Hensley Arrow - Really that hard to hookup?

No, it's not. Just have to make sure that the stinger is aligned with the hitch and there is no problem at all.

How tuff is it to align the stinger with the hitch? this is what I have read is difficult....

Had a Hensley Arrow on our last RV - a 32' TT. Yes, lining up the stinger to the hitch is the only tough part, but we had the Hitch Helper and that helped immensely in moving it right or left that fraction of an inch that is needed. Once in, it locked up beautifully.

It's not that difficult but alignment is key. It's a little harder than a standard ball set-up but the towing difference makes it all worth it in the end.

The hitch head is adjustable up and down with the jack screws and it swivels side to side which helps if you're not dead on. Just takes a little practice or a good assistant who knows what they are doing.

Most of the time, no. However some conditions can make a little tricky like a campsite where you can't back straight-on and there's also a downhill slope towards the the trailer. It only adds a few extra minutes, and if you have a helper really isn't bad. But still, it's a little more effort than just getting the ball underneath and dropping the tongue jack.

It's definitely harder than a standard WD hitch, but under the right conditions it's just a learning process. On uneven surfaces it's a pain. Constant stop starting since the stinger needs to go in straight. If the Tow vehicle and TT are in a 'V' shape the you need to stop, adjust the HA, go a little further, stop, adjust and so on. I had a used one for our last TT. When I hooked up the TT my truck was in the street and the TT in the driveway. As you know streets have a crown to them so the stinger was pointing down and the HA was level. So I had to back up a little, the raise the HA, back up some more, raise the HA and repeat till the stinger was all the way in. PITA. Also if you dry camp on dirt or gravel spots, then it's possible that the TT/TV won't be level when you back in. You'll need to fiddle with it to get hitched up to leave. Unless you have a backup camera then it always had to have my wife help. PITA also. On the plus side towing with it was great. IMO if you're mostly on flat paved surfaces then it's really pretty easy to hitch up. Any thing but flat and you will need to fiddle with it.

I have a ProPride 3P (very similar to the Hensley). I have found it's different from a regular weight dist hitch, but not more difficult.

When I park the trailer on my front lawn to load, it is at a different angle from the steep driveway. With my previous hitch, I'd drop the trailer on the ball, pull it into the street, then hook up the chains/bars.

With the 3P, I just hook up once while it's on the lawn.

Been using the Hensley since 2001, hooking up normaly is easier than a WD hich if every thing is flat and level.A back up camera mounted on the license inline with the stinger helps alot geetting the stinger into the hitch.

Second the backup camera. Easy as pie w a camera! I'm usually hitched and ready in under 5 mins. Just remember to unwind the screw jacks before trying to disconnect. Don't ask how I know this....

camp-n-family wrote:

The hitch head is adjustable up and down with the jack screws and it swivels side to side which helps if you're not dead on. Just takes a little practice or a good assistant who knows what they are doing.

When I had my TT with a HA, there was definitely a learning curve to it. Using the method above, I could hitch or unhitch just as quickly as I could when I had my Reese Dual Cam set up.

It does take practice, but once you find the solution, it becomes much easier. However, what little trouble it takes to hitch up, is waaaaay over shadowed by the overall safety and road handling ease of the HA.

I would never, never have another TT without one. Period!

Ron