Hensley Cub on 19' Flying Cloud

[BoscoMN]

First, thanks everyone - these forums have been a great place to learn and get solid feedback! In preparation of picking up our first TT in April, I'm trying to determine what hitch is best for our situation (new to towing, nervous about sway, TV is a 2013 Ford Expedition, 7500 GVWR, max tongue 920 lbs, max trailer 9,000 lbs). What has been the experience of others with the 19' or 20' trailers? Does the Hensley Cub represent an overkill? Would the Blue Ox Swaypro be more appropriate?

[dkottum]

We have had a 2007 20' Airstream and now a 25. Used two different hitches before getting our Hensley designed ProPride.

Knowing what I know now, I would have saved the considerable price of the first two hitches and bought the ProPride in the first place. The is just no comparison in the towing comfort and safety of these hitches in all wind, traffic and weather conditions. Hitching/unhitching is a simple procedure once learned, and the heavy hitch head stays on the trailer tongue.

Hensley (Cub) or ProPride, they both tow alike, the difference is in installation and ease of use which favors ProPride. A call to Sean (the owner) at ProPride will give you the right model for your Expedition/Airstream combination.

[BoscoMN]

Thanks Doug. Can you describe the difference between towing with the previous hitches and the ProPride. Was the added stability a marked improvement and worth the extra weight and cost?

[rmkrum]

I towed our AS up and down the same route in similar conditions. Adding the ProPride instead of an old WD only hitch was night and day better. Same truck, same AS. It just tows so much better. IMHO the older friction anti-sway systems can't do much except try to damp sway after it happens, add complications to backing up, and are extra stuff to adjust and hook up. The Hensley design hitches of which ProPride is the latest design are light- years ahead for towing a fairly big AS with a somewhat small Tacoma. It follows like an obedient puppy, doesn't try to push the truck around, and is much better in panic stops. This is by actual A/B comparison trips. I won't put my family aboard without this hitch system. The peace of mind is worth it.


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[shupack]

I just bought a '71 Silver Streak, 26'. As a Mechanical Engineer, the friction sway control sytems didn't sit well with me, then I saw the Hensley and knew I wanted it, it just makes sense they way it's built. I contacted them and they recommended the Arrow model for my setup, had it shipped the next day. Picked up my SS and towed it with just a std ball for 5 miles to the closest tire-shop for rubber and a bearing re-pack. It didn't feel too bad, so I hit the highway to perform an experiment and see how it behaved. Scary was an understatement, with ZERO sway control. Pulled off at the first Tractor Supply I saw (needed new safety chains, and a few other bits..) and installed the Arrow in the parking lot. AMAZING difference. It does what it says on the box, (they should pay me for advertising).

[switz]

When we were in the process of selecting the first Airstream, I discovered this forum.

Among the many volumes of information were the hitch threads. We acquired the Hensley Arrow for our 2013 25FB International Serenity and I towed it home behind my 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI diesel. I had no issues going through the mountains from Los Angles to Phoenix nor while still driving at 55 mph into Arizona having the big rigs blow past at least 20 mph faster. The Mercedes became overloaded when the trailer was loaded for camping and my wife and I crossed the scales. A 2012 Dodge Ram 2500HD Cummins took care of the adequate load capacity issues.

In order to use the Mercedes as a tow vehicle, I drove it to CanAm in London, Ontario (a one week long 4,400, mile trip) to get the factory tow receiver reinforced (see photo in my "Images" under the Avatar) and they modified the Hensley by shortening the car end and drilling a new locking pin hole and putting a slight bend in it to pre-load the weight distribution bars.

We traded the 25FB on a 31' 2014 Classic and I kept the Hensley in storage and installed the ProPride on the Classic (ProPride is second generation Jim Hensley design). The ProPride is just easier to use.

We added a 2015 23D International Serenity to the stable and installed our existing Hensley on it and we are towing with the same Mercedes. This is a perfect match of trailer and tow vehicle.

[dkottum]

The Hensley/ProPride design eliminates all trailer movements (caused by wind or semi's passing) leveraged to the truck's front axle. It eliminates any sway. It keeps the trailer in a straight line behind the truck even in a heavy side wind, there is no angle between the two as you go down the roadway. It does not resist the trailer returning to alignment with the truck after steering input (as friction sway control will); this makes it safer on slippery roads.

Although some truck/trailer users may say they feel none of these movements with a conventional sway control hitch, the movements are happening and the truck/trailer misalignment in heavy side wind is there.

