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
TnAnFLA wrote:drfife wrote:
The struts can be in tension or compression while towing depending on the direction of the applied forces.
Actually, you'd best hope they stay in compression while towing. When you snug them up, tightening the nut places them in compression. Ideally not a lot, but definitely in compression. If the forces on the TT are enough to take them out of compression, it would have the same effect as loosening up the lock nut to the point that the struts are no longer snug, and then the coupler is free to rotate on the ball on the upper unit of the Hensley. And if it got too loose, all bets are off on effective sway control, since you've added yet another pivot point.
Andy
They COULD be in tension or compression and still work by restraining the head - as Ron says, but the choice is altogether design dependent. As now designed, they cannot be in tension - as Andy says. They would come apart. So they are in compression only to the extent that the strut on one side pushes across the ball (pivot) and put an equal compressive force on the other. The force does not want to be so great as to cause a bind, merely to (as Ron says) to prevent rotation about the ball in yaw. I think their only function is to force the yaw movement into the linkage while allowing roll and pitch movements about the ball when going over uneven ground.
