Switching From Hensley To SwayPro

A 7500 lb Airstream behind a HD truck? While I don't know the specifics of OPs truck, if it was my truck I'd drop the trailer on a ball hitch and see how it did.

Roadtech wrote:
In my case, I have a 28' trailer towed by a 3/4 ton truck, so maybe I don't have as much of a sway or WD issue.

Lots of guys here will tell you that you don't need WD or sway control at all with a 3/4 ton truck.

I won't be one of them, but unless your trailer is a truly awful design, you really should not need more than basic integrated sway control with a 3/4 ton truck. There are some trailers that NEED the advanced sway control of an HA or PP. IMHO these trailers should be taken back to the RV dealer and shoved up the manufactuer rep's you-know-what.

gmw photos wrote:
Good morning Roadtech. Looking at your profile, you have an Airstream ? You might want to run this by the fellas over on Airforums, if you have not already. On Airforums you'll find a wide variety of comments from running with no WD hitch at all, up thru the HA/PP crowd, so you'll get a lot of opinions and experience.

I have read many of the threads on Air Forums on sway and hitches.

I wish there was a way to test out hitches with your rig before committing to one. Unfortunately, that's not possible. You have to commit, go through the installation, and then hope it works. If it doesn't, it gets expensive.

Roadtech wrote:

gmw photos wrote:
all that said, I have read of some folks who simply could not get a good towing trailer with anything but a hensley or a propride. Several folks over on the airforms ( Airstream ) had much difficulty getting their trailer to tow safely until they went to a HAHA or PP.
So it could come down to that. You may "need" one of those hitches to make it work.

I wonder if the issue with some needing the Hensley design to get good towing performance has to do with their combination of tow vehicle and trailer like a 1/2 ton or less pulling a 28' or longer trailer. In my case, I have a 28' trailer towed by a 3/4 ton truck, so maybe I don't have as much of a sway or WD issue.

Good morning Roadtech. Looking at your profile, you have an Airstream ? You might want to run this by the fellas over on Airforums, if you have not already. There seems to be a difference between A/S models of different lengths and models as to set up.

Some guys describe easy set up and rock solid handling and others require very careful setup and the need for a HA or PP to get them to tow correctly.

My take on it regarding your comment of the 3/4 ton truck is that yes in fact WD may be less of an issues compared to a 1/2 ton, but that sway is more of a trailer itself issue.

On Airforums you'll find a wide variety of comments from running with no WD hitch at all, up thru the HA/PP crowd, so you'll get a lot of opinions and experience.

EDIT: good thread here for reading about different experiences regarding all these issues.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463/2017-ford-f250-and-trailer-sway-169341.html

busterbrown73 wrote:
My TV was a Yukon XL Denali with the 6.2L engine and 6 speed transmission. My set up was below payload capacity on the TV and within specs on everything else (GAWR, GVWR, GCVWR, Tires (LT), towing capacity). When I towed with the BO Sway Pro, semis, down hills, and wind were always a concern. I found myself looking in my rear view mirrors awaiting the next obstacle or lateral force on my trailer as I continuously made steering inputs. It was exhausting to drive any significant distant. I just thought it was normal sway reduction behavior.

After the last trip out with the BO, I upgraded to the HA. What a profound difference. The trailer felt solid behind my truck for the first time. The exhaustive steering corrections were required no more. It was like the both the TV and trailer were riding on the same rails.

Last year, we upgraded the TV to a new Ram 2500 Megacab due to the extensive miles on my Yukon and some long distant camping trips we were planning. Didn't want to risk a mechanical failure on my TV being 2,000 miles away from home. My first time out with my Ram had me curious so I remounted the Blue Ox to pull the same trailer. On the freeway, I began having that same feeling of unpredicable, lateral forces on the trailer. The need to input steering corrections was apparent again for the first time since this same hitch was pair with my Yukon. Memories of "looking more in my rear view mirror than at the road in front" started in my head. Suffice it to say, that was the last time I used my BO. It will now be sold at a considerable discount as my Hensley Arrow will continue to eliminate all sway conditions for the foreseeable future.

Thanks for your reply. It does make me pause. I have researched the BO SwayPro on more than a dozen trailer forums and the ratio of good reviews to bad is 25 to 1 to the good. But, most of these reviewers don't have any experience with the Hensley design, so they don't have the reference point that you have. The only difference I see in your experience is with your trailer length. All of the SwayPro reviews I have read are on trailers 30' or less. I understand your TV is within the limits of your application, but not sure if your 35' makes a difference with the SwayPro design.

