Re: [A/S] Soon - to - be - Owners of an Airstream

[Charlie/Betty Burke <cbburke@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Linda,

Because I worked at an Airstream dealership (and still do occasionally) 
I have had over the years chances to tow with both the Hensley and the 
Equal-i-zer brand hitches. In my even darker past I've used Reese, 
Eaz-Lift and Bock hitches. A fairly good sampling. I currently have 
about 3,500 miles on Hensley's and well over 15,000 on my own 
Equal-i-zer hitch.

My take on these hitches is not just as a consumer but also as a dealer 
of the product. So things like dealer support, pricing, ease of use, and 
the satisfaction of the customer using them.

In recent years the Equal-i-zer has become more popular with their 
national distribution through several RV wholesalers and the popularity 
of the "toy hauler's" . These toy hauler's carry literally a ton or more 
of ATV's, motorcycles, bikes, etc., etc. Their hitch weight ratings and 
wildly varying weights need a very stable hitch to tow with. The 
Equal-i-zer does the job at a price the dealer can afford. Hensley's 
choices regarding dealers and distribution significantly limits their 
market visibility. The cost of a Hensley also limits it's appeal to a 
selling dealer who often times includes a hitch in the deal. Please 
don't take me to task about a dealers choices, I am simply telling you 
how it works in this area.

 From my own experience the Hensley does exactly what they say it will. 
Once properly installed and hooked up it is like towing on rails. The 
Intermountain region in which I live provides plenty of opportunities to 
test any hitch. My concerns about their choices in advertising aside the 
draw backs are cost, roughly 6 times most other options ($3000). Weight, 
250lbs or so of dead hitch weight takes a big chuck out of the Cargo 
Weight Capacity of any trailer, as much as 25%.  And ease of use.

There are several "tricks" that make hooking easier which, at least in 
the past, were not included in the directions from Hensley. Of course 
the many Hensley owners in this chat group have "been there, done that" 
and will be glad to share as will I.

 Our dealerships first introduction to the Hensley was during the 1998 
International when a customer brought his coach in for service. Because 
he needed to do other things he unhooked and left. When he came back his 
wife came into the service department while he went out to hook up. 
After a warning from her to stay away from him during the process we 
were witness to 45 minutes of frustration, swearing, slamming his truck 
into the hitch, and an amazing amount of anger at a "superior" product. 
He still liked the hitch just not the hook up.

Turns out after a few hard learned lessons of my own I knew he had not 
dropped the rear jack assy. to their lowest point. Unique to the Hensley 
when hooking up is the need to be correct up and down, left and right 
but have the correct tilt angle. The hitch bar must be very nearly at 
exactly the same tilt angle as the hitch for it to hook up.

After several years of occasional chances to use the Hensley I was 
introduced to the Equal-i-zer hitch. Very simple, priced comparable to 
most other hitches. OK, so I gave it a try, on my dime.

At the time I was towing a 1976 22' Argosy. The first opportunity to 
"check it out" was when returning from a wedding across a broad area of 
farm land. It wasn't until I passed a field with loose dirt blowing 
directly across the road that I realized I was towing with a very heavy 
side wind. I had not felt anything when other vehicles passed, 
disturbing the wind pressure. Several weeks later I was towing on the 
Interstate when a truck in hurry came past me. Seeing him coming I 
loosened my grip on the steering wheel to see what effect there would 
be. Honestly, I felt almost none.

At that time a came to the opinion, based on my experience with both 
hitches that the Equal-i-zer provided nearly identical performance with 
much less weight and cost. It is to this day my hitch of choice. The 
hitch directions talk about keeping two bolts torqued to at least 45 
lbft. When the hitch is new with fresh paint this needs to be done 
usually before each use. After some number of uses the paint is pushed 
out and the bolts hold their setting for quite a long time. While it is 
true the paint doesn't hold up as well as other's it gives you another 
excuse to do an annual inspection and service on the hitch system, 
truck, trailer, and hitch. One word of wisdom, don't try using spray 
graphite on the hitch, use only the grease recommended. While graphite 
does seem to work nicely as a ball lubricant it works to well on the hitch.

Charlie