Community Forums

BusterLily · 05-31-2020, 09:54 AM

I just got a 2019 Ram 2500 and had an Andersen hitch installed on a B&W turnover ball. I love the design and characteristics of the hitch, but I have one major problem. The landing gear on the fifth wheel much move the ENTIRE length of travel to hook up/ un-hook. I am hitting the landing gear stops in both directions because of the amount of travel required to put the ball into/ out of the receiver. In fact, to unhook the first time, I had to put 6 sandbags and 120lbs of free weights on the tailgate to get the rear of the truck low enough to clear the ball. How did others resolve this issue? Would airbags help to reduce truck squat, since the truck sags about 3-4" when attached? (My dry 5er weight is 9500 lbs). Any advice?

Old-Biscuit · 05-31-2020, 11:23 AM

First off........
Hitting those 'stops' (Full Travel in/out) WILL damage the screw drive/nut and you will end up with one or both legs stuck or NOT moving under load

Should STOP 1" from full in/out (paint red line top and bottom)

Now would be a good time to use a couple of 6x6x12 inch wood blocks---one under each foot pad prior to lifting front of 5vr

Nail a loop of rope on side of block to make it easier to set/retrieve them

CecilD · 05-31-2020, 12:39 PM

Welcome to the forum. I could see truck air bags with onboard air working. When getting ready to unhitch, air up the bags to remove truck squat. Then set the lower legs on your landing gear, release the coupler ball, and bleed off air. You should pick up the 3"-4" of needed range. Sounds like a lot of steps for something that should be quick and easy.

BusterLily · 05-31-2020, 12:49 PM

Yes, I have andersen hitch trailer jack blocks (the red bucket looking things) for under each leg. I still need every centimeter of travel to hook up and un-hook. I'm thinking reducing truck squat would help with this, but I may just need to go to the a regular style hitch like I had before... I'm just hoping to find a solution since I really like the design of the hitch, but I cannot keep doing this as it is currently set up.

drdit92 · 05-31-2020, 12:59 PM

I use the Andersen Jack blocks and very rarely have to extend my front jacks beyond the fourth stop. I've towed all over and they've worked great.

drdit92 · 05-31-2020, 01:00 PM

Also, if you need a lot of height, you can stack the jack blocks of you have 4 of them.

Old-Biscuit · 05-31-2020, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BusterLily

Yes, I have andersen hitch trailer jack blocks (the red bucket looking things) for under each leg. I still need every centimeter of travel to hook up and un-hook. I'm thinking reducing truck squat would help with this, but I may just need to go to the a regular style hitch like I had before... I'm just hoping to find a solution since I really like the design of the hitch, but I cannot keep doing this as it is currently set up.

Those bucket pads are 8" tall
Are you dropping Inner Leg completely before extending jacks?

What 5th wheel is this?????????

BusterLily · 05-31-2020, 04:40 PM

With the buckets or blocks under the landing gear, I only have about 1/2 of the length extended. The problem is that the part of the mechanism that moves only travels far enough (about 7-8", I havent measured) to barely hook up or un-hook. Between needing the ball to seat in the receiver and the overall squat of the truck, it simply needs more movement. Has anyone else had this problem and if so, how did you fix it? The trailer is a 2010 Forest River Shockwave toyhauler.

Old-Biscuit · 05-31-2020, 04:53 PM

Don't your landing gear legs have TWO parts?

Inner leg with adjustment holes and then the outer leg that is driven up/down by motor?

WIth legs FULLY retracted and buckets set in place ---pull the pins out and let inner leg drop down/insert pins into hole then extend landing gear

BusterLily · 05-31-2020, 05:35 PM

Apparently I am not describing this properly, please excuse me. The telescoping part is only about 1/2 way out. I set it up so that, for instance, the landing gear is completely retracted, less than half of the manually adjustable bottom portion is extended but fully and firmly on the blocks, and then begin to raise the trailer to un-hook. It takes the ENTIRE length of the mechanical operation and even then, to only clear the ball from the receiver by about 1/8". In other words, I use the full motion of the upper piece of landing gear to hook up or un-hook with zero room for error. I hit the stops in both directions every time I hook up or un-hook. It appears that it is a function of the ball needing to seat in the receiver the full length, plus the squat of the truck that exceeds the allowable mechanical movement in the trailer landing gear.

Old-Biscuit · 05-31-2020, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BusterLily

Apparently I am not describing this properly, please excuse me. The telescoping part is only about 1/2 way out. I set it up so that, for instance, the landing gear is completely retracted, less than half of the manually adjustable bottom portion is extended but fully and firmly on the blocks, and then begin to raise the trailer to un-hook. It takes the ENTIRE length of the mechanical operation and even then, to only clear the ball from the receiver by about 1/8". In other words, I use the full motion of the upper piece of landing gear to hook up or un-hook with zero room for error. I hit the stops in both directions every time I hook up or un-hook. It appears that it is a function of the ball needing to seat in the receiver the full length, plus the squat of the truck that exceeds the allowable mechanical movement in the trailer landing gear.

So what you are saying is that the inner legs are dropped as much as possible and touching top of bucket pads WITH the legs fully retracted?

Curious what the overall travel length is?
They do make longer travel landing legs

Standard length (full extended inner/outer protions)----29.5"
Extended models..........37.6"

Swapping out for longer landing gear would be less expensive/easier then mods to truck rear suspension

TB673 · 05-31-2020, 08:20 PM

My question is "How Tall Is Your Truck"?
I have a 1 ton 4 wheel drive drw, and have never had to extend my jacks all the way up to clear my Anderson hitch.
I do put my 3" blocks under my jack pads so that gives me a little advantage.

drdit92 · 06-01-2020, 08:07 AM

It definitely sounds like your inner front landing gear legs don't have a lot of travel. Why do you not want to extend the outer portion more than half way? I have been on sites where that was necessary, even with the Andersen jack blocks. Though it that is required for you to unhitch on a level site, you're going to be SOL on any slope. Sounds like you need longer legs, as recommended above. Even if you go to a regular fiver hitch, you're going to be in trouble on any front to back unlevel sites, and those are unfortunately not uncommon.

HDGoose · 06-03-2020, 09:02 AM

I had to look up your setup. I have a standard 5th wheel setup not this gooseneck conversion.

But they make a lower mount https://andersenhitches.com/Catalog/gooseneck-mount--ultimate-5th-wheel-connection.aspx" that could resolve your issues.

Is your trailer level when hitch to the truck? You can also adjust the trailer pin mount up or down.