Hensley Arrow advanced towing system

[Jeepthing]

My father is considering buy a travel trailer to tow behind his RAM. Does anyone have comment on this device. A 5er is out of the question due to extra storage space with a cap. TIA

 

[Archive]

I haven't ever heard of it, but I highly recommend www.Torklift. Com

They build quality stuff, for very heavy loads! (check out the SuperHitch)

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Rob Hanson
1999 "Big Red", 3500 SLT QC 4X4 6 spd, 4. 10 LSD, Braided SS fuel lines, Mag-Hytec Rear Cover, Cummins E-Brake, Blue Box, DD3 Injectors, Banks High Ram and 14cm Wastegated Turbo, All-steel Cowl Induction Hood, Cummins RED Valve Cover, Rhino, Rosewood Kit, Scotty System, SportComp Gauges, TorkLift SuperHitch, Tekonsha Brake Controller, Rear Flood lights, Cobra CB, DeeZee Running Boards, BD 2WD Low kit, Air Lift bags, Hitco exhaust blanket, air horns and a Geno's "I tromped a Ford" decal. Member of BOMB! (WW NW Chapter)

MyPics.com (pics updated 02/17/01)

I'd rather be... .
Cummin than Strokin.

 

[Toad]

I bought a Holiday Rambler TT with front slide that weighted 8980 dry. Could not keep it in the road. It swayed so bad I got where I was afraid to pull it. I tried a number of different hitch heights and different weight sway bars, including dual friction type sway bars. Nothing helped. Could get no help at the trailer dealership either.

Decided to try a Hensley Arrow since I had seen them at RV parks being used to pull Airstreams which are very heavy and because they have a money back guarantee.

It is the best money I have ever spent! It pulls now without an sway at any speed under any condition. It pulls just like a 5th wheel. Would much rather have a TT and Hensley Arrow than any 5th wheel I have ever pulled.

Yes they are expensive but what price can you put on safety.

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2001 2500 Quad Cab, 4X4, 5 speed, Bully Dog Stage II, Power Edge EZ, K&N, Mag-Hytec, Bilstein shocks, Westach gauges, 4" exhaust

 

[Toad]

Correction to last post: meant to say tried different rated weight distribution bars instead of different weight sway bars.

Also tried Reese Twin Cam sway control bars but they were of no help either.

 

[ARARAR]

Look into a Pullrite hitch. They have 2 models depending on what tongue weight your pulling. I purchased a TT that had a 900lb dry tongue weight because it had the kitchen forward, needless to say, after it was loaded I was at the limit of the tongue weight of my hitch and was all over the road. You can't tell the difference in the ride between the Pullrite and a 5er because it places the weight just behind the rear axel and can swing 70-90deg. to either side of the truck. Only drawback is you have to find some place else to put your spare tire.

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98. 5 2500 QC,SB W/ camper shell, whitw w/driftwood lower, 2wd,3. 54, loaded w/o leather,chrome Westin step bars, BD tc/vb and pressureloc,w/trans temp,4" BD exhaust from turbo back, firestone airbags, heavy duty pullrite hitch, Bug sheilds, 4x4 type mud flaps front and back, Amsoil bypass & air filter. Dual pyro-boost gauge,pillar mount, PS boost mod and elbow,
VA cpc and fuel pressure gauge, Pac-Brake.

 

[Jeepthing]

Toad was there any difficulty with your truck having a high hitch compared to the TT?Thanks for your replys

 

[Toad]

Jeepthing,
I don't know if I understand your question.
If you are referring to your hitch height, you receive a hitch shank of the drop that you request with the Hensley Arrow. It is nonajustable.
They have an exchange program where they will trade hitchs with you for only a small handling fee.
I have traded trucks twice since buying their hitch and have had to get different shanks each time. Great service-received the shanks by UPS within 3 days.
A great company to do business with.

 

[Giro]

We use a propride hitch. Also a Hensley design. Very happy with it although a more complicated install than most hitches.

 

[GAmes]

Do you realize you are responding to a thread that is over 14 years old?

 

[Giro]

Wow, i did not see that. Talk about a delayed response. Will check more carefully nxt time.

 

[AH64ID]

Haha.. that's an OLD thread!!

That being said if a HA or a PP is required to fix an issue then either the trailer loading is horribly wrong or the trailer wasn't built properly, but the tongue weight is probably the issue on either case.

A properly built/loaded bumper pull trailer will not sway, so fix the issue and don't use a band-aid.

They are nice hitches and people that use them love them, but then again why wouldn't you tell everyone you love a part that is 3-4x the money and shouldn't be needed.

