Hi Pat,
I’m sure you’ve already have researched and viewed all of this information already but just incase you haven’t.
Hensley Web Site Home Page
How it Works You-Tube Video, pretty cool explanation using Legos.
Hensley Arrow Installation & Operation Manual
Open Roads Forum Topic on the Hensley Arrow, it’s only 53 pages long, so I expect you to read all of it, if you haven’t already
. Seriously, the 1st page of the topic has a good diagram of what’s shown in the You-Tube video.
Now to try and answer some of your questions.
One thing to ask Hensley, based on your tow vehicle and the T-1950, ask what type of hitch bar they would recommend. They provide a straight, 1” drop / rise, 2” drop /rise, etc.
You’ll need 3 pieces of information for Hensley for them to determine this (see page 3 of the Hensley Manual) including:
1. Tow Vehicle’s Receiver Height – measure (with tow vehicle running) from ground to top inside of receiver.
2. Trailer’s Coupler Type – T-1950 has a type B (as/ pg 3 of Hensley Manual)
3. Trailer’s Hitch Ball height – Sunline spec’s a T-1950 at 17.5” – use this value.
Here’s some clearance information on our Hensley set up that may help you determine what your clearance might be with a Hensley.
Information and Clearance on our T-280SR.
T-280SR Trailer’s Hitch Ball height is 23.75” (6.25” higher than the T-1950)
We’re using a 2” drop bar to have the trailer level when hooked up and we have 1200 lb WD bars.
From top of the trailer’s tongue frame, the assembly jacks / WD bars hang down ~9.5”
Measured from the ground, the ground clearance is ~15”
As the picture shows, I set the assembly jacks on the 2nd (middle) mark.
But for me, that’s not really the low point. The low point is actually where the WD bars attach to the Hensley Hitch Assembly (i.e., under that big orange thingy).
Here I have ~12.5” of clearance measured from the ground (sorry, the picture isn’t that great).
Now, how does that affect you and what could you expect your clearance to be with a T-1950 and your tow vehicle?
First, its based on Hensley will set you up with a hitch bar that your T-1950 will be level when hooked up to your tow vehicle.
With our T-280SR hooked up and level, its Hitch Ball height is 23.75”.
When your T-1950 is hooked up and level your Hitch Ball height will be 17.5”.
That’s a difference of 6.25”, with your T-1950 sitting lower.
Therefore, subtract 6.25” from my measurements and you have a rough estimate of what your clearance might be with a Hensley Arrow.
That is I would guess your clearance might be:
~6” of clearance between ground and bottom of WD bars at point where they connect to the Hensley Hitch assembly.
~9” of clearance between ground and bottom of WD bars / jack assembly.
That’s just my guess.
For your question on what size of weight distribution bars.
The T-1950 hitch/tongue weight is spec’d by Sunline at 420#, so I would think that the 750# weight distribution bars would be sufficient. But JohnB could provide information on this. Based on some of John’s posts and the impact turning has on sifting weight from one bar to the other, you may want to consider the 1000# bars, if they’re the same price.
A good question for JohnB - is it bad to go larger on WD bars? That is, if 750# are ok for you, would it hurt to go to 1000# bars?
Also, the Hensley Arrow can be installed yourself. The first time you do it, plan to take 4 – 6 hours installing it. Their instructions are good, just take your time. I've installed ours probably about 4 - 5 times now. Still takes me 2 - 3 hours to do it on our trailer's tongue with everything already drilled out and positioned.
FYI, when I’ve called Hensley with technical questions, I’ve always talked with Jarrod Robbins, he really knows his stuff.
So when do you pick up pamwinn’s T-1950 she has for sale?
Hutch
__________________