When LOADED, my 2019 Jayco 28bhs has 1,300-lbs on the tongue and 7,600-lbs on the axles. The sticker says she’s 7,200-lbs as-shipped (let that be a lesson for RV noobs). I will not move items around the trailer since all things are in their rightful place and the truck bed gets filled with bicycles.

My Curt WDH is only rated for 10k/1k lbs (Camping World...sheesh). I want to get up to a 2.5” shank since the rattling in the 2”-er annoys me. What should I buy to replace it? I’m digging the Andersen chain set-up but want the Pro-Pride experience without the price. What say you?

Thanks in advance!

 

Subscribed to learn more. I have a cheapie Curt hitch, and I'm looking at propride, but wow that price!

 

SO... the ProPride is a Hensley style hitch?

 

It's Hensley V2, made by Hensley himself.

 

Interesting business model....I guess he sold the other and started a new one.

 

I have the Andersen with the 2.5" shank and it's alright. My trailer weighs about 7k lbs loaded and, with my current tow vehicle, I don't exactly 'need' the weight distribution aspect. I went with Andersen for a few reasons. My old weight distribution setup is approaching 30 years old, was for a 2" receiver and the head didn't have enough drop for the new truck. Since I was replacing it, I wanted to get something in the 2.5" flavor and not deal with reducing sleeves. My trailer's tongue would also not accept the load bar brackets without rearranging a few things. The chain set up made that a lot easier to deal with.

The Andersen setup is fine for what it is. I don't think it does a fantastic job of actually transferring weight though. I like it because you really don't get any porpoising like you can get with some spring bar setups. The sway control seems to work decent enough, the friction material in the head seems to keep the truck and trailer in line, even with substantial side winds. I do like that it's very easy to set up and that the head assembly is substantially lighter than a normal W/D head. I've towed this trailer with a simple ball mount, no weight distribution or sway control and it is much more comfortable with the Andersen setup so it's doing something. Overall, I like the set up but I do think there are other systems out there that transfer weight better and/or control sway better. If you're at the upper end of the truck's limits, I wouldn't recommend the Andersen setup (although if you're looking at a 2.5" shank, I'm guessing you have quite a bit of wiggle room).

 

My review of the Andersen WDH: Review: Andersen 'No-Sway' 'No-Bounce' Weight Distribution Hitch - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

Not much to disagree with what Pugga said. I pull a heaver trailer than he does.

 

Okay, HRTKD, you sold me. Between my ‘18 F250 and this trailer, I really need sway control over weight distribution and the Andersen may provide enough that a $3k hitch from ProPride isn’t needed.

I can only imagine my wife’s face had I told her we need to drop thousands on a HITCH. Of all the things I want to spend fun money on that she doesn’t understand, a $3k HITCH would have been too much!

 

Well, you can get the Pro Pride or Hensley Arrow experience without the retail price, buy a used one. That's what I did 10 years ago, paid $650 for a complete Hensley setup, put 15K miles on it with the old 9500lb TH and another 32K miles on the current 12K TT. These hitches really are as good as advertised. Mine needs a fresh coat of paint this Winter.

 

FWIW - My Jayco 29RKS weighs 8500 lbs fully loaded for travel, 1/4 tank fresh water. My tongue weight is 1100 lbs (cat scales). I pull with an Equal-i-zer 10K WDH with 1000lb spring bars using a 2 1/2" shank. It is set up more for sway control than weight distribution and tows without sway or "bounce". I can't comment on Hensley's, Pro Prides or Andersons, etc, but, the Equal-i-zer is a solid, well made WDH. I can validate the very positive reviews it has received.

 

I definitely think that equalizer style is a step up from the "chain" style that my current curt uses. that one basically has no sway control at all, just WD. I've pulled this current trailer, and ones like it, with five different trucks, and for sure the shoter wheelbase and lighter weight of the half-tons means you need to be a lot more careful with setup and ideally use a better hitch.

 

Equalizer 4point owner here. I have a 2017 f250 and need wd for my trailer. It is a jayco 324bhts. Advertised tw is 1100. I have never weighed it. I think I could use more wdh and mine is a 14k 1400 lbs hitch. If you truly have a 1300lb tw I would find one rated just over it and you would be amazed how well the whole setup will be. I think if I had the 16k 1600lb hitch it would get dialed right in. I am thinking of going to different camper so just gonna keep what I have for now.

 

Speaking as someone in a very different industry, if anyone is willing to buy your intellectual property (and company), you should let them. You can always invent something new (as this Hensley guy seems to have) or work at something else.

 

I'm towing a Jayco Eagle trailer with a 1900lbs tongue weight. Not a lot of options at that tongue, so I ended up with a BlueOx Sway Pro. Simple to use, good weight distribution, 2.5" shank and priced competitively. Just drove the past 2 days through nasty cross winds along I-80 and it kept everything in line and safe. I did recently replace the chain tensioners with Lippert Straptek tensioners, which is a nice upgrade and prevents the sometimes scary tension release with 2000lb spring bars. Definitely my favorite WDH in my RV-ing career.

 

I had the Blue Ox Sway Pro WDH before the Andersen. The Blue Ox was a very good hitch. No problems with it. I wanted a 3" shank and Blue Ox said they weren't going to produce one. Andersen had one, so that's what I went with.