For anyone looking to totally ELIMINATE sway, I would stronly recommend that you look into the new Hensley Arrow Hitch.
I just installed one on my 1999 Classic 34' Front Kitchen and sway NO LONGER EXISTS. I have towed Airstreams for years and even with good friction sway control, I still got white knuckles when semi trucks would pass at high speeds. But with the Hensley it is virtually impossible for the trailer to sway.
Since the bars stay attached to the trailer, you can hook up much quicker and leveling the ride takes just seconds.
Plus, it is quiet! No popping, grinding, or screeching noises. If anyone is interested in more info, just go to www.hensleymfg.com where you can get the full scoop on how it works. Hensley claims it creates a towing experience which is SUPERIOR to 5th Wheel towing in both safety and manueverability. I have never towed a 5th Wheel, but I don't see how a 5th Wheel could tow any better than this. It is too good to be true.
Hensley will send you a free video if you contact them on line or by phone. It is not inexpensive, but as far as I'm concerned it is worth every penny in terms of safety and towing enjoyment especially if you are towing a larger unit. I have to believe that a Hensley hitch on an Airstream is the best of both worlds. It is incredible,
Congratulations on your recent purchase. I also have a Hensley and I agree with you whole heartily. I purchased mine last year and I already have over 15,000 miles on it. As a matter of fact, we were in Sedona, Az around the end of July.
I'm a bit surprised you had "white knuckle driving" with a 3500 dually, but I know you will learn to appreciate your Hensley even more as you use it. I might suggest to order the spare parts kit, because I have lost or misplaced several parts already. Also, the people at Hensley are a wealth of information use them if you need help.
We tow our 30 foot 2001 airstream with a half ton 2001 GMC Suburban. I realize this is a little light on the power side and it was proven in our trip out west. I was very thankful for the Hensley when traveling the west, particularily through eastern Colorado on two lane highways. These roads have no shoulder, just a ditch about four feet below the road serface. Any sway or wag at all could have put the curb side wheels of the trailer off the pavement, and I'm sure you know the disaster that can happen in that situation.
We had a wonderful vacation in your part of the country, the entire rig worked flawlessly. The only misshap was due to my own stupidity. I didn't lock a window on the road side of the rig when we left Oklahoma. By the time we stopped for gas New Mexico, the entire window was gone. Only the hinge and some glass shards remained. Airstream was fabulous. They overnighted a replacement window to our campground in Santa fe and it was replaced in about 15 minutes. We now double check all the windows before we leave for the road.
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-Life is a journey, not a destination.
Aerosmith
Is a Hensley Hitch necessary for the 19ft Bambi or is it short enough not to be too concerned? I am a new owner (picking it up Saturday - maybe). I would appreciate knowing prior to picking it up.
Thanks,
Jubiloso
Like using a shotgun to kill an ant. No, the Hensley is not needed on a 19' Bambi. I use only a Reese sway bar on my 22' International and have weathered 60-70 mile gusts without a trace of sway. I doubt if even a sway bar is required on a Bambi.
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John W. Irwin
2005 Classic 28 "Sabre-Dog III"
2004 Silverado 2500HD Duramax/Allison
WBCCI Region 9 Webmaster, #9632
With a new 34 Limited and F250SD, I felt I couldn't afford NOT to have the Hensley. On all these Internet resources, I've never seen a Hensley owner tell someone they didn't need one... it's only those who don't own one. Think about that.
When I worked in the RV industry, I was young and quick to grab the brake controller if a trailer started to sway. These days, I'm old, slow, and 18 wheelers sneak up on me sometimes during "senior moments." The Hensley makes that a non-issue.
To the guy with the 19' Bambi... it depends on that Tacoma you have... if its up high on 31" tires (P265) and a short wheelbase standard cab, standard bed, it's a lot like my pre-Tacoma Toyota... didn't take much to sway it in the wind without a 9.5' tall, 4500 lb trailer, much less with one. I'd want SOME kind of sway control. Extended cab or long bed shouldn't be as bad, particularly with the shorter standard P225 tires.
IMHO from towing in rainy Florida, there's no such thing as a "good" friction sway control. They totally go away in the wet and are a PITA backing or turning tight when dry. If one works for you, then your trailer is most likely properly loaded with good ball height and you haven't needed it yet. Imagine doing a MotorWeek-like lane change to dodge a cow standing in the road just over the crest of a hill. Think your rig could do it without rolling? Or would you be better off hitting it head-on? I met one Hensley owner who did it and said it was like the trailer wasn't even there.
The cheaper alternative to a Hensley for a short, light trailer might be a Reese dual-cam hitch if you can fit it on the tongue around the LP tanks. The Pull-Rite also looks like a good solution.
Just my $.02 worth and some things to think about.
Originally posted by jubiloso Is a Hensley Hitch necessary for the 19ft Bambi or is it short enough not to be too concerned? I am a new owner (picking it up Saturday - maybe). I would appreciate knowing prior to picking it up.
Thanks,
Jubiloso
I know you've picked up the trailer by now and probably have selected a hitch, but I've been thinking more about this, and believe your 19' Bambi probably needs a Hensley or Pullrite more than a '34 Limited.
Your Bambi with a 730 lb load is at 4,500 lbs where a 34 is at 9,000 lbs with a 930 lb load. Pretty much double the weight.
Take 4' off the 19' for tongue and you have 15' of side wall length at the same height as the 34' Take 4' off the 34 and it has about twice the side wall area. So the square foot of "sail area" per pound is about the same, i.e. this would lead you to think the wind influence will be about the same on both. But other factors favor the larger trailer.
At the same height, the 19' is only 8' wide with a narrower track than the 8.5' wide 34, and the extra width given the same height provides more stabiliity.
While the 34' may be twice the cabin length and twice the weight, it has THREE times the number of tires, axles, and brakes, so at 9,000 lbs, each is only dealing with 2/3 the weight as those on the 4500 lb 19'. Plus they have 6 shock absorbers to damp the movement, where the 19' as I understand it, has none. I could be wrong about that but it would only have two.
If the 19' has a flat tire, one side is going down, handling will definitely be affected, and you're sure going to know it. The biggest problem with the 34' having a flat is that I WON'T have handling problems and know it (the load per tire on that side will only go up to about that of the Bambi), and I may drive for miles with a shredded tire tearing up the wheelwell and side of the trailer.
Now lets get back to one of the most important considerations easily overlooked, and that's the tow vehicle. I'm towing that 9,000+ lbs with a 7,200 lb, 158" wheelbase long, heavy truck. I never found out what the Tacoma listed in your profile was, but it's somewhere between 2,800 lbs and 103" wheelbase to 3,700 lbs and 122" wheelbase. Relative to the 4,500 lb trailer, anywhere from about the same to much lighter/shorter than my truck.
So perhaps the 19' is no smaller a problem than the 34' when viewed from this perspective, and perhaps even larger, especially considering the particular model of Tacoma.
I have a Dodge 2500 Pickup with 4x4 to pull a trailer with a Hensley hitch. Of course they don't match in height? What is the general advice on where to find an adjustable connector to go from my truck to the level of the trailer?
I have a Dodge 2500 Pickup with 4x4 to pull a trailer with a Hensley hitch. Of course they don't match in height? What is the general advice on where to find an adjustable connector to go from my truck to the level of the trailer?
Thanks
kennybob
I have the same tow vehicle - no aftermarket lift package - just stock suspension. Hensley does have stinger with a drop that works. give 'em a call and they'll hook you up.
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