Re: [A/S]Technology and sway control

["bleipper" <rv@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I disagree. The Hensley is, IMHO, an absolutely necessary appliance.

No problem with a disagreement but I am wondering why you consider
something "absoultely necessary" when so many folks are doing quite
fine without it. 

> There is, right now, no braking system that will
> remotely mimic this hitch.

perhaps (it was a brainstorming idea, after all), but then the point
is that any large trailer must have an adequate braking system, by law
if nothing else. A braking system is a good example of an "absolutely
necessary appliance" for contrast to an HA hitch. And you cannot
substitute any hitch for a good braking system.

> Nobody should be towing anything with an underrated tow vehicle

But the fact is that many folks do have marginal or completely
inadequate tow vehicles for various reasons that are hard to argue
with. They can get by with these vehicles with due care and
appropriate compensation. Much of Can-Am Andy's controversies are on
just this point. He uses the HA, with some other modifications, to
create some very interesting rig combinations that satisfy customers.

If you look around the forums you will find many threads started by
folks wondering if their tow vehicle is suitable for their trailer or
describing rules of thumb for determining suitability or telling tales
of woe where the trailer was too much for the tow vehicle. Or just
take your own inventory by observing rigs on the road or in your park
or camp.

> Hensley is worth every penny in that arena.

For you it may be worth every penny but for me it adds nothing. I
don't mind anyone spending as much for their hitch as I spent for an
entire rig but to foist it on me as an obligation ("absolutely
necessary") with unsupported rationale is a bit much. I have never
found any actual _measures_ of the HA as being 'safer' than any other
properly setup rig and my perception of accident causation tends to
put other factors as primary.

For me, there is no insurance benefit (a prime safety measure) nor
comfort benefit nor any other good rationale other than testimonials
yet there are significant drawbacks (cost, weight, complexity,
connections, hitch geometry, ease of use, color ;-). 

There is room for disagreement, but let's please keep it in the realm
of opinion and preference rather than in gratuitous absolutes and
ideology. Let others make their own decisions and let us just try to
make available solid information that is well qualified and
distinguished from ideology and from opinion.

-- 
Bryan