labman1014
hattiesburg, ms
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Tacoma_WV wrote:ordered new OCL latches...80 shipped. !
Hitch bar I found a guy that had a new one that would not fit, he had to get a drop down tpye and didn't need the org so he sold to me 120 shipped !
Every thing else on the thing looks really good. No wear on any thing but where it sit on ground during installation and such...
hope u ordered new shear bolts while u were on the phone with Hensley. actually, they just gave me 4 when i bought my new spring bars......if u didnt get them, call them back b4 it ships and get some....u will need 4 and it is good to have 4 for backup.....
TV-2008 Ford F150 SCrew, 4X4, 5.4L, 3.73LS, Rear Camera
TT-2008 Surveyor SV-304LE
Hensley Arrow-P3
Just me-'77, the wife-'81, daughter-'05, son-'07, and son-'09!!!
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beeser
San Diego
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Joined: 06/23/2008
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Tacoma_WV wrote:ordered new OCL latches...80 shipped. !
Hitch bar I found a guy that had a new one that would not fit, he had to get a drop down tpye and didn't need the org so he sold to me 120 shipped !
Every thing else on the thing looks really good. No wear on any thing but where it sit on ground during installation and such...
Not a bad bargain for a total of $800. Ditto what the previous poster said about the shear bolts. Again, read the manual.
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clev
San Marcos, Texas
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In my previous post, I wrote that you should be cautious about buying a 15 year old hitch; especially one as complicated as a Hensley knock off. However, so as not to rain on your parade, I edited/deleted the message except for "mine is a ~94 95". The hitch that you pictured is 'not' a Hensley. Call it Pre-Hensley, call it anything you want, but it's not a 'Hensley'. Yes, it's similar, and being similar, at 15 years old, I'm not surprised that the OCL's are bent/worn, that being said, every moving part on the hitch is probably worn out. I would never trust my family, my self, nor my TT/TV to a hitch this old with unknown history. But that's just me; your choice, your decision.
'99 E-350 HiTop Companion Van SD 7.3, ordered & rcvd Dec. '98: SuperChip, K&N air filters, 203* mod, Deraler tubed trannie pan, B&M trannie cooler, AirLift, Bilsteins, 4" DiamondEye turbo exhaust, U.S. Gear Underdrive, AutoMeter C2 3-gauge pillar mount.
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Wes Tausend
Bismarck, ND
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Tacoma_WV,
I think you got an excellent deal. The hitch is a Hensley since they didn't exist until he invented them. I believe Jim Hensley sold interest to the present owners and is presently associated with ProPride.
Since the hitch is made of mild steel, any damage would show up as bent metal, which doesn't crack unless it is obviously bent too far. I believe the welds are often somewhat more brittle than the rest of a mild steel assembly, but not as brittle as cast. I suppose a man could have it magnafluxed by a machine shop if there was any doubt. My entire camper is 15 years old, but I still trust the all the ferrous metal. I visually inspect it on occasion, particularily welds. Bolts and rivets are a little more reliable, but initially cost more.
The over center latches/ears are what is different between the ProPride stinger and original Hensley units. The spacing is different. They hold the entire draw force on the TT.
Wes
...
- 2000 Excursion V-10 - 1995 Coachmen Catalina 280RK, 5091# tare
- Hensley Arrow pending - McKesh mirrors - Champion 4000w/3500w gen
- 1994 Mazda B4000 1/2 ton, 4.0L V6, 3.73, 125"wb
- Linda, Wes and Quincy the Standard Brown Poodle
...
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beeser
San Diego
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clev wrote:In my previous post, I wrote that you should be cautious about buying a 15 year old hitch; especially one as complicated as a Hensley knock off. However, so as not to rain on your parade, I edited/deleted the message except for "mine is a ~94 95". The hitch that you pictured is 'not' a Hensley. Call it Pre-Hensley, call it anything you want, but it's not a 'Hensley'. Yes, it's similar, and being similar, at 15 years old, I'm not surprised that the OCL's are bent/worn, that being said, every moving part on the hitch is probably worn out. I would never trust my family, my self, nor my TT/TV to a hitch this old with unknown history. But that's just me; your choice, your decision.
I disagree. The Hensley and its variants are not complicated even though understanding the design escapes some. The sheer mass of the device is capable of lasting several lifetimes. Any part that experiences wear (bearings, bushings, etc.) can easily be serviced and/or replaced. I would be far more concerned with the old iron in clev's signature.
