Andersen fifth wheel hitch

[Cumminsfan]

The Andersen won't eliminate chucking period. Those that say no chucking either never had it in the 1st place or the hitch they replaced was real sloppy.
If someone buys an Andersen then goes out and buys a 5th wheel that he's never towed before and has no chucking, that doesn't mean the Andersen eliminated the chucking. How does he know the 5th wheel would cause chucking with any other hitch.
Not all 5th wheels chuck. If the Andersen eliminates chucking then that means I can tow with a 5% pin weight and the front of the 5th wheel 3" higher than the rear while traveling over the worst concrete expansion joint highway.

[Mr_Fixit]

I followed up on this topic reading reviews of which over 90% of owners of Andersen hitches seem to be deliriously happy (which I do not mean in a satirical way). Check out the reviews on Amazon to read the results for a sampling.

I found only one report of component failure and an additional note that some states require safety chains with any hitch using a ball coupling. That owner was unaware of the law and was required to unhitch by a Texas state trooper where he was and could not move the fiver until chains were installed, if I am reading his post correctly.

Dozens and dozens of owners continue to report it either greatly reduced or completely eliminated chucking Not all reported complete elimination of chucking! (I am assuming common sense was employed in terms of leveling, fifth wheel weight distribution, pin weight, and so forth).

That leaves me with only a few possibilities. Either the Andersen hitch really does work as well as people are describing. Owners reporting high levels of satisfaction are delusional. Or none of them have fifth wheels that ever had an issue with chucking and don't know what it is (although more than one sounded knowledgeable on the subject).

It seems safe to at least conclude Andersen hitch owners are satisfied with their purchase. Some sound like they are glowing! Now I have to admit, I don't understand how the effect can be so dramatic as not all traditional hitches have slop, but it is difficult to overlook so many reports which seem to be consistent. I also do not understand why neither of the main suppliers to dealerships are distributing Andersen hitches. Maybe the company is still too small to be on their radar screens.

Steve

[77Travco]

Looks like just the ticket for flatbed setups!

[Cummins12V98]

The hitch has NOTHING to do with "CHUCKING". Its the fore and aft movement between the RV and TV that gives the on and off tugging feel. Loose hitch is just a loose hitch.

Andersen is fine with a lighter RV. On the upper limits the frame base will cause bed deflection with the fore and aft motion of the RV.

No way to lock RV to hitch is a big Negative.

[Mr_Fixit]

It does lock the RV to the ball just as a travel trailer or horse trailer locks to the ball.

How do you actually account for the wide ranging reports of reduced chucking. This is not from a few owners? The number reporting improvement is very large and borders on universal from owners? Simply saying they are wrong doesn't account for their self-reports.

I don't know. I am just reporting what I have found.

Steve

[Maverick50]

Originally Posted by Mr_Fixit

I followed up on this topic reading reviews of which over 90% of owners of Andersen hitches seem to be deliriously happy (which I do not mean in a satirical way). Check out the reviews on Amazon to read the results for a sampling.

I found only one report of component failure and an additional note that some states require safety chains with any hitch using a ball coupling. That owner was unaware of the law and was required to unhitch by a Texas state trooper where he was and could not move the fiver until chains were installed, if I am reading his post correctly.

Dozens and dozens of owners continue to report it either greatly reduced or completely eliminated chucking Not all reported complete elimination of chucking! (I am assuming common sense was employed in terms of leveling, fifth wheel weight distribution, pin weight, and so forth).

That leaves me with only a few possibilities. Either the Andersen hitch really does work as well as people are describing. Owners reporting high levels of satisfaction are delusional. Or none of them have fifth wheels that ever had an issue with chucking and don't know what it is (although more than one sounded knowledgeable on the subject).

It seems safe to at least conclude Andersen hitch owners are satisfied with their purchase. Some sound like they are glowing! Now I have to admit, I don't understand how the effect can be so dramatic as not all traditional hitches have slop, but it is difficult to overlook so many reports which seem to be consistent. I also do not understand why neither of the main suppliers to dealerships are distributing Andersen hitches. Maybe the company is still too small to be on their radar screens.

Steve

The problem with your analogy is the manufactures web site. Go to any manufactures web site and the consensus would be a positive feedback.
It's a determination that you will live with, right or wrong, happy or sad. We're just stating our opinions and experiences. Your RV weight is less than 10,000lbs. What is the smallest diameter of the hitch ball vs smallest diameter of king pin?

[rskeans]

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

The hitch has NOTHING to do with "CHUCKING". Its the fore and aft movement between the RV and TV that gives the on and off tugging feel. Loose hitch is just a loose hitch.

Andersen is fine with a lighter RV. On the upper limits the frame base will cause bed deflection with the fore and aft motion of the RV.

No way to lock RV to hitch is a big Negative.

On Chucking, the hitch has everything to do with chucking. The only thing between the RV and TV is the hitch.

There is NO bed deflection when the Andersen is properly torqued to 50 ft-lbs.

If I were towing your 23,000 lb rv with 6000 lb pin weight I would also use another hitch. Not everybody has a 6000 lb pin weight.

