mamatoablessing
NE Florida
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I know there is a 53 page thread already about the Hensley Arrow, but it seems a little more technical than what I'm looking for.
We've been told the HA is the Mercedes of hitches. Because I'm a little nervous about pulling a 34 foot trailer (we're purchasing a 2011 Keystone Bullet 294 BHS), I asked DH to look into it. After doing his own research, he still has a few questions he's hoping can be answered by you experienced rv'ers.
Our dealer, Camping World, doesn't sell the HA nor will they install it. DH was told by HA that it's easy enough for him to install himself. Is this true?
Our dealer also told us that the HA was overkill for our trailer, based on it's dry weight of aprox 5500lbs.
Are there any other comprable products to the HA that might be better for us?
Any advice, suggestions or guidance would be much appreciated!
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Cimriver
Colorado
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We previously owned a travel trailer and had a Hensley hitch. Personally I wouldn't pull a travel trailer without a Hensley. Others will tell that if the trailer is loaded properly you won't have any issues with sway.
IMO weight has less to do with sway than length does. Yours is a fairly long trailer. It makes a great "sail" to catch winds blowing from the side. That can get your trailer swaying. Also when one of those 18 wheelers passes you, the draft they create has a tendency to try and suck the trailer into them.
There are other less expensive sway controls systems, but IMHO they just aren't as good at preventing sway. Many find them to be adequate.
I installed my Hensley myself. It took me about two hours as I recall. Once you see how it goes together you realize that you could do the install in much less time, but of course you want to be careful when you are doing it the first time. I consider myself to be reasonable handy when it comes to doing things like this install.
I found hitching up to be a little more difficult, others will tell you it's not. You be the judge.
Were I you I would try to find a used Hensley. I bought a used one and sold it for more than I bought it for several years later.
Hope this helps.
Gordon & Patti
2008 F-350, 6.4L. Power Stroke, CrewCab
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M GO BLUE
Southgate, MI
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A 34' trailer only has a weight of 5500 lbs? I really doubt that...
...and remember the Hensley is there to prevent sway but does not give you more towing power to pull something with an inadequate tow vehicle...
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually CC/LB Duramax/Allison
2008 Jayco Designer 35RLTS fifth wheel
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WOULD RETIRE NOW IF I COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE...
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mamatoablessing
NE Florida
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M GO BLUE wrote:A 34' trailer only has a weight of 5500 lbs? I really doubt that...
...and remember the Hensley is there to prevent sway but does not give you more towing power to pull something with an inadequate tow vehicle...
Sorry for the confusion. It's 29'4" trailer, but when you add in the hitch and everything, it comes to about 34'.
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chrispitude
Saylorsburg, PA
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I'd consider a Hensley Arrow or ProPride a must for a 34' trailer. I've owned both. The length is going to be as much or more of a factor in susceptibility to sway than the weight.
Speaking of weight... M GO BLUE is exactly right, at 34' it's going to be a lot heavier than 5500lbs. What are you pulling with?
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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I'm pulling a 31 foot, #9400 TT (34' overall) using a Hensley... I live NW of Chicago and we are currently in Moab, Utah and heading for Colorado in a few days...By the time we're finished, we will have pulled in excess of 4000 miles this trip without issue...
Just make sure your break controller is adjusted to "lead" the TV breaks and you'll avoid the "bump" you may have heard about... Hooking up is easy - just make sure you have the stinger aligned "precisely" with the Hensley hitch head in all axis...
Oh, and make sure you have an adequate tow vehicle to pull that 29 footer even with the Hensley  ...
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
2006 Nomad 3150 Double Slide (Bunkhouse)
Hensley Arrow
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bmuller
Airdrie Alberta
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My TT is 33'7" with a dry waight of 5900lbs Aprox... I have a reese dual cam anti sway and I find it just fine.. I towd first with no anti sway then added the dual cams and its night and day.. No sway isseus to panic over.. I'm not saying the HA isnt a superior hitch it may well be the holy Grail of hitches.. but having gon from a 10ft Popup to a 34' TT I'm not finding it dificult with my reese setup..
TV - 2008 F150 S/C w/Superchip Cortex & K&N CAI
TT - 2010 KZ Spree 324BHS LX
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deshemar
Mechanicsville, Virginia
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Had this conversation this weekend regarding HA verses regular W/D hitch with sway control.
One thing to consider is what you are pulling with. Properly matched truck and trailer is the first step to good pulling. The HA should not be a solution to towing with the correct truck with weight rating for the trailer!!
Second is a properly set up hitch.
No doubt the HA is the top of the line hitch, but IMHO is a very expensive solution to a properly set up hitch. I have towed only with my hitch that i bought with my first TT. at a 10th of the price it does exactly as i expect it to.
i did however spend a lot of time for the 3 different TT's i have had setting the hitch up for the camper and truck.
I tow a TT that weighs in at 9,000lbs and have no problems with sway and "white knuckle" driving. but i think it is because I took the hour to really adjust my hitch to tow the camper properly.
I would not spend the $3K for the HA, but I would also say with it dialed in it will probably (i hope) tow better than a traditional W/D hitch. but to me the price is not worth it.
mainly don't be scared of the traditional w/d hitch with sway. if you choose to go with the HA i am sure if your husband has some slight mechanical abiltiy he should be able to set it up with no problems.
Wife, Daughter 16, Dog female - Girls have me surrounded
1999 Winnebago adventurer 35C
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CT51
Stone Mountain GA
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There is a dealer in my home town that has a used Hensley for sale-asking $1,000.00. Do the forum rules allow posting the name of the dealer? I am not in any way affiliated other than having bought an RV there.
CT51
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I am still wayne_tw
everywhere
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Cimriver wrote:We previously owned a travel trailer and had a Hensley hitch. Personally I wouldn't pull a travel trailer without a Hensley. Others will tell that if the trailer is loaded properly you won't have any issues with sway.
IMO weight has less to do with sway than length does. Yours is a fairly long trailer. It makes a great "sail" to catch winds blowing from the side. That can get your trailer swaying. Also when one of those 18 wheelers passes you, the draft they create has a tendency to try and suck the trailer into them.
There are other less expensive sway controls systems, but IMHO they just aren't as good at preventing sway. Many find them to be adequate.
I installed my Hensley myself. It took me about two hours as I recall. Once you see how it goes together you realize that you could do the install in much less time, but of course you want to be careful when you are doing it the first time. I consider myself to be reasonable handy when it comes to doing things like this install.
I found hitching up to be a little more difficult, others will tell you it's not. You be the judge.
Were I you I would try to find a used Hensley. I bought a used one and sold it for more than I bought it for several years later.
Hope this helps.
This is absolutely correct!
Once you use a Hensley, you will not want to be without it. Most people on here who say you don't need an Hensley are the ones who don't own one and have never used one!
But the Hensley and take advantage of their free trial. You will keep it I am sure.
It is easy to install if one is just a little handy. If you can do very minor stuff with a drill and a wrench, you can install the Hensley. If you can't change a light bulb, then you will have trouble with the install.
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