RE: [A/S] 2001 34' Limited

["Perry Joe Scudder" <perryjoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Maurice,
You don't need to get all excited about hooking up the Hensley. The
truck and trailer should be on the same horizontal and vertical plane
and straight in alignment side to side for a one shot back in hook up,
but it is not a must in order to hook up. The side to side angle is not
a problem at all. I hook mine up in my drive way at about an 85 degree
angle every time I bring it home. I back down a 200 foot level one lane
driveway then turn the trailer at the last minute to park it across the
50' wide parking space that is perpendicular to the end of the driveway.
This puts the trailer and truck at about an 85 degree angle when I stop
to unhook. I have no trouble with that angle, but it is harder to hit
that little square hole that is now not aligned with anything when it
gets time to re-hook. I usually take 3 or 4 tries, whereas, I can
usually hit it in one try if I am straight. The straight approach allows
me to use the lock on my truck roll top cover, a CB antenna mounted on
the trailer tongue, and the latch that holds up the propane tank cover
up on the front of the trailer for a first try hookup 98% of the time. I
have tried several ways to get the vertical height correct on the first
try, and have not found one that works 100% of the time. I have found it
just as easy to get within a foot or so and get out and adjust the
height as needed with the trailer jack then back on in the hitch.
The other problem you mentioned about the truck and trailer being on an
angle in the vertical plane may be a little more tricky. I am not sure
how much misalignment one can deal with in that direction. This is where
the term "crank the spring bar jacks down until the spring bars get
loose then just start to get snug again" comes into play. This will hold
the hitch head at the correct angle in order to hook back up when the
time comes. I know this can be quiet a bit of an angle, but you run out
of travel on the spring bar jacks before they get "snug again" if it is
a very large angle. As Hunter mentioned, you use the trailer jack to get
the two vehicles as close to level as possible, and hope that is good
enough. It has always worked for me, but if the trailer was backed up a
15 degree up grade driveway and the truck was still setting level on the
street that could be a bit tricky. You might ask Hensley how much
vertical misalignment the hitch can stand at the hitch point and still
be able to get the bar in and out of the box.
One other point of interest, I often find my hitch is not in a straight
line when I get the trailer on the campsite where I want it. I unhook
then swing the head around to where it is straight before going back to
hookup. There is a little gravity lock that drops into one of three
slots to keep the head from moving around when the bar is removed. You
have to reach in the box and push the lock pin up in order to get the
hitch to go straight, then let it drop into the slot there. The
misalignment in this case is caused by maneuvering the trailer to a
level spot on the site, but I can get a straight run at the hitch when
it is time to hook up and pull out.

Hope this helps. It may sound complicated, but as Hunter can attest, it
is very easy after the first time or two. I would much rather hook up
the Hensley than take down the water hose. That is my least favorite
chore in all of camping with my rig. I always drag the ends through the
dirt, get all dirty and wet during this job - YUCK.

Joe Scudder
WBCCI 8624