Hensley hitch

[Ark68SS]

Any of ya'll use one of these? Looking for opinions from folks who have actually used them. Sway control for trailers.
https://hensleymfg.com/
Thanks,
BillL

 

[caterpillar guy]

What do you want to know? After you latch the ball you crank your tongue up above level just a bit then hook the chains and latch them. Then let the jack down to preload the bars. This helps hold the tongue level and helps with the sway some. They go in then need to turn so they sort of lock on the hitch on the tow vehicle. Prevents them from being able to fall out the bottom. Done properly they work quite well.

 

[M Nut]

I use one on my RV trailer, and I think it makes a big difference on the sway effect. I have never used one on a farm type trailer, but I?d think it would
work fine.

 

[Part Time Pete]

Reese makes them too - they work pretty well, especially with a lighter tow vehicle.
My uncle told me that back in the 70's Reese demonstrated their load equalizing bars on an Olds Toronado by cinching them up good and tight, then took the rear wheels off. Supposedly the equalizer bars kept the back of the car in the air so it could be driven
Pete

 

[Richard G.]

I remember seeing those ads on TV years ago.
Richard

 

[Welding man]

Reese-Eazylift -Drawtite- Valley and others have been making versions of equalizer hitches for years. I have sold and installed dozens of them. They used to be very popular, before the 5th wheel RVs came along.

 

[Steve@Advance]

Yes, I've used them.

It's a 2 part set up, the load leveler bars help distribute the weight of the trailer tongue over the length of both the trailer and tow vehicle. This comes in particularly handy when pulling a large trailer with a passenger car or light truck.

Getting that right is key to preventing the sudden out of control sway that can quickly escalate to disaster!

Then the other part is the friction control bar that helps eliminate the nuisance sway that some trailers do.

 

[Leroy]

Never heard of that brand. Have used both the load leverlers and sway control for years. Makes vehical set level and stops sway.

 

[Ken Macfarlane]

Most people don't realize the Hensley arrow isn't just a wd hitch with a simple stabilizer. Its a 4 bar linkage that moves the instant centre of the trailer pivot forward of the rear axle so the trailer pulls more like a 5th
wheel or GN. Also means the trailer pushes the tow vehicle like a gn or 5th wheel too so it behaves much better in a cross wind etc.

 

[Tony in SD]

Yes I have and they help. But since i have purchased a bigger truck and a 5th, I don?t need one anymore.

 

[moresmoke]

Here?s my homemade version.

There is no weight distribution on this one. Don?t really need it for a 5500 lb trailer behind a F350. But the trailer is big and floats around like a kite.

The hitch helps, but it?s still not perfect. Now for long distance travel, I have a bigger hauler that just doesn?t care that the trailer is back there.

 

[Ark68SS]

(quoted from post at 08:51:25 11/07/19) Most people don't realize the Hensley arrow isn't just a wd hitch with a simple stabilizer. Its a 4 bar linkage that moves the instant centre of the trailer pivot forward of the rear axle so the trailer pulls more like a 5th
wheel or GN. Also means the trailer pushes the tow vehicle like a gn or 5th wheel too so it behaves much better in a cross wind etc.

Ken, have you used a Hensley? Does it work better than a regular weight-distributing hitch in preventing sway?
Son is getting a 30 ft Airstream pulled by a Ford F350 and is looking for the safest equipment.
Thanks,
BillL

 

[moresmoke]

You can also check out the Propride hitch, similar to the Hensley. I would suggest that you go to RV net forums and search for those two brands. You
will get more feedback than here.

Myself, I don?t care for the extra work of hooking up to the previously mentioned hitches which is why I built my own. That said, an Airstream behind a
F350 should work with just about any hitch. Those Airstreams have a reputation for pulling very well.