Well I went and mess up, bought a bigger camper.

[Kirk's Keystone Outback.]

Originally Posted by Firefighter1406

We have been looking for a while at campers. My son is 15 and 6’ and counting. We currently have a 2008 Cougar 26BHS. Great camper and never thought about upgrading, but the kid will not stop growing. So we just bought a 2011 Outback 312BH. Great shape and well cared for. Worried a little about the sway being that long so I am in the market for an Hensley Arrow and hope to never have to worry about sway again. We will see. I really hope I dont regret the extra 6’. I figure it will just be a learning curve.

I pull my 30' TT with my F250 using the Equil-i-zer 10K hitch and it's rock solid. I was also convinced to get the Hensley to eliminate sway a year after dealing with friction bars, that was until I started seeing reviews of the E4. Camping World matched the price I found on Amazon. Couldn't be happier.

[bill777x]

(quote)"About the Hensley? Not only the cost, the difficulty of hitching is somthing you REALLY need to consider. Unlike a traditional ball hitch with weight distribution bars, the Hensley stay connected to the trailer all the time. It never disconnects. To disconnect the hitch from the tow vehicle, the hitch shaft has to be removed from the receiver hitch. That means pulling the pin on receiver hitch. Now that creates some problems.

Unhitching is probably no problem. Pull the cotter pin and pull the retainer pin out of the receiver hitch and simply pull the tow vehicle away.

The problem is hitching. The alignment of the Hensley hitch shaft has to be perfect to align to your truck receiver hitch. Then you have to back the truck up and align it absolutely perfect in order to get that hitch pin and cotter pin in it. If the hitch is even slightly off, those holes do not align. That's a nightmare to do and absolutely takes 2 people to do it at all. One to drive the vehicle and the other to hold the hitch shaft to angle it just right and then to get the pin in the receiver hitch (shaft). (quote)"

Sorry Dutch but I have to respectfully disagree with most of your post. They aren't any harder to use than a traditional hitch. You still have to line up the ball and coupler on a traditional hitch. The Hensley 2" bar stays on the truck and the hitch head has a larger tapered opening (2 1/2"-3"?) so you don't have to be 100% lined up to hit it. The hitch itself stays on the camper and the hitch bars don't have to be removed either. There are a couple styles out there but they all stay on the camper and the tension is applied/removed a couple of ways. There is a small learning curve but its no more trouble than the Reese Dual Cam I used to use.

They have videos on their site to show how easy they are to use. Propride is another hitch of this style but I've never had one. Their draw bar is adjustable in case you ever change trucks but Hensley will exchange yours if you pay shipping, either/or, your choice.

I have been using a Hensley for 7 years now and won't use anything else. I have a 2500 series truck (2 actually, 1 work and 1 personal) that is plenty stout for my camper so I could probably use something else but I won't. My older truck doesn't have a back up camera but my newer one does. Whichever I use that weekend doesn't matter I can hook up by myself no problem. For what the camper and truck both cost the hitch is a small percentage and it costs what it costs. Worth every penny.

To the OP: if you can get one for $1100 that's a smoking deal. You can contact Hensley and for an additional fee they will warranty it for life for you. Previous warranty doesn't transfer to you from the original owner.

[Firefighter1406]

Originally Posted by bill777x

(quote)"About the Hensley? Not only the cost, the difficulty of hitching is somthing you REALLY need to consider. Unlike a traditional ball hitch with weight distribution bars, the Hensley stay connected to the trailer all the time. It never disconnects. To disconnect the hitch from the tow vehicle, the hitch shaft has to be removed from the receiver hitch. That means pulling the pin on receiver hitch. Now that creates some problems.

Unhitching is probably no problem. Pull the cotter pin and pull the retainer pin out of the receiver hitch and simply pull the tow vehicle away.

The problem is hitching. The alignment of the Hensley hitch shaft has to be perfect to align to your truck receiver hitch. Then you have to back the truck up and align it absolutely perfect in order to get that hitch pin and cotter pin in it. If the hitch is even slightly off, those holes do not align. That's a nightmare to do and absolutely takes 2 people to do it at all. One to drive the vehicle and the other to hold the hitch shaft to angle it just right and then to get the pin in the receiver hitch (shaft). (quote)"

Sorry Dutch but I have to respectfully disagree with most of your post. They aren't any harder to use than a traditional hitch. You still have to line up the ball and coupler on a traditional hitch. The Hensley 2" bar stays on the truck and the hitch head has a larger tapered opening (2 1/2"-3"?) so you don't have to be 100% lined up to hit it. The hitch itself stays on the camper and the hitch bars don't have to be removed either. There are a couple styles out there but they all stay on the camper and the tension is applied/removed a couple of ways. There is a small learning curve but its no more trouble than the Reese Dual Cam I used to use.

