Andersen Aluminum Ultimate Hitch Redesigned

I see a couple things in those photos that bother me. The gouges in the main support are something I was sure I would have by now if I went with the aluminum version, which is why I went steel instead. I'm hard on my equipment, and have a hard time figuring out how folks keep the beds of their trucks looking so nice. In addition to going with steel I sprayed liquid rubber on the main support tubes to keep things from leaving gouges.

Another issue I see is the way the safety chains are hooked up. I use the aft mounts to give more protection to keep the trailer behind me should I get hit from behind. They are still short enough the trailer should be kept riding on the bedrails should the trailer somehow come detached.

What I can't see in the photos is where the support tubes were bent when the tube locking the hitch to the ball bent. It looks like the base of the hitch slid forward a little bit but it's hard to tell, and it's even harder to tell how much the main support tubes bent or distorted by looking at the photos.

I saw a question regarding the steel version doing anything similar. I had to try and do an emergency stop with serious trailer brake issues due to problems with the RAM IBC and had no hitch issues. I've done a couple subsequent ones from 50 plus under more controlled situations to record pulse width modulation data to verify the issue is with truck. Virtually all braking was with the truck taken to antilock, no hitch issues but I'm still trying to resolve the controller issue with Chrysler.

As for hitch issues in general, At 4X4 Jamborees and club runs I've loaned my welding equipment out a couple times so folks could do repairs on 5er hitches, and even more often for bumper pull receiver issues. It tends to be a crowd that pushes their equipment hard. I had to replace the receiver on my 2011 Ram with less than 30k on the truck because it cracked beyond what I was comfortable welding and trying to beef up. The big issue is what happens if a major part of the hitch does fail. Looking over the provided photos of the Andersen it's hard to say if complete failure was getting close or not.

The next post that flames any member will result in this thread being closed. Please keep your remarks on the topic and not about members.
Thank you.
Barney

I have said MANY times I think the Andersen has it's place and that is 12-14K and under. I have said MANY times it is a quality constructed product. I have said MANY times I think they over rate their hitch. I have said MANY times their "CRUSH TEST" is a visual gimmick and means nothing in the real world where the stress is applied in the fore and aft directions. I have said MANY times I am not an engineer but I understand ratings can vary wildly from one mfg to another.

Pointing out the above is bashing I guess I am a BASHER!

I'm a little late, but here are my thoughts. I like the idea of bringing the ball to the hitch, rather than the goose neck to the ball. If the hitch was bent in a collision, understandable. To deform from braking, IMO, is not acceptable.

I know some are towing heavy with these hitches, and are happy. I do not have one, but if I did get one, I would choose the rail model, due to it just seeming to be more solid in the bed, again JMO.

I do not need or want an Andersen hitch, but I have actually promoted them to others with a specific need. They are light weight, so helpful, when payload is an issue. I think they will help with clearance issues for people with 6.5 bed.

Myself, I would not trust these early models, up to anywhere near what they are rated for, but that is just me. The engineers that design these things know more than me.

Jerry

I tend to agree with the fact that this hitch needs to go through some maturity. I fail to see how the connection point can be moved back with no repercussions. Would you drive with a slider in to the slid poison full time?

What some here call "great customer service" in exchanging an older style hitch to a newer style hitch, I see it as lawsuit prevention. They know they have a problem and they are worried. I haven't liked this since day one, it's a neat sounding idea, but I just don't think all the homework was done with it.

How many bent hitches have you seen that weren't caused by an accident? I think the point is that how many hitches have you seen that were damaged in everyday use? And yes, IMO, a panic stop is everyday use.

Also, this is a relatively new hitch so there aren't likely to be huge numbers of them in use yet. And to me, ONE instance of a hitch deforming under use is way too many.

Amazing how ONE bent hitch can cause so many conversations. Fact is the hitch did NOT allow the trailer to come through the cab, etc. etc. Perhaps the owner did NOT follow directions and push the hitch forward prior to tightening, etc. Don't know what I'm talking about? Then you haven't really done your homework.

I don't have one, don't need one but would buy one if I was shopping. Mainly because they seem to be a heck-of-a good company if all of the other positive posts are true.

How about this? Maybe the original poster of the 'bent' hitch actually photo-shopped the damage and made the whole story up to feed the nay-sayers? Different conspiracy theory, I know.. I must be bored.

None of us will really ever know the whole circumstance on the ONE hitch but everyone that has them seems pretty darn happy with them so who cares?

As for the "why the upgrade"?? Are we honestly going to sit hear and argue that the original must be BUNK because they had to create a new style? Really? You still driving your 1988 350 Chevy with crank windows or have you 'UPGRADED' to something with power windows? Of course there is a second generation. I would expect there will be a 3rd generation and so on. Technological advances.

Now, where's my popcorn.

Anybody ever see any issues reported with the steel version of their hitches?

Well, when the hitch bends like it did under only heavy braking, that does tend to make one think that the hitch is either not strong enough, or under-engineered. If a sudden stop would do that, what would happen in a full stop collision? Would the hitch completely fail and allow the trailer to come into the cab area?

Lots of people have complained about their non-Anderson hitch being hard to open, hard to close, noisy, too much clearance, etc. But this is the only hitch I've ever seen posted by someone, that wasn't involved in an accident, that is obviously damaged.

Even if the trailer brakes were faulty, IMO that hitch shouldn't have distorted like it did. I'm glad to hear that their replacing hitches with the new design. IMO they should recall all the old ones to be replaced.

It has long been said that Andersen compression test had little to do with real world issues thst a hitch can be subjected to. Earlier in the thread I said the changes we most likely due to issues. Now we know I was correct. Chris