, but with what I paid for my Hensley, I;m gonna stick with it. It still works great too!!

TexasPSDX · 02-15-2010, 01:50 PM

We like our Hensley hitch also. Didn't let it go with trailer we traded in. We are using it on our current trailer. Do not want to tow without.

Jersey Camper · 08-03-2010, 08:19 PM

I have transfered my Hensley to three different trailers. I bought it used and it was on two others. All told its probably 14 yrs old and I still love it.
.

CorsairIIAT · 08-14-2010, 05:28 PM

I saw my 1st one this week. A woman came in the park with a Chevy Tahoe towing a 30ft trailer. She said she really likes it. To me it seemed difficult to unhitch.

Jersey Camper · 08-14-2010, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CorsairIIAT

I saw my 1st one this week. A woman came in the park with a Chevy Tahoe towing a 30ft trailer. She said she really likes it. To me it seemed difficult to unhitch.

It is extremely simple. Easier than a dual cam sway or any other hitches

TexasPSDX · 08-15-2010, 02:31 PM

Easiest hitch I have ever had to hook up or un hook I've had and I have used about everything for a tow behind trailer. Went from Reese dual cam to the Helsley. No way to compare the 2 hitches.

ward459 · 09-04-2012, 10:14 AM

I bought a HA this summer to tow a 29' Tango, but my experience has thus far been different from everything I read. That may be because my towing experience is more limited than those who are sharing. I'm curious why no one seems to have the challenges that I've had with the HA.

First, hitching it on uneven (even slightly) surfaces can be tricky. When the bar from the vehicle enters the receiver, if it's not parallel to the tube (the Hensley receiver) it's edge will catch on the inside of the receiver and push on the trailer. Even with wheel chalks, this can be a pain. I have to tweek the torque bars in order to adjust the receiver angle so it matches the bar from the tow vehicle. On uneven surfaces, this angle changes while the vehicle is backing into the receiver, and it can be frustrating.

Also, because the HA will rock slightly to the right or left when hitched, it's important for the trailer brakes to be adjusted just right, so the trailer doesn't move toward the vehicle, rotate, then push on one side of the tow vehicle. This pushes/pulls the front of the vehicle to the right or left, and frankly it scares me. In an emergency, this could be dangerous. I've adjusted my brakes so they catch before my truck brakes, but that still doesn't completely eliminate the behavior in all circumstances.

Lastly, because of the rotation mentioned above, you aren't supposed to use engine braking (i.e. down shifting) to slow your vehicle on downgrades. This is stated in the owners manual, and makes sense because of the issue mentioned in the previous paragraph. I have always used engine braking to save my brakes, so this is a bummer in my book.

Am I off base? What am I missing?

Pricejh · 09-05-2012, 06:18 PM

We bought a used Hensley this spring. Had a problem with sway on the first weekend trip. Turns out that I did not have a couple of drawbars parallel, according to Hensley. Made the correction and noire sway.

Hook up does require that you adjust the torsion bars to tilt the receiver up/down and to rotate it to match the draw bar.

Hint, measure the height of the draw bar on the tow vehicle. Then raise/lower the trailer to match. Remember both heights. The trailer should be the same as the TV plus 1/2 inch.

When hooking up, make sure that you are square to the trailer. That is critical. You can move the hitch left/right fairly easy, of necessary. Just reach into the receiver and lift up on the centering latch.