Andersen fifth wheel hitch

[rskeans]

Hitching up technique - -
I am able to see the ball from the cab. I drop the tailgate, back the truck to just in front of the king pin adapter. Now I'm dead center horizontally. At that point I'm typically about 6" forward of the block receiver. Raise the rv to clear the ball. Just back up the required distance. If I'm hooking up by myself it typically takes a couple looks. If my wife is guiding me I'm there the first try.

[Cummins12V98]

Originally Posted by unitlink

At this point I think your just trolling. It doesn't surprise me I found you post in another forum against using an Andersen hitch. It seems (to me) you are either paid by or like to represent B&W for free. Maybe they gave you some swag?

Maybe you should view the video here on how to setup and hook up to the Andersen. You will see the step you lock the ball in. And here you can see a picture where it shows the locking mechanism inside the block that locks to the ball on the hitch.

It seems the only people that discredit Andersen are the very same people that have yet to use it. Use what makes you happy. If you don't like/trust a product don't use it.

This reminds me of people that are scared of "change" or something new because it disrupts what used to be the norm.

I am NOT trolling! I made a very clear statement and some have chose to think I am saying something I am not.

I LOCK my RV to my hitch as seen in the pic. As I said there is NO way that anyone has shown that the Andersen can be locked to a RV.

There are jerks out there that could pull my handle or pull the "T" handle on the Andersen at anytime. YES it does happen.

I am not against the Andersen hitch I think it is a good alternative for a lighter RV.

[Cummins12V98]

Originally Posted by Mr_Fixit

I don't want to blow off any comments as I think even strident ones that disagree wit popular positions make us think and evaluate our choices.

The single serious concern I have about Andersen hitches is a report that the piece that attaches to the pin cracked twice. I know that is a single report on one fifth wheel, but if there was a recurrent report, I would be worried. So far it is not and may be due to something other than Andersen components. I just don't know.

Steve

I point out things about the Andersen or another hitch that I think are inferior, unsafe or just not as good as they say they are. If someone is happy with what they have that's great but don't get all butt hurt about it if I say something negative about what you have. My comments are directed to people that are trying to make a decision on a product.

My BIGGEST problem with ANDERSEN is their rating. Please someone post a pic of the 24K 32# Andersen so everyone can see what it looks like compared to the B&W rated at 25K. Someone is underrating or someone is overrating their product!

I have plenty of people thanking me on the forums or in a PM for suggesting they LOOK at the B&W hitches along with the other before they buy.

[rskeans]

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

I LOCK my RV to my hitch as seen in the pic. As I said there is NO way that anyone has shown that the Andersen can be locked to a RV.

There are jerks out there that could pull my handle or pull the "T" handle on the Andersen at anytime. YES it does happen.

Just a quick comment. If you forget or if somebody pulls your handle you drop your 5ver onto the truck bed, or worse onto the highway. If somebody were to forget or somebody pulls the 'T' handle on the Andersen you still have 4000lbs of pin weight keeping it connected. You would have to be flying for it to disengage. And, of course, we still have our safety chains.

[TJ911]

I don't have a dog in this fight-yet but here's a youtube video by Andersen Hitch. Fact or fiction? I'm still researching but I am considering this hitch.

https://youtu.be/qMW-ynhTatA

TJ

[EagleFixer]

Originally Posted by 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.

Guess you missed the part where I said I have no clue what chucking is? Yes, I'm a newbie to the 5er world so can someone please explain what "chucking" is? Is it binding of the kingpin? Is it slop/looseness in the kingpin/hitch connection? I'm not saying the Andersen stopped something that was never there but it does seem to prevent an issue that seems to be quite common to 5th wheel hitches.

I guess the "if you don't camp like I camp then you're doing it wrong!" mentality is pervasive throughout RV forum communities. I started out with a popup in popup forums and it was the same. Someone asks a question or makes a recommendation on something and 75% of the responses are from the naysayers, most of whom have never used the product being recommended. The same thing when we moved up to a travel trailer. And low and behold it's here in the 5th wheel community, especially when it comes to the Andersen Ultimate 5th Wheel Hitch. In all of my research I think I only found one person that had an issue with his hitch (which Andersen promptly repaired if I remember correctly). But I've found at least 100 responses from folks who've never used one giving their opinion of how it just can't work though. I've never flown an airplane but maybe I'll go over to a flight forum and tell them, in my opinion, how flying a plane just isn't possible.

