Bought a Hensley

[OutbackUSA]

I looked at all the others and bought a factory reconditioned Hensley. Factors:

- Zero Sway by design. Should let me put a 300lb MC on a rail off of the rear bumper as well.
- No heavy hitch and greasy spring bars to lug around.
- Great tech support and responsiveness.
- Made in the USA

Price = $2360 delivered and includes spare parts kit.

[crispyboy]

Good selection on the hitch. Be diligent on the install and patient on the learning curve to hook it up - you will love this hitch!

[ROBERT CROSS]

^
X2

An 'O' ring on a Hitch'n stick will help hook-up a lot.

Sweet Streams...👍

Bob
🇺🇸

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by OutbackUSA

. . .
. . . Should let me put a 300lb MC on a rail off of the rear bumper as well.
. . .

Which would probably exceed Airstream’s design parameters, which limit a rear bike rack to the Fiamma plus 70 lbs. of bike weight.

Welcome to the forum.

Peter

[GMFL]

A 300lbs Motorcycle on the back of your Airstream will be DEATH the the rear frame. There is not enough metal back there to support that much weight bouncing around back there.

[OTRA15]

300 pounds plus the weight of the hitch and "rail," all cantilevered much further away from the rear axles, than is the Fiamma bike rack, which is tucked in nice and tight above the rear bumper.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Which would probably exceed Airstream’s design parameters, which limit a rear bike rack to the Fiamma plus 70 lbs. of bike weight.

Welcome to the forum.

Peter

Originally Posted by GMFL

A 300lbs Motorcycle on the back of your Airstream will be DEATH the the rear frame. There is not enough metal back there to support that much weight bouncing around back there.

WOW...missed that one!!!
No MC hanging off the rear...frame not designed for it.

Bob
🇺🇸

[overlander63]

Keep the Hensley.
Lose the motorcycle.

[rmkrum]

More precisely, the Hensley, or any other anti-sway system will NOT be able to control the sway of 300 pounds of motorcycle hanging a foot or two behind the rear bumper. It would take too much weight off the hitch ball as well.

Ditto on the Airstream's frame not being built to take that much weight in the rear. The Airstream's frame is not built like a conventional trailer's frame is. It is designed to be held up by the shell of the trailer, and be just strong enough to take the load of the contents of the trailer. Adding weight past the rear bumper will induce uncontrollable sway, damage the frame to the point of breaking it, and most likely will damage or break components of the hitch as well.

If you must carry a motorcycle, put it safely in the back of the tow vehicle. Trying to hang it on the back of the Airstream itself will potentially and quickly lead to an out-of-control sway condition and loss of the whole rig.

Not a safe ride by any means, and this situation will surely scuff your motorcycle at the minimum...

[white laker]

as said..... M.C. hanging on the rear of your A.S.(s) is a no no!
Try hooking up a few times before you head out. Do it a few times and then a few times more. Its easy once you nail it. If you have a rear view camera on your T.V. use it. If not... get one! Put a small piece of reflective tape over the hutch box to guide the 'stinger' into place. The learning curve is well worth the end result. Safe towing!
Pete

[Daquenzer]

I think I would buy a front hitch and load it on the front of the vehicle if the payload of the TV is adequate. I’ve seen that done. But not on the back of the AS. I have a propride and wouldn’t think of doing that. I have a front hitch that’s rated to 500lbs. Makes more sense.

[OutbackUSA]

I have a backup cam. So far so good, with the temp, standard hitch I have used.

[OutbackUSA]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Which would probably exceed Airstream’s design parameters, which limit a rear bike rack to the Fiamma plus 70 lbs. of bike weight.

Welcome to the forum.

Peter

Got it. I guess I need to see what’s there under the belly pan.

[Daquenzer]

Originally Posted by OutbackUSA

Got it. I guess I need to see what’s there under the belly pan.

