TT to a 5Th Wheel

rhagfo wrote:

BarneyS wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:

IdaD wrote:

rhagfo wrote:

Even at 30' to 33' a 5er is a big advantage, FAR more stable, inherently more stable!! [COLOR=]With a TT even with a Hensley when the deification hits the rotary oscillator, the true pivot point is still 3' to 4' behind the rear axle! That will push the back one way and force the front the other way. I took too many engineering classes in school.

The step issue, I partly solved our issues by adding steps! Made each step smaller. added a step into the bedroom level and replace the three step entrance with a four step that all the risers are the same height.

Some of the TT guys swear up and down that the Hensley type hitches make their travel trailers tow the same as fifth wheels and those statements have never made sense to me. I guess I've never tried to understand the physics of it, but at the end of the day it seems to me that your physical attachment point is still 4' behind the rear axle and your travel trailer is still lighter on the tongue than a fifth wheel is on the pin. But I admit I've never used that kind of a hitch.

Those are TT guys that have never towed a 5er.

Not true! I have done both and the TT with the Hensley tows every bit as well as the 5er ever did.

Those that do not understand how this is possible might want to take a long look at, and study this thread. :)
Engineering classes notwithstanding, the true pivot point is never 3' to 4' behind the rear axle.
Barney

I stand by my earlier statement which is backed up by this statement in the Hensley WEB site diagram.
"The apparent pivot point between the tow vehicle and the trailer is where their center lines intersect. With the Hensley, this apparent pivot point is moved forward of the hitch. The apparent pivot point will start at a fixed distance in front of the hitch which is the same for every Hensley. The more you turn, the more the pivot point moves backward towards the trailer. Trailer sway is produced by small amounts of rotation, so the slightly moving pivot point probably doesn't matter at highway speeds."


As stated above if you need to make a sudden change in direction the apparent pivot moves closer to the trailer ball. Yes the Hensley is a great hitch, but when a sudden turn is made the true pivot point becomes apparent!!

I also believe the Hensley is many times missed prescribed as a fix to a bad sway issue! You should not not use a Hensley to fix a trailer that wants to sway! If a TT is loaded correctly, correct tongue weight, and level or slightly nose down. Then at that point the Hensley will eliminate the little push pull of a passed or passing semi.

Have you ever used one? I have and yes I did because my TT was a wanderer. Not sway, just wiggle and was probably too much for the truck. Although I did use an EQ 4pt sway WDH for the majority of the time I towed it and never had any issues. I was looking for a WD that offered more stability. What's wrong with that? I bought a used one and sold it for $50.00 less than I paid for it.
I agree it can be a band aide for some, but for others its insurance against sway ever starting.