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
Will,
We agreed to move our HA-related discussions back to this thread; so, here goes.
We are in complete agreement on that point. If the TT does swing out more than about 10-15 degrees, the HA's pivot point (point of application of lateral force) will have moved back to a location close to the ball coupler. The HA's coupler is about 12" farther from the TV's rear axle due to the extra length of the hitch assembly. Therefore, the lateral force imposed by the TT would be acting on a longer lever arm for the HA-coupled TT than would be the case for a conventionally coupled TT. Therefore, the HA-coupled TT would exert greater steering influence on the TV.
Please keep in mind that the HA's pivot point location advantage quickly goes away when the angle between TV and TT is greater than a few degrees. This is unlike a PullRite which has a fixed pivot point location for all TV/TT yaw angles.
Ron
We agreed to move our HA-related discussions back to this thread; so, here goes.
willald wrote:
--- But, the location of the pivot point DOES influence how much steering influence the trailer can have on the tow vehicle, once the trailer does swing out (due to wind or whatever).
We are in complete agreement on that point. If the TT does swing out more than about 10-15 degrees, the HA's pivot point (point of application of lateral force) will have moved back to a location close to the ball coupler. The HA's coupler is about 12" farther from the TV's rear axle due to the extra length of the hitch assembly. Therefore, the lateral force imposed by the TT would be acting on a longer lever arm for the HA-coupled TT than would be the case for a conventionally coupled TT. Therefore, the HA-coupled TT would exert greater steering influence on the TV.
Please keep in mind that the HA's pivot point location advantage quickly goes away when the angle between TV and TT is greater than a few degrees. This is unlike a PullRite which has a fixed pivot point location for all TV/TT yaw angles.
Ron
