Hensley Propride shopping, buying and experiance

[RinconVTR]

PPP (Pivot Point Projection) hitches. There are only two and I’ve encountered a lot of mystery surrounding them in regards to price, options and differences among them, and various pro’s and con’s you may not have collectively read before. I wish to share my own experience and results to save many of you the effort of hassling for a good price, avoid being ripped off and to select a company and or person, that suits you best long term.

Terry is Hensley’s only (or most active) sales person. He is straightforward and nice. Although I could have done without emailed pictures failed Propride stingers because I can find drastically more failed Hensley images on the web (my own included) than I can Propride. Other than that, they have been ok dealing with an unusually high number of issues I've encountered, some of which I’ll mention here.

They also have a chain option instead of screw jacks. I've had issues with the screw jacks unwinding while I drive and might try chains next year if problems continue. They are the same price for either or...don’t be fooled into an upcharge.

Hensley’s best remanufactured price - $1695. I missed the “blowout” date and paid $1795.
Best new was $2395 + $110 shipping.
Standard pricing is around $3,000 + $110 shipping






For Propride, Sean seems nice and many people have nothing but good things to report. However, get him outside of his salesmen shell and you'll find more often than not, displays a very poor attitude on forums and that turn many people off. He was far worse than Hensley when discussing the competition. (Bad blood, I know all about it...who cares!)

Sean says he will match Hensley’s re-manufactured pricing for a new Propride but also says he doesn’t play price games. But he does. When you show him anything lower than $1995 from Hensley, he stops responding. I have an instant message from him stating he has sold new Proprides for far less than $2k, but then does nothing to back it up. In fact, because he would not respond to me for 3 weeks (with follow-ups) after providing Hensley pricing to match, I bought the Hensley. Even a few months later, the very same scenario was repeated with him. And it didn’t just happen to me.

He sells all day long on eBay for $1995, although these days the eBay site says remanufactured. So does he really price match anything to sell a NEW Propride? If you bought one for this price or less, I'd be happy to hear it.

Propride Used = $1995 + $300 shipping (And you won’t find this on eBay search for Propride...you have to search "Hensley". Real shady IMO.)
Standard Price = $2345 + 195 shipping
Best Price = ???? Unconfirmed.




Regarding the products:
Hensley has serious manufacturing quality issues and many weak points. I cannot begin to tell you how many items I have shipped back parts for replacement, at one point sending the entire unit back and buying another unit...but brand new. I still had problems, just different problems compared to the reman unit. Inspect your hitch often and in detail when you receive it, during and after every trip.

They have the extreme splattered welds and flaking paint I have NEVER seen on something I've paid money for. There are many set screws to shear off and many clips that if lost or damaged... render the unit useless.

Hensley does have the easiest installation which allows one unit to be swapped trailer to trailer very quickly. If you buy a 2nd set of jack brackets, swap time is just minutes.

Propride installation time is higher and more cumbersome because their yoke sits under most TT LP tank platforms and they have huge bolts requiring sockets and torque wrenches most people do not have in their tool box. And more U-bolts than the Hensley, which all adds up to the lack of struts you see on the Hensley.

Manufacturing quality is much higher. Better paint and drastically better welds. They also have an adjustable stinger, for height and angle. However, plenty of them have broken and they weigh more than the Hensley stinger. The main head does have some extra steel flange material around the spring bar bearings, where Hensley’s have been shown to fail. For whatever reason, Hensley’s version has not been improved in the slightest for decades, likely due to fear of patent infringement.

Propride claims no drilling, but many people are in fact adding large screws (same as Hensley) to the jack brackets like Hensley does so they do not slip off. Propride jack brackets are not the best design, but they work, when they don’t slip. Propride, like Hensley does have the option to use chains vs jacks, which mount conventionally and may eliminate a number of issues.

