The camper thread! Pulling, using, equipment, maintenance!
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
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From: Media PA
FYI Henlsey MFG. is not what I would call a top notch organization.
I ordered some brackets from them to complete the install of my Hensley Arrow. They promptly sent me used brackets that had been refurbished. The left frame bracket has the jack post at a odd angle and has clearly been repaired/modified etc. The paint on the brackets is suspect as well.
I don't say anything because they won't effect my operation and I understand that they do this sort of thing with there lifetime warranty parts.
I order some more parts, abandonding my 3P conversion and mention that the previous order included used parts. I explained as I was paying "new" part money I would like to have the new parts. Terry understood and apologized saying he would talk with the warehouse guys to insure I got new parts. I had ordered online and was only responding to his phone call about my online order. I told him that I purchased a emergency repair kit in the order and it would be a wash if he could just waive that charge. He declined and said he would offer free shipping on that one line item of a $400+ order. He said he just needed my credit card info as they don't have it from the online orders. Ok I say I email him the info where he asks me if I needed two of the kits because I had already ordered one. I explain I wanted one and bought one online with the other parts (jacks, hardware) and I would like him to throw that ONE in for the trouble and I wouldn't send the "bad" parts back at his expense. He then declined to to do anything on the matter but offered me a lifetime warranty exchange offer to buy my hitch and sell me a refurbished one. The offer wasn't a bad deal but the circumstances of my hitch made it a no go financially as the modified hitch bar and missing jacks etc. would not make it eligible for the offer he tried to offer...
When I recieved the parts I ordered I thought they looked well enough but you could clearly tell that one of the jacks had a different cap than the other. I didn't worry and got it all installed. Missed the next camp trip due to transmission problems and just this last weekend hooked up for the first time in the daylight. Guess what, the odd jack is refurbished/damaged. The cap is bent and the set screw hole doesn't align properly with the access hole. There are visible grinding marks I can only imagine were to cut loose some welds on the bolt to cap connection.
I have emailed Terry these details lets see what he says.
I ordered some brackets from them to complete the install of my Hensley Arrow. They promptly sent me used brackets that had been refurbished. The left frame bracket has the jack post at a odd angle and has clearly been repaired/modified etc. The paint on the brackets is suspect as well.
I don't say anything because they won't effect my operation and I understand that they do this sort of thing with there lifetime warranty parts.
I order some more parts, abandonding my 3P conversion and mention that the previous order included used parts. I explained as I was paying "new" part money I would like to have the new parts. Terry understood and apologized saying he would talk with the warehouse guys to insure I got new parts. I had ordered online and was only responding to his phone call about my online order. I told him that I purchased a emergency repair kit in the order and it would be a wash if he could just waive that charge. He declined and said he would offer free shipping on that one line item of a $400+ order. He said he just needed my credit card info as they don't have it from the online orders. Ok I say I email him the info where he asks me if I needed two of the kits because I had already ordered one. I explain I wanted one and bought one online with the other parts (jacks, hardware) and I would like him to throw that ONE in for the trouble and I wouldn't send the "bad" parts back at his expense. He then declined to to do anything on the matter but offered me a lifetime warranty exchange offer to buy my hitch and sell me a refurbished one. The offer wasn't a bad deal but the circumstances of my hitch made it a no go financially as the modified hitch bar and missing jacks etc. would not make it eligible for the offer he tried to offer...
When I recieved the parts I ordered I thought they looked well enough but you could clearly tell that one of the jacks had a different cap than the other. I didn't worry and got it all installed. Missed the next camp trip due to transmission problems and just this last weekend hooked up for the first time in the daylight. Guess what, the odd jack is refurbished/damaged. The cap is bent and the set screw hole doesn't align properly with the access hole. There are visible grinding marks I can only imagine were to cut loose some welds on the bolt to cap connection.
I have emailed Terry these details lets see what he says.
I'm not a big fan of how Hensley operates their business either and I don't care for Terry's badmouthing of the competition instead of being a booster for his own gear, like he should be. But I LOVE their darned hitch!
That set screw had to be aligned properly with the hole to assemble the jack screw, can you lift up on the top plate to move the screw up to the hole?
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 588
Likes: 20
From: Wilmington, OH
I think I found the problem with my slide. I'll post pictures when I get the parts back off of the TT. The slide operates on what I call a slave/master setup. The slide movement is initiated with an electric screw type actuator. When that moves the "master" gear pack drives the "slave" gear pack and keeps things even. When one of the gear packs has too much play it can skip causing the slide to open in an un-even manner. I have two gear packs on order for replacement and hope that will be the end of the issues. I have learned a lot about the slide mechanism though so if anything else happens I'll be prepared. There are also slide pads at the end of the slide bar housing that can fail/wear out but both of mine measured equal and only one side is skipping.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 1,715
Likes: 60
From: Central NH
Curious if you, or anyone else here has compared the Hensley side by side with the Pro Pride ? Curious if the trailer-side brackets from Pro Pride could be used with the Hensley hitch head, and vice versa. I assume not, but figured I'd ask. Hensley certainly charges 'new part prices'. Seems a little cheesy they are sending used parts at their prices..... regardless of the warranty.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
Likes: 1,550
From: Media PA
Curious if you, or anyone else here has compared the Hensley side by side with the Pro Pride ? Curious if the trailer-side brackets from Pro Pride could be used with the Hensley hitch head, and vice versa. I assume not, but figured I'd ask. Hensley certainly charges 'new part prices'. Seems a little cheesy they are sending used parts at their prices..... regardless of the warranty.
