Andersen Aluminum Ultimate Hitch Redesigned

"I think they could design a hitch that attaches to the RAM's factory puck system with it's larger footprint of the pucks. But I don't think it will weigh 32 lbs."

I'm sure they could design and build such a hitch although the weight would be anybody's guess, but I suspect that a product as fairly new to the market as this one would be aimed at by far the largest potential market. That would not be Dodge or any other puck truck; it would be ball mount and rail mount setups.

Me Again wrote:


With both the Andersen and Companion the hitch base is pulled down onto the bed floor. The Turnover Ball holds it down. The load is placed on the sheet metal and tophats on the bottom of the bed. Verses onto the frame in puck and rail systems.

Some on here is the pass have claimed that it can for held down by the Turnover Ball and held up at the same time!!!!!!! Chris

Yes, the TO Ball base holds the Companion (or Andersen) down, while pulling the frame UP, but it also supports the base and transfers that load directly to the frame. On my '02, the foot pads of the Companion are directly over the frame rails and act more to stabilize the Companion than to carry the load. If your supposition were correct, I certainly wouldn't need those heavy cross-members to support the Companion. Now, take out the Companion and hook up my GN trailer. Where is that =entire= pin load carried? Yep, right on the ball, meaning that the entire sub-frame is carrying the load, with =nothing= on the bed!

Lyle

Cummins12V98 wrote:

There have been plenty of reports of hitch tampering resulting in dropped RV's. It would be very easy to do with the Andersen since the handle is typically mounted where it is easy to access.

I've never heard of it happening, and I know literally nobody who locks their trailer to the hitch to try to prevent it. To me it's a complete non-issue.

Just a thought that Andersen could redesign their hitch, to place less leverage on the attachment to the Gooseneck ball.
Currently they have about a 10" to 12" lever above the floor of the bed. I would suggest a couple of stringers alongside the GN attachment and supporting the upper ball with a diagonal brace to the front between the stringers that would hold the GN attaching coupler.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

dedmiston wrote:
Yaaaaawwwwwn.

Thank you for not closing this! I think everyone has been civil. Good debate!

I'm just a civilian in Fifth Wheels. My superpowers only work in Toy Haulers.

But I know a guy...who knows a guy...

ralphnjoann wrote:
What would happen if all of the "faults", i.e., bed deflection, non-locking handle, incorrect/incomplete stress tests, and gross weight carrying capacity (there may be more which haven't been thought of yet), of the Andersen were corrected? You would be left with a light weight hitch, easily installed and removed, with virtually no moving parts and occupying minimal storage space (mine is leaned up on its side against a wall in a metal storage shed). What then would become of the Companions, the Patriots, the Reeses and all the rest, other than perhaps, sliders?

Things that upset the old order are often met with stiff resistance from the entrenched; the Andersen is no different.

The only real issue is that the hitch deformed, basically failed since a person wouldn't want to tow with it anymore, in a non-accident situation. The rest are just nits to be picked like with any hitch.

ralphnjoann wrote:
What would happen if all of the "faults", i.e., bed deflection, non-locking handle, incorrect/incomplete stress tests, and gross weight carrying capacity (there may be more which haven't been thought of yet), of the Andersen were corrected? You would be left with a light weight hitch, easily installed and removed, with virtually no moving parts and occupying minimal storage space (mine is leaned up on its side against a wall in a metal storage shed). What then would become of the Companions, the Patriots, the Reeses and all the rest, other than perhaps, sliders?

Things that upset the old order are often met with stiff resistance from the entrenched; the Andersen is no different.

I think they could design a hitch that attaches to the RAM's factory puck system with it's larger footprint of the pucks. But I don't think it will weigh 32 lbs.

SkiSmuggs wrote:
Maybe we can solve locking the Andersen right after we solve locking the fuel door on my Super Duty.

How about a locking fuel cap for the 2013 and up RAM's???

IdaD wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:


I guess you have not read my repeated posts saying that there is NO WAY to lock the RV to the Andersen. Sure you can push and twist and a joker can twist and pull. That is my POINT!!!

Your point is silly. People don't go around detaching trailers from trucks for kicks, and if you did encounter such an odd soul I don't think a padlock would be much of a deterrent. Your time would be better spent worrying about getting hit by a meteorite.

There have been plenty of reports of hitch tampering resulting in dropped RV's. It would be very easy to do with the Andersen since the handle is typically mounted where it is easy to access.

What would happen if all of the "faults", i.e., bed deflection, non-locking handle, incorrect/incomplete stress tests, and gross weight carrying capacity (there may be more which haven't been thought of yet), of the Andersen were corrected? You would be left with a light weight hitch, easily installed and removed, with virtually no moving parts and occupying minimal storage space (mine is leaned up on its side against a wall in a metal storage shed). What then would become of the Companions, the Patriots, the Reeses and all the rest, other than perhaps, sliders?

Things that upset the old order are often met with stiff resistance from the entrenched; the Andersen is no different.