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
When the idea of suspending the "rig" vertically from the TV to see how the TT and hitch would behave, I was interested. My first thought was: What would happen if we were to suspend the TV from the TT? I was intrigued with that idea and delighted when it was posted. There has been some conjecture around this question which I followed closly. I don't think we have the answer to this question, but I believe it has to do with the arc through which the TT is turned. I suggest that for small angles (as when towing at speed), the rig hung vertically would act as a rigid body. I'm not clever enough to offer a suggestion to what point the TV would turn, but we have already discussed the result that the Hensley delays the onset of sway because of the reduction in forces and moments.
Although the advertising is "no sway", Hensley admits that the biggest problem with the HA is that people become overconfident and tend to forget they're towing. When this happens, it's possible to overdrive the capabilities of the TV to control the rig. We know from Mr Gratz efforts that this will occur when the tow angle allows one of the side links to "collapse" by going overcenter AND there is heavy breaking of the TV with insufficient breaking at the TT. This could occur at the bottom of a hill with a significant curve - but only if the TT breaks were faulty or maladjusted.
I'm pretty close to my CGW with a TV at 5700# and a TT with a GW of 7900. I'm driving a '00 GMC 1500 with a small V8 and a 4:10 rear end. It do slow down going up hills, and the gas mileage is about 15 around town (not towing) but when towing, I still get about 12 or 13 mpg because of the rear end ratio. As far as handling with this package, I will admit to some displacement when an 18 wheeler sails past at what seems to be twice my speed, but there really is no sway, and the resulting displacement is probably due to the effect of the wind on my TV, not on the trailer. In fact, I've experienced similar displacement under those conditions when not towing.
As a footnote, I had no idea I'd be towing an RV at CGW when I bought this truck, otherwise I'd probably have done something different. As it is, my only real regret is that I got the 4 door version but not the crew cab. It's a little tough on the grandkids (who are now six) and will get tougher as they get bigger. We're taking them to Dollywood in two weeks. But unless a money tree lands in my back yard, this is going to me my rig for the foreseeable future and frankly, I'm pretty well satisfied with it.
My wife couldn't understand why I'd pay $1500 for a HA (www.hitchtrader.com) + $200 shipping + $500 to extend the factory warrantee. My knuckles stay pink as a result (not white) in 'panic' situations as the rig behaves itself very nicely when I fail to adeguately anticipate an upcoming event - as when entering a curve at the bottom of a hill carrying too much speed.
Although the advertising is "no sway", Hensley admits that the biggest problem with the HA is that people become overconfident and tend to forget they're towing. When this happens, it's possible to overdrive the capabilities of the TV to control the rig. We know from Mr Gratz efforts that this will occur when the tow angle allows one of the side links to "collapse" by going overcenter AND there is heavy breaking of the TV with insufficient breaking at the TT. This could occur at the bottom of a hill with a significant curve - but only if the TT breaks were faulty or maladjusted.
I'm pretty close to my CGW with a TV at 5700# and a TT with a GW of 7900. I'm driving a '00 GMC 1500 with a small V8 and a 4:10 rear end. It do slow down going up hills, and the gas mileage is about 15 around town (not towing) but when towing, I still get about 12 or 13 mpg because of the rear end ratio. As far as handling with this package, I will admit to some displacement when an 18 wheeler sails past at what seems to be twice my speed, but there really is no sway, and the resulting displacement is probably due to the effect of the wind on my TV, not on the trailer. In fact, I've experienced similar displacement under those conditions when not towing.
As a footnote, I had no idea I'd be towing an RV at CGW when I bought this truck, otherwise I'd probably have done something different. As it is, my only real regret is that I got the 4 door version but not the crew cab. It's a little tough on the grandkids (who are now six) and will get tougher as they get bigger. We're taking them to Dollywood in two weeks. But unless a money tree lands in my back yard, this is going to me my rig for the foreseeable future and frankly, I'm pretty well satisfied with it.
My wife couldn't understand why I'd pay $1500 for a HA (www.hitchtrader.com) + $200 shipping + $500 to extend the factory warrantee. My knuckles stay pink as a result (not white) in 'panic' situations as the rig behaves itself very nicely when I fail to adeguately anticipate an upcoming event - as when entering a curve at the bottom of a hill carrying too much speed.
