I recently bought a new 31 ft. travel trailer. The dealer put a Husky brand hitch and sway bar on it. The first time I towed the new RV, a big 18 wheeler truck, going way too fast, passed me dangerously close, on the right, and caused my new RV to fishtail and then jackkife. Both the RV and my truck were totaled. I'm getting a new truck and RV, and want to get the safest hitch I can for it. Several people have mentioned Hensley Arrow and Reese. Does anyone have any opnion, or experience on either of these, or any other hitches?

MLM,
I think you'll get a better response if you post this in the General RV section.

Equalizer brand hitch

Hensley Arrow Hitch without question. Expensive. . .yes. Worth it. . .without question!!!

Yes the Hensley is questionable and way more expensive than its value. Does it work? yes almost as well as the Equalizer.

texnomad. . .I'm not sure what you mean by questionable. . .expensive, yes; but, since the hitch is the weakest part of our multi thousand dollar contraption, I feel it is worth the peace of mind. Please share your experience with the Hensley; since, I have had absolutely no problems using my Hensley for years under every conceivable condition. I've never used an Equalizer Hitch; so, I can't speak with authority on its performance. Thanks

I know of no problem with the Hensley hitch other than it being way more expensive that the equivalent performing Equalizer hitch. The problem is the statement that it is unquestonably the best and safest when there is at least one more as safe and competent and a LOT cheaper. I feel that the part of an Equalizer that works better than the Hensley is the damping of the up and down motion on roads like I-10 and I-20 going across Louisana where the road undulations make for exciting trailering.
On the other hand, I am very sorry to read in your blog that you are going to leave the road. I have enjoyed reading your adventures and recommend your blog to all folks whether traveling or not. Please keep up the blog because I feel you add to my life when I read of your adventures.

Thanks for the kind thoughts,texnomad! Although we have to give up RVing, we will continue the blog with our AMTRAK travels; and, other twohamsinacan stuff!

Texnomad,

I beg to differ with your opinion about the Hensley vs Equalizer hitch comparison.

The Equalizer hitches sway dampening is based on friction, whereas the Hensley's sway dampening is based on geometry.

Friction based dampening has a problem, that it works both ways, it dampens the sway induced by the trailer and in the same amount it dampens the steering input induced by the towing vehicle.

With the Hensley geometry based system, the trailer cannot transfer any sway to the towing vehicle, while the towing vehicle is free to transfer its steering input to the trailer.

To put it simply, with a geometry based solution the tail CANNOT wag the dog.

With a friction based solution the tail is clamped down by the friction force, but still wags. If the friction force would be so large, that no wagging would take place, one would have a rigid connection between the tow vehicle and the trailer.

I have practical experience with both systems.

On my old trailer I had a friction based system, the top-of-the-line Reese hitch (despite Equalizer's marketing claims a system very comparable to Equalizer's).

On my new (to me) trailer I have the Hensley Arrow.

Both trailers I tow(ed) with the same Vehicle, a 2005 Ford E-350 1-ton Van with the 6.0 PSD.

The old trailer was 22 feet long and had a GVWR of 7,000 #, the new trailer is 32 feet long and has a GVWR of 9,985 #.

The old trailer's hitch system was good and felt ok under all normal driving conditions, the Hensley hitch I feel is superior and I feel safer with it, despite the new trailer being so much longer and heavier.

I have no connection with and/or financial or other interest in any of the products mentioned.

While my personal feeling is purely of an empirical nature, the differences between the two hitch types are based on proven physical quantities.

The OP asked what the best and safest hitch for a travel trailer is and my unequivocal answer is:

The Hensley Arrow is the best and safest hitch for a travel trailer.

As usual YMMV

And now MLM you have different opinions from experienced folks who tow a good bit. The choice is not clear cut as to the "best and safest" but the good news is that both systems work very well.

Well, now with that question addressed; in about two weeks, I will be posting our Hensley Arrow Hitch for sale (attached to our Airstream; Silverado 2500HD; and, every accessory needed to hit the road) in the RV's for sale thread.

Jeff & Suzanne

very sorry to hear that.

All the best to you

original post deleted by bayernrudi due to sudden acknowledgement of brainf$%t.

sorry

The problem here is not the hitch.

Yes the 'geometry' hitches such as the Hensley, Pro Pride, or Pullrite have significant advantages in handling as a top tier solution. The Lindon Equ-al-izer and Reese Dual Cam are suitable for many as an 'in between' handling improvement hitch. Most folks, though, are quite happy with the friction bar device.

But the problem described was not the hitch!

No hitch is going to prevent catastrophe.

You need to make sure that your load distribution, tires, suspension, and basic rig configuration are appropriate for what you want to do. You also need to make sure your driving skills are up to the job as well.

Bryanl,
I am in total agreement with you. In forty plus years of towing I have never seen a rig misbehave when all the parts are done right. Believe me a fiver can get extremely bad also. Every person I have talked too wants to blame the hitch instead of improper loading etc. Sway control fixes everything doesn't it. I seldom get a person that will listen that a sway control is for minor sway not the mess caused by improper set up. Some of the worst is boat folks who want to be able to pickup the trailer tongue on a 5000# rig with their hands.