rvtrailerpuller
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Re: Used Hensley Arrow
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.481Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tongue weight in Europe is around 7%
I found the website for Award trailers and I read their explanation of "Towability". I must say I'm impressed. This is what I've been talking about concerning keeping the heaviest load near the axles. http://www.awardrv.com/products_overview.htm I hope you keep your trailer for a very long time.779Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tongue weight in Europe is around 7%
Thanks for the floor plan diagram and the link to your pictures. Your trailer looks to be in MUCH better condition than my 2005 Jayco. My black tank is far back, my gray tank is just behind the axles, my water tank is well forward of the axles (there was space to make it closer, but alas it is quite far forward) and I have two large propane tanks on the tongue, and two heavy 6-volt batteries on the tongue. Overall, my trailer is balanced reasonably well, but more like weightlifter's barbells - heavy rear balanced with a heavier front.779Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tongue weight in Europe is around 7%
BenK, Thanks for your input about "Over Here" vs. "Over There". You may have mentioned this yourself, but one should consider what would happen if it was found that the trailer owner was at fault in accident simply because of exceeding ratings. I, for one, would never tow anything in any way exceeding either tow vehicle, hitch, or trailer ratings. On another note, I mentioned how nice it could be to stow a spare tire under the trailer rather than on the rear bumper. I did a little research and found there is an American made product from Bal, the Hide-a-Spare. Great product! It can mount any trailer spare tire under any travel trailer. BAL Hide-A-Spare, http://norcoind.com/bal/products/consumer/specialty_products/hide-a-spare.shtml779Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tongue weight in Europe is around 7%
I once had a trailer that in theory could have been a great match for a Chevrolet Tahoe of the 2003-2004 era. The Tahoe was a horrible tow vehicle and the trailer was, despite its apparent long lines in front of the twin axles, too light in the front. Granted, this gives credence to the notion that a trailer should be front heavy, but this thing was horribibble. I mean, horribbibbibble! It was a poorly engineered trailer from a weight distribution standpoint. It had a very heavy rear end despite the very large distance in front of the axles to the coupler and depended heavily upon the RV owner to load it heavily at the tongue with extra propane tanks to achieve good balance. This weight distribution balance should have designed in from the start from the axles forward and rear. By appearance it looked front heavy and front long in front of the axles, but by the scale it was tongue light even with a full tank of water. Of course, as you might have guessed, the spare tire was hung off the rear bumper.779Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tongue weight in Europe is around 7%
That horrible tow vehicle/trailer combination I alluded to involved a Chevy Tahoe circa 2003 towing an ultralight trailer that supposedly was well within the towing specs concerning trailer weight and hitch weight without weight distribution. The trailer had a GVRW of 4,670 and a dry hitch weight of 260 lbs. I towed it unloaded once home from the dealer, and then with a tank of water once, and I almost sold it because of the near death sway. This little lightweight on a Tahoe is what caused me to buy a Hensley long ago. I'm sure that if the trailer had been better balanced, or if the Tahoe of that era had been lower to the ground, I never would have needed the Hensley Hitch (which to this day I still have and really like). Of course, in hindsight, it was later agreed that the Tahoe of that era was too tall and short wheelbase to tow anything at all close to half its own weight. But the manufacturer, Chevrolet, claimed it it had a 7,900 lb towing capacity. B.S.779Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tongue weight in Europe is around 7%
I'm not saying European is better, nor North American, nor Australian, nor south African. I think this is a valid and intelligent conversation to be having. Boat trailers tow well, we all know that. I simply thought we could have a thoughtful discussion of design, without implying that any set of standards are superior. Of course, we all know of trailers we may have hauled in combination with a tow vehicle that we may have had that was a horrible combination without regard to so called towing capacity of the tow vehicle.779Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tongue weight in Europe is around 7%
Check out this as an example of how trailer (caravan) manufacturers design trailers in the U.K. The propane tank is not in front - it's in the middle. The spare tire is not in back - it's low slung under the trailer just in front of the axle. Common GVWR is close to 2,700 lbs. Very liveable trailers/caravans. Just one example of manufacturer, among others: http://www.baileyofbristol.co.uk/caravans/ http://www.baileyofbristol.co.uk/caravans/ Moderator edit to re-size pictures to forum limit of 640px maximum width.435Views0likes0CommentsRe: Tongue weight in Europe is around 7%
There are differences in how trailers are loaded. In North America it is very common, for example, to hang a spare tire and possibly a few lawn chairs and an extra ladder all off the rear of the trailer. Then, to compensate and get the desired tongue weight, the trailer is loaded heavily in front. In Europe according to what I've read, it is quite uncommon to add weight to both the rear bumper and the front of the trailer. Spare tires are commonly carried directly underneath the trailer not too far from the axle to centralize the load. American trailers are loaded as if they are dumbbells, or barbells. European trailers are loaded with the heaviest objects toward the center, albeit still ahead of the axle. I think this is more like the average boat on a trailer.320Views0likes0Comments
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