F250 + 30’ International Serenity, is Hensley or ProPride worth it?

[Powerrunner]

Searching the need to upgrade, or not, my E2 Hitch with either the Hensley or ProPride. The question is, is it worth the investment, and/or even needed with my 2020 F250 pulling a 30’ 2019 International Serenity. I know folks that have the Hensley or ProPride speak very highly of the investment, so much that it sounds like they are trying to justify the major expense. I realize that these hitches are awesome, and might be perfect with other TV and Trailers. My question, is with a F250 Diesel pulling a low center of gravity Airstream that is not like pulling a huge box really even needed? Looking for your thoughts! Also if not the Hensley or ProPride what setup do you have with an F250 or equivalent in pulling a 30’ Airstream? And have you considered upgrading investing in either the Hensley or ProPride?

[Powerrunner]

PS: I get the Stinger issue, in getting use to the hookup, not interested in those comments.

[BayouBiker]

The E2 is not a particularly good performing hitch for sway damping so nearly any upgrade will reduce trailer yaw. The E2 is a nice hitch, just not a lot of sway control compared to others. Your combination will give you a bit of movement in crosswinds etc. though it will remain stable unless you make a serious driving error so it depends mostly on your comfort level, your passengers' comfort desires, and whether or not a small bit of side to side jog bothers you. Most relevant is how much you value reduction in risk of sway from low to very, very low. You're most at risk of sway if a fast moving semi happens to get too close to you while passing and you overcorrect or on a sharp corner on a steep downgrade if you suddenly decelerate and there is some crosswind. Even in these situations the Propride may not save you, but it will certainly help a great deal, and will give you the time you need to properly react. Of course the best situation is to avoid them by maintaining driver awareness. The Propride will also keep the trailer rock solid in normal driving circumstances.

So hopefully that gives you the info you need to help you decide if it is worth it to you.

[ROBERT CROSS]

YES...The PPP is the easiest and best way,(cheep? not so much,) to improve safety and peace of mind while towing.
Rationalise....Airstream$$$, tow vehicle$$$, why cut corners on the hitch?

Bob
🇺🇸
15 Seasons SFSG. Cheers.

[tbrowne]

People tend to recommend what they have because it works for them but many times have no experience with other setups. I'm pulling a 30' Flying Cloud that weighs just over 8,000 lbs loaded and has a 1,200 lb tongue weight. My truck is a 2020 Chevrolet 2500HD with the Duramax diesel engine. I don't use weight distribution or sway control of any kind with this truck and it doesn't need it. The Airstream pulls straight down the road without any problems. I notice very little effect when being passed by tractor trailer outfits or strong winds. The freedom of being able to drop the ball on the hitch and drive away is really good. My previous trailer was a large box about the same hitch weight and over a 1,000 lbs heavier on which I did use weight distribution and sway control. It was a pain to deal with hitching and unhitching when traveling - I don't miss it a bit. I doubt you'll need weight distribution with an F250. Try it with just the hitch and see how the rig tows before adding devices you may not need.

[BayouBiker]

I find the advice to try going without sway damping and WD to see how it performs doesn't make much sense to me.

The purpose of supplemental sway damping is to add protection against unusual sway events on the edges of the combination's safe capabilities. You won't learn if your edge is far enough beyond what you are likely to encounter while towing until it is too late. If your combination sways or is close enough to the sway critical speeds under normal driving conditions without crosswinds, steep grades or sudden sharp corners, then your combination is beyond its capacity and supplemental sway is not enough, other measures are needed including perhaps re-evaluating the combination altogether.

What am I missing?

[wulfraat]

That is the setup I have

2500
30' Serenity
ProPride

Tows great. The benefit of the pro pride is that weight distribution is independent of sway elimination. I run very little tension on my bars (not necessary with an 800lb diesel up front and 45/55 weight balance) but I have all the benefits of sway elimination.

My equalizer was much harder on the trailer because you needed to crank up the bars to deter sway.