My biggest concern is Propride is a one-man band. I'm not sure who produces the Propride, if 100% internal or contracted out and shipped from a warehouse. But there is no contact other than Sean. What happens when he's not available? I'm not sure. Hensley is not a huge company, but they do have many contacts and an emergency number to call if needed.

Comments related to both units;
Neither is better than the other. Period. For every advantage/disadvantage one may have, the other can counter with something. The PEOPLE and COMPANY you buy from however, are drastically different.

BOTH PERFORM LIKE NO OTHER. (plenty of nay-sayers don’t believe it because they never tried one) And they perform identically because they use the exact same hitch ball lockout and 4 bar linkage down to a fraction of an inch to project the pivot point. Their trailer connections are also the same (over center latches) with slight geometry differences that have not shown to make any difference.

They are both HIGH maintenance, despite ANY claim. There are so many moving parts, nuts and bolts and jacks to always check. They both require greasing very often, which is messier IMO than any other hitch on the market.

Finally, anyone ever see a hitch "leak oil"? These hitches do! When the grease separates (more often when the hitch bakes in the hot summer sun) you WILL have oil spots.

[chracatoa]

Love my ProPride, and Sean has helped me a lot through the years. I have no experience with Hensley.

The difference between the ProPride and Reese dual cam was like night and day. And I did everything I could to get the Reese right, my TV is just not good enough.

There is some maintenance that comes with the hitch - re-centering the yoke, greasing, checking the bolts, etc. But I'd do that and more to not ever have the white knuckle experience that would haunt me every trip before I started using the VPP hitch.

The Pullrite was a nonstarter for me since they wouldn't do it for my TV, and even if they did the weight would be too much.

[jasoncw]

Correct

[93Cobra2771]

So to remove the spring bars, you have to remove the pucks, correct?

[jasoncw]

Here are a couple pics of the 3P spring bar retainers. They are held into the hitch head using metal "pucks".

Pic 1
Pic 2

[93Cobra2771]

From what I've seen, there's sour grapes on both sides, for the most part. I'm not so sure the improvements aren't simply a different solution to the same problem. Seems they both have minor issues that would be nice to have improvement.

My biggest issue with the HA is the spring bar retention/grease zerks. They have to be inserted exactly the right depth, and they are a wear item. And they are spendy.

A much better solution would be a standard way of retaining the spring bars in the head, and then simply a standard zerk fitting for lubrication.

How does the propride retain the spring bars in the head - same way?

[JohnG4706]

Lspangler wrote:
I really like my propride. I had to get steel plates from sean to stop my jacks from tipping over. I do get a few grease drips in the hot sun.

The adjustable stinger has been awesome. I get a new truck every 2 years

I really did not like talking to Terry when I was shopping, he called me constantly. Sean answered my questions without calling me once. Install on my v nose windjammer was easy

Linc

I too needed 1/2" plates to prevent the jacks from rotating on my frame. When I described the problem and sent Sean pictures he knew what I needed and sent them at No Charge.

I've had my ProPride for two years and have about 40k miles on it. My only problem has been getting the stinger into the socket. Sometimes on the first attempt; occasionally a dozen or more backins until I get the socket in proper alignment. Practice makes perfect. I have a backup camera mounted above my rear license plate that really helps.

When I went shopping for my hitch, I was convinced on either the Hensley or the ProPride. I talked with Terry on several occasions and found that when he talked about Sean and the ProPride, they were generally negative comments. Sounded like sour grapes. When I talked with Sean, I felt he accurately described the Hensley and said it was a good hitch and then outlined how the ProPride was redesigned by Hensley with several improvements. I liked Sean's approach and felt his comments were more factual about the differences rather than denigrating the Hensley.

I paid a little more for the ProPride, but have been very satisfied and feel that I got the best. My own personal opinion.

[RinconVTR]

ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:



🙂 Hi, to me, it seemed like you were playing push and shove to get the best deal and bad mouthing Sean because it didn't go your way. (my opinion)

I can understand how that could be implied, but I did not ask nor push. He offered the match to make a sale over the phone and confirmed it via email.

