Cimriver

Colorado

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CT51 wrote: 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.
I'd send a private message to the OP.
Gordon & Patti
2008 F-350, 6.4L. Power Stroke, CrewCab
2012 Dutchmen Komfort 3130FRL Fifth-Wheel
Be Safe!!!!!
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VirtualGarage

Vancouver, Canada

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Joined: 05/27/2009

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I started with a 30' trailer and had a Reese Dual Cam. I had no problems and it handled well, but when I upgraded to a 35' trailer with slide outs, I decided to upgrade the hitch to a ProPride. I know that I am towing at the upper limits of my vehicle and the ProPride was cheaper than getting a new vehicle.
I did the install by myself one afternoon. It's not that complicated.
I'm glad I went to the ProPride. I feel that hitching up is simpler and it's really easy to make an adjustment to the weight distribution if I need to when I'm on the road. There is absolutely no sway at all and I have total confidence in the system even when driving through the traffic circles they have around here.
2007 GMC Yukon XL Denali ~ 2010 Keystone Premier 31BHPR ~ Sold: 2009 Tango 289BH
ProPride 3P Hitch ~ RV Modifications ~ Gear & Accessories ~ Road Trip 2010
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skipnchar

Topeka or somewhere else

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Joined: 12/17/2003

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My advice BECAUSE you're new at the game is give it a try with a more reasonably priced hitch first. I think you'll find that the HA, fine hitch though it is, isn't needed unless you're really got an inadequate tow vehicle. Most trailers of that size are pretty darned rock solid and all you need is something to allow your receiver to handle that much weight. ANY WD hitch will do that. You just COULD end up throwing a whole lot of money at a problem you just don't have.
Good luck / Skip
2011 F-150 HD Ecoboost 3.5 V6. 2550 payload, 17,100 GCVWR -
2004 F-150 HD (Traded after 80,000 towing miles)
2007 Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
US Govt survey shows three out of four people make up 75% of the total population
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itsmike

Greelawn NY, Long Island!!!!

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deshemar wrote: 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 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.
So true.. See Bold! I can agree, I took the time to measure, hook up, remeasure, ETC... I can tow my rig with no Issues, Last trip I took (Also my First with my TT) was so seamless..
2003 Chevy Stacraft Conversion (The Gas Guzzler)
2011 Nissan Sentra SR (The Gas Saver)
1999 Sunline Saturn T24
1 Wife
3 Kids
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jmtandem

western nevada

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Generally speaking, ProPride is basically the same concept hitch. It is less expensive and designed by the same individual that designed the Hensely. Add me to the list of those that suggest using a more moderately priced hitch first to see if there is even a sway problem. Be sure to have at least 10 percent of the trailer's weight on the tongue and you have just gone a long way to eliminating sway. Try the Reese Dual Cam, if set up properly it works nicely. Might try the Husky Centerline as well. Both are under $1000 new.
'05 Dodge Cummins 4x4 dually 3500 white quadcab auto long bed airbags overload springs bumpers
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pasusan

PA

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Joined: 05/13/2009

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jmtandem wrote: Generally speaking, ProPride is basically the same concept hitch. It is less expensive and designed by the same individual that designed the Hensely. Add me to the list of those that suggest using a more moderately priced hitch first to see if there is even a sway problem. Be sure to have at least 10 percent of the trailer's weight on the tongue and you have just gone a long way to eliminating sway. Try the Reese Dual Cam, if set up properly it works nicely. Might try the Husky Centerline as well. Both are under $1000 new.
Problem is... Once you notice a sway problem, it just might be too late. Ask the people who have towed many, many miles and then had a sway go into a rollover. And that was the first time they had sway.
Trip Pics
Our nest isn't empty - it's half full. 
Susan & Ben ~
84 Bronco & 90 Award Classic 23 joined with a Hensley Cub
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forty4san

Full Time, Some Place

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Why don't you call Hensley yourselves and speak to the sales person. They are going to answer your questions and not push you into purchasing.
When we first got our hitch it took my husband and a friend 3 hours (important that you read that manual) now my husband does it alone. If you do buy the hitch try to install it when the company is open so you can call and get help
Our hitch has now been transferred to 3 TT.
Our tag on our TT says NO SWAY. BTW, the hitch will add 12" to the length of your trailer. To get a true dry weight of your trailer take it to a CAT scale and get it weighted.
The hitch allowed us to tow our trailer on the interstate with 3 wheels (because GSERS could not tow us) I don't know if any other hitch allows that.
Susan I
2008 McKenzie Starwood 32 FKD TT
Hensley & Prodigy Brake Controller
03 Dodge 3500 Quad HO Diesel DRW 4:10 
Fulltiming, On the road somewhere. 
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bmet2000

North Carolina

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When I bought my new Jayco I wanted a better hitch. My Jayco Eagle is almost 36 feet long, so I went with the Propride 3P Hitch. I just got back from towing over 4000 miles and it performed great. Going up from Lander WY to the Grand Tetons we had a strong cross wind, but I never had any sway. This was my first big trip and I was worried about driving my 10,000 lb TT that far, but I didn't have any problems. My wife asked if I had any white knuckle experiences and I said no. I would definitely buy another 3P hitch.
(Eddie the Eagle) 2010 Jayco 324BHDS
(Rambo the Ram Truck) 2006 Dodge Ram MegaCab 4x4 5.9L CTD, Manual Transmission, Prodigy Brake Controller, ProPride 3P Hitch
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Cimriver

Colorado

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pasusan wrote: Problem is... Once you notice a sway problem, it just might be too late. Ask the people who have towed many, many miles and then had a sway go into a rollover. And that was the first time they had sway.
So true! You don't know you have a sway problem until you have a sway problem.
I don't know if i would spend $3,000 on a new one, but there are used Hensley's out there to be had. They are built like a tank, so IMO buying a used one is a good way to go.
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mamatoablessing

NE Florida

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Joined: 06/10/2010

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Let me respond to a couple of the questions/concerns:
1) The rig is a Bullet 294BHS, so 29'4" long, but I wrote 34" because with the hitch, it comes to about 34". The trailer itself is 29 feet and the brochure states a dry weight of 5500lbs (I know this is the bare bones weight).
2) We are towing with a 2009 Toyota Tundra, 5.7 V8 with a towing capacity of 10K.
Thank you for all of the responses so far. It certainly seems like a Hensley Arrow would be a great hitch...it certainly couldn't hurt. It's just a matter of whether the price is worth it. Looking for a used HA might be a good start.
I've love to hear any additional comments or suggestions.
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