 

[GAmes]

I agree. The sad thing is that people who believe in "sway control" can't be swayed by fact or common sense. As a result, the myth goes on and everyone in the commercial chain selling them makes money on a total scam.

 

[GCroyle]

Oh lets make it a bigger circle. In the Airstream towing world, ST Tires (BTW not for me thank you very much), Tow Vehicle selection (you can't tow with that, gotta have a BLANK HERE) or which hitch is best create the biggest most argumentative topics but here is a users guide thread about the Ha Ha. http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464/the-ultimate-haha-users-guide-26279.html 824 "responses".

 

[jgillott]

Oh lets make it a bigger circle. In the Airstream towing world, ST Tires (BTW not for me thank you very much), Tow Vehicle selection (you can't tow with that, gotta have a BLANK HERE) or which hitch is best create the biggest most argumentative topics but here is a users guide thread about the Ha Ha. http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464/the-ultimate-haha-users-guide-26279.html 824 "responses".

Isn't that the truth. It makes my hair stand on end to read the threads with people towing a 31' with a Ford Edge and a Hensley. I haven't been over to that site in quite a while.

 

[GAmes]

One of our customers has a big Airstream that I have pulled several times. The first time , KC to Houston, the owner was there and insisted I hook up his Reese duel cam, which was a bit of a PIA. That was the first time (and last) I ever had a sway device installed. The trailer pulled the same as any other, albeit a little better mileage than square front TTs. The second time, Houston to Yuma, the owner wasn't there, the paraphernalia was locked up inside. I hooked up my W/D hitch and hauled it across the desert. Absolutely no difference in the way the trailer handled. On subsequent trips I just left his junk in the storage compt.

When I suggest to the kool-aid drinkers that they try pulling their TT without the sway gimmick I get a reaction of horror :-laf. OMG, the trailer will be uncontrollable!!! PT Barnum was a pretty smart guy.

 

[AH64ID]

I agree. The sad thing is that people who believe in "sway control" can't be swayed by fact or common sense.

Haha.. I hope that pun was intended but either way that statement is pretty funny.

My hitch has built in sway control but that isn't why I bought it. For where I tow I didn't want a chain system so I bought the Equal-I-zer which is supposed to control sway with the friction of the W/D bars at the head and L brackets. I like the overall design and their sway marketing is just that. What I know is that I cannot tell a difference in sway (since I have NONE) with a regular ball or the WDH. I can, however, tell a big difference in the effects of the W/D part of the hitch. I am a big fan of W/D, but sway control isn't a big deal. I guess "sway control" says it all. Eliminate the sway properly and there is nothing needing controlled.

ST tires are a whole other topic, but I too don't run them anymore. They never let me down for anything but rock punctures on those same roads I don't want chain W/D hitches on. I swapped to LT tires to gain puncture resistance, thou the added safety with LT's is a very nice feature.

It too scares me to see what some people tow trailers with. I tow a 29' 8-9K lb TT all over the mountains of Idaho with my 05 in my sig. I would never attempt it with a 1/2 ton. Not that it's a workout for my 3500 but I couldn't imagine it with a much lower rated, suspended, framed, etc truck. It would probably make my easy/effortless towing experience one that I wouldn't enjoy.

 

[Giro]

We did not buy it to solve a problem . We invested in it, and granted it is overkill, but as with tires we wanted the best we could find.

 

[GCroyle]

Giro,

I can't make any plus or minus statements about the Hensley, never used one. It does have a legion of loyal fans.


I have an Equal-I-Zer, it came with the AS, what I don't like is the use of metal on metal as the friction points specifically in the head for the bars. Next, it has massive bars, no springy. Runs OK but.............

I do have a hitch that I've had my eye on the Husky Centerline, it is designed to resist going off a straight pull with active compression cylinders.

Then I'll hook it to my 2000 VW Beetle TDI and head for the mountains.............no chance!

 

[AH64ID]

I have an Equal-I-Zer, it came with the AS, what I don't like is the use of metal on metal as the friction points specifically in the head for the bars. Next, it has massive bars, no springy. Runs OK but.............

You can get pads for the L brackets to reduce the metal on metal.

After 6 years and a lot of back road vibration and abuse I did have to replace the sockets in the head from wear.

I wonder if you have enough tension on the bars as they do spring and bend.

 

[GAmes]

We did not buy it to solve a problem . We invested in it, and granted it is overkill, but as with tires we wanted the best we could find.

investment
[in-vest-muh nt]
noun
1. The investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value.

You certainly spent a bunch of money, but INVESTED?? I'd love to hear exactly what the profitable return is that you expect over that of a $225 Curt Round Bar Weight Distribution Hitch.