Used Hensley Arrow

[jujububbajr]

I've come across the opportunity to buy a used hensley. It's 7 years old with 1400 bars and a straight stinger, which according to the folks at hensley is precisely what I need. The price is $500, but it's a 360 mile round trip to get it. I figure I can always get my money back out of it, but 8 hours of driving on a Saturday isn't all that appealing. For the price, is it worth an 8 hour drive. I've owned a ProPride before so I know what to expect, but my equalizer tows just fine. Seems like a good deal though.

[rvtrailerpuller]

I always did love my Hensley. I am sad to report that I did give it up in the buy back program offered by Hensley. The reason was that I basically never tow and I store my trailer now about 30 miles on an easy road from my semi permanent 6-month boondocking site on the Washington coast. It is simply easier to manage in a very small rv storage lot without the Hensley. I now have a Reese trunnion weight distribution hitch with no sway control for the short 30 mile tow. If in the future I decide that this short trip does indeed need sway control I can add the dual cam. Near to the storage lot is a RV service place that may work on the trailer this year. They will be glad to not have to deal with the Hensley.
Honestly I always loved the Hensley Arrow for my long mountainous trips that often involved heavy side winds. I just don't tow like that any more.

[rvtrailerpuller]

I love my Hensley Arrow!

[Keith_Haw]

If he was out here I'd buy it in a heart beat. Hardly ever see them use around this area and if you do they're almost full price.

[93Cobra2771]

lbzya wrote:
Its funny that people are saying these hitches are worth $1000.00 or more. My neighbor cant even sell his for $800.00. He is talking about selling it back to Hensley for $600.00. I guess these hitches are already a thing of the past or people have figured out there not worth that kind of money. I am curious what Hensley does with these when they buy them back? Maybe the West coast markets are a little different.

$800 is probably an average price for a used one. I've seen three in the past three years in my area. I bought two of them. Third one a friend bought.

First one was $450. Needed paint and a few parts.
Second one was $200. Needed paint and a few more parts.
Third one was $800. Needed nothing.

Tell your friend to put it on Craigslist and it will eventually sell in the 600-800 range, give or take, according to condition.

[hddecker]

lbzya wrote:
Its funny that people are saying these hitches are worth $1000.00 or more. My neighbor cant even sell his for $800.00. He is talking about selling it back to Hensley for $600.00. I guess these hitches are already a thing of the past or people have figured out there not worth that kind of money. I am curious what Hensley does with these when they buy them back? Maybe the West coast markets are a little different.

It's the old expression, "if I have to explain, you wouldn't understand".

You have to experience towing with sway totally eliminated to understand the difference. I was sure that my Reese Dual cam set up couldn't be beat, it did an ok job of stopping sway after it started, I didn't eliminate sway, I could feel every 30-50 MPH gust coming across the mid-west.

If it wasn't for the fact that I could no longer drop my tailgate, when I bought my Ram, I would probably still have the Reese. I knew about the Hensley, but never thought of it as a fix for the tailgate issue. I came across an add for Hensley and gave them a call. I had tried several things to find a safe way to get the TT back another 8" so I could drop the tailgate and in a last ditch effort I asked how far the Hensley would move the the TT back and the rest is history.

I sure am glad the Ram had a taller tailgate than my Ford had.

[hddecker]

mhardin wrote:

jujububbajr wrote:
Got it installed and it tows GREAT. Best $500 I ever spent.

Welcome to the Hensley club. I've never towed with anything that works as well.

Mike

X2

If you ever get up to SD, WY or MN on I90 and hit the 50Mph crosswinds you'll be ecstatic that you made the trip to get it.

[jujububbajr]

BurbMan wrote:
Jeez that was fast....good news is that towing a 5er is almost as stable as towing a TT with a Hensley! Congrats on the new rig and happy camping this summer!

It was one of those deals where we looked with no intention of buying and DW loved it. Next thing you know we're buying a new camper. I still don't know how it happened. :h

[BurbMan]

Jeez that was fast....good news is that towing a 5er is almost as stable as towing a TT with a Hensley! Congrats on the new rig and happy camping this summer!

[jujububbajr]

Looks like I'll be selling my hensley. We put a deposit on a Grand Design 5er today. I loved the hensley but with it my TT was almost 38' long plus my long wheel base truck. The reflection 303rls is just under 33' with some of it in the bed.

[jspence1]

lbzya wrote:
Its funny that people are saying these hitches are worth $1000.00 or more. My neighbor cant even sell his for $800.00. He is talking about selling it back to Hensley for $600.00. I guess these hitches are already a thing of the past or people have figured out there not worth that kind of money. I am curious what Hensley does with these when they buy them back? Maybe the West coast markets are a little different.

I looked for months before I found one for sale at all. I would find the occasional one for $1500 4 hours away. Tell your friend to list it on ebay they sell for good money there all the time.

[BurbMan]

lbzya wrote:
Its funny that people are saying these hitches are worth $1000.00 or more. My neighbor cant even sell his for $800.00. He is talking about selling it back to Hensley for $600.00. I guess these hitches are already a thing of the past or people have figured out there not worth that kind of money. I am curious what Hensley does with these when they buy them back? Maybe the West coast markets are a little different.

Not a "thing of the past" by a long shot...the only other hitch that uses the same design to eliminate sway is the ProPride. The PullRite is a different deign but also eliminates sway. If your neighbor can't sell his either it's in terrible shape or he's not advertising. Forum rules prohibit sales here, but if it's not yours you can post an FYI link here. Your neighbor can also post it here in the classifieds and it will sell in about 10 minutes.

When Hensley buys these back the refurb them to like-new and resell them. Ask anybody that has towed with one of these hitches and they'll tell you they are worth every penny.

[mhardin]

jujububbajr wrote:
Got it installed and it tows GREAT. Best $500 I ever spent.

Welcome to the Hensley club. I've never towed with anything that works as well.

Mike

[lbzya]

Its funny that people are saying these hitches are worth $1000.00 or more. My neighbor cant even sell his for $800.00. He is talking about selling it back to Hensley for $600.00. I guess these hitches are already a thing of the past or people have figured out there not worth that kind of money. I am curious what Hensley does with these when they buy them back? Maybe the West coast markets are a little different.

[jujububbajr]

Got it installed and it tows GREAT. Best $500 I ever spent.