Roadtech wrote:
What tow vehicle are you using to tow your 35 foot trailer?

My TV was a Yukon XL Denali with the 6.2L engine and 6 speed transmission. My set up was below payload capacity on the TV and within specs on everything else (GAWR, GVWR, GCVWR, Tires (LT), towing capacity). When I towed with the BO Sway Pro, semis, down hills, and wind were always a concern. I found myself looking in my rear view mirrors awaiting the next obstacle or lateral force on my trailer as I continuously made steering inputs. It was exhausting to drive any significant distant. I just thought it was normal sway reduction behavior.

After the last trip out with the BO, I upgraded to the HA. What a profound difference. The trailer felt solid behind my truck for the first time. The exhaustive steering corrections were required no more. It was like the both the TV and trailer were riding on the same rails.

Last year, we upgraded the TV to a new Ram 2500 Megacab due to the extensive miles on my Yukon and some long distant camping trips we were planning. Didn't want to risk a mechanical failure on my TV being 2,000 miles away from home. My first time out with my Ram had me curious so I remounted the Blue Ox to pull the same trailer. On the freeway, I began having that same feeling of unpredicable, lateral forces on the trailer. The need to input steering corrections was apparent again for the first time since this same hitch was pair with my Yukon. Memories of "looking more in my rear view mirror than at the road in front" started in my head. Suffice it to say, that was the last time I used my BO. It will now be sold at a considerable discount as my Hensley Arrow will continue to eliminate all sway conditions for the foreseeable future.

BurbMan wrote:

carringb wrote:
Yes, I did. Because the Hensley isn't as strong as the Dual Cam or Sway Pro.

Only guy to ever break a Hensley LOL!

You should Google: hensley hitch cracked

Yes, they fail and it's been reported on this very forum.

I towed a 31' 7300 lb TT with a 2010 F150 Max Tow. I used an Eq 4pt sway WDH. It was marginal on normal days. Great in the mountains where holding a straight line is not important. On moderate windy day (5-10 mph) I had to pay attention when out on wide open roads.
Found a used HA for $950. Made all the difference.
However depending on where you hitch or unhitch it can be a PITA.
When I parked my TT in the driveway the truck and TT were in a 'V' shaped. So it took about 5 times hitching up. I could back up about 1-2", then I'd have to get out and raise the HA, get back in the truck and back up another 1-2". Rinse repeat. One time I pulled into a perfectly level RV spot and couldn't get the truck and TT disconnected. The HA was stuck on the stinger. 10 cuss words later it finally came loose. And yes it was greased.
We dry camp a lot. Hitching up on a slanted both ways gravel/dirt spur can test your patients.
If I were to tow a long (32'-36') TT again I MAY consider one. More than likely not though. I would give the Blue OX a try 1st.
The other thing I would make sure I have are TT axles that are more towards the rear and not close to the center of the TT. Some TT's just flat out handle better than others. Proper axle placement, stiffer suspension and frame, and correct loading, etc.

gmw photos wrote:
all that said, I have read of some folks who simply could not get a good towing trailer with anything but a hensley or a propride. Several folks over on the airforms ( Airstream ) had much difficulty getting their trailer to tow safely until they went to a HAHA or PP.
So it could come down to that. You may "need" one of those hitches to make it work.

I wonder if the issue with some needing the Hensley design to get good towing performance has to do with their combination of tow vehicle and trailer like a 1/2 ton or less pulling a 28' or longer trailer. In my case, I have a 28' trailer towed by a 3/4 ton truck, so maybe I don't have as much of a sway or WD issue.

I have not used a hensley or a PP. That said, I have not felt the need to. Close to 50K miles towing two different trailers ( this TT and my horse trailer ) with the blue ox has worked well for me.

Why change when what I have works ? In 50K miles, I've driven in just about everything you can imagine. I make the trip across Kansas multiple times a year between home and the family farm. Kansas usually has wind out of the south or SW or north or NW. In other words, most trips I have cross winds. They are no problem for my setup.

If I felt the need for a PP I would not hesitate to spend the money.

EDIT: all that said, I have read of some folks who simply could not get a good towing trailer with anything but a hensley or a propride. Several folks over on the airforms ( Airstream ) had much difficulty getting their trailer to tow safely until they went to a HAHA or PP.
So it could come down to that. You may "need" one of those hitches to make it work.