I don’t know enough about the engineering of the framing of the Airstream. I think I would ask someone that engineers an Airstream at the factory. I wouldn’t talk to a dealer or even another person that has an Airstream.

As far as sway is concerned your Hensley will make your AS tow wonderfully. I have a propride and it makes towing so much more pleasant. But you will have a learning curve. I know I have. My last trip I think I have it adjusted just right with the gain, the tension on the WD bars, etc. It towed the best it ever has.

As far as hooking and unhooking the key is to back up as close to the trailer as possible. Then adjust the receiver to the right height. Then back in slowly. Back up camera will make it easy.

Unhooking is also critical. When you get your height adjusted correctly for hooking up then get a stick or pipe and cut it for the length that shows where you would be for no pressure on the hitch receiver. Then when unhooking just take off the tension of the WD bars, and raise or lower the hitch to that height. Then pull out. No problem.

One thing I wish that dealers would do is make that back up camera useable when unhooking as well. Would help in knowing what’s going on back there.

By the way you will need a 7 pin extender. My advice: buy 2. I had one of mine get caught some how on the hitch and crack. I was able to get a part to fix it. And thankfully it worked. No wires pulled off. But I decided that I better have a back up of that 7 pin extender. Cheap insurance.

[OutbackUSA]

Thanks for the 411. My order included the 7 pin extender. May not need it as the present lead is long.

The Hensley Arrow is very logical to me. The only main unknown is hitching and un-hitching on ground that is not level and, or uneven.

Originally Posted by Daquenzer

I don’t know enough about the engineering of the framing of the Airstream. I think I would ask someone that engineers an Airstream at the factory. I wouldn’t talk to a dealer or even another person that has an Airstream.

As far as sway is concerned your Hensley will make your AS tow wonderfully. I have a propride and it makes towing so much more pleasant. But you will have a learning curve. I know I have. My last trip I think I have it adjusted just right with the gain, the tension on the WD bars, etc. It towed the best it ever has.

As far as hooking and unhooking the key is to back up as close to the trailer as possible. Then adjust the receiver to the right height. Then back in slowly. Back up camera will make it easy.

Unhooking is also critical. When you get your height adjusted correctly for hooking up then get a stick or pipe and cut it for the length that shows where you would be for no pressure on the hitch receiver. Then when unhooking just take off the tension of the WD bars, and raise or lower the hitch to that height. Then pull out. No problem.

One thing I wish that dealers would do is make that back up camera useable when unhooking as well. Would help in knowing what’s going on back there.

By the way you will need a 7 pin extender. My advice: buy 2. I had one of mine get caught some how on the hitch and crack. I was able to get a part to fix it. And thankfully it worked. No wires pulled off. But I decided that I better have a back up of that 7 pin extender. Cheap insurance.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by OutbackUSA

Thanks for the 411. My order included the 7 pin extender. May not need it as the present lead is long.

The Hensley Arrow is very logical to me. The only main unknown is hitching and un-hitching on ground that is not level and, or uneven.

You can tilt the hitch head side to side with the WD Jacks.

I use CW Hitch'n Rods and 'O' rings for setting height.👍

Bob
🇺🇸

[Manning G]

I'm in the 2 week process of rebuilding the rear of my '71 Ambassador. My problem was floor rot, but the process has convinced me that I will NEVER stress the rear frame.

[frone]

Very much appreciate the helpful posts!

I am looking for a used 4 inch offset (drop) hitch bar for my Hensley Hitch, and have a straight hitch bar to repurpose to someone. Any help or interest is appreciated. Thanks

[crispyboy]

Originally Posted by frone

Very much appreciate the helpful posts!

I am looking for a used 4 inch offset (drop) hitch bar for my Hensley Hitch, and have a straight hitch bar to repurpose to someone. Any help or interest is appreciated. Thanks

A welding fabrication shop should be able to modify what you have quite easily. Just show them a picture of the a 4 inch drop stinger and they will be able to replicate it.