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
I am with you until here:
"The HA's linkage does not provide a "rigid" connection at any angle, zero or otherwise. A heavier trailer and larger frontal area could cause a greater longitudinal "pulling" force on the linkage. However, the HA's linkage does not generate a moment in response to a longitudinal force. It only generates a moment in response to a lateral force."
The pendulum analogy works, but the hitch is not like a pendulum linkage in that the TT ends of the linkage can only move side to side in response to a lateral force applied along the side of the travel trailer.
How does the lateral force get transferred through the linkage from the travel trailer end to cause the VPP to move? And the answer is apparently that it does not, because the VPP does not move as a result of forces applied to the travel trailer. Where do the forces go? And how do they get there?
If I replaced the Hensley Arrow with a rigid linkage, call it a Pullrite, would the forces be distributed to the same places in the same manner?
"The HA's linkage does not provide a "rigid" connection at any angle, zero or otherwise. A heavier trailer and larger frontal area could cause a greater longitudinal "pulling" force on the linkage. However, the HA's linkage does not generate a moment in response to a longitudinal force. It only generates a moment in response to a lateral force."
The pendulum analogy works, but the hitch is not like a pendulum linkage in that the TT ends of the linkage can only move side to side in response to a lateral force applied along the side of the travel trailer.
How does the lateral force get transferred through the linkage from the travel trailer end to cause the VPP to move? And the answer is apparently that it does not, because the VPP does not move as a result of forces applied to the travel trailer. Where do the forces go? And how do they get there?
If I replaced the Hensley Arrow with a rigid linkage, call it a Pullrite, would the forces be distributed to the same places in the same manner?
