Re: [A/S] Re: Hensley Hitch Install

[Dick Kenan <as5368@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

         What makes you think that the Hensley "locks up" the trailer and
tow vehicle?  That's not my understanding at all.  As I understand it, the
linkage prevents the trailer from steering the tow vehicle, but doesn't
prevent the tow vehicle from steering the trailer.  That's not a lock
up.  Furthermore, once the angle between the trailer and the tow vehicle
exceeds 15 °,  the linkage ceases to function as before, and the towing
point reverts to the hitch ball, as in other hitches.
         The main competitor for the Hensley is the Pull Rite.  Like the
Hensley, it places the tow point at the rear axle, like a fiver; it stays
permanently at that point.  That's not a lock up either.
[snip]

>I feel that the design of the Equal-i-zer hitch which uses friction and
>sliding tension bars on the hitch itself is really a "better" designed hitch
>than either the Hensley or the Reese dual-cam anti-sway setup.

         I have never used one of these hitches, which Charlie
recommends.  It's certainly cheaper than the Hensley and the Pull Rite, and
worth serious consideration.

>[snip]  By allowing very firm yet still movable parts
>to interact with each other under all but the severest skidding situation I
>feel that the Equal-i-zer hitch has both the Hensley and Reese dual-cam
>setup beat in design. [snip]

         When we have more data on this hitch, we can decide for ourselves.

>Another thing I've been thinking about with these Hensley hitches today is
>their high cost to begin with.  I know that R&D costs big bucks.  Insurance
>is higher today than ever before thanks in part to 9/11.  It is surprising
>that more companies are not out of business due to just the higher insurance
>costs but they may be soon if something is not done about that issue.

         That is just speculation, based on what?  The president of
Hensley, Colin Conley, told me that the hitch is intrinsically
expensive.  They have most of the parts manufactured for them, and he
claims that parts cost alone is very high.  If the parts cost is as high as
he says, then I'd expect them to be going out of business in a few years -
that's based on my own bias, stemming from the old electronics industry,
where 5X parts cost was considered "break even."  Maybe this business has a
much lower break even.

>Getting back to high initial costs - why SO high?

         Why don't you just ask Colin?


>  I know it can happen, but then again maybe owners of the Hensley and
> other hitches that "lock" tow vehicle and trailer as a unit just park
> them until the weather clears.  Maybe?

         Doesn't happen, Tom.  No lock up.  I know these are just your
thoughts, but I am concerned that they are likely to mislead newbies and/or
people who don't understand how these hitches work.  Others have posited
this "lock up," but it's just wrong.  The key is placing the effective or
actual tow point under the rear axle.

- Dick
(5368)