I’ve never towed with a half ton nor have I towed a tag axle RV. My sister has a newer GMC Denali 1500 with the baby Duramax and tow package. The truck is rated to tow up to 13000 lbs. She has no experience towing. The trailer they are planning on buying is a 24 foot tandem axle tag trailer with a GVWR of about 6000 lbs. Is buying a Hensley Arrow hitch for such a small trailer of much value or is the GM anti sway control along with a typical weight distribution hitch more than adequate to provide a safe and pleasant towing experience?

Well for sure the Hensley would GUARANTEE a safe pleasant towing experience.Any weight distribution hitch worth buying these days has sway control integrated into the design. It would not make sense to buy a simple basic hitch to save a couple hundred bucks.The reality is that by and large, "tag axle" towing is not that big of a deal. Sounds like this rig will be well within its limits, and probably would not even need weight distribution save for the receiver rating of 500lbs.

Any of the dual cam, equalizer style hitches will be more than capable of what she is towing. As long as, just with 5W/gooseneck hitches, one has an appropriate amount of hitch wieght. IF not, while a Hensley will stop and or control fishtail sway. One is still towing an unsafe trailer IMHO!I've always made sure my trailers are safe towing at 60 mph with no bars, straight behind the TV, no sway issues other than say a cross wind or larger truck going by movements. You feel these issues even if you are solo! Bars should make this effect a bit less....but if hit by a 60-80+ sidewind....you may very well move half a lane over as I did going across I205 over Columbia river in east Portland.Backing is a bit different due to the pivot being farther back. I doubt it will jack knife per say. As one will hit the tanks etc before you can get to 90*. Marty

Define tag trailer. Just a typical flatbed tag? Or are you talking about a camper and using trucker terminology?Either way 6klbs needs nothing as far as the truck is concerned. Vehicle sway control does nothing to help a trailer that sways on its own. Sure it will modulate it but will be continuously using brakes and throttle. Literally a bad solution “if” there is an issue. Unless worried about needing some help for the springs, I can’t imagine doing anything but hook n go on that light of a trailer unless it tows reeeeaaally poorly. You of anyone should know this based on your professed towing knowledge.

mkirsch wrote:Well for sure the Hensley would GUARANTEE a safe pleasant towing experience.Any weight distribution hitch worth buying these days has sway control integrated into the design. It would not make sense to buy a simple basic hitch to save a couple hundred bucks.The reality is that by and large, "tag axle" towing is not that big of a deal. Sounds like this rig will be well within its limits, and probably would not even need weight distribution save for the receiver rating of 500lbs.Couple hundred bucks? What you talkin aboot Willis?Simple WDH with sway control = $500 new or dime a dozen used for half that much. A pro pride is like 4 grand…..You must’ve meant save “a couple thousand bucks” is not a big deal?

4x4ord wrote:I’ve never towed with a half ton nor have I towed a tag axle RV. My sister has a newer GMC Denali 1500 with the baby Duramax and tow package. The truck is rated to tow up to 13000 lbs. She has no experience towing. The trailer they are planning on buying is a 24 foot tandem axle tag trailer with a GVWR of about 6000 lbs. Is buying a Hensley Arrow hitch for such a small trailer of much value or is the GM anti sway control along with a typical weight distribution hitch more than adequate to provide a safe and pleasant towing experience?You might want to double check that tow capacity because it’s nowhere near 13,000. Depending on what configuration of cab/box she has, the most it would be is 9,100. And I’m not saying that the truck can’t tow the camper she wants. That sounds like a good match.

New 1500 series pickups and Hensley Arrow | Good Sam Community

TenOC
Nomad
Feb 14, 2023
mkirsch wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
mkirsch wrote:
Well for sure the Hensley would GUARANTEE a safe pleasant towing experience.

Any weight distribution hitch worth buying these days has sway control integrated into the design. It would not make sense to buy a simple basic hitch to save a couple hundred bucks.

The reality is that by and large, "tag axle" towing is not that big of a deal. Sounds like this rig will be well within its limits, and probably would not even need weight distribution save for the receiver rating of 500lbs.

Couple hundred bucks? What you talkin aboot Willis?
Simple WDH with sway control = $500 new or dime a dozen used for half that much.
A pro pride is like 4 grand…..
You must’ve meant save “a couple thousand bucks” is not a big deal?

No.

The "couple hundred bucks" is the difference between conventional WDH and WDH with sway control. The Hensley was not even part of that statement.

