Description
When we watched a lot of YouTube videos prior to buying our trailer, one of the biggest safety issues we saw was how much a trailer can sway in the wind. Since we line in the midwest where we have lots of wind, we were immediately impressed with the reviews and stories of the Hensley Hitch.
Unlike other hitches that can reduce sway, this hitch has a unique design that eliminates sway. The linkage system on the Hensley transfers the pivot point of the trailer 52″ forward, over the rear axle of the vehicle, giving the travel trailer the stability of the 5th wheel. The linkage system only allows the tow vehicle to initiate a turn. Any side forces (wind, passing trucks, sudden lane changes, etc.) placed on the trailer cannot make the trailer pivot on the pivot point. Essentially, from the trailer forward, you have a solid unit.
Some huge disadvantages though is that it is very heavy, very expensive, and more complicated.
- The total weight, including the hitch bar, is 190lbs. That’s about 70lbs. more than a friction style hitch.
- A good weight-distribution hitch will cost about $500-$600. The Hensley Hitch retails for around $3200.
- Instead of sitting the trailer down on a ball, the Hensley hitch requires you to connect the truck to the trailer using a stinger.
Propride makes a competing no-sway hitch for about the same price that uses the same technology but makes some modifications. The reviews for both companies were about the same.
Purchase
Hensley had a Christmas bundle special for $2,750, on sale from $3352, that convinced me to purchase it. They also included the McKesh mirrors which seemed to have high ratings for $110. The rest of the bundle included:
- Hensley Arrow
- 1000# Spring Bars
- Hensley Arrow Emergency Kit
- Hensley Arrow Hitch Helper
- Two ultimate tire chocks
- Hitch Cover
- Extension Chain
- 7-Way Plug Extension
Because the trailer hitch looked intimidating and I wanted the trailer hitch to be installed correctly, I asked the trailer salesman to coordinate for the dealership to install it. This also made sense to me because I needed to already have a hitch installed in order to pick it up. They gave me some push-back but we settled on a $500 charge to get it installed. It was outrageous, but I wanted to get it right. Unfortunately, when I came to pick up the trailer I found that they did not install it correctly, but we were able to get it fixed quickly.
Review – Updated 11/22/2020
So far the Hensley hitch has worked as expected.
- Equipment
- McKesh Mirrors – I found the McKesh mirrors too complex and potentially damaging to my truck paint, so I bought a couple of snap-on mirrors instead that has worked well.
- Hitch Helper – I used this in one situation where it proved slightly useful.
- Hensley Cover – I have never used it. It does not attach and the wind would just blow it away. If I attached some straps it might be useful.
- Tire Chocks – These have been very useful. It does not stop the trailer suspension from bouncing, but it does help stabilize the forward-back movement. It also has provided extra safety when regular wheel chocks do not sufficiently secure the tires. I and disappointed in the handles though and wish they were sturdier.
- Extension Chain – I had to use this but because it was so long, I had to buy some chain supports to help keep it off the ground.
- 7-way plug extension – This ended up being too long but since I still needed the extension, I wrapped the excess around the front jack of the trailer. I am continually worried that it might catch on something so I need to figure out how to secure it better.
- Hensley Arrow Emergency Kit – This kit contains spares of the loose pins and connectors used in the hitch. I have used a couple of items.
Connecting
There was a long learning curve where sometimes it was easy and sometimes it was very difficult. I watched the few YouTube videos that were available which helped some.
When the truck and the trailer are on hard, level surfaces, and I can back the truck to be perfectly aligned with the trailer, then hooking up has not been too hard. The alignment of the receiver (hitch box) must be angled perfectly with the stinger (hitch bar), or it has difficulty getting far enough up on the stinger to connect. This angle is affected by the equalizer and the height of the hitch. I have learned the turns on the equalizers and the hitch height that is necessary to make a smooth connection. My wife and I have learned to communicate during the backup process to make sure the truck is perfectly aligned. A little lubrication on the stinger helps the stinger glide a little easier into the receiver.
If I am on gravel or some other soft surface, I can run into problems getting enough backup power to push the stinger into the receiver as the wheels will start digging into the gravel or soft dirt. I had a really tough time with a camping spot that had a lot of freshly poured soft gravel.
Another issue is when the trailer is level with the truck. This causes me to angle the reciever either up or down by adjusting the weight distribution. If the angle is too severe, than I would not be able to make the connection.
Another issue is when the truck is not aligned with the trailer. I have been successful with small angles, but because the receiver swivels, it would be difficult if not impossible to make the connection.
The result is that I am careful to pick a campsite that allows my truck and trailer to be level and aligned with each other.
