Clearly the Hensley vs. ProPride debate has been flogged to death, and I still think I'd be happy either way, but is there a clear front runner when it comes to doing a better job of distributing weight? Additionally, is there any merit to the claim that the Arrow is the better choice when towing a heavier trailer, whereas the 3P was designed for lighter trailers with surge brakes? Much obliged in advance for the wisdom!

They are nearly identicle hitches. They will both tow similarly. I personally would go Hensley...for me, it's not even close. I really like the solid stinger on the Hensley, I like the chain and snap up bracket option, I like the Hensley Cub option. For Lighter trailers, I like their refurb program, I like I can buy a used Hensley and transfer the lifetime warrenty on my used hitch for a price. In the end, both hitches are great. You really can't go wrong with either. Thanks!Jeremiah

rangerbait wrote:Additionally, is there any merit to the claim that the Arrow is the better choice when towing a heavier trailer, whereas the 3P was designed for lighter trailers with surge brakes? I have never heard this before, and don't think there is any merit to this statement. Both come with up to 1400 lb spring bars and will handle heavy trailers, both do the same job at distributing weight. Jim Hensley was the original designer of the Arrow, he sold the production rights early on to some investors who established Hensley Mfg. When his non-compete expired he teamed up with Sean Woodruff, a former Hensley Mfg employee, to form Pro-Pride. The 3P is the same basic design, but adds some things that Jim thought would make the Arrow better, like the adjustable stinger. You might call the 3P the Arrow 2.0.I have never towed with the 3P but from what I have read and from others here who have them, it is every bit as capable as the Arrow. Since the Arrow has been around a lot longer, there are more used units available. Hensley had (maybe they still do?) a program where they would pay $500 for any Arrow, sight unseen, as part of their owner buyback program. The then do a reman on the unit and resell it.Cost is the major issue with these hitches...if you are shopping used then buy the best deal you can find, either will do a great job for you.There's an Arrow for sale on Hitch Trader, located in Naples FL....not sure if that is close to you.

BurbMan wrote:rangerbait wrote:Additionally, is there any merit to the claim that the Arrow is the better choice when towing a heavier trailer, whereas the 3P was designed for lighter trailers with surge brakes? I have never heard this before, and don't think there is any merit to this statement. Both come with up to 1400 lb spring bars and will handle heavy trailers, both do the same job at distributing weight. From what I gather, the context of the statement pertained to the adjustable stinger in particular, and maybe a couple other design aspects of the 3P that Hensley thought would be good options for lighter duty applications. It's hard to sift through the hyperbole from loyalists on both sides to determine what the actual differences really are. You've been pretty satisfied with your setup, I take it?

Yes, extremely satisfied with my set up, but my choice was easy because ProPride wasn't around in 2002....I could be wrong but I thought the enhancements were just general usability items and not necessarily geared toward towing lighter trailers. Having an adjustable stinger to me is no big deal because my rig doesn't change. On the other hand if you had multiple vehicles that towed the same trailer, and adjustable stinger is probably handy. I don't think making it adjustable reduces the weight rating, just about every other WD has an adjustable head and they are rated for heavy trailers.

BurbMan wrote:Yes, extremely satisfied with my set up, but my choice was easy because ProPride wasn't around in 2002....I could be wrong but I thought the enhancements were just general usability items and not necessarily geared toward towing lighter trailers. Having an adjustable stinger to me is no big deal because my rig doesn't change. On the other hand if you had multiple vehicles that towed the same trailer, and adjustable stinger is probably handy. I don't think making it adjustable reduces the weight rating, just about every other WD has an adjustable head and they are rated for heavy trailers.If you were going to buy another hitch system in this class today, which would you choose?

Arrow vs. 3P: which one is better at distributing weight?

JD_and_Beastlet
Explorer
Jul 29, 2015
elidodge@msn.com wrote:
That's O.K. I am quite happy with my ProPride

Those are my photos, and that was my hitch. I'm a relative newcomer to RV.net - I used to tow with a Toyota and was warned by a friend to purchase a flame-retardant suit or stay clear - but I'm here now.

Yes, my stinger did fail. In fact, it failed in August 2010 at the end of an 11,500 km two-month summer trip from Ottawa to Vancouver Island and back. Less than half a kilometre from home.