Hensley was far more stubborn on their pricing and I strung them along for a year. It was sale price or regular price. No in between, no special deals beyond. The difference was Hensley took my order and sent me product.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

RinconVTR wrote:

ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:
🙂 Hi, the original post on this thread would have no impact what-so-ever on me toward making a decision on buying a hitch. (waste of time)

I am not a professional writer, so those nit picking and cherry picking bits and pieces of my statements are not simply not productive and create unrelated tangents. There may be questions, but may be the question could be asked before the attack starts, There may be logic behind the decision made that may not align with the readers perception.

Regarding my original post, it was meant to be informative only. Not persuasive and zero impact. Not biased to any product. Again, I shared information not commonly nor easily found on the internet regarding these two internet only products and some people may find their purchase goes well beyond the product itself...as I did.

Do with this what you will and likely do nothing at all. I think I'll survive. :W

🙂 Hi, to me, it seemed like you were playing push and shove to get the best deal and bad mouthing Sean because it didn't go your way. (my opinion)

[RinconVTR]

ROBERTSUNRUS wrote:
🙂 Hi, the original post on this thread would have no impact what-so-ever on me toward making a decision on buying a hitch. (waste of time)

I am not a professional writer, so those nit picking and cherry picking bits and pieces of my statements are not simply not productive and create unrelated tangents. There may be questions, but may be the question could be asked before the attack starts, There may be logic behind the decision made that may not align with the readers perception.

Regarding my original post, it was meant to be informative only. Not persuasive and zero impact. Not biased to any product. Again, I shared information not commonly nor easily found on the internet regarding these two internet only products and some people may find their purchase goes well beyond the product itself...as I did.

Do with this what you will and likely do nothing at all. I think I'll survive. :W

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

🙂 Hi, the original post on this thread would have no impact what-so-ever on me toward making a decision on buying a hitch. (waste of time)

[jmtandem]

I dont often count the non-5th wheel Pullrite hitch on rail system in any discussion.

You sure make interesting comments. Often? That means that you do count it in at least some of your comments. 'Never' would have been a better choice of word for you if you really mean that you did not consider it in your overall, overreaching, all encompassing and incorrect comment about the Hensley and ProPride hitches being superior to any others.

The PullRite is simply superior to the ProPride of Hensley for towing. Yea, it typically is more expensive than either Hensley or ProPride, is heavy at around 400 pounds, often requires a minor modification to the exhaust, is designed to fit the vehicle, and can compromise ground clearance a little on low to the ground vehicles but in every other towing capacity it is far superior as it does not need to 'project' the pivot point...... since the pivot point is only nine inches or so behind the rear differential. In all ways it acts just like a fifth wheel hitch under the bed of the truck. It also is the only hitch, friction or not, that pivots 70 degrees for superior and tight cornering when towing. No other hitch will do that.

You purchased the Hensely so, of course, you need to defend your purchase. Others have stated on this thread what they paid for their ProPride and several praised Sean for his time on the phone in helping new customers get the hitch set up or an issue sorted out. If you choose not to believe those folks that posted Sean's prices then that is your choice. All you seemed to do was want to discount him because 'he is a one man band' and says things on social media that you perhaps don't like.

There is nothing wrong with the Hensley or the ProPride (that is really a Hensley with improvements. The same man designed both, the ProPride is a second generation Hensley in so many ways). Both work better than any friction based hitch. I totally agree. It is not, however, better when towing than a PullRite.

I am confident your logic makes perfect sense to you. It doesn't to me. You spent about $900 more for a used Hensley than you can purchase them pre-owned on line, you stated that the ProPride has 'drastically' better welds, paint and overall quality, you also stated that the Hensley has a known weak area that has never been addressed, and despite your nod for the ProPride you purchased the Hensley anyway. So somewhere, I guess it all makes sense to you. Hope you enjoy your hitch. I tend to think both ProPride and Hensley are both quality.

