Derailed by Hensley Arrow

[Steve Dunkel]

No, I didn't have an accident with a Hensley Arrow. I just purchased one on a whim because the hitch I initially set out to get will not be available until next month and I, well, couldn't wait and purchased the HA instead. I'm not trying to stir things up (yes, I've seen some of the back and forth exchanges on other sites) but just wondered if anyone here has used one. I did a search here and very little came back.

[Dana T]

... I've seen some of the back and forth exchanges on other sites ...

I thought the Hensley Arrow was supposed to suppress all that "back and forth."

Sorry -- bad pun.

No, I don't know anything about the hitch beyond what I've read, and I don't trust that enough to put forth as "considered opinion."

[ronsmith100]

No, I didn't have an accident with a Hensley Arrow. I just purchased one on a whim because the hitch I initially set out to get will not be available until next month and I, well, couldn't wait and purchased the HA instead. I'm not trying to stir things up (yes, I've seen some of the back and forth exchanges on other sites) but just wondered if anyone here has used one. I did a search here and very little came back.

Steve, if you analyze the design of that thing you wonder why it took so long to invent. Simply beautiful in concept. Its only been around some twenty years, right? I don't need one for my Casita but every time I go their site and watch the flash presentation I'm very impressed.

[Steve Dunkel]

I just got done viewing their video. Looks like it's goin' to save my marriage too.

[Sean Woodruff]

No, I didn't have an accident with a Hensley Arrow. I just purchased one on a whim because the hitch I initially set out to get will not be available until next month and I, well, couldn't wait and purchased the HA instead. I'm not trying to stir things up (yes, I've seen some of the back and forth exchanges on other sites) but just wondered if anyone here has used one. I did a search here and very little came back.

I was the vice president of the company for 10 years. What would you like to know about it?

What hitch did you set out to get that won't be available until next month?

[Steve Dunkel]

Hi Sean! The hitch that I was referring to is made by Husky Towing Products and it's their new Centerline System. Apparently they're in production now but won't be available until next month. I had a Husky weight distribution hitch on the trailer that I just sold and it seems to be good quality. I can't complain about Hensley though. The only step up would be the ProPride 3P.

[Pete Dumbleton]

Pricing aside, you did a lot better with the Hensley than the Husky Centerline, which I would put in a class with the Reese Dual Cam -- The Hensley design shortens your effective TV overhang to inches, emulating a 5W-type hitch, while the other two do nothing about that leverage.

[Keith Williams]

Pricing aside, you did a lot better with the Hensley than the Husky Centerline, which I would put in a class with the Reese Dual Cam -- The Hensley design shortens your effective TV overhang to inches, emulating a 5W-type hitch, while the other two do nothing about that leverage.

Pete, after I read one of your posts about the Hensley, I logged on to their site and watched the video, etc and then called for pricing. I figured it would be around $1,000.....man was I floored at the $2,600 price. I suppose if one had a large trailer and traveled a whole lot or full-time, it would be a no brainer. I wish they made a version for little guys with a littler price.

Looks like the "right stuff" though.

EKW

[Mike D]

No, I didn't have an accident with a Hensley Arrow. I just purchased one on a whim because the hitch I initially set out to get will not be available until next month and I, well, couldn't wait and purchased the HA instead. I'm not trying to stir things up (yes, I've seen some of the back and forth exchanges on other sites) but just wondered if anyone here has used one. I did a search here and very little came back.

Steve,
I'm a newbie with a 2008 Bigfoot 21FB and little or no towing experience. So I swallowed hard and bought the Hensley as additional "insurance" against my inexperience. It was straighforward to install (4 small cuts into the fiberglass cowl for U-bolts to pass through, 8 holes drilled into the frame for shear bolts, some assembly of the heavy hitch itself) and only took half a lazy afternoon and a six-pack.

Being a newbie, I can't speak to how much better it is than towing without one. But I can tell you that it feels solid towing the 21FB with a V8 Ford F150. And when I had questions, Jarrod at Hensley was very helpful.

