My relentless pursuit to cure trailer sway - the dancing TT

[Zeppe807]

Hello All,
I'm a newbe to the forum, but a lurker for awhile. I have been towing all sorts of trailers for the last 17 years in just about any condition. I also know this May turn into a HA vs PP vs "set your rig right" discussion; and I welcome that civil discussion.

General rig info:
I have a 2006 dodge ram 3/4 ton, Diesel, 4x4, short bed, air bags, quad cab, with 35" tires. And I have a 1999 29' Kit Sun Chaser TT with a pull out and bunk beds. It's 7,900 to 9,900 lbs and has a 4' rack off the back.

I purchased this trailer a year ago to replace our old 21' one since we have three little children now. Since day one (a windy day) it has been a bear for me to handle. I chalked it up to the wind the first day, but it has never gotten better.

So far I have rebuilt the Entire front steering of my truck: BJ, tie rods, track bar, wheel bearing, steering box and support. And with Top of the line products. I have put two new sets of different tires. Tried different air pressures and different air bag settings. I have lifted and lowered the hitch. Tried different WD bar settings.

In the trailer I have moved as much of my stuff to the front. Loaded stuff in the cabinets as normal. My water tank is directly above my axles, and have had it filled and emptied. My holding tanks are in the rear and I've had those loaded and unloaded. The rack has been loaded and unloaded. I've adjusted multiple settings (one at a time) on the same trip. And new 16 HD tires and wheels, along with new shackles.

So frustrated.

The trailer sways at any given chance: bumps, turns, wind, slowing down. But not under hard throttle, which is how I drive out of sketchy situations...

My trips are almost always over a hundred miles from home and we go about 8 to 12 times a year. And now I stress about any trip more than I ever have.

The only things I can think of that I haven't done is checked my trailer axles for squareness and the HA/PP hitch. As I fishtailed around a big rig on our way here she yelled at me that when I get home I'm buying a Propride or Hensley Arrow (although I don't know where she thinks the money is coming for one...)

I NEED HELP! I am sitting by my campfire on Donor Pass in California in the snow, stressing about my trip home.

Joe Zeppe

[Zeppe807]

The trip went well, the road was a handful but the trailer handled it well. My Truck Transmission (Well Built Custom Trans) got warm a few times. Look Up Highway 36 from Red Bluff, Ca to the West!



The hitch says it's not intended for offroad use, but 4Low was ingaged to pull it through a small creek, through a rough, and narrow trail. I should have taken a picture of the trail.

I came home a little early since the hunting was bad, although the camping was good, and I was able to make it to the races with the Family and Friends!


Here is my Buddy's Truck: Kitty II ("801 Race" on Facebook)


Always going!

Happy Trails!

[CavemanCharlie]

Thanks for the update.

[93Cobra2771]

Excellent, and thanks for the update.

[JimNH]

deleted....

[Zeppe807]

So just a quick update.

I have gone camping at least a dozen times since I installed the Hensly Arrow, and I've easily gone a couple thousand miles with it. I am leaving tonight for another 1000 mile trip and I have not had a worry in the world since I've gotten this hitch. My Anxiousness and stress that use to keep me up the night before a trip is long gone.

I still have no issues lining up and hitching from any angle, so I think those that do; may have a different learning curve, but it's just a matter of time before they get it.

One thing I have noticed is that backing up is less responsive at first; it's like a 5th wheel. Knowing that, you can compensate and make it. I think it may be fractionally more difficult if you are really use to a standard bumper pull, but it won't stop anyone.

I still love mine, and my dad is very happy with his. They sell themselves.


Happy trails,
Joe

[Zeppe807]

Lantley wrote:

Lspangler wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Good info Cobra. My thought on the adjustable stinger is that appears much larger and heavier than the HA stinger.
The adjustment part maybe convenient however you have to handle the much heavier stinger every trip. I prefer what appears to be the lighter HA stinger.
I have never actually weighed the stingers but the PP stinger appears much heavier and more cumbersome.
I not sure the adjustment feature is worth the additional weight.

The adjustable stinger is slightly heavier but the ramp angles of the PP make unhitching much easier

Linc

I don't dispute what you're saying but I never had any issue unhitching my HA.

As Newbies I have hooked up and moved my trailer every weekend since I got it, to bring it home and work on it. And to date, I haven't had any issues yet, and I don't get a straight shot hooking up at my dad's place.

I'm sure there will be days that will test my patience.

Joe Zeppe

[Passin_Thru]

Don't look back. Change your tires to Michelin truck tires!

[Lantley]

Lspangler wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Good info Cobra. My thought on the adjustable stinger is that appears much larger and heavier than the HA stinger.
The adjustment part maybe convenient however you have to handle the much heavier stinger every trip. I prefer what appears to be the lighter HA stinger.
I have never actually weighed the stingers but the PP stinger appears much heavier and more cumbersome.
I not sure the adjustment feature is worth the additional weight.

The adjustable stinger is slightly heavier but the ramp angles of the PP make unhitching much easier

Linc

I don't dispute what you're saying but I never had any issue unhitching my HA.

[Lspangler]

Lantley wrote:
Good info Cobra. My thought on the adjustable stinger is that appears much larger and heavier than the HA stinger.
The adjustment part maybe convenient however you have to handle the much heavier stinger every trip. I prefer what appears to be the lighter HA stinger.
I have never actually weighed the stingers but the PP stinger appears much heavier and more cumbersome.
I not sure the adjustment feature is worth the additional weight.

The adjustable stinger is slightly heavier but the ramp angles of the PP make unhitching much easier

Linc

[BurbMan]

Yup...we've had ours since 2002. Also painted it black so it was little more inconspicuous. Zeppe, glad you and Dad are happy with the HA's...gonna be a great season of camping!!

It's truly difficult for folks to imagine how effective these hitches are without towing with one. You wouldn't think a hitch could make that big of a difference, but it does. I've never figured out why Hensley didn't scale up and mass produce these...if you could get the price point to $800 nobody would buy any other hitches. Part of the reason the price is so high is because it's a small volume company.

[hawkeye-08]

Awesome, now both of you can tow without sway issues. Many Hensley/Propride owners keep their hitches as they upgrade/trade trailers... it is a good investment when needed.

[93Cobra2771]

Now, do as I did and spray the head black. 99% of the people won't even notice it has a HA on it, and thieves won't be tempted to steal it for 200# of scrap. 🙂

[Zeppe807]

We got the new hitch on Dad's trailer and hooked it up to his 1/2 ton and he was very happy with the results. His 1/2 ton and trailer was not terrible, but he didn't like how it handled, and when he saw how much the HA affected my trailer, he wanted one too.

It's safe to say we like our Hensley Arrows.




It handled great, as expected.

Thanks,
Joe

[93Cobra2771]

Great find! And yes, he will love the bags on the F150. They are awesome. Love mine.