Hensley Arrow: How does it REALLY work?

Stressor wrote:


This picture proves, real world, inarguably, that the Hensley hitch locks up from the travel trailer end.

And I'm sure anyone who believes that also will believe that a simple door hinge also is a Rigid One Way Hinge.

All forces from the trailer are applied to the hitch head by pushing the struts

Milt, I've asked this before; but, I must ask it again -- Are you aware that your TT is coupled to your hitch via a ball coupler in addition to the two struts? Forces from the TT are applied to the TT in two ways:
1. via both lateral and longitudinal forces at the ball coupler, and
2. via tension (not "pushing" as you assert) forces in the struts. I doubt that the struts are designed to transmit any significant amount of "pushing".

The largest portion of lateral load on the hitch is transmitted via the ball coupler. The struts simply are not at an angle which allows their axial loads to have any appreciable lateral component.

and the photograph proves, by simulating a 4000 pound push on the left strut connection by a 4000 pound pull on the right connection, that the hitch is locked up, and that it will be destroyed before it unlocks.

The photograph proves nothing. However, the photo does indicate that you were very "fortuitous" in finding just the right angle at which to pull. Anyone with a HA can debunk your "proof". You are just hoping that no one will go to the trouble to do it.

As the following "supporting diagram" shows, if the cable is angled so its force vector passes through the VPP there is no net moment which would cause the linkage to shift. Lack of movement does not prove the hitch is "locked". Lack of movement simply shows that all forces acting on the linkage are passing through the VPP. Remember Tim's bicycle wheel analogy? You can't make a wheel turn by applying a force vector which passes through the pivot point.