[RinconVTR]

jmtandem wrote:

BOTH PERFORM LIKE NO OTHER.

This is simply not true. The PullRite hitch performs even better, does not 'project' the pivot point, and essentially functions similar to a fifth wheel hitch under the bed of a truck. It also accommodates a 70 degree radius and has higher tongue ratings then ProPride or Hensley.

I also take some exception to a few other observations you made. You seem to be overly concerned with ProPride matching the Hensley prices. I have seen used Hensley hitches on Craigs List for $800 or so. A 'reconditioned' hitch is also 'used' and you upped that cost to $1795 for yours. Used is used, one just has been through the shop and few items updated. $900 worth of inspection and some new parts???? Really? It needed that much work after the first owner gave it back to Hensley???

You also indicated the Hensley is easier to transfer between trailers. This is only if the height of the tongue is the same; as the ProPride's stinger can be adjusted for height while the Hensley cannot. Hensley's non adjustable stinger is a little more elegant at the expense of functionality. Everytime Hensley sends out a new stinger to accommodate the new demand, there is shipping and handling costs and in some states sales tax. I would much rather have an adjustable hitch, pay for it once and not mess with exchanges.

As long as Sean or any Hensley employee meets the expectations of the customer who cares what he/she does on social media? You bought a hitch, not looking for a buddy to pal around with.

I am with you on the chains issue. I don't like the screw towers. Hensley wins on that one. Other than that both hitches are premium. Both work much better than any friction based hitch, but neither will match the performance of the PullRite.

I dont often count the non-5th wheel Pullrite hitch on rail system in any discussion. In fact, I disregard it entirely because its an exact fit system and they dont make it for many common TV's on the road today. So, I cannot include the Pullrite in my "LIKE NO OTHER" comment. Sorry.

I paid full price for my 2nd Hensley, so price was not an over-concern as interpreted. My concern was more so what is the lowest prices are and will they actually sell it at said price. That was a consistent, repeated issue with Propride, so its still a bit of an open question. Very few have come out to say what they've paid. Why is that?

Regarding social media and Propride, you know as well as I do, people let loose online and don't have the same filter (if any) they do in person. I am plenty guilty of this. However, I am not selling a $2000-3000 product online, so I view their public comments very different. Said posts all over various forums are more telling of the person behind the scenes, and that's only referring to what has been made public as well.

This is all part of the shopping and buying experience for these units because they are in fact internet and over-the-phone only products. You cannot go anywhere else for information. So good or bad, it should all be out here in public view as it is for any other products.

[Andy_F]

jmtandem wrote:

On the other hand, why not pull a $35k trailer with a $400 hitch? You know, the ones that are lighter, easier to install and adjust, easier to hitch/unhitch, etc., etc....

Sounds like you never towed with a premium hitch or you would not have
made your comment. Once set up the ProPride and Hensley are easier to hitch and unhitch than most $400 hitches. The hitch head stays with the trailer and the only issues are the stinger, locking the hitch to the stinger that takes all of ten seconds with overlatch wrenches and adjusting the tension on the bars. And they are not messy, no grease on the ball, and no heavy hitch head to lift into the receiver before it can be used. Kind of elegant in their operation, really!

Easier to hitch/unhitch??? Nothing is easier than hitching and unhitching to the ProPride! I would never want to go back to the more basic hitch with the bars, ball coupler, and all of that. It does take some getting used to but I can't believe how much easier it is to hitch and unhitch, especially with a back up camera. It is so much faster.

And I'm far from being super handy and I was able to do the install of my hitch with some patience and a couple extra hours of work. If I can do it, anyone can do it.

I understand why some question the price but until you have actually towed with the ProPride (and the Hensley) you won't understand the difference, especially for those of us towing with 1/2 ton SUVs.

[TurnThePage]

You guys obviously missed the intent of my post. My fault. I was responding to a comment that sounded like it came straight out of Thurston Howell III's mouth.