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Tacoma_WV
WV
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It shows no tell-tell signs of much use what so ever. The damage to the OCLs are from someone dropping it of the back of the truck with out putting down the jack! Probably why the Hitchbar is not included(it took the real hit).
I happen to be an Inspector; metals, welds, etc is my job. I will get back home couple months and go over the manual and repack etc all bearings and inspect the guts. But first glance is there is no more use on it then my 1yr TT.
The sticker in the front says:
Hensley Eliminator,879 Green ST. RD. Centralia, IL 62801........618 532-6210..........Central innovative Inc...........US Patents ; 4722542 and 4811967.......CANADIAN Patent 1283672........
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Wes Tausend
Bismarck, ND
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Tacoma_WV wrote:It shows no tell-tell signs of much use what so ever. The damage to the OCLs are from someone dropping it of the back of the truck with out putting down the jack! Probably why the Hitchbar is not included(it took the real hit).
I happen to be an Inspector; metals, welds, etc is my job. I will get back home couple months and go over the manual and repack etc all bearings and inspect the guts. But first glance is there is no more use on it then my 1yr TT.
The sticker in the front says:
Hensley Eliminator,879 Green ST. RD. Centralia, IL 62801........618 532-6210..........Central innovative Inc...........US Patents ; 4722542 and 4811967.......CANADIAN Patent 1283672........
Touche' 
Wes
...
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DeutscheMan
Oregon Coast
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If Jim Hensley designed it, and he got the first patent on it, and it was renamed from the "eliminator" to the "Arrow"...
If it walks like a duck and it talks like a duck.....
Bill
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clev
San Marcos, Texas
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Perhaps I misspoke, but it was advertised as a Hensley and 'circa '94'. Knowing mine is '94 ~ '95, and it didn't look like mine, hence the term 'Hensley Knock-off'. Again, maybe I misspoke. I stand by my statement that the Hensley is a complicated hitch - 'for the average person', and especially for a person that has no personal experience with one. I'm very good at doing my own repairs, know my hitch very well, but would be hesitant to attempt a repair on the inner workings of the swivels, bearings, and cams. For that, I'm glad that it has a Life Time guarantee. Also, I stand by the statement that "for the average person", I don't think trusting a 15 year old hitch, that you know nothing about, is safe; not just for you, but for others on the road. Tacoma, being an inspector of metals and welds is not 'the average' person; that didn't come out until after my post. So, Tacoma, with your qualifications, you probably got a pretty good deal; only time will tell. Good luck with it.
* This post was
edited 11/18/09 06:53pm by clev *
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LAdams
Northern Illinois
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A simple inspection of moving parts, bearings, etc is all that is needed here... Granted, that may be beyond the skill set of some RV'ers here on the RV.Net Forums but a pretty simple task for a lot of us...
While the Hensley is a bit different than most "standard" w/d hitches, I would not call it complicated... The w/d towers are simply big screws that tension the w/d bars, the struts are in effect 1/2 a turnbuckle, and the top part of the hitch is attached to the bottom thru 2 cams... IMO, not much more complicated than a Reese Dual Cam... But hey, that's how I see it - some will see it differently...
Even if Tacoma_WV has to throw 4-500 hundred dollars at the hitch, he is still coming up well below what a new one would cost... I looked at the pictures of the hitch and although it is a bit difficult to determine exact condition by pictures alone, IMO the hitch is in excellent condition for a 15 year old device... After the inspection and replacing a few parts and a coat of paint, the hitch will be in "like new" condition... I would have no qualms about installing the hitch on my rig and using it... If one feels the need, you certainly could have the welds inspected thru Magnaflux or the like, but in that he is an inspector of metals, I would think he knows what to look for...
Anyway, I wish him well with the hitch... After a little "tune up", I'm sure it will provide many miles of dependable towing service 
Les
2000 Ford F-250SD, XLT, 4X4 Off Road, SuperCab
w/ 6.8L (415 C.I.) V-10/3:73LS/4R100
Banks Power Pack w/Trans Command & OttoMind
2006 Nomad 3150 Double Slide (Bunkhouse)
Hensley Arrow
Jordan Ultima 2020
HUNTER THERMOSTAT INSTALL
HOME MADE WHEEL CHOCKS
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