They have videos on their site to show how easy they are to use. Propride is another hitch of this style but I've never had one. Their draw bar is adjustable in case you ever change trucks but Hensley will exchange yours if you pay shipping, either/or, your choice.

I have been using a Hensley for 7 years now and won't use anything else. I have a 2500 series truck (2 actually, 1 work and 1 personal) that is plenty stout for my camper so I could probably use something else but I won't. My older truck doesn't have a back up camera but my newer one does. Whichever I use that weekend doesn't matter I can hook up by myself no problem. For what the camper and truck both cost the hitch is a small percentage and it costs what it costs. Worth every penny.

To the OP: if you can get one for $1100 that's a smoking deal. You can contact Hensley and for an additional fee they will warranty it for life for you. Previous warranty doesn't transfer to you from the original owner.

I really appreciate everybody’s thoughts and experience. The last two days have been nothing but videos, research, reading and searching all about the E4, Hensley, Weighsafe and Pro Pride hitches. Bottom of the line is I currently don’t have the correct hitch/set up to run smoothly. I don’t want to have to mess with it. So I am spending a little more and being done with it. I put an offer in on a 1 year old Pro Pride 3P and picking it up Saturday. It was more expensive then the Hensley I was looking at but was worried about the cost of stuff adding up since I already knew I would have to purchase a larger drop stinger at least and the seller was unsure about the spring bars as well. I like the idea of the adjustable stinger and is still way cheaper than new by about $1,600. I by no means am saying the E4 wouldn’t work but this is the heaviest I have ever pulled long distance and I want to feel and have my family safe. This will allow me to stay within all weight ratings of my truck and trailer and that gives me peace of mind. It’s only money right ��.

[sourdough]

Congratulations on getting a good hitch. Yes, it is only money. The bigger factor that was evident in your posts was the towing concerns and safety, both of your equipment and family - that is huge thing. I've been in that position as well as I'm sure many others have. It is no fun, no matter the equipment you have, if you don't have faith in it and there is always a nagging fear in the back of your mind that what you have isn't enough or isn't safe. Your choice should take care of that. Happy SAFE travels with the family. If other thoughts or concerns pop up don't hesitate to ask as I'm sure someone has btdt with whatever the situation is.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Firefighter1406

I really appreciate everybody’s thoughts and experience. The last two days have been nothing but videos, research, reading and searching all about the E4, Hensley, Weighsafe and Pro Pride hitches. Bottom of the line is I currently don’t have the correct hitch/set up to run smoothly. I don’t want to have to mess with it. So I am spending a little more and being done with it. I put an offer in on a 1 year old Pro Pride 3P and picking it up Saturday. It was more expensive then the Hensley I was looking at but was worried about the cost of stuff adding up since I already knew I would have to purchase a larger drop stinger at least and the seller was unsure about the spring bars as well. I like the idea of the adjustable stinger and is still way cheaper than new by about $1,600. I by no means am saying the E4 wouldn’t work but this is the heaviest I have ever pulled long distance and I want to feel and have my family safe. This will allow me to stay within all weight ratings of my truck and trailer and that gives me peace of mind. It’s only money right ��.

Seth you've done a lot of research on the Pro Pride, did you look into the weight limits of the receiver on your truck? When I was looking at the info on them I'm pretty sure I read a comment from one poster that had a Ford F250 that said the added weight of the Pro Pride would put him over the weight limit of the receiver. A Class IV will have a 1000lb. weight limit and you have to include the weight of the Pro Pride in that. With a gvwr of 9k lbs. on that trailer, and a growing youngun that will help you keep the trailer loaded to max,....which would come to approx. 1170lbs. @ 13% PLUS 200 lbs. for the Pro Pride, you have overloaded a Class IV receiver.

[Firefighter1406]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Seth you've done a lot of research on the Pro Pride, did you look into the weight limits of the receiver on your truck? When I was looking at the info on them I'm pretty sure I read a comment from one poster that had a Ford F250 that said the added weight of the Pro Pride would put him over the weight limit of the receiver. A Class IV will have a 1000lb. weight limit and you have to include the weight of the Pro Pride in that. With a gvwr of 9k lbs. on that trailer, and a growing youngun that will help you keep the trailer loaded to max,....which would come to approx. 1170lbs. @ 13% PLUS 200 lbs. for the Pro Pride, you have overloaded a Class IV receiver.