I have bought a few parts including frame brackets for the TT from Hensley and they were actually new stuff and all of the small hardware and wear parts have also been new.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Central Coast of CA
Stewart
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
Likes: 1,550
From: Media PA
Could be, I think there are more new PP units being sold these days. It's a shame how they act, the product is so good it deserves better treatment by the company reps.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 699
Likes: 37
From: DFW
Terry replied to email saying Kelly the COO was personally going to talk to me about this issue along with Steve the warranty manager.
They could possibly salvage some of there reputation with me if they handle this correctly.
It's an unfortunate issue I think, I don't know the real story of the Jim Hensley vs. Hensley Mfg. company but I imagine some bad blood has been spent and they are stuck riding the horse they have. They can't modify the product without updating the patent and they don't own the patent Mr. Hensley does. That puts you in a real pickle when manufacturing something that is outdated and a better version is being sold. Imagine selling a new 7.3 truck these days. We all like to think they are great but they don't even come close to delivering what the newest generation of engines do.
My hope is to use this hitch for a while until I find a used 3P or am able to buy a new 3P outright and sell this one. We'll see how it goes.
They could possibly salvage some of there reputation with me if they handle this correctly.
It's an unfortunate issue I think, I don't know the real story of the Jim Hensley vs. Hensley Mfg. company but I imagine some bad blood has been spent and they are stuck riding the horse they have. They can't modify the product without updating the patent and they don't own the patent Mr. Hensley does. That puts you in a real pickle when manufacturing something that is outdated and a better version is being sold. Imagine selling a new 7.3 truck these days. We all like to think they are great but they don't even come close to delivering what the newest generation of engines do.
My hope is to use this hitch for a while until I find a used 3P or am able to buy a new 3P outright and sell this one. We'll see how it goes.
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Moderator
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 12,052
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From: Media PA
I'm glad to hear that they did the right thing and got you squared away! 
I'm not convinced that the Pro Pride is actually a better hitch or that the HA is outdated, they are both excellent products that work great with no true equal competition besides each other. It just seems that the one team handles the competition better than the other.
I'm not convinced that the Pro Pride is actually a better hitch or that the HA is outdated, they are both excellent products that work great with no true equal competition besides each other. It just seems that the one team handles the competition better than the other.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 699
Likes: 37
From: DFW
My real concern with the HA is the thickness of the link plates. Mine were bent about 2* when I got the hitch. I straightened them when I rebuilt it but they already look to be back at the same angle as before.
Other issues such as the tearing of the weight bar pockets (thicker on the 3P) and the fragile (prone to tearing if a strut gets loose) strut pin locations are another.
These issues might seem few and far between but either will ruin the hitch head and while they might take care of it under warranty it could be solved easily in manufacturing with even a design change.
After getting the HA installed I am positive the 3P jacks wouldn't work with the way my propane cover is currently.
I still don't like drilling holes in the frame and I have a solution for that as well that would prevent the need.
Like I said though it seems as since they only licensed the product from Jim H. they cannot change it in anyway.
Other issues such as the tearing of the weight bar pockets (thicker on the 3P) and the fragile (prone to tearing if a strut gets loose) strut pin locations are another.
These issues might seem few and far between but either will ruin the hitch head and while they might take care of it under warranty it could be solved easily in manufacturing with even a design change.
After getting the HA installed I am positive the 3P jacks wouldn't work with the way my propane cover is currently.
I still don't like drilling holes in the frame and I have a solution for that as well that would prevent the need.
Like I said though it seems as since they only licensed the product from Jim H. they cannot change it in anyway.
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Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Media PA
Are you talking about the link plates on the over enter latches that lock the hitch to the stinger? If they are properly adjusted to where the latches will pop over center with the stinger fully engaged I don't see how or why they would bend. I have over 30k miles towing 9500 to 11k lbs with my HA and those link plates are still true.
And I understand your concerns with not wanting to drill, so don't.. Those little shear bolts are there mostly to let you know if the frame brackets have moved, you could just add another U bolt to the bracket and go without the shear bolts.
And I understand your concerns with not wanting to drill, so don't.
. Those little shear bolts are there mostly to let you know if the frame brackets have moved, you could just add another U bolt to the bracket and go without the shear bolts.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 699
Likes: 37
From: DFW
Are you talking about the link plates on the over enter latches that lock the hitch to the stinger? If they are properly adjusted to where the latches will pop over center with the stinger fully engaged I don't see how or why they would bend. I have over 30k miles towing 9500 to 11k lbs with my HA and those link plates are still true.
And I understand your concerns with not wanting to drill, so don't.. Those little shear bolts are there mostly to let you know if the frame brackets have moved, you could just add another U bolt to the bracket and go without the shear bolts.
And I understand your concerns with not wanting to drill, so don't.
. Those little shear bolts are there mostly to let you know if the frame brackets have moved, you could just add another U bolt to the bracket and go without the shear bolts.i will ultimately try and buy the links from from ProPride if he will sell them. I can also have some made but I can't locate a off the shelf source of the axle stub.
More Turbo
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 588
Likes: 20
From: Wilmington, OH
Not the OCL plates but the actual pivot link "dog bones". The 3P hitch upgraded the thickness of those plates for this reason.
i will ultimately try and buy the links from from ProPride if he will sell them. I can also have some made but I can't locate a off the shelf source of the axle stub.
i will ultimately try and buy the links from from ProPride if he will sell them. I can also have some made but I can't locate a off the shelf source of the axle stub.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 699
Likes: 37
From: DFW
"3/4" thick Pivot Point Projection control links" vs the 1/2" links of the HA.
Look in this post the 3rd,4th,5th pix. This is what I am experiencing.