Pro Pride and Hensley Questions

[AirstreamJim]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

I had no idea! Thanks!

I discovered it while playing around with the UConnect system right after we bought the truck. My 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee has the same UConnect system but for some reason there's no Backup Camera button, so the only way to use the backup camera in the Jeep is...to back up. This was where much unhappiness took place. The RAM is much better, thank you.

Jim

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by james.mileur

i can see a big problem with these two steps; no scars on your shins to show the others at the old rv'rs home while swapping towing stories.

lol

[guskmg]

If you want unhitch in a hurry, just chock the wheels, disconnect the chains, pigtail, breakaway lanyard, and lower the bars to neutralize the hitch head load, pull the hitch pin and drive away. That takes about 3-5 minutes. When you get real good at it, you can just reverse the process to hitch up. I will admit sometimes, I have to get out and unlatch the stinger and stick it in the receiver and re-pin it. I think perceived problems with Hensley and ProPride are brought about by unfamiliarity due to newness. I was surprised how quick it all came together 12 years ago. I won't ever go back.
guskmg

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by guskmg

If you want unhitch in a hurry, just chock the wheels, disconnect the chains, pigtail, breakaway lanyard, and lower the bars to neutralize the hitch head load, pull the hitch pin and drive away. That takes about 3-5 minutes. When you get real good at it, you can just reverse the process to hitch up. I will admit sometimes, I have to get out and unlatch the stinger and stick it in the receiver and re-pin it. I think perceived problems with Hensley and ProPride are brought about by unfamiliarity due to newness. I was surprised how quick it all came together 12 years ago. I won't ever go back.
guskmg

It would be a good idea to lower the tongue jack.

I'm sure you meant to have that in the list. The tongue jack needs to be lowered to raise the trailer until the tongue weight is removed from the TV, just as the WD bars need to be lowered.

Al

[ROBERT CROSS]

....not necessarily in the order learned.

Slow & deliberate.

Hitch'n sticks for vertical and horizontal alignment, and a road cone for your shins.

No more difficult than our Reese.

Bob

[Rich Jenkins]

Bob - That's excellent.

Here's what the white painted 'box' ended up looking like on mine. I really can see the opening on the camera much better now.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Llando88

Bob - That's excellent.

Here's what the white painted 'box' ended up looking like on mine. I really can see the opening on the camera much better now.

Attachment 293947

Umbilical, Is it a blue pool noodle?.....reason?

Bob

[Rich Jenkins]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Umbilical, Is it a blue pool noodle?.....reason?

Bob

Yep: Cheap insulation for the cable rubbing on the front edge of the PP yoke.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Llando88

Yep: Cheap insulation for the cable rubbing on the front edge of the PP yoke.

Love-it

Another good use for the P N.

Keeps the trash out.

Bob

[FishByFly]

Bob, is that white spray paint? I was thinking something a bit reflective would help. Have you put a white stripe on the top of your "stinger?" That would complete the image in the backing camera.

[kendrick.l.j]

Bob Cross. I am loving your fixes. Gonna have to steal your ideas. Thanks for posting and for the photos. Totally cool.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by kendrick.l.j

Bob Cross. I am loving your fixes. Gonna have to steal your ideas. Thanks for posting and for the photos. Totally cool.

TYVM......

Here's another tip for the "Classic" you may find helpful.

The lip on the battery compartment is a real PITA when it comes time to remove a battery, (esp the Lifeline AGM's).....this helps a lot.

Strap attached to the back side, running underneath, held up out of the way with velcro until needed.

Bob

[TSchleff]

Originally Posted by Pat Cassity

After three years of towing our 27' FB international, we are starting to get the Moho itch. But for what may be for a somewhat different reason than for others. We are the type of Airstreamers that prefer to go to one (and not more than two) final destinations and camp for 7 to 10 days. Enroute to these destinations we will stop for the night and not unhitch. Sometimes we arrive early enough in the afternoon that we would like to take in some of the sites and maybe a local restaurant. However, we really dislike the unhitching and rehitching each day before arriving to our final destination. So, we frequently miss out on the local sites and restaurants. I currently have a Blue Ox hitch. My question. Other than the obvious advantages of the Pro Pride and Hensley, is the process of unhitching and rehitching the next day an easier or at least, a less tedious process? So much so that unhitching, each evening isn't such an ordeal?

Back to the original question. (But Mr. Cross I do like your idea about making it easier to get the batteries out of those holes.) I can't compare a Hensley or ProPride to other hitches as I have had my Hensley for 8 years. But it only takes a few minutes to hook up or unhook the Airstream and we do it all the time, even for one night stays. And if you were in a motorhome, you would have to unhook your toad in order to go to any local restaurants or local attractions, wouldn't you? So what is the difference? Or maybe you were not looking at towing a vehicle behind the moho?

[Pat Cassity]

Good point T! Unhitching and hitching a toad would probably take just as long!

[journeydog]

I had a ProPride on a SOB. (BTW, the ProPride is an embellished Hensley. Old man Hensley sold the Hensley-hitch company but, kept the patents and knowledge of inherent 'problems' and became the key designer of the current ProPride hitch.)

I found that it was a 'piece of cake' to unhitch but, hitching was like trying to do a turbulent in-air refueling at 500 knots...or threading a needle without seeing it. There are lots of tips and tricks to getting the stinger aligned and practice makes it easier. My wife insisted that she could do it nearly every time. She would move the TV closer to 'alignment' by one or two foot increments. Hop out - take a look - hop back in the TV - make corrections as necessary - move back another foot or so - and repeat the process until the stinger was in its' nest. Did I say this process took awhile and a bushel of patience?

The ProPride is an excellent hitch - an almost perfect eliminator of sway - all at a steep price. If you can afford it, I'd recommend you go for it - otherwise, the Equalizer 4 hitch does a very nice job for a lot less moola.

Just my dime - which still makes a pretty good screwdriver.

[JCWDCW]

Originally Posted by journeydog

My wife insisted that she could do it nearly every time. She would move the TV closer to 'alignment' by one or two foot increments. Hop out - take a look - hop back in the TV - make corrections as necessary - move back another foot or so - and repeat the process until the stinger was in its' nest. Did I say this process took awhile and a bushel of patience?

That was how I did it...usually only took a couple of repeats but then there are days....
Still do the same thing with my Easy Lift because now I'm single handing it!
JCW

[m.hony]

In my mind a Hensley or ProPride would be about the same number of steps/same level of difficulty to couple or uncouple as my Equal-i-zer Original 4-point Sway control hitch, which is easier/less steps than the EazLift I had before.

[NCMEDIC]

Here's how I made it easier for myself. It was hard at first trying to visualize the angle between the stinger and the receiver. This makes it much easier to get in the ballpark and then I fine tune the connection at the end.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...id-171968.html

[CarterKraft]

I got my Hensley to tame a unruly SOB trailer and short wheel base tow vehicle.
I dreaded the hookup from reading stories on the web but quickly found they are unwarranted if you have some tools.

The #1 tool is backup camera. This is paramount and you will kick yourself so much for not getting one sooner.

#2 is cordless drill for the jacks.

These two make hitching/unhitching effortless.
I find this hitching to be as easy or easier than my Equalizer and without the drama of latching the weight bars.

I don't doubt there are certain situations where the TV and trailer angles are going to be extreme which might cause some issues but so far no problems.

[Dlbriggs]

Originally Posted by Pat Cassity

Good point T! Unhitching and hitching a toad would probably take just as long!

Toad?