Hensley & propride

First trailer · 02-25-2016, 04:03 PM

Hi everyone,

Just bought my first travel trailer, a grey wolf 26dbh, which I am taking delivery of in late March and am trying to decide om a weight distribution / sway system. I am considering the Hensley arrow or propride 3p. I know that with a sway control system a minimum tongue weight is 10 percent; however is this true for these systems which eliminate sway? I have been told that 10 percent is not required because the trailer can't sway no matter how little the tongue weight with these hitches.

youroo · 02-25-2016, 04:19 PM

You still need # on the Rear of TV or you wont have to Worry about Sway because you will have Traction and Stopping issues! TW is your Friend!

Youroo!!

youroo · 02-25-2016, 04:20 PM

Sorry,

Youroo!!

First trailer · 02-25-2016, 04:26 PM

but is it okay if that 10 percent drops to say 8 since the sway is eliminated. I am close to my max tongue weight.

fonzie · 02-25-2016, 04:30 PM

I have a ProPride 3 P and have 14% tongue weight and pulls great. If I were you I would contact Sean at ProPride and discuss to get best answer....

Trailer Sway Control Hitch Guaranteed to Eliminate Trailer Sway - ProPride 3P

DDC · 02-25-2016, 04:31 PM

Where are you going to find a trailer with hardly any tongue weight?
I have had a Hensley for a long time now and while I assume the P3 does the same thing I don't know, however the Hensley is the perfect hitch that does everything it claims to do.

youroo · 02-25-2016, 04:31 PM

Sounds like you need a Bigger TV or Smaller RV! You could Post what you have and the WAG's would be easier!

Youroo!!

First trailer · 02-25-2016, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fonzie

I have a ProPride 3 P and have 14% tongue weight and pulls great. If I were you I would contact Sean at ProPride and discuss to get best answer....

Trailer Sway Control Hitch Guaranteed to Eliminate Trailer Sway - ProPride 3P

I have contacted them and they said that I don't need 10 percent. One actually said that I could use their hitch with 0 tongue weight with absolutely no sway. I just wanted to see if this is what others are experiencing.

youroo · 02-25-2016, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDC

Where are you going to find a trailer with hardly any tongue weight?
I have had a Hensley for a long time now and while I assume the P3 does the same thing I don't know, however the Hensley is the perfect hitch that does everything it claims to do.

Hi Donald,the trailers with the "Spread Axles" you know the ones that Really Scuff the Tires when turning,if loaded Heavy in the Rear might have 0 TW!

Youroo!!

youroo · 02-25-2016, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by First trailer

I have contacted them and they said that I don't need 10 percent. One actually said that I could use their hitch with 0 tongue weight with absolutely no sway. I just wanted to see if this is what others are experiencing.

No sway,but you better Hope it is NOT Raining because you will not move or Stop!

Youroo!!

First trailer · 02-25-2016, 04:48 PM

The trailer is a grey wolf 26dbh and the tow vehicle is a Ford Expedition EL with the tow package. Expedition has tow capacity of 8,700lbs and max tongue weight of 890lbs. The grey wolf is 5,622lbs dry with a tongue weight of just over 700lbs. We only will be camping for long weekends so don't see ever loading more than 1,000 lbs of cargo.

lbrjet · 02-25-2016, 06:32 PM

Those hitches are heavy and are going to add a lot to your tongue weight.

2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

First trailer · 02-25-2016, 06:39 PM

Yes - they are about 85 lbs more (195 for propride vs. 108 per equalizer). However if tongue weight can go down to day 8 or 9 percent with these vs say 12 with the equalizer overall tongue weight would be less. Just trying not to rush into something I will regret.

DDC · 02-25-2016, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by First trailer

Yes - they are about 85 lbs more (195 for propride vs. 108 per equalizer). However if tongue weight can go down to day 8 or 9 percent with these vs say 12 with the equalizer overall tongue weight would be less. Just trying not to rush into something I will regret.

