ramburgy
Surprise AZ
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The bad thing about the dumb things that have been posted here, is that someone that could really benefit from the Hensley Arrow could get the wrong impression, and not buy one.
Rich
2011 Ford F350 Diesel Super Duty FX4 Short Bed
2011 Cameo F37RESLS
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tluxon
Kirkland, WA
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Wasn't there a thread a few months back about a Hensley hitched trailer getting in an accident and tearing off the tow vehicle's receiver? I'm surprised that hasn't come up in this thread because a lesser hitch may have just bent a bit, perhaps saving the trailer.
Tim
Tim -
wife Beverly & 2 boys who love camping
2002 K2500 Suburban 8.1L 4.10 Prodigy
2005 Sunnybrook 30FKS HP Dual Cam
Replaced 2000 Sunnybrook 26FK on 8/6/04
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Ultra Classic
West Palm Beach, FL
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Quote:The bad thing about the dumb things that have been posted here, is that someone that could really benefit from the Hensley Arrow could get the wrong impression, and not buy one.
I agree. In case someone didn't get it, everything I said about the H.A. in this thread was all "tongue in cheek".
The H.A. is what it is, a good hitch that some people will like and others will dislike. I happen to not like it at all. That being said, however, in some borderline applications it can make the difference between a safe rig and a dangerous one.
I prefer to invest my money in an adequate tow vehicle.
2005 Airstream Bambi Safari 19
2006 Harley-Davidson Road King Custom
2005 Dodge Ram 3500 CTD QuadCab SRW LB BigHorn
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drfife
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Quote:...Wasn't there a thread a few months back about a Hensley hitched trailer getting in an accident and tearing off the tow vehicle's receiver?...
Tim:
This statement is incorrect. The thread you refer to did have a stock GM receiver fail on a Suburban, but the SunnyBrook trailer did not wreck. Actually, the driver was not aware of the bent receiver until arriving at his destination. I was impressed that the Hensley could compensate for the bend in the receiver and still tow sway-free.
Be careful of starting rumors.
I'd like to see someone find just one post about a trailer accident where a Hensley hitch was being utilized. That's a challenge to the Hensley nay-sayers.
Russell
'12 GMC Sierra 3500HD SRW CC Duramax Z71
'03 SunnyBrook Titan 29DBS
'01 Hensley Arrow Hitch
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jason_rving
North Georgia
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Joined: 04/18/2003
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Quote:Wasn't there a thread a few months back about a Hensley hitched trailer getting in an accident and tearing off the tow vehicle's receiver? I'm surprised that hasn't come up in this thread because a lesser hitch may have just bent a bit, perhaps saving the trailer.
Tim
I don't know about that post but I found this one.
http://www.woodalls.com/cforum/index.cfm......../tid/5890702/gotomsg/5941619.cfm#5941619
Jason and family
2004 Cedar Creek 31LBHBS
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Ultra Classic
West Palm Beach, FL
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Quote:I'd like to see someone find just one post about a trailer accident where a Hensley hitch was being utilized. That's a challenge to the Hensley nay-sayers.
I don't consider myself a Hensley nay-sayer ... I just don't like the hitch. However, since you issued the challenge, here is a copy of a letter from a Hensley user that was involved in an accident ...
M. Ferro
31 ft 1983 Excella
Hensley hitch
03 Yukon XL
February 7, 2003
Hensley Mfg., Inc.
1097 S. State Road
Davison, Michigan 48423
Gentlemen:
Enclosed please find the warranty registration for my second Hensley
Hitch, # 04947. It was acquired from Walt's RV Service in Ocala,
Florida December 16, 2002.
The prior Hensley was destroyed in an accident. This one was its
insurance replacement.
In late October we were returning from vacationing in North Carolina
to Florida. My wife was driving our 2000 Mercury Mountaineer V8
pulling our 31 ft. Excella 1983. There were three people in the car.
