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SteveH · 11-19-2011, 08:07 AM

Like I said, don't know about the Hensley. The only time I feel anything that could remotely be discribed as a "bump", is when I excellerate too quickly out of a tight turn. Even then, it's not really a bump, but a tug as the trailer straightens out behind the tow when the tow vehicle is pulling hard. Never happens any other time.

overlander63 · 11-19-2011, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r carl

I also was told not to use a vehicle with a transmision that downshifts to slow you down or has an exhaust brake as it will cause the hensley to unlock, the trailer needs to brake first. It could put you in a dangerous situation if it unlocks at the wrong time I was told.

The Hensley does not "unlock". In fact, the situation whoever told you described is exactly why you might want a Hensley. The tow vehicle slows down before the trailer, causing the trailer to want to pass you. It cannot do that with a Hensley or ProPride.

xrvr · 11-19-2011, 08:56 AM

The Allison tranny does not downshift? How do you get it in first? jim

r carl · 11-19-2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi

The Allison tranny does not downshift? How do you get it in first? jim

We are talking about the automatic grade brake feature in that tranny.

xrvr · 11-19-2011, 12:38 PM

okay,jim

SteveH · 11-19-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi

The Allison tranny does not downshift? How do you get it in first? jim

The Allison transmission does a great job of downshifting automatically, if it's in the tow/haul mode. All you have to do is be going down hill, step on the brake, and it downshifts. If you step on the brake again, if it can without sending the engine RPM too high, it will downshift automatically to the next lower gear.

It's probably not as good as an actual engine brake, but it works pretty good.

xonvldz · 11-20-2011, 08:17 AM

i have had my hensley for 5 plus yrs.the only time i ever got a slight bump was while slowing down with the truck in a turn comming up to a stop sign.never felt anything on the road when the truck and trailer are straight.

Friday · 11-20-2011, 10:11 AM

Just to be clear... IF you were using a Hensley/Pro... and didn't have any trailer brakes... if you were in a slight turn and hit the TV brakes, would the trailer/hitch linkage not allow the trailer to continue to pivot? I'm not talking about sway... I'm talking about the trailer being able to continue to move forward as much as the linkage allows it to pivot...

This wouldn't be any different than loosing trailer brakes on a regular ball... but I'm wondering if the virtual pivot point on a Hensley would exaggerate this problem... which is where the idea of not having a tranny or engine brake working without trailer brakes comes from...

???

SteveH · 11-20-2011, 10:17 AM

This is not what you want to hear, but the answer as I see it from my expereince with the ProPride, it depends. Given that senario, it depends on how much of a turn you are in when you stop with no brakes.

I can tell you while gearing down with my rig, I have never had that happen, or have never felt the "bump" that is talked about with the Hensley.

r carl · 11-21-2011, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xonvldz

i have had my hensley for 5 plus yrs.the only time i ever got a slight bump was while slowing down with the truck in a turn comming up to a stop sign.never felt anything on the road when the truck and trailer are straight.

The guy was saying somethine like that happened to him on an off ramp at 35mph. He said he wouldnt want that to happen to him at 55mph.

ROBERT CROSS · 11-21-2011, 12:48 PM

Bump on turns while braking with the haha,(3p?)= strut bars not adjusted properly.(even with proper controller adjust).

Straight line bump while braking=brake controller mis-adjusted.(late trailer brk application).

Bob