5th wheel hitches

JTrac wrote:
Crowe, not sure what you mean that a goose neck type hitch is less stable. We have a Goose Box on our Pinnacle and have towed in all kinds of conditions, including some pretty stiff cross winds. I've never thought the towing experience is any different from any other hitch I have used and that includes a B&W Companion and a Trailer Saver BD3 air ride. If anything, the ride is even better with the Goose Box. What I really like is removing a 5 pound ball and I've got my bed back.

It's just from what I've read, not based on any experience. If we buy the unit was just fell in love with we would use the "puck" type system to save the bed.

ReneeG wrote:
We have a Hensley TrailerSaver BD3 and now there is a BD5. It comes apart in three pieces and easy to remove and reassemble. We've had ours since buying it new in 2010. With regular maintenance, it stands the test of time and provides a smooth ride with the air shocks.

I went the same route with a Reese slider took it apart in three pieces, but soon tired of that , yes had to take it apart , not hard just that I had too, and then before I could use it again I had to put it back together. The Andersen solved that problem.

fj12ryder wrote:

phillyg wrote:
"It does NOT void the warranty! Quit spreading lies."

I'm fairly sure someone posted Lippert's official stance about this, or the Forest River or Montana forums.

Yep, I read the same thing on the Keystone forum. One guy got it straight from his dealer that Keystone will not warranty frame damage if an Andersen hitch was used.

Saying it isn't so, won't make it so.

And we know Lippert doesn’t need any help on failures , they do okay on their own. I’ve towed two different fifth wheels with the Andersen , someone pleased explain to me what’s the difference in an Andersen and a conventional as to where the weight is distributed on the frame structure . What I do see is that the weight is located in smaller area on the pin box as to where on a conventional hitch it’s spread out more on the pin box plate . But the weight is still located and the force the same on the frame . I have heard of the adapter of the Andersen being smaller then the surface of a conventional hitch , and deflecting the bottom plate on the pin box . But as said would like to have someone explain to be how the weight sitting on that Andersen can cause a FRAME failure..

Crowe, not sure what you mean that a goose neck type hitch is less stable. We have a Goose Box on our Pinnacle and have towed in all kinds of conditions, including some pretty stiff cross winds. I've never thought the towing experience is any different from any other hitch I have used and that includes a B&W Companion and a Trailer Saver BD3 air ride. If anything, the ride is even better with the Goose Box. What I really like is removing a 5 pound ball and I've got my bed back.

phillyg wrote:
"It does NOT void the warranty! Quit spreading lies."

I'm fairly sure someone posted Lippert's official stance about this, or the Forest River or Montana forums.

Yep, I read the same thing on the Keystone forum. One guy got it straight from his dealer that Keystone will not warranty frame damage if an Andersen hitch was used.

Saying it isn't so, won't make it so.

Flashman wrote:

Crowe wrote:

Flashman wrote:
Andersen hitch - 35 pounds. Easy peasy. Over 25000 miles on mine and take in and while camping. Thousands sold and very happy customers.

Problem is it could void the Lippert frame warranty. Still investigating on that one.

It does NOT void the warranty! Quit spreading lies.

Not spreading lies.

We have a Hensley TrailerSaver BD3 and now there is a BD5. It comes apart in three pieces and easy to remove and reassemble. We've had ours since buying it new in 2010. With regular maintenance, it stands the test of time and provides a smooth ride with the air shocks.

To be clear the B&W 18K Companion that sat on the bed floor was designed when the truck beds were much stronger. Once they realized the beds were thinner and causing bed deflection they provided spacers to anyone wanting them and then proceeded to design a similar hitch but with adjustable spacers so there would be no further bed deflection.

Bottom line the ANDERSEN people simply have ignored this issue.

MFL wrote:
On new/newer trucks, with thinner bed metal, or aluminum bed, I would not use any single point attachment hitch, from any hitch maker. Just attaching to the ball only, and using the bed for stability can cause truck bed damage/deflection. Andersen does not make a hitch to fit the FW pucks. An adapter would be needed to attach to the pucks, and a 4-point steel Andersen hitch to fit the adapter.

Jerry

I disagree, same as the B&W add those shims in the valleys on the bed ,there will be no deflection . I do agree ,an adapter ,and the steel Andersen is the "ONLY" way to go . Its too bad Andersen does not supply them with the aluminum hitch , like B&W did after having bed damage with their hitches . IMO any fifth wheel up to 18K GVWR the steel Andersen would be my choice every time, now that I have towed a few thousand with it, regardless of having to go the adapter. There are at least three of those adapters available to attach to the OE puck systems on the new trucks . It enables any rail mount hitch to be attached at all four points to the adapter.

"It does NOT void the warranty! Quit spreading lies."

I'm fairly sure someone posted Lippert's official stance about this, or the Forest River or Montana forums.