[rskeans]

Originally Posted by EagleFixer

Guess you missed the part where I said I have no clue what chucking is? Yes, I'm a newbie to the 5er world so can someone please explain what "chucking" is? Is it binding of the kingpin? Is it slop/looseness in the kingpin/hitch connection? I'm not saying the Andersen stopped something that was never there but it does seem to prevent an issue that seems to be quite common to 5th wheel hitches.

I guess the "if you don't camp like I camp then you're doing it wrong!" mentality is pervasive throughout RV forum communities. I started out with a popup in popup forums and it was the same. Someone asks a question or makes a recommendation on something and 75% of the responses are from the naysayers, most of whom have never used the product being recommended. The same thing when we moved up to a travel trailer. And low and behold it's here in the 5th wheel community, especially when it comes to the Andersen Ultimate 5th Wheel Hitch. In all of my research I think I only found one person that had an issue with his hitch (which Andersen promptly repaired if I remember correctly). But I've found at least 100 responses from folks who've never used one giving their opinion of how it just can't work though. I've never flown an airplane but maybe I'll go over to a flight forum and tell them, in my opinion, how flying a plane just isn't possible.

Well said!

[EagleFixer]

Originally Posted by McRod

I'd like to know if anyone has one of these on a 2012 or newer Dodge Ram 3500 Mega cab. Concerned about clearance, since it is not a slider.

Got mine on a 2014 2500 Megacab (non-dullie). When the dealer first installed it the had the ball set at the lowest position and there was concern the pinbox might contact my bed cover. Once I got it home I raised the ball to higher position and everything's butter.

[EagleFixer]

Originally Posted by IC2

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 !!!

Thanks IC2. Mine is a Ram 2500. I never think about removing the center headrest until I'm hooking up.

[EagleFixer]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

Totally agree.
As far as the weight thing goes, I'm somewhat considering selling my B&W and giving the Anderson a try. I don't remove my B&W all that often but when I do it's hard work. @63 yrs old I really don't need to be hauling it around. Only thing about the Anderson I don't like compared to the B&W is the ease of hitching. With my B&W I can be off center a skosh and still back in till the pin hits the back of the jaws. With the Anderson you have to be dead on in both directions. I suppose I could get the hang of it though.

You nailed it there! It took me about 15 minutes the first time I did it by myself. As I mentioned before, the center headrest didn't help matters either. Unlike my previous travel trailer, if I wasn't quite centered on the ball, the trailer could move just enough to drop the coupler on the ball. With the Andersen the pin block just sat on top of the ball. I plan to paint some reference marks on both the hitch and pin box to help with alignment.

[Fsufreak]

Originally Posted by 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.

Why don't you borrow one or find someone nearby and see for yourself instead of doubting what owners are saying?

[Fsufreak]

Originally Posted by Cummins12V98

I am NOT trolling! I made a very clear statement and some have chose to think I am saying something I am not.

I LOCK my RV to my hitch as seen in the pic. As I said there is NO way that anyone has shown that the Andersen can be locked to a RV.

There are jerks out there that could pull my handle or pull the "T" handle on the Andersen at anytime. YES it does happen.

I am not against the Andersen hitch I think it is a good alternative for a lighter RV.

I always do a complete 360 degree walk around and a pre-flight inspection before departure,just my 2cents

[birddog2you]

As a pilot I got a chuckle from EagleFixer's comments but as a retired commercial driver of 32 years an easy fix if you are worried about someone pulling your pin is to lock your trailer brakes and pull on the kingpin before getting out of your tv. Not a person alive can pull your pin.

[1960C182]

Originally Posted by Mr_Fixit

don't understand why neither of the major wholesale distributors are handling it. I do see where etrailer is however. I an glad to hear it is working out so well as so much of what is out there as supposed improvements is does little or nothing.

Steve

Tweety has carried it for a while.The owner parked his companion for one & he has a BIG rv I am told.