Towing a long, heavy travel trailer for an extended period
can be especially challenging. Especially if your travels take you
from mountains to deserts, narrow winding roads to high speed interstate
highways, and in weather ranging from blistering heat to rain and potential
ice.
The hitches used with most travel trailers, while
functional, leave much to be desired. Since travel trailers attach
near the rear bumper of the tow vehicle through a ball hitch, handling is at
best compromised. Any force, such as a passing 18 wheeler, can cause
the trailer to sway. The longer the distance between the rear axle of
the tow vehicle and the hitch ball, or the shorter the wheelbase of the tow
vehicle, the more severe any trailer sway will affect the directional
stability of the tow vehicle.
If you tow a travel trailer you will experience the
effects of the trailer trying to redirect the tow vehicle. These
effects are typically moderate. Most people dismiss this until
something unusual happens and the trailer begins to sway from side to side
behind them. After this happens, many change to a different type of
hitch or replace their travel trailer with a fifth wheel trailer or a motor
home.
Although I had felt the push from passing trucks and wind
gusts during most of my towing experience, I had never "been
concerned." Then it happened. With a strong cross-wind and
a passing truck, trailer sway began as I (over) corrected for the passing
truck. The 34' trailer began to swing wildly from side to side.
Fortunately, I reacted by manually activating the trailer brakes. This
brought the trailer back into line. Unfortunately, drawers opened, the
refrigerator spilled its contents onto the floor, and the contents of
overhead cabinets spilled out. WHAT A MESS! Once fishtailing
occurs, you learn quickly. After that experience, I drove a little
slower (I was below the posted speed limit when the sway began), paid more
attention to wind and passing trucks AND I ordered a Hensley Arrow Hitch.
The following pages go into the concept, installation and
use of the Hensley Arrow Hitch.
