My husband just found that the zerk pin is completely sheared off. Not sure how that happened, as we have only hooked up once to take a drive to a local park, and once to take it back to the dealer for warrenty work, and then of course again to take it home.
Before we can try again, we will need to get a new zerk. I will call Hensley tomorrow, and I will also take some pictures of the hitch and post them this afternoon.
Diane, if you have the heavy duty bars you may want to keep some extra grease fittings on hand. Shearing them off with the heavy duty bars happens because the groove in the bar isn't long enough for the turning radius. Also, they come preset from the factory so if a dealer tightens them to hold in the spring bars they have just created a situation for the fitting to shear off inside the bushing. The fitting should be in just far enough to hold the bar in place while UNHOOKED. When you hook up the fitting doesn't hold the bar in the bushing. The force of the weight distribution holds the bar in.
Diane, move the strut bars to the bottom hole of the frame bracket.
Is this picture what you mean?
I showed him this and he does not know what that has to do with it. Just trying to understand, not that we don't trust what you are saying.
Is this picture what you mean? Attachment 52483
I showed him this and he does not know what that has to do with it. Just trying to understand, not that we don't trust what you are saying.
Yes, that's it. The pin goes in the bottom hole. Make sure you tighten each strut bar after you move them.
Thanks Sean for the info about the strut bars. I can see that other pictures of installations on this site are all on the bottom hole, except for one that was the middle hole, and none had it on the top hole as we do. We tow with a E350 (full ton) van, would that make any difference?
It's kind of a bummer to think that we paid the dealer to install this hitch, and they installed it wrong. We paid several hundred dollars for the installation, and this dealer installs more Hensley's than any other dealer in the country (according to them).
Thanks Sean for the info about the strut bars. I can see that other pictures of installations on this site are all on the bottom hole, except for one that was the middle hole, and none had it on the top hole as we do. We tow with a E350 (full ton) van, would that make any difference?
It's kind of a bummer to think that we paid the dealer to install this hitch, and they installed it wrong. We paid several hundred dollars for the installation, and this dealer installs more Hensley's than any other dealer in the country (according to them).
Diane
You're welcome, Diane. Glad I could help.
It can make a difference when going into dips in campgrounds or gas stations. If the strut bar is tightened and sloping toward the hitch ball like yours was it can slide the frame bracket. Not common, but that would be the result.
Also, I didn't mention this but when you tighten your strut bars make sure your spring bar jacks are FULLY extended to push the main head up and parallel to the tongue of the trailer. This can also aid in hooking up. If the strut bars are tightened too much, and pushing the nose of the hitch head slightly down, you'll bind the hitch bar in the box. By completely extending the jacks BEFORE you tighten the strut bars you'll put the hitch box prallel to the tongue of the trailer.
No we have not tried again, since we discovered that the zerk is broken, the pin is sheared off. My husband wanted me to call and order them, but I insisted that he call so he can talk to them about some of the issues he is having. He is calling them right now. I guess the broken zerk could be part of why the bar kept falling out. I also ordered the magnetic hitchin rods. My husband said they were not necessary, but I convinced him by showing him some of the pictures you pointed me to.
You know, typical man, does not want to ask for directions or read instructions, so I have to do my wifely duty and nag him to do it .
You know, typical man, does not want to ask for directions or read instructions, so I have to do my wifely duty and nag him to do it .
Diane
Gosh Diane,
You aren't intending to provide coaching on the above to the wives at various events are you?
I suspect you'll be pro's at the hitch thing quick enough. The best way to practice is to be towing somewhere and stopping at different campgrounds overnight. It allows you to practice in different settings (and gets you out camping).
Keep us posted.
__________________ The best things in life are health, family, friends and enjoying your Airstream in a campground. Wally on Bro
Barry & Donna Life is short - so's the door on an Flying Cloud (ouch)
You have to understand that "regular" consultations involve enough beer to go around, most hands shoved down into their respective pockets, a scuff of a shoe in the dirt, and a dirty joke or two. Then you can get down to what ideas might work.
I don't have anything to add to the good advise that has been given. I am posting primarily so this thread will show up with other posts I am monitoring. For some reason, other efforts to flag the thread for new posts is not working. I recently purchased and installed myself a haha. At first I was determined to let someone else do it--didn't think I had the time to mess with it. After carefully (and several times) reading this thread and company's installation manual, I decided to take it on. I knew there would be a learning curve, and figured if I installed it myself the curve might be shortened a little. My only issue was that the company sent 1000# bushings for my 1400# bars. That, of course, stopped my installation for a day or so while the company over nighted the correct ones. In my case, I am really glad I took it on myself. Hook ups, adjustments, etc. have been a piece of cake since. As others have mentioned on this thread, I can hook up myself almost easier than with someone guiding me. I have been very pleased with performance of the haha. My only other thought is that I probably need a hitch bar with a 5" drop, which is not an option with haha. The 4" is a little high, but I'm afraid a 6" would drop it too much. Will probably not be satisfied on this until I try the 6". Thanks to 2air for starting the thread, and all others who have contributed that made my installation/use so much easier.
I wanted to follow up, since I mentioned that I was bummed that the dealer did not install this correctly.
I spoke to the service manager, and he then talked to Hensley. Now that they know this is not correct, he wants to send someone to my home to make the correction, and also install the new zerks! Now that is good service. We are about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the dealer, so this will be a big help.
We are human and mistakes can be made, but when a dealer goes out of their way to correct it, they get top marks in my book.
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