I agree with Bob. I mean, you have $175k or what have you worth of tuck and trailer. Why go cheap on the most important safety device in the chain? I bought my ProPride gently used for $1500 bucks...

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by tbrowne

I doubt you'll need weight distribution with an F250. Try it with just the hitch and see how the rig tows before adding devices you may not need.

At your own peril..do NOT ignore WD & sway control, if not for you, for fellow travelers.
POI...we towed 18 Seasons with varied hitches, the PPP was the BEST safety move we did.

Bob
🇺🇸

[tbrowne]

Everyone on the internet is an expert!

[majorairhead]

Having spent a wee bit of time on this website I will say that a thread such as this will surely leave one wondering if they are indeed better off having posted it

I tow a 30 Serenity with an F250 and an Equalizer hitch.

[BayouBiker]

How about you tbrowne are you an expert? Are you confident towing combinations such as yours will never benefit from supplemental sway damping? Given that a properly loaded trailer, hitched properly with the correct geometry will tow straight down the road without any problem, how is that an endorsement for how the combination responds if the trailer gets out of alignment which is when sway becomes a problem? What expertise do you have in assessing which vehicle combinations will recover from a 3 degree trailer yaw event?

[majorairhead]

Nice compilation of trailers crashing.....

https://youtu.be/UdmlPu33Iew

[pakman31]

Originally Posted by majorairhead

Nice compilation of trailers crashing.....

https://youtu.be/UdmlPu33Iew

Dang - sure glad I bought an F350, 6.7 to tow our 27FB International (on order for 5/21 delivery).

I will also invest in a WDH for sway control.

No way I want to flip with DW, two kids and dog in TV!!

[jackpsavidge]

that was a video of a bunch of cars and suvs towing trailers they shouldn't, utility trailers with loads handing out the back and double trailers in bad weather. there was exactly one travel trailer being towed by an appropriate vehicle. How is this video appropriate to this discussion?

[Gkiesel]

The hensley is worth it to me.

[ttrout]

Yes well worth it.

[majorairhead]

Originally Posted by jackpsavidge

that was a video of a bunch of cars and suvs towing trailers they shouldn't, utility trailers with loads handing out the back and double trailers in bad weather. there was exactly one travel trailer being towed by an appropriate vehicle. How is this video appropriate to this discussion?

The great thing about youtube videos is that one can select numerous other similar and/or related videos to view Or search the entire web for same.

Might sway control have prevented some of the incidents in that video?

Might a newcomer not learn from watching inappropriate towing setups?

Might watching any trailer swaying out of control, and what it can do to the tow vehicle, not cause one to ponder?

https://youtu.be/Z7Kfl97b57s

[lsbrodsky]

This topic always generates mucho opinions! What is worth it? How can you tell if you never crash or roll? I know that while I was still thinking about an Airstream and browsing this forum, I learned a lot about a Propride. I did more research on various hitch types and concluded that, for peace of mind, I wanted what appeared to be the safest hitch I could get. The price was not an issue given that I was spending money on an Airstream, not a utility trailer. My only experience towing was boats and there was sway. I have only towed my Airstream with my Propride. I feel safe and believe I made the right decision.
Larry

[Rgentum]

Oh, my --- here we go again.

This ProPride/Hensley topic seems to be debated about every two weeks, certainly ever month. You might look at prior threads about it, as in my humble opinion, no new issue about it is ever posted. Lots of anecdotal opinions --- by and large, a total lack of evidence resulting from controlled experiments.

When I was growing up, those many decades ago, the issue was "Is buying and driving a Cadillac worth it?" Now, at least among trailer pullers, it's "Is buying and towing with a ProPride or Hensley worth it?"

[davetoregon]

Originally Posted by majorairhead

Having spent a wee bit of time on this website I will say that a thread such as this will surely leave one wondering if they are indeed better off having posted it

I tow a 30 Serenity with an F250 and an Equalizer hitch.

3500 Ram plus the 30' and Equalizer. Just fine.