[A/S] Re: Sad News

["Maurice Riggins" <maurice.riggins@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Tony, I'm sure sorry to hear about your loss, but grateful ya'll are 
okay!  Let me give you some advice for a new rig.  First, get a tow 
vehicle with a long wheelbase and short overhang behind the rear 
axle. 

There are only two hitches that eliminate the effect of sway on the 
tow vehicle, and that's the Pullrite and the Hensley.  They move the 
pivot point to the tow vehicle rear axle where the trailer has no 
leverage on the tow vehicle.  The Pullrite essentially turns the 
trailer into a fifth wheel, with all the advantages and disadvantages 
thereof.  The Hensley essentially turns the rig into a motorhome when 
it's straight.  These are the only two hitches where the tow 
vehicle's ability to turn the rig IS NOT AFFECTED by the hitch's 
resistance to sway, so the latter doesn't have to be compromised to 
provide the former.  You can pivot a Hensley or Pullrite with your 
fingers.

All other sway controls fight and try to reduce sway.  They don't 
eliminate it.

All other sway controls fight the tow vehicle turning the trailer as 
much as they fight the trailer turning the tow vehicle.  They are a 
compromise.  If they are set tight enough to be effective against 
severe sway, the tow vehicle can't turn the rig.  If they're loosened 
up so they don't bind in a turn, they have much less ability to to 
dampen sway.

The Equal-I-Zer is simply a friction sway control on each side of the 
tongue.  While it innovatively uses the spring bars as part of a 
friction sway control on each side, it's no better than any other 
friction sway control at damping sway.  It CAN'T be regardless of 
what their marketing says.

The Dual-Cam also fights and reduces sway with the cam action that 
tries to return the trailer to center.  But it also is limited in how 
much it can fight sway.  If it fought sway significantly, the tow 
vehicle couldn't turn the rig.

There's an Airstream dealer in London, Ontario who sets up rigs 
pulled by woefully inadequate tow vehicles, such as front wheel drive 
cars and minivans.  And they're dragging as much as my 9800 lb 34'!   
I don't condone this at all!  But part of their testing is doing skid 
pad runs with various tow vehicle and trailer combos, dragging a 
trailer through the cones, and in every case, a Hensley increases 
speed through the cones by 10-12% over a conventional hitch.  From 
what I hear, Hensley shows the Intrepid going through the cones on 
their video, and if that's the case, I consider it irresponsible 
marketing.  A Hensley should be used IN ADDITION to having a proper 
tow vehicle, but from what I hear, they market it as a cure for 
mismatched rigs.  But their marketing doesn't override the fact that 
it's the best hitch design on the market.

Having a Hensley or Pullrite is like wearing a seatbelt or a 
motorcycle helmet.  The odds of needing their capability is low. Many 
go through their entire life never needing any of them.  But when you 
do, they're priceless.  The only folks who'll tell you that you don't 
need a Hensley or Pullrite, or that those hitches won't help, are 
those who don't use one.