HappyTrails2U2
Atlanta, GA
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Joined: 11/11/2009
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Good morning folks,
I'm just sitting here going over a few things in my head before I go pick up my new travel trailer next month. I've been reading the thread on the Hensley Arrow Hitch and noticed that the last post was back in March of 06 which left me wondering which is the newer design the Equalizer Hitch or the Hensley Arrow?
I've already ordered the Equalizer Hitch and will pick it up when I pick up the trailer, actually they're to install it. Anyway there is still time I could change to the Hensley if it is considered the better design.
Also I forgot to mention I paid $459 for the hitch which I thought was a pretty good price considering the cheapest I could find on E-Bay was $418.
Thanks in advance,
Greg
2010 Rockwood Signature Ultra Lite 8315BSS
2003 Chevy Silverado 4.8 Extended Cab
Jet Computer Programmer
True dual exhausts and Magnaflow Mufflers
Hayden Automatic Transmission Cooler
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downtheroad
Puget Sound
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Joined: 02/18/2003
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Yes, the Hensley is a "better design"...but it will cost you significantly more money.
First of all what is you tow vehicle and what are you going to be towing? The Equal-i-zer is a good hitch as well and may be just fine for your combination.
Strange that you have not mentioned or considered the Reese Dual Cam also???
Enjoy your new rig.
"If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane"
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Reese Dual Cam HP
Lots of other stuff nobody cares about
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HappyTrails2U2
Atlanta, GA
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Joined: 11/11/2009
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downtheroad wrote:
Strange that you have not mentioned or considered the Reese Dual Cam also???
Enjoy your new rig.
I will look into it. I'm a newbie and haven't gotten into the hitch thing but for a day or so now since I just ordered the trailer a few days ago. I went with the Equalizer just because it was what I had heard the most about. I'm not at all familiar with the Reese.
Thanks,
Greg
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retired4fun2002
Ellenton, FL
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Joined: 07/22/2003
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Having had one of the others mentioned, I then went and bought my Hensely - a move I would never regret. Admittedly the HA is quite a lot more expensive, I won't put the price tag on me and my families life. I experienced two situations with the other and said no more; I experienced two 18 wheelers passing me on each side with the HA and it never moved a hair...well worth the added cost. I am not by no means knocking the two mentioned, but relating my experience with one that prompted me to bite the bullet and get the HA. Good luck and safe travels.
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I am still wayne_tw
everywhere
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The Hensley is a superior design and while very expensive, it is well worth it. I have towed with otehrs, and there is no comparision. Almost without exception, those who post negatively about the Hensley are the ones who have never used one. I am hard pressed to understand how they can add anything about the Hensley when they know nothing about one. The Equilizer and almost all other sway controls use friction to control sway. If you know anything about physics, you will know about the effects of force. The friction sway controllers work well when the force of the friction in the hitch is stronger than the force of sway from the trailer. When the sway force is stronger than the friction force, you will have significant sway, that can result in lose of control. The Hensley eliminates sway by a different technology. You can check it out at www.nosway.com. I am in NE Georgia in Jefferson, maybe close to you, so let me know if you need more information or help!
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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IMHO the Hensley is the better hitch if the tow vehicle is a little short of ideal. The Hensley will eliminate sway as an issue. The Equal-i-zer doesn't eliminate it; merely reduces it to a manageable level.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2003 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
One wife, two bikes (both Electric Schwinn's with motor assist)
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Mike Up
here
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Joined: 05/29/2005
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HappyTrails2U2 wrote:Good morning folks,
I'm just sitting here going over a few things in my head before I go pick up my new travel trailer next month. I've been reading the thread on the Hensley Arrow Hitch and noticed that the last post was back in March of 06 which left me wondering which is the newer design the Equalizer Hitch or the Hensley Arrow?
I've already ordered the Equalizer Hitch and will pick it up when I pick up the trailer, actually they're to install it. Anyway there is still time I could change to the Hensley if it is considered the better design.
Also I forgot to mention I paid $459 for the hitch which I thought was a pretty good price considering the cheapest I could find on E-Bay was $418.
Thanks in advance,
Greg
If you're wanting a hitch system a bit better than the Equalizer with only a bit more price, check out the Reese Strait Line system. It's not a friction sway control like the Equalizer. It's a cam system that stops sway before it happens by locking the springbars into the cams while driving straight. When you turn, the bars ride over the cams then lock back in place when going straight. This system prevents sway instead of dealing with sway after it starts like a lot of fiction system do.