I have a Curt XD+ Receiver. Sticker says 17,000 lbs Gross Trailer Weight, 2,550 Tongue Weight both of those rated with Weight distribution. I am still new at all these numbers but I think I am covered right?

[sourdough]

Looks like you or someone replaced the OE receiver with the Curt? Here's a link to what I found that fits your specs;

https://www.curtmfg.com/part/15410

By the numbers it looks like you have that base covered. I would look that receiver over topside and downside to make sure it's in good shape, bolts tight and intact etc.

[LHaven]

After we got past the learning curve, we're totally happy with our ProPride, which is for all intents and purposes a Hensley Mark II.

With the the rear-view camera (and some bright guide lines I painted on the dark hitch), my wife can peg the receiver hole pretty much 100% of the time. The hitch height issue is solved by the smart Lippert landing gear, which knows exactly how to do that; and we solved the hitch angle issue by cranking the WD jacks just slightly PAST loose before unhitching, which keeps the head from drooping when you separate.

Yeah, it was a chunk of change, but since we installed it, we have experienced absolutely zero sway, and zero "bow wave" from passing semis. If we get a big enough side wind to move us (like that neat stretch of I-25 in southern Wyoming), it'll move the whole truck and trailer as a unit.

[Firefighter1406]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Looks like you or someone replaced the OE receiver with the Curt? Here's a link to what I found that fits your specs;

https://www.curtmfg.com/part/15410

By the numbers it looks like you have that base covered. I would look that receiver over topside and downside to make sure it's in good shape, bolts tight and intact etc.

Yes the previous owner had replaced it. I will look it over to be sure. I know it had it professionally installed as I have the receipt for it. Thank you for bringing it up though, that was one area I didn’t consider.

[Firefighter1406]

Originally Posted by LHaven

After we got past the learning curve, we're totally happy with our ProPride, which is for all intents and purposes a Hensley Mark II.

With the the rear-view camera (and some bright guide lines I painted on the dark hitch), my wife can peg the receiver hole pretty much 100% of the time. The hitch height issue is solved by the smart Lippert landing gear, which knows exactly how to do that; and we solved the hitch angle issue by cranking the WD jacks just slightly PAST loose before unhitching, which keeps the head from drooping when you separate.

Yeah, it was a chunk of change, but since we installed it, we have experienced absolutely zero sway, and zero "bow wave" from passing semis. If we get a big enough side wind to move us (like that neat stretch of I-25 in southern Wyoming), it'll move the whole truck and trailer as a unit.

Thank you for the tips and tricks. I have researched it a lot and told myself I am gonna stop going down that rabbit hole. The ones with the Hensley Arrow say theirs is the best. The ones with the ProPride say theirs is the best. It is what it is. I personally choice the ProPride because I like the adjustable stinger. Not in the fact that I think it’s stronger, I would rather a solid unit. But on the fact if something happens to my truck/I have to get a rental/ borrow a truck/ shipping back a stinger or whatever I will be able to hook up and roll. I also liked the center attachment instead of the threaded rods. And the style linkage/jacks. Now that’s just from pictures and appearances. I know it’s more parts and that is a downside. By no means putting down the arrow I was hot and heavy on it at first. I am just saying what pushed me that way.

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Firefighter1406

Thank you for the tips and tricks. I have researched it a lot and told myself I am gonna stop going down that rabbit hole. The ones with the Hensley Arrow say theirs is the best. The ones with the ProPride say theirs is the best. It is what it is. I personally choice the ProPride because I like the adjustable stinger. Not in the fact that I think it’s stronger, I would rather a solid unit. But on the fact if something happens to my truck/I have to get a rental/ borrow a truck/ shipping back a stinger or whatever I will be able to hook up and roll. I also liked the center attachment instead of the threaded rods. And the style linkage/jacks. Now that’s just from pictures and appearances. I know it’s more parts and that is a downside. By no means putting down the arrow I was hot and heavy on it at first. I am just saying what pushed me that way.

I don't own a Hensley or ProPride and don't want one but while looking through specs I came across the info in the link below. It appears the Pro Pride is just an evolution of the Hensley. Figure you've already seen it but just fyi if you hadn't;

https://store.propridehitch.com/prop...SAAEgLojPD_BwE