Hensley and ProPride Lowdown

[FeatherFam]

What is the truth about these expensive hitch systems? Are they as effective as they claim - truly "eliminate sway"? Other than cost, what are their drawbacks?

If we move to a longer heavier trailer, we wonder if we would consider one of these products(?).

[eow]

Yes they are everything they claim to be. Expensive but effective.

If you want a relaxing towing experience, get one.

I have towed for over 40 years and purchased a Propride 4 seasons ago. I have no regrets.


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[Seann45]

I have the Hensley Arrow which I purchased used from a local RVer when he bought a MH. It is worth the price at twice the price.. A few years ago going down I-15 a passing semi forced me off the road.. the trailer followed me off the road into the ditch and then back up onto the highway with NO SWAY.. only thing I had to do after that was change underwear and call the truckers dispatcher with a complaint.. IF you do buy a used one call Hensley and purchase the warranty.. HOWEVER after seeing the ProPride I would get that if I had the choice.. (same inventor just with upgrades to it)
Only negative is hitching up putting a square peg in a square receiver is a little difficult at times (a back up camera helps)

[Go West]

I towed with a Hensley Arrow for 6 years. The Hensley is built like an anvil and it does everything it says it will do. But, it is very expensive (mine was $3,000) and it is heavy (over 190 lbs). The extra weight is a real consideration for any 1/2 ton driver with a limited payload capacity.

Personally, due to cost and weight, I'll likely get one of the other excellent, reasonably priced designs on the market today for my next weight distribution / anti-sway hitch.

[E_Benson]

I just purchased a 25bhs and tow with a 1/2 ton SUV using the ProPride hitch. Yes, the engineering of the hitch cannot allow any sway while driving down the road and takes that out of the towing equation. It is easy to connect and disconnect and I can do it myself using just my back-up camera.

The way I looked at it was between the cost of the SUV and the new trailer, the hitch cost was a small portion of the total cost. It will take out he risk of the learning curve in the trailer loading and will provide additional margin in an emergency situation.

Obviously the best process is to get the correct tongue weight and good defensive/alert driving, but anything improves the TV/trailer handling in corner case situations was worth it to me.

Eric

[E_Benson]

Also, the additional weight of the hitch is offset by extending the attachment point to the receiver by 1-2 feet. Think about putting an extension on a wheel-borough, while the extension does have mass, the mechanical advantage of the larger distance offsets the total weight gain and has similar tongue weight compared other friction control sway control.

Eric

[rgchak]

I've owned the ProPride 3P for 4 yrs now and absolutely love it. I tow a 7000lb 27DSRL with a 1991 Ford Bronco, 105" wheelbase which is basically a short, short 1/2 ton truck. I have never had trailer sway in the 4000 miles we've traveled with the 3P. Yes, it's expensive and yes, it's heavy. My hitch stays on the trailer year round so it's not like I have to pick it up everytime I go camping and since I do love this hitch it's going to stay with me even when the trailer gets replaced. So consider it a one time purchase. Before the ProPride I used various hitches and encountered white knuckle trailer sway and at 63 yrs old and counting I'm glad not to go through that again. I also feel confident with the wife behind the wheel with the 3P. The Hensley Arrow is the original design but if you look at the changes with the 3P I think it's a better design. Also I've never had a problem making tight turns, backing up or going through deep ruts in the road.

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I bought my ProPride in August 2013 for towing my then 26BH with my Tundra. I had a basic round bar WDH with no sway control and towing was not real great. Any strong winds, I had to fight the combo. Towed with the PP and 26BH combo until spring 2016 when I switched it over to my 28BHBE and still towed with the Tundra. I have never had any sway whether I was passing tractor trailers or they were passing me. Never enough wind blowing around here to keep me from traveling. I feel this hitch is 100% worth every penny and more. I believe in it so much, that I will not be selling it and buying anything else even though I am now towing with a 3/4 ton Cummins!

The only downfall to these hitches it getting the square peg in the square hole. If you are not straight on, it can be a challenge. A spotter is really nice. The Ram has a backup camera so that is real nice now.

[FeatherFam]

Curious - What does my Equalizer 10K set up weigh (hitch, ball, shafts, and brackets)? If the Hensley and/or ProPride products are in the 190-200lb range, how much more do they actually weigh than an Equalizer?

[justman]

I had never heard of a Hensley until (probably like you) I bought a trailer and experienced sway. This was with one of those cam-lock type hitches, towing with a 1/2 ton Yukon XL. I ordered a used Hensley and didn't have a bit of sway after. From then on, I never worried about a passing semi or a cross wind, or a semi passing me during a cross wind. :-)

I used it for 6 years or so, and then sold it with my trailer. Didn't need it with the fifth wheel. If I ever go back to a bumper pull, I'll get another Hensley.

If you get one, you'll not like the cost, but you'll like what it does for your towing experience.

Like others have said, a backup camera is ideal. You can get the "stinger" in the receiver of the Hensley, but it's really frustrating and time consuming. Save yourself some time, effort, and frustration by getting a backup camera installed if you don't have one already.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by rgchak

snip...... The Hensley Arrow is the original design but if you look at the changes with the 3P I think it's a better design.......snip

Does the new Pro Pride design element the often discussed subject of the HA disengaging (free swiveling mechanism) when exhaust braking, coasting, turning, etc., or anytime the pulling weight of the TT is removed?

Bob

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I think it does. I never noticed any difference when downshifting or coasting while towing with the Tundra. Come to think of it, the short 106 miles I have towed with the Ram using tow/haul and exhaust brake it never felt any different.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by LiftedAWDAstro

I think it does.....snip

Your correct, I just found a video of the ProPride showing the side-to-side movement similar to the HA.

I have a couple of friends with HA's (and like them) and mentioned a few years back about the importance of having the TT brakes set so they engage prior to the TV brakes....., thus the sway control effectiveness remains optimized during TV braking at highway speeds.

For those that haven't seen the HA or ProPride operating while in-tow, the following videos may be of interest:

Hensley Arrow:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FM4NN3z9e84

ProPride:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbFA7WnB0Q4

Bob

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by Rustic Eagle

Your correct, I just found a video of the ProPride showing the side-to-side movement similar to the HA.

I have a couple of friends with HA's (and like them) and mentioned a few years back about the importance of having the TT brakes set so they engage prior to the TV brakes....., thus the sway control effectiveness remains optimized during TV braking at highway speeds.

For those that haven't seen the HA or ProPride operating while in-tow, the following videos may be of interest:

Hensley Arrow:

ProPride:

Bob

You notice that the DA in the propride video did not attach the safety chains or umbilical?

[LiftedAWDAstro]

I did notice that. I wondered if they were running around a large parking lot or at a dealership. Doesn't seem to be a road.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by LiftedAWDAstro

I did notice that........snip

X2

Also, near the end of the HA video there are two spots when the TV is braking and it appears the pulling weight of the TT is being removed from the HA hitch.

Bob

[eow]

Originally Posted by eow

Yes they are everything they claim to be. Expensive but effective.

If you want a relaxing towing experience, get one.

I have towed for over 40 years and purchased a Propride 4 seasons ago. I have no regrets.


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As a follow up:

I have now moved on to a FW and can say that IMO the ProPride is as effective as a FW for towing stability. No sway.

Having said that, a FW hitch setup is lower cost (even the Pullrite Superglide) than the ProPride hitch.