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Sale- $300 Off Ultimate Arrow & TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches.
Sale- $300 Off Ultimate Arrow & TrailerSaver Air Ride Hitches.

Difference Between Ultimate Hensley Arrow® Hitch and Pro Pride 3P®

Stop trailer sway with the ultimate hensley arrow weight distribution hitch

Ultimate Hensley Arrow vs. ProPride 3P: The 2026 Comparison Guide

When it comes to premium sway elimination, two names dominate the conversation: the Hensley Arrow® and the ProPride 3P ®. Both utilize the revolutionary mechanical principles designed by Jim Hensley to move the trailer's pivot point forward. 

However, engineering doesn’t stand still. In 2025, the Ultimate Hensley Arrow® has pulled ahead with higher capacities, more hardware flexibility, and a more accessible price point. 

See How the Ultimate Hensley Arrow Works

The Numbers: 16,000 lbs vs. 14,000 lbs

The Ultimate Hensley Arrow represents over 30 years of innovation and expertise in hitch design. The most significant difference in 2025 is raw capability. As luxury travel trailers grow heavier, your safety margin matters more than ever. The Ultimate Hensley Arrow® is the only True Class 4 sway-elimination hitch in its category.

Ultimate Hensley Arrow® Pro Pride 3P®
Max Towing Capacity

16,000 lbs (True Class 4)

14,000 lbs

Max Tongue Weight

1,600 lbs

1,400 lbs

Price

$3195

$3695

Eliminates Sway

Yes, using it's unique strut system

Yes

Frame Brackets

No drill

No drill

Paint Process

New upper unit with two-stage coating process See how this new paint process performs.

Powder coating pre-treatment

Hitch Bars

Choice of tested Fixed (Lightweight) or Adjustable hitch bar

Adjustable hitch bar

Design

Strut assembly - Easily adjustable and achieves perfect stability See how struts work.

Yoke system

Ease of Installation

Can be done in 90 minutes or less.

More complex and time-consuming.

Requires Add-ons

No

Yes

Physics vs. Friction: Proactive Safety 

Most hitches on the market are reactive. They use friction pads to "dampen" sway after it starts, or they rely on your truck’s electronic brakes to pull the trailer back in line.

The Ultimate Hensley Arrow® is proactive. Using 4-Bar Linkage Geometry, it creates a Virtual Pivot Point over your truck's rear axle. This makes side-to-side sway physically impossible. Whether you're facing a 40mph crosswind or a passing semi-truck, your trailer stays locked in line.

Is the Hensley Arrow or ProPride 3P better for heavy trailers?

The Ultimate Hensley Arrow is the superior choice for heavy-duty towing, as it is the only premium anti-sway hitch rated for 16,000 lbs. The ProPride 3P's, 14,000 lb limit may not provide the same safety margin for modern, heavyweight luxury travel trailers.

The "Choice" Advantage: Fixed vs. Adjustable

One major limitation of the ProPride 3P is that it forces every customer into a heavy, expensive adjustable hitch bar. At Hensley, we believe in options:

The Fixed Hitch Bar: Custom-manufactured for your specific truck and trailer. It is lighter, simpler, and more affordable—perfect for owners who don't plan on switching tow vehicles every year.

The Adjustable Hitch Bar: For those who want maximum versatility, we offer a reinforced adjustable bar rated for the full 16,000 lbs.

Backing Up with 5th-Wheel Precision

There is a common myth that these hitches are difficult to back up. In reality, because the Hensley Arrow® eliminates the "slop" found in ball-and-coupler setups, your trailer responds to steering inputs with the precision of a 5th-wheel. Read our full guide to backing up with your hensley arrow.

Our Heavy-Duty Jack System allows you to mechanically level the hitch head to your truck’s stinger, preventing the "binding" common in other systems during disconnect.

See how physics makes the Hensley Arrow the safest hitch on the road

The Hensley All-In-One Guarantee: No Hidden Costs 

At Hensley, we don't believe in "nickel and diming" our customers. Most premium hitches require $200–$400 in additional accessories just to make them functional for your specific trailer. The Ultimate Hensley Arrow® comes as a complete, road-ready system.

Included in every Ultimate Arrow kit:
  • 7-Way Electrical Extension: $55 Value – FREE
  • Safety Chain Extensions: $45 Value – FREE
  • Hardware & U-Bolt Kit: Custom-fit to your trailer frame – FREE
  • Lynch Pins & Safety Hardware: All-inclusive – FREE
  • Hitch Bar (Stinger): Fixed - INCLUDED
  • Adjustable Available for minor upcharge

Pros & Cons at a Glance

Pros
  1. Class 4 Dominance: Highest weight rating in the industry (16,000 lbs).
  2. Cost Savings: Nearly $500 less than the leading competitor.
  3. Weight Flexibility: Only brand offering a lightweight Fixed Hitch Bar.
  4. Lifetime Warranty: Guaranteed for as long as you own the hitch.
Cons
  1. Initial Investment: Higher upfront cost than basic friction hitches.
  2. Alignment Required: Connecting the stinger requires a few tries to master (but is easier with our Jack System).

Why Choose the Ultimate Hensley Arrow Hitch?

If you are looking for the absolute peak of Jim Hensley's engineering legacy, the Ultimate Hensley Arrow® offers more capacity, more choice, and more value. It isn't just a hitch; it's an insurance policy for your family's safety on the open road.

The History of the Hensley Arrow and the ProPride 3P
  • 1976: Jim Hensley invented the Eliminator hitch, a precursor to modern sway elimination technology.
  • 1994: The Hensley Arrow® was launched after a year of development and extensive testing by Jim Hensley and Colin Connell.
  • 2007: Jim Hensley and Sean Woodruff developed the Pro Pride 3P®.
  • 2023: Tow Safe LLC acquired Hensley Manufacturing, Inc.
  • 2025: With customer feedback and engineering advancements, we created the Ultimate Hensley Arrow Hitch—the most advanced sway elimination hitch available.
Learn more about the Ultimate Hensley Arrow Hitch

Need more information? Text us at 810-584-5278 or fill out the form.

Ultimate Hensley Arrow®

It’s called the Ultimate for a reason.

After 12 years of owning rvs and other “top of the line” hitches, and some white knuckle experiences, I told myself the next camper we get we’ll get a Hensley or Propride. We ultimately chose the new ultimate Hensley based on the no drill installation, and the single style Weight distribution bars. I already knew these were quality, but this new design made it a no brainer option. The hitch arrived within a couple days of ordering, not in time for my first tow with our new camper (my own fault for ordering late). I towed our camper down some back roads with a generic wdh just to get it to camp. The Hensley was delivered the next day and my wife Brought it to camp. I installed it in less than 2 hours in the campground. The initial tow happened the next day. And what can I saw. It’s a whole different towing experience than I ever expected. I’ve driven cdl truck for 14 years, so I’m familiar with heavy trucks. And this was the most enjoyable experience I’ve ever had. Thank you for engineering such a remarkable piece of equipment.

Read more Ultimate Hensley Arrow reviews

Jon S.

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