Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-24-2005, 09:12 PM   #1
Rivet Master
 
davidz71's Avatar
 
1986 25' Sovereign
Southern Middle , Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,319
Images: 23
Hensley and Rock Tamer

I found a post on www.sunnybrooktalk.com by dmaxfox where he modified the Enkay Rock Tamer center hub to fit the Hensley. All he had done was to mill out a 1/4" wide X 1/4" deep area of the center hub to clear the Hensley drawbar.
__________________
Craig

AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
davidz71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2005, 12:54 PM   #2
Rivet Master
 
vajeep's Avatar
 
1976 27' Overlander
Richmond , Virginia
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 755
Images: 49
Blog Entries: 2
Craig,
I was wondering about this set up for my Suburban. I had heard that the Hensley made this type of rock protection impossible in the past. I just had the Hensley delivered last week and hope to install it in early April. Any information would be great!!
Thanks,
Abe
__________________
"Abe" & Melissa Lincoln
1976 Overlander "Spirit"
2020 GMC Denali Duramax
Hensley Hitch
vajeep is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2005, 06:29 PM   #3
Rivet Master
 
davidz71's Avatar
 
1986 25' Sovereign
Southern Middle , Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,319
Images: 23
Try this link
http://community.webshots.com/user/dmaxfox
__________________
Craig

AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
davidz71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-25-2005, 06:30 PM   #4
Rivet Master
 
davidz71's Avatar
 
1986 25' Sovereign
Southern Middle , Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,319
Images: 23
It looks like all you have to do is relieve a small amount on the bottom end of the hub rather than go up as high as he had done.
__________________
Craig

AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
davidz71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2005, 03:08 PM   #5
Rivet Master
 
vajeep's Avatar
 
1976 27' Overlander
Richmond , Virginia
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 755
Images: 49
Blog Entries: 2
Thanks

Thanks Craig,
After you posts, the photos really helped, I see just what was taken off to make the hitch work. I agree you should not have to file as much away.

I really like the Elkay flaps. After I get the Hensley installed next week I may go ahead and order the flaps.

I will post photos after the fact!

Abe
__________________
"Abe" & Melissa Lincoln
1976 Overlander "Spirit"
2020 GMC Denali Duramax
Hensley Hitch
vajeep is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2005, 03:38 PM   #6
Aluminut
 
Silvertwinkie's Avatar
 
2004 25' Safari
. , Illinois
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,477
Quote:
Originally Posted by davidz71
I found a post on www.sunnybrooktalk.com by dmaxfox where he modified the Enkay Rock Tamer center hub to fit the Hensley. All he had done was to mill out a 1/4" wide X 1/4" deep area of the center hub to clear the Hensley drawbar.
HA! How funny, I just bought one of those this past Friday night. Should hopefully be here this week!

John HD made one of these himself and I loved it, but didn't have the tools or time to fabricate one, so I spend the $$ to buy one. They look like they will stop any tire projectiles from hitting the front of the coach. The rock guards do a nice job, but I was seeing a few strays hit above the rock guards.

But I don't have a Hensley though....
Silvertwinkie is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-28-2005, 06:50 PM   #7
2 Rivet Member
 
wrepete's Avatar
 
1996 28' Excella
Geneseo , New York
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 67
Hensley & Enkay

I bought the Enkay flaps six years ago, and they mounted perfectly with the Reese setup. Then, three years ago I went for the Hensley hitch, only to discover that the Enkay mounting was too thick to mount properly, so I milled out a recess just like the one pictured and the result is a perfect fit. Both are well-designed products. I really like the results and trust you will too!
__________________
Bud
1996 28ft Classic
2008 Silverado Duramax 2500HD
Hensley/BrakeSmart/EnKay
wrepete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-29-2005, 09:51 PM   #8
Rivet Master
 
davidz71's Avatar
 
1986 25' Sovereign
Southern Middle , Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,319
Images: 23
Great Bud! The Rock Tamer has been extremely effective with my present '77 Excella and I wanted to keep it with the '86 Sovereign & Hensley combination. I pick up the '86 this weekend so do not have the time to mill out the center hub. Hope I don't pick up any rocks on the way back from Atlanta.
__________________
Craig

AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
davidz71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2005, 10:29 AM   #9
Rivet Master
 
vajeep's Avatar
 
1976 27' Overlander
Richmond , Virginia
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 755
Images: 49
Blog Entries: 2
I milled out a recess just like the one pictured and the result is a perfect fit. Both are well-designed products. I really like the results and trust you will too![/QUOTE]

Bud,
Thanks for your post. What did you use to mill out that recess? I have a couple of ideas, but you are the first forum member that has done this.
Thanks in advance for your help!
Abe
__________________
"Abe" & Melissa Lincoln
1976 Overlander "Spirit"
2020 GMC Denali Duramax
Hensley Hitch
vajeep is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2005, 01:27 PM   #10
2 Rivet Member
 
wrepete's Avatar
 
1996 28' Excella
Geneseo , New York
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 67
Abe, I have a vertical milling machine in my shop, so I didn't have to go far to solve the problem. There may be other solutions, but the mill is precise so the results are exactly what you expect. If you do a search in your area, you may be able to find a machine shop that will do the work for you without too much expense. Too bad you aren't my neighbor!

Depending on the amount of recess you need, you can also modify that portion of the drawbar it touches a modest amount without creating any problems.

I also modified the length of the flaps so they did not touch the road surface after I switched over to the Hensley. If they drag at all, every piece of anything on the road will be kicked right up onto the front of the Airstream and make a real mess!

Good luck!
__________________
Bud
1996 28ft Classic
2008 Silverado Duramax 2500HD
Hensley/BrakeSmart/EnKay
wrepete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-30-2005, 06:26 PM   #11
Rivet Master
 
davidz71's Avatar
 
1986 25' Sovereign
Southern Middle , Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,319
Images: 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by wrepete
I also modified the length of the flaps so they did not touch the road surface after I switched over to the Hensley. If they drag at all, every piece of anything on the road will be kicked right up onto the front of the Airstream and make a real mess!

Good luck!
Bud,
Curious, what kind of wt. distribution equipment did you use before you bought the Hensley and how much lower did the Hensley drop the rear end or flaps down from the previous position? My flaps are about 4" from the ground now with a Reese unit.
__________________
Craig

AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
davidz71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2005, 09:34 AM   #12
2 Rivet Member
 
wrepete's Avatar
 
1996 28' Excella
Geneseo , New York
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 67
Craig,
I had the Reese dual-cam with the two torsion bars, and now remember that there was no real issue when I added the Enkays with the 2000 Suburban 2500 that I had as my tow vehicle at that time.

When I purchased the '04 Avalanche 2500 I had to switch towbars with Hensley [costing me shipping only] to level the Airstream for towing, and the new setup lowered my flaps enough that they almost touched the ground when I was parked on the level. That seemed fine until I hit a five mile section of newly sealed and graveled piece of highway heading west into Cody, WY last summer.

When we stopped for the night I had a real mess on the front of the AS with gravel and tar sticking and piled everywhere. . . . I trimmed a couple of inches off the flaps [at the top] and remounted them that evening. Experience can be such a wonderful teacher!

With the new truck I also switched to a BrakeSmart controller [which taps into the master cylinder with a hydraulic/ electronic sensor], and that means the brakes on the trailer are activated simultaneously with the tow vehicle, making the whole combination work without any grabbing, lagging, bumping, shuddering, or whatever past things I have experienced in Airstream towing since 1967 [I hate to admit owning SOB for a two year period in the early 90's] with other setups. Totally easy!
__________________
Bud
1996 28ft Classic
2008 Silverado Duramax 2500HD
Hensley/BrakeSmart/EnKay
wrepete is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2005, 08:55 PM   #13
Rivet Master
 
davidz71's Avatar
 
1986 25' Sovereign
Southern Middle , Tennessee
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,319
Images: 23
Thanks for the reply Bud. I'll be off to the local machine shop tomorrow (they have done numerous jobs for me) for a rush job since I leave for Atlanta Sat. morning at 7:30 a.m.
__________________
Craig

AIR #0078
'01 2500hd ext. cab, 8.1 litre gas, 5 sp. Allison auto
3.73 rear end
Mag-Hytec rear diff cover
Amsoil Dual by-pass oil filtration system
Amsoil synthetics all around
265 watt AM Solar, Inc. system
davidz71 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Airstream / Intrepid JD1 Tow Vehicles 90 05-09-2003 10:49 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:42 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.