Anderson Hitch

cdevidal wrote:
I called Andersen, they claim there is no minimum tongue weight percentage. That's good, because the less tongue weight on our setup, the better.

I'm guessing (hoping) that Andersen did not understand your question.

There most certainly is a minimum tongue weight percentage as regards TV/TT yaw stability.
For most US-built TT's, I would recommend staying above 10% -- even if you do have a Hensley Arrow or a PP.

Ron

Ron Gratz wrote:

cdevidal wrote:
I called Andersen, they claim there is no minimum tongue weight percentage. That's good, because the less tongue weight on our setup, the better.

I'm guessing (hoping) that Andersen did not understand your question.

There most certainly is a minimum tongue weight percentage as regards TV/TT yaw stability.
For most US-built TT's, I would recommend staying above 10% -- even if you do have a Hensley Arrow or a PP.

Ron

That's what I thought, which is why I repeated my question at least twice and stated it clearly.

But Hensley also claims zero sway even as low as 5%. If the problem with going too low is sway, and the hitch has anti-sway, doesn't it become a moot point?

cdevidal wrote:

Ron Gratz wrote:

cdevidal wrote:
I called Andersen, they claim there is no minimum tongue weight percentage. That's good, because the less tongue weight on our setup, the better.

I'm guessing (hoping) that Andersen did not understand your question.

There most certainly is a minimum tongue weight percentage as regards TV/TT yaw stability.
For most US-built TT's, I would recommend staying above 10% -- even if you do have a Hensley Arrow or a PP.

Ron

That's what I thought, which is why I repeated my question at least twice and stated it clearly.

But Hensley also claims zero sway even as low as 5%. If the problem with going too low is sway, and the hitch has anti-sway, doesn't it become a moot point?

On an Andersen WD hitch, the ball shaft fits into a tapered cylinder. The outer surface of the shaft and the inside of that cylinder are covered with automotive brake material. It's the friction between the shaft and cylinder (brake material) that controls sway. Tongue weight causes that friction. More tongue weight means, stronger sway control. Less tongue, means weaker sway control. If tongue weight percentage got down to zero, there would be no sway control.

I have an Andersen WD hitch. With no weight on the ball, I can turn it (simulating sway) by hand.

It doesn't make sense that someone from Andersen would say something like "no minimum tongue weight percentage".

handye9 wrote:

cdevidal wrote:

Ron Gratz wrote:

cdevidal wrote:
I called Andersen, they claim there is no minimum tongue weight percentage. That's good, because the less tongue weight on our setup, the better.

I'm guessing (hoping) that Andersen did not understand your question.

There most certainly is a minimum tongue weight percentage as regards TV/TT yaw stability.
For most US-built TT's, I would recommend staying above 10% -- even if you do have a Hensley Arrow or a PP.

Ron

That's what I thought, which is why I repeated my question at least twice and stated it clearly.

But Hensley also claims zero sway even as low as 5%. If the problem with going too low is sway, and the hitch has anti-sway, doesn't it become a moot point?

On an Andersen WD hitch, the ball shaft fits into a tapered cylinder. The outer surface of the shaft and the inside of that cylinder are covered with automotive brake material. It's the friction between the shaft and cylinder (brake material) that controls sway. Tongue weight causes that friction. More tongue weight means, stronger sway control. Less tongue, means weaker sway control. If tongue weight percentage got down to zero, there would be no sway control.

I have an Andersen WD hitch. With no weight on the ball, I can turn it (simulating sway) by hand.

It doesn't make sense that someone from Andersen would say something like "no minimum tongue weight percentage".

Yeah that makes sense. Had you seen anything in the materials or talked to anyone about a minimum weight percentage?

cdevidal wrote:
Yeah that makes sense. Had you seen anything in the materials or talked to anyone about a minimum weight percentage?

Only minimum tongue weight, I have heard of, is 10%. I know that travel trailers with less than 10% tongue weight, have a tendency to sway. I know that the Andersen hitch relies on tongue weight to control the sway. I would think, reducing your tongue weight, for the sole purpose of meeting a payload number, would be dangerous.

You say Hensley will work at 5% tongue weight. I myself, woud not be comfortable with that.

If you are that close on ratings, have you factored in any weight for your holding tanks? Can't do that without knowing tank size and location in the trailer, so, I would say you have not.

Depending on tank locations, in relation to trailer axles, your holding tanks could have either a positive or negative affect on your tongue weight. If you are at 5% tongue weight, with empty tanks, what happens if your tanks take take you down to zero?

My tongue weight can fluctuate as much as 200 lbs. Depends on how much stuff is in my tanks, and which tanks are holding it. I have camped at places that did not have a dump site or fresh water available. There will be times when you may have to travel with something in your tanks.

handye9 wrote:
If you are that close on ratings, have you factored in any weight for your holding tanks?

Long story short, I'm good on that.

The Hensley does not depend on tongue weight at all to do it's job. The tongue of the trailer is fixed on the top part of the hitch and does not move left or right. The top part of the hitch is in a fixed position on the tongue and does not move left or right either.

The bottom part of the hitch articulates and does all the moving. Because of the linkage, it can only move left or right when the truck initiates the move. Any attempted movement of the trailer (through that upper part of the hitch) is projected forward near or in front of the trucks axles which means the there is very little or no effect on the truck - just like a 5th wheel. This happens because the trailer is in a fixed position on the hitch upper unit and all attempted movement is transmitted to the truck through the linkage and lower unit.

So Yes, the Hensley will work with 5% or perhaps even less tongue weight however, even though it will not allow the trailer to sway, I would not ever try to tow a trailer with that little amount.
Barney

BarneyS wrote:
So Yes, the Hensley will work with 5% or perhaps even less tongue weight however, even though it will not allow the trailer to sway, I would not ever try to tow a trailer with that little amount.

Interesting. Why not?

cdevidal wrote:

BarneyS wrote:
So Yes, the Hensley will work with 5% or perhaps even less tongue weight however, even though it will not allow the trailer to sway, I would not ever try to tow a trailer with that little amount.

Interesting. Why not?

Because I am a firm believer in doing things the right way and the right way to tow a trailer is to have the correct tongue weight percentage no matter what kind/type of hitch you have. It is not unheard of for a hitch to break and if that happens and you are towing with 5% hitch weight, with the travel trailers we have here in the U.S., you are in serious trouble unless you want to go really slow to your destination.
Barney

BarneyS wrote:

cdevidal wrote:

BarneyS wrote:
So Yes, the Hensley will work with 5% or perhaps even less tongue weight however, even though it will not allow the trailer to sway, I would not ever try to tow a trailer with that little amount.

Interesting. Why not?

Because I am a firm believer in doing things the right way and the right way to tow a trailer is to have the correct tongue weight percentage no matter what kind/type of hitch you have. It is not unheard of for a hitch to break and if that happens and you are towing with 5% hitch weight, with the travel trailers we have here in the U.S., you are in serious trouble unless you want to go really slow to your destination.
Barney

Sorry I still don't get it. Maybe I'm dense? 5% is less weight than 10%. Less weight means potentially more sway, but this is corrected with the hitch.