Hi Team,Considering this hich but keep reading about it being very difficult to hookup....would be interested in hearing from folks with real world experience...ThanksDan

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.

Hensley Arrow - Really that hard to hookup? | Good Sam Community

93Cobra2771
Explorer
Nov 26, 2014
I use the finger and eyeball method as well. I welded some extra material on my stinger to tighten it up in the receiver, so mine moves very little.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Nov 25, 2014
Bruinzfan wrote:
Snip... You could actually get a very thin feeler gauge to check it, but I find I can do it by eye. Once you see the space just begin to appear..stop and pull the TV away. I have yet to have the sudden drop that was experienced before I started using this system. Hope this helps.

Keith

Another way to tell when all the weight is off the hitch is to put a finger or thumb on that area where the stinger enters the trucks receiver. When you feel movement the hitch is neutral and ready to pull out. Don't worry about pinching a finger as that can't happen since the gap is already closed to begin with and you are feeling for it opening.
Barney
Bruinzfan
Explorer
Nov 25, 2014
My Dad has a Hensley on a 32' Rockwood. (TV 2012 Ford Expedition regular wheel base.) When I have unhooked it, (which is most of the time he tows since we go together), I take the weight off of the TV, by extending the tongue jack, as you would with a traditional WD hitch system. Then loosen the spring bars...but the key is to totally loosen them...to the point they start to get tight. (In the loosening direction AND by hand at that point.) I then drop the tongue of the trailer until the point that I just start to see a slight space at the top of the 2" receiver of the truck. You could actually get a very thin feeler gauge to check it, but I find I can do it by eye. Once you see the space just begin to appear..stop and pull the TV away. I have yet to have the sudden drop that was experienced before I started using this system. Hope this helps.

Keith
BurbMan
Explorer II
Nov 06, 2014
Huntindog wrote:
If you camp as I do boondocking in remote areas, then it can be a real bear. Mud rocks and uneven ground can make the attitude of the TV change with every inch it moves. Often it is impossible to back up the same as when unhitching.

Of course others will say that it is no problem at all... But there have been a few people that gave up on it for just that reason. If you are a campground camper, then this problem likely isn't an issue for you.

One of my concerns in going with the HA was camping on the beach in soft sand with tires at 15psi...your re-hitch angle is always different than your un-hitch angle due to shifting sand.

Yes, it may take longer on the beach or in the woods than it does on a flat level concrete pad, but it's no by no means difficult. The key is having the TV aligned in a straight line with the TT, then using the spring bar jacks to adjust the angle of the hitch head to match any front-back or side-side off-level of the TV.
peirek
Explorer
Nov 05, 2014
S.Dupree wrote:
Bought my first travel trailer 2004 31 ft. Sunnybrook a few months back. The person i bought it from had a Hensley Arrow on it and said it was the best thing he had ever bought. I was scared to death of this thing after reading all of the nightmares about hooking it up . I've never had a single problem and it's no problem to do it right by myself. I actually have a rougher time unhooking. One thing that has made it a lot easier is the use of those telescoping things with the tennis balls on top, they make it a lot easier when lining up the truck with the hitch and also a device called a tongue twister which will move the camper side to side a few inches to get the final alignment. Just make sure your truck receiver and the Hensley stinger are at at the right height and then back in to it. I've made several trips since i bought the camper and have not had a single problem hooking it up .

Three things I have found that make the unhooking quite easy:
1) Measure the height of the rear wheel well without load. Use this to get the correct height when unhooking.
2) Be certain the distribution bars are very loose (this allows the head to float up and down as needed).
3) Keep the stinger and receiver greased.
S_Dupree
Explorer
Nov 05, 2014
Bought my first travel trailer 2004 31 ft. Sunnybrook a few months back. The person i bought it from had a Hensley Arrow on it and said it was the best thing he had ever bought. I was scared to death of this thing after reading all of the nightmares about hooking it up . I've never had a single problem and it's no problem to do it right by myself. I actually have a rougher time unhooking. One thing that has made it a lot easier is the use of those telescoping things with the tennis balls on top, they make it a lot easier when lining up the truck with the hitch and also a device called a tongue twister which will move the camper side to side a few inches to get the final alignment. Just make sure your truck receiver and the Hensley stinger are at at the right height and then back in to it. I've made several trips since i bought the camper and have not had a single problem hooking it up .
93Cobra2771
Explorer
Nov 04, 2014
Worse case scenario - unclip the spring bars from the screw jacks. The hitch head will then be free to move A LOT. Once the stinger is seated, then reclip the spring bars into position. Likely will have to adjust them a bit but it's much easier to figure how much to raise/lower the spring bars since you simply do it enough to reclip to the end of the spring bars.
NinerBikes
Explorer
Nov 03, 2014
delete found it, Fast Hitch is the name.
ReneeG
Explorer
Nov 01, 2014
This type of boondocking spot was no problem -

This was more of a challenge but we did it and able to hook back up with no problem -

Even with the unevenness of this spot, we were able to hookup with no problem.

Our main problem was mostly the alignment, but as I said before, we always used the Hitch Helper

In going through my photo album, most, if not all of our camping spots are boondocking spots or FS CG, which tend to be pretty level.
Huntindog
Explorer
Nov 01, 2014
Rolling Condo wrote:
Huntindog wrote:
If you camp as I do boondocking in remote areas, then it can be a real bear. Mud rocks and uneven ground can make the attitude of the TV change with every inch it moves. Often it is impossible to back up the same as when unhitching.

Of course others will say that it is no problem at all... But there have been a few people that gave up on it for just that reason. If you are a campground camper, then this problem likely isn't an issue for you.

For situations like this I've found a measuring tape to be tool needed. I measure the stinger height and adjust the trailer to match and the screw jacks to adjust the angle.
????? How will that help? As soon as the TV moves, the height changes.