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dmcummins · 03-16-2011, 08:09 PM

For those interested. I cut the original stinger with a band saw. Took the parts from PP to where I use to work and gave a welder a box of girl scout cookies. He welded everything up for me and now I just need to clean everything up and paint. Only problem is it's to tight right now. I had to hammer it in there. I'll have to hit it lightly with a grinder.

Its really not difficult, even if you had to pay a welder, it would be cheaper than having multiple stinger's.

dmcummins · 03-18-2011, 09:29 AM

I got it painted up and its ready to go. The modified hitch is about 2-1/2" longer than original.

dmcummins · 06-10-2011, 10:29 AM

Well it didn't take long to need a new drop bar. I bought another truck and Ive gone from a 2" to 5" and now I'm at 7" of drop. I can go more, but much more and I think I would start looking at a different hitch system.

crispyboy · 06-10-2011, 01:03 PM

Looks like you took the same route I did - works pretty slick doesn't it!
I notice your tow vehicle is a Dodge in the pictures. The 4x4 trucks have about 1.25" of spacers you can take out of the rear springs. I'm not sure if the 2wd have these spacers. I removed them from my truck and it sits much more level now - got rid of some of the rake.

dmcummins · 06-10-2011, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crispyboy

Looks like you took the same route I did - works pretty slick doesn't it!
I notice your tow vehicle is a Dodge in the pictures. The 4x4 trucks have about 1.25" of spacers you can take out of the rear springs. I'm not sure if the 2wd have these spacers. I removed them from my truck and it sits much more level now - got rid of some of the rake.

Mines a 4x4 and its actually been lifted slightly. 2" in the front or leveled. And I see where its got a 1" or so block under the rear springs. I'm just to lazy to remove them now, maybe later.

Wingeezer · 06-10-2011, 04:57 PM

I wonder why Hensley are so reluctant to provide such a design? Maybe the money to be made on selling stingers of different heights - although they do offer free exchange to original owners such as myself. Maybe they make $$ on shipping costs charged?

I did question one of their tech people on this point once and the only answer I got was that they had looked at it and concluded that it was not the way to go. No further detail offered - I should have asked - must be too polite!

I had to swap mine when I moved from our Sierra 1500 to 2500HD.

Brian.

crispyboy · 06-15-2011, 06:22 AM

DMCummins - I took the spacers out of the rear springs because I wanted the truck to ride more level, sit lower and I can put it in the garage with the cap on the back. I would lower the whole truck 4 inches if I could. I miss my old Jeep pickup.

I posed the question to Hensley and the answer was that there would be potential for side to side movement in the setup. I think it is more of a profit issue and I can't blame them for wanting to make a buck. Sometimes you just have to get creative.
I would be real surprised if there was any side to side movement as it takes quite a bit of effort and a small sledge hammer to make the stinger elevation adjustment.

dmcummins · 07-10-2011, 08:50 PM

Well I just got back from a 700 mile trip with my new setup. I ended up dropping the stinger down to about 8", with this I was able to put a little more weight on the front axel and keep the trailer pretty level. I have 1000lbs bars if that makes any difference.

Everything worked great. No sway as expected, trailer tracked very true, everything stayed tight and true. Truck is a big improvement as expected going from a 1/2 to to 3/4 ton diesel.

Only concern was when I was filling up with water. Experience a very large bang from the hitch area. I guess the trailer rolled forward and the hitch pivoted and clanged. I checked everything back there and everything was still tight. I didn't have the brakes on at the time, I was just getting ready to move. It never happened again but it was loud. I have heard of the bump, but this was more of a bang.

And I got 13.9 mpg hand calculated. I was running around 65 most of the way, St. Louis to the Indiana Dunes, very flat. I'm happy with that. And my bias ply China bomb's did not explode.

davidz71 · 07-10-2011, 09:31 PM

Last year I sent a message to Hensley asking if they had considered an adjustable stinger and they replied that they were concerned about the strength of that type of setup and that was why they had not offered it.

slowmover · 12-05-2011, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidz71

Last year I sent a message to Hensley asking if they had considered an adjustable stinger and they replied that they were concerned about the strength of that type of setup and that was why they had not offered it.

A non-answer.

Unless every engineer really has moved to India or China to have a hands-on career related to manufacturing then what their answer doesn't say is what counts.

Was studying this thread -- again -- as I remembered the work above (nice!) but couldn't remember if some "tilt" was added. I'll have to use my H/A for a while, again, on another Silver Streak until yet another is sourced & bought (time & money against me for the immediate present) in calendar 2012.

.

dmcummins · 12-06-2011, 06:47 AM

The parts I got from Sean included the pin and washers that allow for you to adjust the tilt. Ive only put about 1000 miles so far on mine and everything is still good. I'm making the trip to Florida soon so I'll be putting another 2500 miles or so on. I'm still happy with the setup, I really havn't changed anything since I changed trucks, but I would have had to buy two bars by now.

Jeff9377 · 03-23-2018, 08:53 AM

Has anyone considered this. Like many Hensley owners i got a new truck but am not original owner of my Arrow.

MaggieMarty · 06-04-2018, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff9377

Has anyone considered this. Like many Hensley owners i got a new truck but am not original owner of my Arrow.

Bump.

I also am curious about the Gen-y adjustable drop hitches as a receiver for the Hensley Stinger. It seems extremely well built and solid. Comes in different drops and with or without Torsion. One can order the hitches also without ball mount. https://genyhitch.com/product-category/drop-hitches/

Anybody?

rmkrum · 06-04-2018, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidz71

Last year I sent a message to Hensley asking if they had considered an adjustable stinger and they replied that they were concerned about the strength of that type of setup and that was why they had not offered it.

Literally thousands and thousands of different brand hitches use adjustable drop stingers without an issue. ProPride is just one example of many brands that do so...

It's a non-issue if built sturdy enough...the Gen-V looks like a prime example of 'sturdy'...

Jeff9377 · 06-05-2018, 05:40 AM

Sorry I should have posted this sooner. I spoke to the manufacture of the Gen Y and they advised me they would not recommend their product with the Arrow. One of the reasons was the weight distribution of The Arrow would be affected. Not sure why.