With the successful hookup out of the way, and the increased
confidence gained from the improved maneuverability in turns, we hit the
road. As I mentioned earlier, the first test was towing my 34'
Airstream from Las Vegas, Nevada to Newport Beach, California during the
heat of summer. The combination of Mojave Desert wind gusts and
significant truck traffic on I-15 can be a "white knuckle"
experience resulting in constant steering corrects to avoid drifting (or
getting sucked) out of your lane.
I had driven I-15 without the trailer twice in the
previous week so I knew what I might expect. What I hadn't experienced
on the previous trips was rain. So, on the maiden voyage with the
Hensley Arrow we had trucks, high winds, and RAIN.
I noticed immediately that 18 wheelers passing me on the
left were unnoticed until they got to the van. Previously, I made one
steering correction as wind currents around the 18 wheeler pushed the
trailer to the right and was about to make my second correction as the 18
wheeler pushed the van to the right and sucked the trailer back to the
left. The trucks seemed to have no affect on the Airstream. They
still pushed the Ford as they past (see Van
Modifications for my solution) but the Hensley was making a dramatic
difference.
Then the rains came. Already covered with a light
film of dust, the rain turned the highway into a skating rink. A
benefit of I-15 is few curves. But rain on a dust covered road can
still make speed changes a challenge and amplify the effects of
cross-winds. Additionally, the rain brought wind gusts. At times
it appeared that it was almost raining horizontally. It was as if the
Airstream had almost disappeared behind me. No pushing, pulling or
shifting was detected from the trailer. I have no doubt that this was
fully attributable to the Hensley Arrow.
Since that first trip across the desert with the Hensley,
I continue to be amazed by the lack of pulling, pushing and shifting of the
Ford caused by the trailer. The only time I notice the Airstream is
going up or down hills when the 5 tons of trailer shows itself on power and
braking demands. At first, I noticed the trailer shifting to the left
when applying the brakes in a corner. I found that the trailer brakes
were very badly out of adjustment on the right side. With the trailer
brakes adjusted, all is well. The Hensley had made towing so
effortless in other respects that out of adjustment trailer brakes stick out
like a sore thumb.
We crossed the Continental Divide (elevation 9,658 feet)
on Hwy 26 in Wyoming. Again the Hensley performed without
effort. The curved mountain roads presented no challenge for the
Hensley. When traveling from Rapid City, South Dakota to Cheyenne,
Wyoming, I experienced strong head winds on US 20 and strong cross winds on
I-25. I was thrilled to find that very little steering correction was
required. Prior to the Hensley and the suspension modifications on the
van, this would have been an extremely tiring drive. Strong
cross-winds in west Texas were mollified by the Hensley. Even a
trailer tire blow-out in Iowa didn't phase the Hensley. If a passing
car hadn't alerted me, I would have never known I had lost a tire. I
have now towed the 34' Airstream almost 24,000 miles with the Hensley
without a concern.
Summary: The
Hensley Arrow Hitch has done all it promised to do. I am completely
satisfied with all facets of the Hensley.
