How Does The Jim Hensley
Hitch Work
If you've ever experienced the feeling of panic when towing a trailer and it starts to sway, you know how important it is to have a sway control hitch. These devices help keep your trailer stable and help to dampen the sway. Many sway control hitches are available, but the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch is considered the most advanced option that completely eliminates trailer sway. If you're considering purchasing this hitch, this Lego demonstration below can help you understand how it works.
The ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch is designed with a technology called Pivot Point Projection, or 3P for short. This technology helps prevent trailer sway that can be caused by factors such as passing trucks, strong winds, uneven road surfaces, improper trailer design or loading, and even driver inputs. It essentially converts a bumper-towed travel trailer or toy hauler to behave like a fifth wheel when being towed. This is because, like all bumper-towed trailers, these types of trailers pivot at the hitch coupler. The ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch aims to provide a stable, smooth ride by projecting this pivot point forward.
How does the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch work?
The ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley Hitch is designed to control trailer sway in a unique way. Unlike other sway control hitches that use friction to counteract sway, the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley Hitch eliminates the rotation of the ball by locking out the side-to-side movement that allows trailers to sway. This provides a much more stable tow. When a trailer is acted upon by an outside force, such as wind or a passing semi-truck, the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley Hitch redirects the force from the trailer's coupler to the rear axle of the tow vehicle, rather than allowing it to cause the trailer to sway. This innovative approach allows for better control of the trailer.
The ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch operates differently from other sway control hitches because it is attached to the coupler of the trailer and locks out the side-to-side movement of the hitch ball. This allows the hitch to project a virtual pivot point 52 inches forward, to the rear axle of the tow vehicle. This effectively causes the towing rig to behave like a fifth wheel when influenced by outside forces. The 3P technology incorporated in the main hitch head changes the effective pivot point of the trailer from the hitch ball to near the rear axle of the tow vehicle, reducing the lever arm distance between the pivot point and the rear axle. This has a significant impact on the stability of both the trailer and the tow vehicle when the trailer is subjected to external forces. Many people who tow fifth-wheel trailers or gooseneck trailers are familiar with the stability that a forward pivot point provides. The ProPride 3P® hitch uses 3P technology to create a solid, stable towing rig.
Can you control trailer sway?
It is possible to control trailer sway, but it can be a challenging and dangerous task. You can try to slow down and manage the sway, but if it gets out of control too quickly, it may be too late to correct it, which can lead to dangerous situations on the road. While it is important to distribute the weight correctly, it is not a guarantee that trailer sway will not occur. A trailer can still sway in strong crosswinds or when subjected to other side-to-side forces, even if a friction-based sway control hitch is used. However, the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch is designed to completely eliminate trailer sway, as demonstrated in the video below.
As demonstrated in the video, the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch is effective at eliminating trailer sway. When the semi-truck collides with the Airstream trailer, the trailer does not pivot on the ball or apply any leverage, which would have required the driver to make a steering correction. The trailer moves slightly but does not affect the tow vehicle, which remains stable and under the driver's control.
This is because the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch does not rely on frictional forces to counteract the rotation of the ball, resulting in a very stable tow. Many customers who have used friction-based sway control hitches in the past have noticed the differences between these solutions and the Pivot Point Technology of the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley Hitch, and have wished they had chosen a product that completely eliminates the problem of trailer sway from the start. You can see the effectiveness of the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley Hitch in the video below.
The ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch allows for weight distribution to be adjusted using 2 heavy-duty weight distribution jacks, which stay attached to the trailer at all times. You can easily lower the weight of the distribution jacks without removing them. In contrast, hitches such as the Blue Ox SwayPro®, Equalizer®, and Husky Center Line® TS their weight distribution is adjusted by the height of the ball. These hitches require the spring bars to be installed and removed every time you hook up and disconnect the trailer, which can be time-consuming. All friction-based sway control hitches, including the Equalizer®, and Husky Center Line® TS, and passive solutions like the Blue Ox SwayPro® require this process, while the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley Hitch does not.
Lab demonstration of how the Jim Hensley hitch eliminates sway.
Trailer sway can quickly become dangerous and the best way to prevent it is to eliminate it, rather than trying to manage it. While the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch may be more expensive than other hitches on the market, it is worth the investment when it comes to ensuring your safety on the road. While there may be cheaper options available, they can not provide the same level of safety and long-term benefits as the ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch. Make your travels safer and more enjoyable by investing in a hitch that can eliminate trailer sway forever. The ProPride 3P® Jim Hensley hitch is the best choice for this purpose.
PROPRIDE 3P® JIM HENSLEY HITCH COMPONENTS
MAIN UNIT
The ProPride 3P® anti sway trailer hitch main unit consists of two 3/4" thick links that project the pivot point of the trailer forward to near the rear axle of your tow vehicle. By not allowing the trailer to pivot side-to-side on the ball trailer sway is eliminated.
YOKE
The ProPride anti sway trailer hitch yoke keeps the main unit hitch ball from pivoting in the trailer coupler which would allow the trailer to sway.
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION JACKS
Heavy-duty ProPride 3P® weight distribution jacks allow you to distribute your tongue weight with precision and ease.
ADJUSTABLE HITCH BARS
The adjustable hitch bar is a huge improvement over the old, non-adjustable offset sold with the first Jim Hensley hitch design. The bar allows for multiple offset positions to get your trailer towing level. The tilt feature in the bar provides better weight distribution and keeps the ProPride 3P® hitch head in a level position.
If you have specific questions about your tow vehicle and trailer, you can contact us at info@propridehitch.com or by calling (800) 960-4767 for more information.
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