Hensley Arrow: How does it REALLY work?
There have been several discussions on this hitch that have become somewhat 'controversial'. I am NOT trying to stir this controversy/bashing back up. Instead, I'd like to see a good, intelligent di...
Forum Discussion
You've got it dead on, BurbMan. I love it when a marketing guy uses the term, "moment arm".
For all practical purposes, every horizontal force (unless it's directed through the longitudinal axis of a straight TV/TT combination) has a moment arm acting to rotate either the TV or the TT. Any of these attempted rotations can disrupt the equilibrium of the "hinge" at the hitch, resulting in a pendulum-like horizontal oscillation between the TV and TT. This is good for a fish wanting to swim fast, but very bad for a TV/TT combination.
Conventional hitches depend on friction and/or long TV wheelbase and/or minimal TV overhang to fight off these attempted oscillations while the Hensley does it (as does the Pullrite) by reducing the lever on the TV by some 4 feet. It's a bit like being asked to tighten a nut with your fingers instead of with a long wrench.
For all practical purposes, every horizontal force (unless it's directed through the longitudinal axis of a straight TV/TT combination) has a moment arm acting to rotate either the TV or the TT. Any of these attempted rotations can disrupt the equilibrium of the "hinge" at the hitch, resulting in a pendulum-like horizontal oscillation between the TV and TT. This is good for a fish wanting to swim fast, but very bad for a TV/TT combination.
Conventional hitches depend on friction and/or long TV wheelbase and/or minimal TV overhang to fight off these attempted oscillations while the Hensley does it (as does the Pullrite) by reducing the lever on the TV by some 4 feet. It's a bit like being asked to tighten a nut with your fingers instead of with a long wrench.