My wife's 81 year old uncle was the third passenger. After we pulled
off the Florida Turnpike onto US 27 to take the slow way home, she
approached a traffic light at about 40 mph.
What happened next is hard to explain. Took some time before I could
reflect on it.
She hit the brakes and the whole rig jackknifed off to the median.
Fortunately no one was hurt. This is after we had driven through the
mountains successfully, even in the rain, up and down. No sway on the
highways from trucks either with our Hensley.
My speculation is that our Drawtite brake controller was set up too
soft, and the car skidded. This was only the third time my wife was
driving the rig, and she was getting comfortable after successfully
coming down the mountains. She did not know how to respond
(hindsight: should have released brake and push accelerator while I
hit the brake controller). I was slow to react too and hit the brake
controller.
The Airstream took it like a champ, only around $2K damage to one
aluminum panel right front. The Hensley hitch got into an argument
with the car's rear bumper and they both lost and needed replacement.
The car only had $1200 worth of damage. No one else
was involved and the police did not charge us.
We were 50 miles from Ocala and Walt's RV who came to the rescue the
next morning and took the trailer to his shop. I cannot say enough
good things about Walt.
The car re-inflated its tires and made it to Miami without any
problems. Had front end checked? And it did not get out of alignment
(!!!)
We were very lucky.
Now that the Mountaineer lease is up, I have purchased a 2003 GMC
Yukon XL to replace it. I also got a Jordan Ultima Brake controller
and a new Hensley.
I thought long and hard about not getting another Hensley. But I
still think that you make the best hitch in the market. Pull rite is
your only competition and they have no dealers in Florida.
It appears to me that your promotional materials, including the
video where you show a Dodge Intrepid pulling a 34 ft Airstream are
very misleading. The hard lesson here is that the Hensley is no
substitute for a properly set up towing vehicle with appropriately
long wheelbase. Given those constraints it is a great asset in added
safety. It may even, for instance, make a "one size smaller" car or
truck capable to handle the stress of towing. But it is very
misleading to think that it can make a short wheelbase SUV into a
safe towing vehicle. When push comes to shove, if you lose control
of the towing vehicle it will take the trailer off to the ditch with
the car.
This is my two cents worth.
Sincerely yours,
Manuel Ferro
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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When this post first started to run I had my doubts about it... I have received a myriad of complaints regarding this thread with two more this morning, so I am going to lock it down...
Moderator - TT Forum
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willald
NC
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Joined: 07/15/2002
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Thanks for posting that letter, Ultra Classic.The letter (if its indeed authentic), does show one small "issue" the Hensley has: If you have a cheap brake controller or one that is set too soft, in the case of a panic/emergency stop, the trailer can jackknife. That is what happened in this instance.
Not really a fault of the Hensley IMO, but more of another good reason, why its important to have a good brake controller, and adjust it correctly.
Still, someone pulling 31' of trailer with a Moutaineer, was asking for trouble, Hensley or not! That is waaaaaaaaay too much trailer for a Mountaineer! He was almost certainly exceeding both GCWR and GVWR limitations of the Mountaineer (did CanAm RV set up this combination? lol). I think it says a lot for the Hensley, in that even with how ridiculous a combination this was, if he would have had a good brake controller and set it up right, this accident would never have happened.
I've said before, whether you use a Hensley or not, you still need to make sure everything else about your combination is set up correctly. Due to the Hensley's design, you definitely need a good brake controller, and have it adjusted correctly. The Hensley manual tells you this.
Yes, we need to be careful about starting rumors..
Will
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M GO BLUE
Southgate, MI
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Quote:
I prefer to invest my money in an adequate tow vehicle.
I could not agree more...I too prefer to put my money in a more than adequate tow vehicle which is exactly what I did 9 months ago (see signature)
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 dually CC/LB Duramax/Allison
2008 Jayco Designer 35RLTS fifth wheel
Onan 5500W Marquis Gold gas generator (HGJAB - 1038D)
WOULD RETIRE NOW IF I COULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO PAY FOR HEALTH CARE...
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