Andersen Hitch

Scott_85 wrote:
I decided to get rid of my Companion slider, because I can't use it with my camper. Thinking real hard about going with the Andersen Hitch. I have heard nothing but good stuff about them, so I looking for any issues that people have had. My truck is a short bed and my camper has an extended pin box to I think I going to put the adapter the other way right? I just want to make sure I am making the right choice.
_________________________________
TV: 2013 Ram 2500 Laramie, G56, B&W Companion Slider
5er: 2013 Coachmen Chaparral 280RLS

#1. Why can't you use the B&W with your current camper?

Anderson Hitch (the not so good)
#1. Ball hitch, Most states require safety chains.
#2. Ball hitch more work to hook up, need to raise the 5er higher, near perfect alignment.

Anderson Hitch (the good)

#1. Ball Hitch, less chucking almost zero play in the connection.
#2. Ball Hitch more allowable movement.
#3. Hitch assembly is lighter than standard 5th wheel hitch.

Your choice your money.

I can't offer you any advise, other than I am thinking about getting one also. The pro's to me, seem to out weigh the cons.

To me the extra work of humping over the ball to hitch and unhitch is a non-starter. Ask Anderson for a state by state list of states that require safety chains and watch for a very fuzzy answer.

A ball is a ball is a ball! And they know that, now offering an option for safety chains.

Chris

rhagfo wrote:

Scott_85 wrote:
I decided to get rid of my Companion slider, because I can't use it with my camper. Thinking real hard about going with the Andersen Hitch. I have heard nothing but good stuff about them, so I looking for any issues that people have had. My truck is a short bed and my camper has an extended pin box to I think I going to put the adapter the other way right? I just want to make sure I am making the right choice.
_________________________________
TV: 2013 Ram 2500 Laramie, G56, B&W Companion Slider
5er: 2013 Coachmen Chaparral 280RLS

#1. Why can't you use the B&W with your current camper?

Anderson Hitch (the not so good)
#1. Ball hitch, Most states require safety chains.
#2. Ball hitch more work to hook up, need to raise the 5er higher, near perfect alignment.

Anderson Hitch (the good)

#1. Ball Hitch, less chucking almost zero play in the connection.
#2. Ball Hitch more allowable movement.
#3. Hitch assembly is lighter than standard 5th wheel hitch.

Your choice your money.

When the slide is in the rear position I have to have the tailgate down because the pin box will hit the tailgate.

Blaa Blaa Blaa....

I haul both goose neck and fifth wheel trailers, so reaching into the box to hook a chain or two is no big deal!

Just watch out for the weights, 4500lb tongue weight rating and a 24000lb GTWR... Love mine. I'd rather reach over to do a chain then lug the stupid weight of a fifth wheel hitch.

Not all of us have the luxury of a huge shop and picker/crane/hoist/friends/relatives/or Bigfoot wife, to help pull the hitch.

Anderson Hitch (the not so good)
#1. Ball hitch, Most states require safety chains. in Canada depending on which province you live in its 0-2 chains required
#2. Ball hitch more work to hook up, need to raise the 5er higher, near perfect alignment. more work? I can hook up faster then the brother with his "fifth wheel hitch" and I have 10 yrs on him! look out the back window line up and done! ooh hate to hold that button down on the electric gear.. hell of a work out!

Anderson Hitch (the good)

#1. Ball Hitch, less chucking almost zero play in the connection. yup... best ride.
#2. Ball Hitch more allowable movement. yup less stress on TV and Fiver and hitch
#3. Hitch assembly is lighter than standard 5th wheel hitch. lighter... you bet it is... 60lbs... loosen a couple of bolts, pick it up and I hang mine on the garage wall... right next to my Mona Lisa print.

Common sense tells me that looking at a Companion next to a Andersen they really are not the same strength.

I saw a you tube video where they put the Andersen Hitch in a hydraulic press to see if they could break it. It took about 55,000 lbs. to collapse the ball and about 70,0000 lbs of pressure, 8x the weight of the trailer, to finally collapse the framework. Pretty impressive. If I knew how, I'd post it. Maybe someone can make a link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78l-PadWAro

u had it, just didn't make it a link.. press the globe with the chain link on it, paste in the URL and add some text..

Andersen Hitch

Going with the Andersen, the weight outweighs all the negatives and I'm get the safety chain kit also.

We share a fifth wheel with my brother-in-law and have a companion slider. We like the hitch, but it's a real pain installing it into our truck b/c of the weight if someone isn't there. We are looking at the Ranch Hitch Adapter with the 8" offset for our trailer. Plus with with this style hitch I can get a 45 gal toolbox fuel tank combo.