The comfort and safety of this design is a good buy, especially for those who travel long distances.

[Tom_T]

We tow our 1960 Avion T20 with a Cub for a few years now using both rented Nissan Pathfinders & 1/2 - 3/4 Ton Pick-ups with great ease, zero sway & are totally satisfied, but our trailer is lighter than most new ones at 19-20-21' at 3000-3500 lbs. wet & loaded, being a vintage silver twinkie. We are currently looking for a used `08-12 mid-sized SUV V8 Cayenne S as our own TV, so this Cub will work great with it too.

You'll need to check the trailer's GTWR gross weight rating to see if the Cub can handle it, since it's basically a Hensley version for trailers up to 6000 lbs & 600 lb hitch wt.

Otherwise, you should look at the Hensley Arrow (or ProPride) for trailers up to 10,000 lbs & 1000 lb HW.

The Cub will save you $500-1000 over the big brother(s) - if it fits your trailer size & wt. needs, & will save +/- 30 lbs. of the weight of the hitch on the trailer, that otherwise is more stuff to carry in the trailer within its max. rating. The Hensley Cub is listed as 160 lbs. for all of the parts & Arrow at 190 lbs., & I think the ProPride is about the same as the latter, but the heaviest part at the head is probably only 50 or 70 lbs. respectively, & they can be put on a crate, box, stand when mounting them (I lifted the Cub head myself onto a crate & I'm 63, while doing the install myself).

If you don't want to mess with the spring bar adjusting chains, then go for the adjustment jacks on which you can crank them easily by hand with the provided wrench or even a cordless drill.

These hitches also stay completely on the trailer's A-frame, so you don't have to mess with greasy-grimy spring bars & hitch-head on & off the trailer when you unhitch & park it, but get their accessory cover to keep the weather off it & warn you of shin impacts. ;-)

Hitching takes a little getting used to, since your backing a stinger into a hole, rather than a ball under a coupler, but is really not hard to master quickly. A good back-up camera with a good sized screen is a great aid in either type BTW, especially for solo hitching.

Hensley has a lifetime warranty - not sure about PP - & tow bar exchange if you change TVs & need a different drop/rise. PP uses an adjustable stinger bar, which I had some concerns about the failures of them, as also happens with some on other types of WD hitches too.

So that concern & the ProPride's attachment not working well for our vintage trailer's shorter A-frame, & the lower cost of the Hensley Cub led me to our decision to use the Cub with the jacks for our Avion.

If you look at the value of your trailer, of your TV & your lives - the sway elimination of the Hensley/PP design is cheap insurance, which I frankly think the insurance companies should give us a discount for using them! Any of the other top rated WD hitches with the anti-sway cam or friction or other sway resisting systems (vs. sway elimination on PPPs) will come in at $500-1000 with all in including their tow bar - so the Hensley & PP 3P sway eliminating systems are a $500-1200 premium to have absolutely no sway & a much safer, smoother towing ride & experience IMHO, on a rig worth $30-50k & up to not get into that sway & jack-knife situation.

Also BTW - there is absolutely NO difference in the way the ProPride & Hensley work as far as ease of use - except when you have one without the spring bar adjustment jacks, on which the adjusting chain lift-up system in more of a PITA in my & most folks' opinion - when compared to an easily & infinitely adjustable jack!

The ProPride can maybe be an easier installation - or at least trade-offs - relative to Hensley. Hensley you drill & mount brackets to your A-frame without removing any items thereon - whereas the ProPride requires you to dismount the LP tanks & their mounting bracket to install the yoke underneath the A-frame. So 6 of one, half dozen the other .... do you want to drill & mount brackets, or remove & remount the propane tanks/stand? Pick your poison!

There are several other topics in here about these hitches, along with a mess of opinions, so you can use the search function or google/bing/etc. to find them.

PS - In addition to talking to Sean at ProPride - also call Terry Powell at Hensley about the Cub or Arrow options, but have your trailer's weight specs in hand for both to know what you'll need. Then make your own decision based on the info you gather from them.

Good Luck & Happy Holidays!
Tom
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[rmkrum]

My main engineering issue with the Hensley original hitch was not wanting to drill holes anywhere in my A-frame. I was 65 years old when I installed my ProPride with the help of my 19 year old daughter, a floor jack and a bottle jack to do the heavy lift and hold stuff. Biggest issue was getting enough torque on some of the bolts-a quick trip to Harbor Freight solved that with a new 250 foot pound torque wrench with a long handle. Followed the directions and took our time. Happy user ever since. I believe it has a lifetime warranty as well.


