a new forum and new hitch and new market approach...

[2airishuman]

hello all trend watchers !

off topic doesn't seem like the ideal place for this thread,

but neither does 'hitches'...

anyway there is apparently a new hitch coming based on the hensley arrow,

and priced just under it.

some discussion of this topic over on rv.net...

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Travel Trailers: Hensley Alternative???

the guy/s who are doing this hitch, have a new company, which isn't really surprising....

pro pride inc. which currently only has a 'fishing' survey' on their website.

what's news worthy, is they also have their own, new rv forums,

and that is a little more interesting, than just another hitch.

it's a growing trend to have 'industry folks' hosting forums...

along with companies developing 'u tube' like media and skipping traditional tele/radio ads.

sometimes it works (company forums) and other times, well it doesn't.

i like the 'read this first post' and the apparently relaxed posting policy.

it will be interesting to see how it evolves "without moderators"...

is no mods even legal?

check out the new forum here...

My RV Talk

and the specific thread on this new hitch here...

Sean & Trailer Sway Elimination? - My RV Talk

looks like he's selling them at a discount and in advance of actually having ANY in stock!

there are some basic pix of some hitch features, but u must register to see them, and i'm NOT trying to promote that.

it is black and gray (not orange!) but color choice may be an option, cool!

cheers
2air'

and the most interesting aspect (2me) is he's using vbulletin 3.6.8 with some of the NEW FEATURES we are still waiting on here.

[CanoeStream]

re: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...ent-15265.html (and a minor mention of patent issues in several posts here)

I recall another thread questioning if other manufacturers would jump onto the Hensley design. Depending on design mods and Hensley renewing their patent (à la "the little purple pill" becoming 2nd & 3rd generation derivative products after...) I suspect the market is rather limited but appealing if one were a minor machine shop trying to capture any sales.

[TomR]

Originally Posted by CanoeStream

re: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...ent-15265.html (and a minor mention of patent issues in several posts here)

I recall another thread questioning if other manufacturers would jump onto the Hensley design. Depending on design mods and Hensley renewing their patent (à la "the little purple pill" becoming 2nd & 3rd generation derivative products after...) I suspect the market is rather limited but appealing if one were a minor machine shop trying to capture any sales.

I would guess that Hensley does have some patent extensions/modifications that are still active...unless they just did not make the investment to define their "improvements".

On the other hand, it sounds like the "new guys" are differentiating their product from the HA...

Also, both patent seeking and defending can be very expensive. It will be interesting to review the new design and follow the progress of the new company...ain't America great! Tom R

[2airishuman]

hi bob

while the original patent has expired, they did do a revision/extension/modification thing a few years ago.

reading what the forum owner, company owner, former hensley employee writes on this issue...

he apparently has new licensing agreements with mr "H" and suggests...

the patients (current or expired) are NOT really any impediment to others doing products that are virtually identical...

he then gives examples i didn't know about (reese had it first, and passed on the haha, too many parts)

and examples i did know about (hensley copying BAL patented stuff)

while we are on the subject of COPY-ING....

it's no surprise a new company would start a website...

but also a WHOLE NEW RV forum instead of posting the info (or being listed as a vendor) here where MILLIONS can read it!

and he's done nothing on the other BIG sites like rv.net, it appears.

well, he IS apparently looking for a good 'welding and fabrication' shop...

cheers
2air'

[CanoeStream]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

it's interesting that he threw together a website/forum instead of posting the info (or being listed as a vendor) here where MILLIONS can read it!

Or:

Originally Posted by Carl Sagan

...billions and billions...

At least it should be 24,149 ... or only the most involved, handsome, intelligent and savvy hundreds and hundreds of Airstream owners in the world.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by CanoeStream

... or only the most involved, handsome, intelligent and savvy hundreds and hundreds of Airstream owners in the world.

hey speaking of TAG LINE CONTESTS, i've got it!!!!

welcome to airforums, where all the women can tow, all the men are good-looking, and all the trailers are above average....

no disrespect to mr k intended.

cheers
2air'

[CanoeStream]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

mr k

A Minnesota legend but not a human being with whom we'd enjoy spending time. A boor of the first water...

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

. . . no disrespect to mr k intended.
2air'

I'm no fan. Go ahead and disrespect all you want.

[Sean Woodruff]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

hello all trend watchers !

off topic doesn't seem like the ideal place for this thread,

but neither does 'hitches'...

anyway there is apparently a new hitch coming based on the hensley arrow,

and priced just under it.

some discussion of this topic over on rv.net...

RV.Net Open Roads Forum: Travel Trailers: Hensley Alternative???

the guy/s who are doing this hitch, have a new company, which isn't really surprising....

pro pride inc. which currently only has a 'fishing' survey' on their website.

what's news worthy, is they also have their own, new rv forums,

and that is a little more interesting, than just another hitch.

it's a growing trend to have 'industry folks' hosting forums...

along with companies developing 'u tube' like media and skipping traditional tele/radio ads.

sometimes it works (company forums) and other times, well it doesn't.

i like the 'read this first post' and the apparently relaxed posting policy.

it will be interesting to see how it evolves "without moderators"...

is no mods even legal?

check out the new forum here...

My RV Talk

and the specific thread on this new hitch here...

Sean & Trailer Sway Elimination? - My RV Talk

looks like he's selling them at a discount and in advance of actually having ANY in stock!

there are some basic pix of some hitch features, but u must register to see them, and i'm NOT trying to promote that.

it is black and gray (not orange!) but color choice may be an option, cool!

cheers
2air'

and the most interesting aspect (2me) is he's using vbulletin 3.6.8 with some of the NEW FEATURES we are still waiting on here.

