Andersen Hitch

Chalkie wrote:

Me Again wrote:

Chalkie wrote:

Me Again wrote:
Like the B&W Companion I am not convenienced placing hitch loads on sheet metal beds is the best long term design!

Traditional 5th wheel hitches when correctly installed put the load on the frame rails.

The Companion also places the bulk of the load on the frame as the main load bearing is done with the Turnover ball hitch. Granted, some weight is being born by the bed, but then so is some on a conventional hitch. The rails are in contact with the bed all across, therefore placing a portion of the weight on the bed.

The Anderson also bears the weight to a gooseneck or rail-type mount so I can not see any difference nor a reasonable objection.

Had I been aware of the Anderson before I got the Companion I think I would have gone with the Anderson. The Anderson's, where I have read about them in other forums, gets generally rave reviews from those that own them.

I believe you are wrong on where the weight load is placed with both hitches. The turn over ball is used to force the frame of both hitch on to the bed floor and is the exact opposite of supporting weight! Chris

If I am towing a gooseneck, NOTHING is touching the bed, the entire weight is born on the frame. The Companion drops into the Turnover and the main weight of the kingpin is directly over that point. The rails on the bed provide more lateral support than weight bearing.

I'm no engineer, I'll admit it, but the B&W folks are. They sell an awful lot of these things and the liability would be HUGE if they were not doing as promised. Clearly, you don't think they are safe while I think they are. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. :)

Well I guess you failed HS physics as you can not pull and push at the same time.

Both of these hitches use the turn over ball to hold them down to the bed floor so they do not turn around in the bed. You place them in the bed and torque down a bolt to hold the hitch down against the bed floor, therefore it does not hold up the hitch. It does prevent left/right and front/back movement. Go read the installation instructions. They get torqued down to 50 ft lbs Anderson and 40 B&W, so the turn over ball is not holding up the pin weight, the bed floor is doing that. Any jerky stops or starts put additional stress on the bed floor.


http://www.andersenhitches.com/Catalog/installation-manuals.aspx

http://www.turnoverball.com/products/rvhitch/companion-5th-wheel-hitch