If you find yourself regretting using a Hensley you will be the first.

uhduh camping · 02-25-2016, 09:02 PM

Hensley or pro pride are great hitches. I absolutely love my Hensley. I just don't think it will do what you want. The hitches are heavy as you know. The weight distribution abilities of these hitches is not great. Tongue weight is just that, tongue weight, a weight distribution system doesn't change that. True it will not sway, but thats only part of the problem. Traction, as Youroo stated, will be an issue. You definitely do not want the trailer picking up TV. Please remember that Sean is a salesman first. I have heard from other forums of his sometimes shady tactics. However you may be able to use water as a ballast. Not sure which tank to use but adding water to the rear most tank could reduce some tongue weight, but will take away from carrying capacities of RV and add more towing weight to TV. It's a double edged sword but it MIGHT work.

vajeep · 02-26-2016, 12:32 AM

Had a ProPride when we had out TT, and it is absolutely a fantastic hitch. Looking at your numbers I think you are really underestimating how much tongue weight you will actually have. Looks to me like you're going to be in a great place.

Remember that dry weight doesn't include the hitch, propane, or batteries. I'd be shocked if your loaded tongue weight was less than 850.

First trailer · 02-26-2016, 06:47 AM

Everyone - thanks for all of the response.

Let me clarify a bit more. This is my first trailer and I really want the hitch that will give me the best control and towing experience and based on what I've read it sounds like this is a Hensley or Propride. However, I'm afraid that the weight of these hitches will put me well over my tongue capacity based on their high weight (195lbs). Here are the numbers I have: tongue weight of trailer dry 725; propane 75; battery 50. This brings my tongue weight to about 850lbs and if I add the Hensley or Propride it will bring the tongue weight to 1,045 which is well over my 900lb max. However, this trailer has the rear cargo rack (which holds 200lbs) as well as a large storage compartment under the rear bunk which is behind the rear axel. I am planning to put a generator and bikes on the rack and approximately 40% of the weight placed on the rear rack will come directly off the tongue weight. So if I put 175lbs this would be about 70lbs directly off the tongue weight. If I then put the other heavier items under the bunk or even put some water in the tanks as uhduh mentioned to get the tongue weight back to about 850lbs does this sound like it will work? I am even willing to remove the battery (I will charge prior to leaving) or propane off the tongue and move them to a safe place in the trailer while traveling. I will still have about 9% trailer tongue weight. I am not suggesting going down lower. So with the loaded trailer at 7,000lbs a 9% trailer tongue weight would be 630lbs plus the weight of the hitch itself would bring the total tongue weight on my vehicle to 825lbs which should be a good spot based on it's 900lb max. Am I overthinking all of this?

vajeep · 02-26-2016, 07:44 AM

Sounds like you have a good handle on things. I actually had a similar dilemma with tongue weight, switched to 2 golf cart batteries as well (110lbs) and had far too much. I ended up relocating my batteries to a rack on the rear. Important thing is to visit your scales and validate your assumptions. Sounds like you are close enough to be able to make it work.

lbrjet · 02-26-2016, 10:44 AM

I would be surprised if you could take that much weight off the tongue just by loading your trailer the way you say. My 12K EQ weighs 95 lbs. The natural balance on your trailer is about a 13% TW and I'm not sure that changing that drastically is a good idea. Will you be overloading your rear axle, don't know. If your traveling weight is 6500 lbs and you got your TW to 12.5% (about perfect by the way), add 90 lbs for a 1K EQ hitch that puts you right at 900 lbs TW.

2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

First trailer · 02-26-2016, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbrjet

I would be surprised if you could take that much weight off the tongue just by loading your trailer the way you say. My 12K EQ weighs 95 lbs. The natural balance on your trailer is about a 13% TW and I'm not sure that changing that drastically is a good idea. Will you be overloading your rear axle, don't know. If your traveling weight is 6500 lbs and you got your TW to 12.5% (about perfect by the way), add 90 lbs for a 1K EQ hitch that puts you right at 900 lbs TW.

2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

Yes not sure either. I know that the dry tongue weight is heavy to partially compensate for the rear cargo rack which is built to hold 200lbs per forest river. I can't try to see the effect of moving things on tongue weight because I haven't picked up the trailer at the dealer yet, but have to make a decision on the hitch before I do. Are you happy with you equalizer? That is the weight distribution / sway control carried by my dealer, but I am a bit paranoid which is why I am considering upgrading to Hensley. Dealer says I would be fine with the equalizer, but of course they would because that's what the carry. They also told me I would be fine with a trailer that had a 7,500lb dry weight. Do you think the equalizer would be okay with the length and weight of my trailer and tow vehicle?

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