Hey 2air'

Thanks for the mention of my new company! I was the Vice President of Hensley Mfg for over 10 years. When I started with the company they had only sold a little over 300 hitches. As you mentioned I have licensed the next generation from Jim Hensley. Jim Hensley is no longer on speaking terms with the owner of the company that was named after him.

That's not really what I am chiming in here about.

The forum is really an offshoot of my former forum that was dedicated to SunnyBrook owners. I used to own a SB dealership and started that forum in 2002. In July, the president of SB sent me a private message threatening a law suit due to some bad press the company was getting on the forum. Although I don't believe he had a legal leg to stand on my partner was rather nervous and I decided to switch it over to the generic MyRVTalk.

You're also rather astute at noticing that "social media" is becoming more and more a part of business marketing. I believe the evolution only makes sense because the customer is really the only person a company should be listening to. The old school advertising that touts product and rams a message down the markets throat is becoming less and less effective by the minute.

Anyway, thanks again for the mention here. If anyone has any questions just shoot them at me.

Sean

[millvalleyca]

Sean
Can you estimate when your "new hensley" hitch will be out? I'm planning on buying the Hensley Arrow next month.
Thanks
Dennis

[2airishuman]

hi sean and welcome to asf...

wow that was fast!

how did you know about this thread so quickly, was your keyboard itching?

thanks for the explanation about the sunnybrook origins for the new forum.

squabbles happen and from them new things appear.

hey how about giving us a few more clues related to the new contraption and perhaps some image/picture files here.

i know we can go over to your new site, but frankly one rv forum (this one) is enough for me....

and there are a lotta hitch using customers here.

the 'hitch threads can get pretty animated here, check out the "HITCHES" sub forum...

i do have one favorite, however...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...ide-26279.html

i think IF you do any product promotion here you have to register with 'commercial vendor account' of some sort...

but this is easy and free (a mod/adm can help) i think.

again welcome!

2air'

[Sean Woodruff]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

hi sean and welcome to asf...

wow that was fast!

how did you know about this thread so quickly, was your keyboard itching?

thanks for the explanation about the sunnybrook origins for the new forum.

squabbles happen and from them new things appear.

hey how about giving us a few more clues related to the new contraption and perhaps some image/picture files here.

i know we can go over to your new site, but frankly one rv forum (this one) is enough for me....

and there are a lotta hitch using customers here.

i think IF you do any product promotion here you have to register with 'vendor account' of some sort...

but this is easy and free (a mod/adm can help) i think.

again welcome!

2air'

Thanks for the welcome.

It might be a new feature in the latest version of vBulletin but my forum registers Linkbacks. Anytime the thread is linked from another site it registers that link at the bottom of the thread. That's where I found this thread.

I also knew something was up because I had 15 people register for my trailer sway report to be mailed to them. The people requesting that report from my Dec. Trailer Life ad have died down over the past 2 weeks so when it spiked again I went hunting for the reason. The first few days that TL was hitting mailboxes there were around 30 requests each day, it went down to about 3 a day and then spiked back up today.

I'll check into the vendor account tomorrow when I get into the office.

Do I need a vendor account to post pictures?

[millvalleyca]

please...just post the pictures and the moderators can figure it out later!

[wayne.yl]

Sean,
Thanks for speaking up about your new RV Forum.
I can't wait to register and join the discussions.
I have enjoyed and benefited from the wealth of information
about RVing and trailering found on AirF, but as you know, the information highway doesn't stop here. I will welcome the wisdom of others who have traversed the highways and byways pulling their home away from home regardless if its silver or not.
Good luck with your new ventures,
Wayne

[Sean Woodruff]

Originally Posted by millvalleyca

please...just post the pictures and the moderators can figure it out later!

I don't want to walk into someone's home and start throwing around pictures.

I will talk to admin and find out.

At this point I only have prototype pics and they are on my office computer so it will be tomorrow at the earliest.

[millvalleyca]

Thanks...i'm just anxious
I planned on buying the HA next month but I guess I'll have to wait and see.
Will there be a network of authorized dealers that will install your new units?

[Sean Woodruff]

Originally Posted by millvalleyca

Thanks...i'm just anxious
I planned on buying the HA next month but I guess I'll have to wait and see.
Will there be a network of authorized dealers that will install your new units?

I haven't contacted any dealers at this point. I'm sure the dealer side of the business will build slowly like it has done with the Arrow.

It is really simple to install for the end user or any RV dealership could do the install.

[Sean Woodruff]

Originally Posted by millvalleyca

Sean
Can you estimate when your "new hensley" hitch will be out? I'm planning on buying the Hensley Arrow next month.
Thanks
Dennis

Sorry Dennis but I missed this one...

I will be shipping product by mid-January.

Sean

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by Sean Woodruf

...I also knew something was up because I had 15 people register for my trailer sway report to be mailed to them...

Do I need a vendor account to post pictures?

very funny,

i wondered how the spike in hits and requests for the sway report would jump with this thread.

the web lives!

any member acct. can post pictures.

and since you are NOT hiding the fact that you are a vendor,

i'm sure the mods will go easy on the advertising here issue....

can't wait to see the pictures and read the report.

best of luck

2air'

[Sean Woodruff]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

i do have one favorite, however...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...ide-26279.html

That is a GREAT thread! I think I should have put you on the Hensley Mfg. payroll when I was there,