In September 1997, after purchasing a new 35ft Jayco Travel Trailer, I left Seattle, WA for south Texas. Using a conventional (pull rite) hitch system, I soon began experiencing terrific fish tailing making it almost impossible to control the tow (full size van) vehicle. I stopped at an RV service garage and they installed a brake type anti-sway bar on the hitch and a front sway bar on the van. The van comes equipped with front sway bar.
This helped a lot but if I got over 50 mph the sway would still be uncontrollable, when a truck would pass me going down a hill. I stopped at another RV service store and they added a second brake type anti-sway bar. This offered very little improvement. I continued the trip not getting over 50 mph and driving only about 300 to 350 miles per day. I would begin experiencing fatigue after about 200 miles.
While in New Orleans, I ordered the Hensley Arrow tow pkg., installed it and towed my 35 ft Jayco from New Orleans to Seattle, WA. I have never experienced such a drastic change in towing. I “DID NOT GET ANY SWAY”. I drove at speeds up to 75 mph. Using the Hensley, it is very easy to forget you are towing.
When your people told me I would not get any sway, using the Hensley, I did not believe them and felt the sale price was too high. I only bought the Hensley because I was desperate for “any improvement”. I now know they were telling the gospel and I feel the price was very “LOW” for the improvement in both handling and safety. I was considering purchasing a new “dully” to help alleviate the sway problem. Now there is no reason to and I would rather have my Hensley than a dully with a conventional tow pkg.
However, I did make a mistake when I measured the vehicle height and I had to use the rear air bags to jack the height up, making the rear of the van “Much” higher than the front. I would like to exchange the hitch bar for one with a 3″ offset; the van is lower than the trailer. I will pay any expense incurred.
