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
Sfdon, congratulations on the hitch.
I thought those strut bars were under tension, not compression.
Once the brackets are shear bolted and U bolted, the strut bars are under tension, right?
Duh! Strut bars compression, weight bars tension.
If you exceed the turn limit of the hitch (forward or reverse) and approach 90 degrees between tow vehicle and trailer, those shear bolts are designed to shear allowing a bit of motion in the brackets, saving the hitch and its components.
My TT's frame is a reinforced C channel, not an I beam or fully boxed frame design. Because of this I am not supposed to use the U bolts as it would cause the open pert of the C channel to deform, so I have to thru bolt those brackets. I did try to use one shear bolt on top of the bracket and can tell you it did shear at bellow 85 ft/lbs. I used the supplied drill bit, went one size bigger and then tried to torque the shear bolt, but it snapped. Several drill bits, easy out and one sledge hammer hit later I scraped the shear bolt and installed the Hensley supplied machine bolts.
With our old Equal-i-zer hitch I could get to a full 90 degree turning angle with the trailer without damage. If I exceed the 82 or 85 degree maximum turning limit of the Hensley, I will most likely need an emergency repair kit.
For now, I make sure the gas stations I enter have an easy exit or I wait for the next station with more room, so I don't test my installation!
Mike.
I thought those strut bars were under tension, not compression.
Once the brackets are shear bolted and U bolted, the strut bars are under tension, right?
Duh! Strut bars compression, weight bars tension.
If you exceed the turn limit of the hitch (forward or reverse) and approach 90 degrees between tow vehicle and trailer, those shear bolts are designed to shear allowing a bit of motion in the brackets, saving the hitch and its components.
My TT's frame is a reinforced C channel, not an I beam or fully boxed frame design. Because of this I am not supposed to use the U bolts as it would cause the open pert of the C channel to deform, so I have to thru bolt those brackets. I did try to use one shear bolt on top of the bracket and can tell you it did shear at bellow 85 ft/lbs. I used the supplied drill bit, went one size bigger and then tried to torque the shear bolt, but it snapped. Several drill bits, easy out and one sledge hammer hit later I scraped the shear bolt and installed the Hensley supplied machine bolts.
With our old Equal-i-zer hitch I could get to a full 90 degree turning angle with the trailer without damage. If I exceed the 82 or 85 degree maximum turning limit of the Hensley, I will most likely need an emergency repair kit.
For now, I make sure the gas stations I enter have an easy exit or I wait for the next station with more room, so I don't test my installation!
Mike.