Sean was on the ball. Within a few days we had a replacement stinger in hand, and we sent the broken one back in the same packaging. Sean assured us that this had never happened before; nevertheless, we check the new one regularly.

Sean was indeed all about customer service before the sale and during the installation... and, of course, during our stinger problem. Otherwise, not so much. Sometimes he would answer right away and sometimes he's just about impossible to get hold of. Case in point: He agreed to send me some spacers to go between the frame and the pinch bolts on the WD jacks. After months without seeing them and no luck after repeated attempts at contact, I did finally get in touch. He told me he had sent them twice and both must have gotten lost in the mail. The third set did arrive.

Another case: A colleague bought a 3P (on the strength of the 3P page on our website, as I later found out) and purchased a number of other items from ProPride. Many didn't show; he was given no explanation and also had a lot of trouble getting in touch with Sean.

If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say that Sean is overextended. From the ProPride site:

ProPride, Inc. was founded with one single focus. That focus being to develop a culture of professional pride in everything we do in order to create an exceptional customer experience with every product and service we offer.

In my experience, ProPride has not consistently met this goal.

- - -

With the hitch, however, we are completely satisfied. Installation was fairly straightforward and performance (stinger failure notwithstanding) has been excellent. When we changed tow vehicles this year, having the adjustable stinger was a boon - and having an adjustable tilt angle is a bonus. Yes, it's heavy, but it's not unmanageable. My only (other) complaint with the hitch is a minor one - the powder coating is substandard, so paint touch-ups are a part of our spring camping routine.

As far as I know, the HA and the 3P are slightly different executions of the same design. We decided on the 3P because of the adjustable stinger and the yoke design, which eliminates the somewhat failure-prone strut bars.
chracatoa
Explorer
Jul 29, 2015
I always had great customer service from Sean. If we need something quick he's quick to respond, but if it's not that important he may take some days and maybe you have to ping him again. I agree, Sean needs help but where he's going to find someone as passionate as he is for the job? I'd take the current setup any day over a soulless call center that doesn't actually understand the product.

JD, I see you have an F-150 now. Your pictures were invaluable for me to install it for my Sequoia.
JD_and_Beastlet
Explorer
Jul 30, 2015
chracatoa wrote:
I always had great customer service from Sean. If we need something quick he's quick to respond, but if it's not that important he may take some days and maybe you have to ping him again. I agree, Sean needs help but where he's going to find someone as passionate as he is for the job? I'd take the current setup any day over a soulless call center that doesn't actually understand the product.

I have certainly seen Sean's passion for the company, but I've seen other situations where it's completely absent. Absent after repeated attempts at contact through all the avenues I could find... not a word for weeks at a time, not even an, "I'll get back to you as soon as I can".

I wouldn't want a soulless call centre either, but those are two extremes and there is middle ground. I'm sure that competent (if not passionate) people could be found to field inquiries. Leaving customers wondering when they're going to hear back can't be good for business, and nobody (except maybe Hensley) wants that.

JD, I see you have an F-150 now. Your pictures were invaluable for me to install it for my Sequoia.

I'm delighted to be of service. Yes, we replaced our venerable 2005 Sequoia this summer. It was a competent tow vehicle even at its limits and served us well, including a 2-month, 11,500 km trip out west, towing through the Rockies in both directions. At 10 years old, however, it was showing a bit of age and we were ready for something new(er).

The F-150 is in another league when it comes to towing. The EcoBoost is built for it and the integrated trailer brake controller works seamlessly with the trailer. I love the backup camera too - it makes solo hitching so much easier.

Oh, and I understand it has sway control but with the ProPride, we don't need that. ;)

The transition from SUV to pickup meant a few adjustments but we are managing well!
chracatoa
Explorer
Aug 02, 2015
JD and Beastlet wrote:
The F-150 is in another league when it comes to towing. The EcoBoost is built for it and the integrated trailer brake controller works seamlessly with the trailer. I love the backup camera too - it makes solo hitching so much easier.

Oh, and I understand it has sway control but with the ProPride, we don't need that. ;)

The transition from SUV to pickup meant a few adjustments but we are managing well!

Yeah, I don't think I will be able to get a pickup truck unless I change my daily driver (Equinox). My wife is adamant that she needs a large SUV to drive kids and their friends around.

The Sequoia does have a backup camera though...

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Arrow vs. 3P: which one is better at distributing weight?

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