Hensley Arrow on eBay

Plus $500 ??? shipping Also a ProPride listed for $1,800 ???
JRscooby
Explorer II
Feb 14, 2023
TenOC wrote:
4x4ord wrote:
. She has no experience towing.?

Get the Arrow -- no white knuckles when an 18 wheeler passes her. My wife would not drive until we got the Arrow because of the 18 wheeler bow wave. Now she want to do ALL the driving. That is OK with me.

Statements like this trip my bullsnot meter. Why? Because thousands of times I have seen trucks with 20 foot van bodies have to move back to center of lane because they where pushed by my truck's wind blast.
I can not see any way any hitch between 2 vehicles can make the pair more stable than mounting both to same frame.
Grit_dog
Navigator
Feb 14, 2023
mkirsch wrote:
Grit dog wrote:
mkirsch wrote:
Well for sure the Hensley would GUARANTEE a safe pleasant towing experience.

Any weight distribution hitch worth buying these days has sway control integrated into the design. It would not make sense to buy a simple basic hitch to save a couple hundred bucks.

The reality is that by and large, "tag axle" towing is not that big of a deal. Sounds like this rig will be well within its limits, and probably would not even need weight distribution save for the receiver rating of 500lbs.

Couple hundred bucks? What you talkin aboot Willis?
Simple WDH with sway control = $500 new or dime a dozen used for half that much.
A pro pride is like 4 grand…..
You must’ve meant save “a couple thousand bucks” is not a big deal?

No.

The "couple hundred bucks" is the difference between conventional WDH and WDH with sway control. The Hensley was not even part of that statement.

Gotcha. I agree. Maybe I was thrown off by the words in the statement above the statement you’re referring to. My bad.
Either way this question is pretty leading coming from the OP who hauls 30k or whatever behind his f350.
4x4ord
Explorer III
Feb 15, 2023
^^^ It’s an honest question. I found a super deal on a new Hensley but if it’s just totally unnecessary for her application, than even at a deal it might be a waste of money. They have a cheap weight distribution hitch that is supposed to provide some sway control that they used on their previous trailer. My BIL figures that’s all she needs.
Lantley
Nomad
Feb 15, 2023
I would never say a Hensley or PP are unnecessary. They perform like no other hitch. Skills and ability do come into play but if you think you need a Hensley or are contemplating a Hensley, than you are likely a good candidate for a Hensley and would benefit from the additional performance it provides.
IdaD
Explorer
Feb 15, 2023
Grit dog wrote:
mkirsch wrote:
Well for sure the Hensley would GUARANTEE a safe pleasant towing experience.

Any weight distribution hitch worth buying these days has sway control integrated into the design. It would not make sense to buy a simple basic hitch to save a couple hundred bucks.

The reality is that by and large, "tag axle" towing is not that big of a deal. Sounds like this rig will be well within its limits, and probably would not even need weight distribution save for the receiver rating of 500lbs.

Couple hundred bucks? What you talkin aboot Willis?
Simple WDH with sway control = $500 new or dime a dozen used for half that much.
A pro pride is like 4 grand…..
You must’ve meant save “a couple thousand bucks” is not a big deal?

Four grand?? At that point just put that amount toward an HD truck and skip the half ton altogether.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Feb 15, 2023
Grit dog wrote:
Either way this question is pretty leading coming from the OP who hauls 30k or whatever behind his f350.

That's on a 5th wheel pin. If he's never towed what I call a "bumper pull" trailer as he claims...
mkirsch
Nomad II
Feb 15, 2023
4x4ord wrote:
^^^ It’s an honest question. I found a super deal on a new Hensley but if it’s just totally unnecessary for her application, than even at a deal it might be a waste of money. They have a cheap weight distribution hitch that is supposed to provide some sway control that they used on their previous trailer. My BIL figures that’s all she needs.

He's right, it's all they need. The Arrow would be nice, but would there be a night and day difference in towing? I don't think so. Maybe if the trailer was closer to 9000lbs.
goducks10
Explorer
Feb 15, 2023
TenOC wrote:
4x4ord wrote:
. She has no experience towing.?

Get the Arrow -- no white knuckles when an 18 wheeler passes her. My wife would not drive until we got the Arrow because of the 18 wheeler bow wave. Now she want to do ALL the driving. That is OK with me.

x2

Forum Discussion

New 1500 series pickups and Hensley Arrow

About Travel Trailer Group

Related Content

Hensley or....

Over loaded pickup

P-30 series air bag info

No Ford F series pickup trucks for a while

2004 2500 series Bigfoot