The Equalizer uses 2 friction points, a metal on metal contact between the springbar and the bracket (at the trailers tongue) and an adjustable friction point at the springbar end at the head socket (at the hitch ball end).
Reese has a cheaper system that's similar to the Equalizer, called the Reese Pro System. Instead of having 2 friction points as the Equalizer, it beefs up the one, springbar to bracket friction point with an added friction pad. No adjusting here. Hard to say out of these 2 which is the better, but the Equalizer 'may' be the better because of 2 points of friction, but lesser friction.
If you're going to compare the over $1000 systems against the affordable systems, the Reese Strait Line system is a better comparison IMO.
Have a good one.
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b_salgado
Salisbury ,NC,USA
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Mike Up wrote:
If you're wanting a hitch system a bit better than the Equalizer with only a bit more price, check out the Reese Strait Line system. It's not a friction sway control like the Equalizer. It's a cam system that stops sway before it happens by locking the springbars into the cams while driving straight. When you turn, the bars ride over the cams then lock back in place when going straight. This system prevents sway instead of dealing with sway after it starts like a lot of fiction system do.
The Equalizer uses 2 friction points, a metal on metal contact between the springbar and the bracket (at the trailers tongue) and an adjustable friction point at the springbar end at the head socket (at the hitch ball end).
Reese has a cheaper system that's similar to the Equalizer, called the Reese Pro System. Instead of having 2 friction points as the Equalizer, it beefs up the one, springbar to bracket friction point with an added friction pad. No adjusting here. Hard to say out of these 2 which is the better, but the Equalizer 'may' be the better because of 2 points of friction, but lesser friction.
If you're going to compare the over $1000 systems against the affordable systems, the Reese Strait Line system is a better comparison IMO.
Have a good one. I think you're a little confused. ALL of the above mentioned systems with the exception of the HA rely on friction to control sway. The Reese Dual Cam has detents that keep the trailer locked in a straight line behind the TV. This is a friction setup. The Equal-i-zer is a 4 point system, not 2. It is more than 2 bars sitting on a couple of "L" brackets on the TT tongue. The Equal-i-zer head also has 2 more additional sway control points. It has been around forever and is tried and true. The Reese pro line is an Equal-i-zer knock off. It is very similar in build and connection. If I am not mistaken, it only provides 2 point sway control. It uses trunion type bars at the head. They did add friction pads to the L brackets. The straight line is the same hitch at the Dual Cam
To the OP, it's entirely up to you as to what hitch you purchase. The HA is a PREMIUM hitch and works wonderfully. It is a bit of a challenge to get set up properly, but adjustments are easy. They also have a nice $3000+ price tag. You might be able to find a used one on the web. Make sure all the parts are there if you decide to go this route.
The Reese DC and the Equal-i-zer are both phenomenal hitches. They do a fantastic job of what they are advertised to do... if properly installed and adjusted. If you do a search on this forum, you will see that it is almost a 50/50 split of users for the 2 above mentioned hitches.
Like stated above, if your TV is marginal for your new TT, I would suggest that you get the Hensley. If you have an adequate TV, and you're only going camping on weekends with a few extended trips, I personally wouldn't buy the HA. I have approximately 25,000 miles of towing experience with the Equal-i-zer. It is a dream compared to my old EZ Lift WD with external sway control bar. No sway, a little noisy (but so is the Reese) and great highway manners at 65 MPH with semi's along side of me.
04 Lariat Supercrew 4x4,5.4,3.73, Edge tuner, flowmaster duals
06 Trail Bay 31BH, nicely optioned
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ch47d99
AL
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Honestly I would add the Husky Centerline to your search too. It looks like it has the Equalizer 4 points, but then it also adds compression cams to the bars for centering action. It is very new so you won't get a lot of reviews on it, but I believe there is at least one person on this forum using it.
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kysurveyor
ky
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The Hensley is a newer design. The ProPride is the newer, improved verson of the Hensley, and only costs $2500. Jim Hensley also designed the ProPride and sold the rights to ProPride. (He sold the Hensley Arrow company a long time ago. Check Hitchtrader to see if anyone has a used Hensley. Since the ProPride has only been out for 2 or 3 years, it is more difficult to find one used. With either the Hensley or ProPride, your towing experience will be wonderful.
* This post was
edited 11/22/09 05:50pm by an administrator/moderator *
Keith, Suzy two teenagers and a dog
2005 Seneca 35 GS Super C
Pro-Pride 3P hitch
2006 Dodge Durango with 5.7 Liter Hemi
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