I don't see the Big Negative about locking the RV to the hitch. You have the only setup that I've seen in my 30 years of towing that has pad locks on everything.

[IC2]

I have a B&W with no chucking on two different pretty good sized 5ers. That is unless the base attachments were loose - and that only happened a couple times on my Ford 5er option. If I didn't have that B&W 20K hitch, I would seriously consider an Anderson.

If the Anderson uses a hitch ball attachment and there is chucking, that coupler needs some attention or else the interface to the truck chassis has a loose component.

To that statement hitch ball size vs a 5er pin - most TT hitch balls are usually 2-5/16 while a king pin is 2".

[Mr_Fixit]

Originally Posted by Maverick50

The problem with your analogy is the manufactures web site. Go to any manufactures web site and the consensus would be a positive feedback.
It's a determination that you will live with, right or wrong, happy or sad. We're just stating our opinions and experiences. Your RV weight is less than 10,000lbs. What is the smallest diameter of the hitch ball vs smallest diameter of king pin?

I didn't go to a manufacturers website and what about the folks in this forum. Should I also simply disregard the folks here. If that is the case, why should anyone post anything at all.

I am not towing with an Andersen, I have a conventional hitch, and I have no dog in this fight. What I am responding to is not being stated as an opinion. It is being stated as a fact. At the same time, the reports of actual owners are being responded to as though they are not fact. I don't get it. If a hitch really does not impact chucking, I am totally willing to accept that. As I stated, I do not understand how an Andersen hitch reduces chucking. The reports that it does interest me.

It really very easy to find negative reports on virtually any RV you name via the Internet. That doesn't seem to be the case with Andersen hitches, maybe they are there and I just haven't found them, but it is not for lack of trying.

Steve

[EagleFixer]

I too have the Ultimate 5th Wheel Hitch and as this is my first 5th wheel, I haven't a clue what "chucking" is. But I did tow my new 5er from Ogden to Boise without a single bang, groan, or grind from the hitch connection. As someone else pointed out, 90% of owners deliriously happy with their Andersen. I too scoured the internet for reviews on the Andersen because I'd never heard of it and the dealer was throwing in the hitch and a B&W Turnover Gooseneck hitch as part of the purchase. The only negative reviews I could seem to find were from self-appointed mechanical engineers who'd never actually used or seen it in use. The only "issue" I've had so far (I've only hooked and unhooked it twice) is lining it up with the kingpin coupler. My truck's rear seat head rest is positioned perfectly to block the ball. I do have a couple of 36" fluorescent yellow guide poles I used for hitching up my previous tow-behind campers but they don't work because the Andersen hitch ball and kingpin adapted are aluminum so the magnets on the pole don't work. Once I figure this little conundrum out, it should be as easy hitching up as my tow-behinds.

[Mr_Fixit]

You know, I have read comments about things not working on multiple hitches of all persuasions in various forums on the Internet (not this one). I have also read discussions for years about things to do and not do in terms of use and repair which I question ever occur.

So far all I seen here is folks who own the product saying they are well pleased and folks who have not owned it saying the ones who own it are wrong or there is some problem with it. What am I missing?

An inquiring mind wants to know.

Steve

[IC2]

Originally Posted by EagleFixer

........The only "issue" I've had so far (I've only hooked and unhooked it twice) is lining it up with the kingpin coupler. My truck's rear seat head rest is positioned perfectly to block the ball........

Just a quick off topic - if you have a late model Ford, that center headrest is easily removed by pushing a couple releases on the extending rods and giving it a slight yank. The two side headrests can also be removed the same way. I 'assume' other brands headrests come out the same way. I have all three of mine out normally as seldom do I have back seat riders other then our two pup. What a difference in rearward viewing with them removed plus you can easily see the pin and hitch.

Now, back to the subject:

Steve - you ain't gonna win !!!

[Mr_Fixit]

I know it Dave. i just have this crazy idea that input from folks who actually own what they are discussing may have a tiny bit of validity. Of course, there is still my fall-back position, they all ate the mushrooms and are delusional. Oh no, not you too!

Steve

[Cumminsfan]

Help me understand something here. If I have a 5er that's 2-3" high in the front or/and less than 20% for pin weight and is chucking, I can then install and Anderson 5th hitch and it will cure a poorly designed and poorly setup 5th wheel that's chucking.
Sounds like a magic elixir for 5th wheel towing.


Or better yet if I go out and buy my 1st 5th wheel, have an Andersen 5th hitch installed, then take it out for a tow and low and behold NO CHUCKING. Wow who would've thought it would cure a problem that didn't exist in the 1st place.




To be serious for a moment. If the Andersen was available when I got the B&W I would've bought it. I think it's a great hitch. If in fact it really does stop chucking on a properly setup 5th wheel then I would sell my B&W and get one. I just don't see how it would.


The problem with this topic is there's never enough information to form a complete story. Guys say it stops chucking but never explain what the chucking was caused by.


It reminds me of the guy that say a TT tows as well as a 5th wheel. After you dig into his story you find out he's towing an R-Pod with a long bed 3/4 ton truck. But he will defend his opinion without ever giving reasons why.