Mike D.

[Pete Dumbleton]

I wish they made a version for little guys with a littler price.

You get half your wish -- They make a little one...

http://www.hensleymfg.com/arrowcub.html

[FredericL]

No, I didn't have an accident with a Hensley Arrow. I just purchased one on a whim because the hitch I initially set out to get will not be available until next month and I, well, couldn't wait and purchased the HA instead. I'm not trying to stir things up (yes, I've seen some of the back and forth exchanges on other sites) but just wondered if anyone here has used one. I did a search here and very little came back.

Do you know if you can back-up with the HA?

Frederic

[Steve Dunkel]

Do you know if you can back-up with the HA?

Frederic

I don't have any experience with the Hensley yet but from what I've read it appears that backing up is not a problem as with other hitches. The only downsides to my understanding are cost and ease of hitching. The later seems to evaporate after gaining some experience with it.

[Sean Woodruff]

Backing up with the orange or the ProPride 3P is no different than backing with any conventional hitch.

Inputs into the hitch head from the tow vehicle pivot the trailer at the hitch. Also, nothing needs to be removed or loosened when backing.

The price is the sticking point with this style of hitch. They are just expensive to make in relation to the volume that anyone will buy. I know, lower the price and the volume will go up. That is true to a certain extent but the price would have to go below the actual cost to get to those volumes. My pricing does not fluctuate with the weather. I don't play games with customers. As for the orange... stick around, they have more prices than Imelda Marcos has shoes and you have to call them to ask what style shoe is being worn on that day.

[Steve Dunkel]

Agreed Sean. There were two prices quoted by Hensley in the span of this thread.

[Mike Magee]

For a 21' trailer I agree that an anti-sway and WD hitch is a good idea. I would have suggested the Equal-i-zer for a couple thousand $$ less than the HA. I have one and it worked great with my former 23' Rockwood. You bought a great hitch... maybe overkill for that size trailer, but you can take satisfaction in knowing you got 'top of the line' protection.

[Steve Dunkel]

For a 21' trailer I agree that an anti-sway and WD hitch is a good idea. I would have suggested the Equal-i-zer for a couple thousand $ less than the HA. I have one and it worked great with my former 23' Rockwood. You bought a great hitch... maybe overkill for that size trailer, but you can take satisfaction in knowing you got 'top of the line' protection.

Thanks Michael! I have to admit that my reason for buying the HA is more out of curiosity than necessity. There's been so much discussion about it that I wanted to see for myself what all the hooplah was about. The simple Husky weight distribution setup (no anti-sway add on) used before worked very well with first our Toyota Tacoma and later our F250.

[Russ & Marian McLean]

I second the Equal-i-zer suggestion. I bought one based on recommendations from this site. I have a few hundred miles on mine, no problems, real happy with the purchase. Do a search on Equal-i-zer and read the comments.

[Mike Magee]

I second the Equal-i-zer suggestion. I bought one based on recommendations from this site. I have a few hundred miles on mine, no problems, real happy with the purchase. Do a search on Equal-i-zer and read the comments.

I put about 4,000 miles on mine in the first year. Oklahoma to Michigan & back, then OK to CO & back. But then I slowed down...

[FredericL]

Thanks Michael! I have to admit that my reason for buying the HA is more out of curiosity than necessity. There's been so much discussion about it that I wanted to see for myself what all the hooplah was about. The simple Husky weight distribution setup (no anti-sway add on) used before worked very well with first our Toyota Tacoma and later our F250.

Steve,

Do you know when you'll receive your HA?

Are you planing on installing it yourself?

After seeing your thread this made me think about it and I wonder how involve is the actual install?

Frederic

[Steve Dunkel]

Steve,

Do you know when you'll receive your HA?

Are you planing on installing it yourself?

After seeing your thread this made me think about it and I wonder how involve is the actual install?

Frederic

I'll be receiving it next week and plan installing it myself but not for a few weeks afterwards.