Weight dist/sway system you don’t need to install every time

Fugawi asked,"How should this feel with a 3/4 ton crew cab SRW truck (F250 or GM HD)? Should I be able to hook and go and feel pretty good regarding weight distribution and sway?"

I don't know about Ford, but any of the GM 2500 or 3500 series pickups would be fine with no weight distributing hitch (per their owner's manual) for the trailer weights you mentioned. Both are rated at over 1,500 pounds tongue weight and over 10,000 pounds trailer weight without WD hitch, Hensley or otherwise. The freedom from bars, wrenches, or other mechanisms is a real joy. This is a real benefit for those of us who tow a lot. For the once in a while folks who want or need fancy hitches, not so much.

I love my Hensley Arrow... I love their customer support. Install was a breeze. Hook up time is 5 minutes at best...

No sway... at all.... best thing I have bought for my families safety while towing.... period.

Mvander wrote:

TomG2 wrote:
The HD series of pickups from GM do fine with the kind of tongue weights you are proposing, in other words, less than 1,000 pounds, without any bars or other junk to mess with. Just press the button, drop the coupler onto the ball and you are out the gate while the other guys are still looking for their pry bars.

+1. Any 3/4 or one ton should be good without wdh.

VintageRacer wrote:
If you get weight distribution you need to hook up the bars, there is no way around that part. Once you accept that you are going to be hooking up bars regardless, then they all sort of become about the same degree of PITA. Sway control is related to, but separate from weight distribution. All weight distribution hitches use bars, but sway control takes many forms, from friction to cams to linkages like the Hensley and Propride. You need to buy as much as makes you happy there.

If you don't want to do anything other than hook and go, then you just buy a truck with a hitch that has a dead weight load rating higher than your tongue weight, and a trailer than doesn't sway. You never see WD and sway control on equipment float or construction trailers, they just hook and tow with brute force.

Brian

Could you please help me understand how things work on the road with an example?

I am narrowing this down to a 28'± toy hauler with a hitch weight of 1,075 lbs. and a dry weight of 6,500 lbs vs. a 28'± travel trailer with a hitch weight of 600 lbs. and a dry weight of 5,500 lbs.

It sounds like a 1/2 ton truck is less than I would want.

How should this feel with a 3/4 ton crew cab SRW truck (F250 or GM HD)? Should I be able to hook and go and feel pretty good regarding weight distribution and sway?

How about with an F150 6'5" bed super crew with Ecoboost and max tow? If add max payload? Should I be able to hook and go and feel pretty good regarding weight distribution and sway?

Would I want/need Hensley or ProPride with either of the above setups?

The new tow vehicle will also be daily driver. I am trying to get as decent a combination as I can of daily driver plus safe, hook and go tow vehicle.

Thanks again for the guidance!

Of course there is tension applied after joining up with the hitch. The tension on the bars is applied via the jacks and not by lifting up the rear of the truck as is commonly done, or lifting up the WD bars via a pipe or other tool. This is much easier and takes no heavy muscle power at all - just have to turn a wrench or use a power drill. They even supply a ratcheting wrench with the hitch. I generally turn the jacks with my fingers and only use the wrench for the last few turns.
Barney

If it is quiet, that would be a big plus. I have seen very few in the many campgrounds I have visited, buy it seems like every third person on here has one and is quick to recommend them. So, there is no tension applied after the stinger is inserted? "Instead of prying up or raising the rear of the truck". The rear stays the same after hitching up? I would think as part of its WD, that the rear would have to rise at least a little from the unhitched height. They do look like they would work well, it one needs that kind of help. I found it easier and just as cheap to purchase a HD pickup in the first place.

TomG2 wrote:
Since I don't have, or need, a Hensley or ProPride, are they as easy to hitch up and go as the OP asked for? What are the steps involved?

1. Back the stinger into the hole.
2. Latch overcenter latches.
3. Tension WD bars by turning screw jacks either by hand or with drill.
4. Attach safety chains and breakaway cable.
5. Remove chocks, do last walk around check, and drive away.:)

No heavy lifting involved as the hitch remains on the tongue of the trailer at all times and the WD bars are tensioned via jacks instead of prying up or raising the rear of the truck. The only thing to lift is the stinger which must be placed into the trucks receiver and weighs about 15lbs or so.
The WD bars, lifting jacks, and hitch all remain on the tongue of the trailer.

It only takes a minute or so after you back into the hitch with the stinger. That is what most people fear but it is very easy after a few tries and when using a mirror on the back of the truck as I do or by using a rear camera as is found on almost all new vehicles. You can also do it without these gadgets if you are willing to get out and look a few times.

I really appreciate the Hensley not only for the way it pulls but for its' quietness, lack of heavy parts to lift, and easy fast hookups.
Barney

Since I don't have, or need, a Hensley or ProPride, are they as easy to hitch up and go as the OP asked for? What are the steps involved?

TomG2 wrote:
The HD series of pickups from GM do fine with the kind of tongue weights you are proposing, in other words, less than 1,000 pounds, without any bars or other junk to mess with. Just press the button, drop the coupler onto the ball and you are out the gate while the other guys are still looking for their pry bars.

+1. Any 3/4 or one ton should be good without wdh.

Hensley or ProPride for sure. I use a grill cover that covers mine from the front all the way to over the propane tanks/battery box...

The HD series of pickups from GM do fine with the kind of tongue weights you are proposing, in other words, less than 1,000 pounds, without any bars or other junk to mess with. Just press the button, drop the coupler onto the ball and you are out the gate while the other guys are still looking for their pry bars.