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[KJRitchie]

I wouldn't bother towing a 19/20 with Hensley/PP. I think I saw one in the wild once at a fleeting glance in a campground and it was on a 25fb Airstream.

Kelvin

[rmkrum]

I have a 22 footer. I disagree totally and politely. 😄 having tried it both ways.....

Won't tow a boat trailer without one😄

It gets too windy, and too many big trucks blasting past around here.

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[Jaxon]

Originally Posted by rmkrum

I was 65 years old when I installed my ProPride with a bottle jack to do the heavy lift and hold stuff.

.
Yup, I’ve found a bottle of Jack helps me do heavy lifting, too...

[rmkrum]

Hm. I'll have to try that next time 😄😄😄😄😄


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[BoscoMN]

Thanks everyone for the excellent discussion and advice. With my 119" wheelbase being somewhat on the short side, I am very much inclined to take to heart the side by side comparisons offered up as sage advice and go with either the Hensley or ProPride.

With the Ford Expedition's 900# max hitch load and the 19' Airstream's 550# recommended hitch weight, I feel the added pounds for either the Arrow or the PP over the Cub is not a show stopper. The Cub supports the Airstream's 4500 GTWR and 550# tongue weight. I am a little concerned about having only a 50# margin on the tongue weight and no growth path to a 23' Airstream if we are so inclined in 4 years when I finally get to retire.

I'll give a call to both Seth and Terry a call.

Has anyone placed either the Arrow or PP onto a current version of the 19' Airstream? It looks like the only installation issue with the Arrow is to drill the holes into the frame or to take off the propane tanks and remount them on spacers to accommodate the PP yoke. Anything else that I am missing?

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

I wouldn't bother towing a 19/20 with Hensley/PP. I think I saw one in the wild once at a fleeting glance in a campground and it was on a 25fb Airstream.

Kelvin

I wish we had our ProPride on our 2007 20' Airstream, now that I know what a difference they make in safety and towing comfort.

[TinkersToy]

I tow an AS 22 sport using a 2003 Tundra. Started with a Reese pro pride with sway control and weight equalization I upgraded to a Hensley Cub and would never go back to a ball hitch. I choose the hensely because in my opinion it is the original design and is a more solid unit being welded instead of bolted assembly. My hooking / unhooking of the Hensley has been no issue. The concern about drilling the frame is curious because the typical ball hitch sway controll installed by many requires 4 to 6 holes in the side of the frame.

[tjwoods1]

I currently have a Husky Centerline 32216 WD/ (400-600 lbs bars) for my 16' Bambi Sport towed with a Toyota Highlander V6 (tow capacity 5,000 lbs). So far everything is great, forget it's even there sometimes. Only minor annoyance is lugging the heavy hitch ball attachment into the hitch shank. Out of curiosity, I see the Hensley Cub Arrow (160lbs) attaches to the trailer frame and there is no lugging of a separate attachment. My question is whether the weight of the Hensley Cub is overkill for such a small trailer vs. the lighter Husky setup.

[Bruce B]

Originally Posted by tjwoods1

I currently have a Husky Centerline 32216 WD/ (400-600 lbs bars) for my 16' Bambi Sport towed with a Toyota Highlander V6 (tow capacity 5,000 lbs). So far everything is great, forget it's even there sometimes. Only minor annoyance is lugging the heavy hitch ball attachment into the hitch shank. Out of curiosity, I see the Hensley Cub Arrow (160lbs) attaches to the trailer frame and there is no lugging of a separate attachment. My question is whether the weight of the Hensley Cub is overkill for such a small trailer vs. the lighter Husky setup.

We use a Hensley Cub on our 16' Bambi International...
Switched from a ProPride and couldn't be happier...
It's not overkill as far as we are concerned!
Bruce

[rmkrum]

Honestly, a full-size ProPride is probably overkill on that small a trailer. In any case, the sway control you get with a Hensley design is very nice. I use a ProPride of my 23 footer. I super satisfied with it.


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[switz]

We reused the Hensley Arrow with 1000 pound bars from our traded in 25FB and installed it on our 2015 23D (tongue weight of 968 pounds with hitch attached) and installed a ProPride with 1,400 pound bars on the 2014 31' Classic (tongue weight of 1,175 pounds with hitch attached).

The Hensley Cub is for smaller lighter units. The difference in weight between the Cub and Arrow is only 30 pounds and the Arrow can move up the food chain if there is a desire for a much larger trailer down the road.