Andersen Hitch

jus2shy wrote:
I agree with Me Again in the theory of how these gooseneck mounted hitches work in the bed of a truck. That's also the reason why B&W does not advise using the Reese "Sidewinder" with their gooseneck-based 5th wheel hitching system. However, there's no caution for the hitches that utilize the rails or the OEM "Puck" mounting systems. It's just too much torsional force on the goose neck shank when presented with the additional leverage arm of the sidewinder and certain conditions could lighten the hitch from the bed causing excessive twisting and not enough clamp load to keep the hitch oriented correctly. For every force, there's an equal and opposite force. So as you pull up the slack from the gooseneck ball which is being pulled-up from the truck, the hitch (B&W or Andersen) is pushing down onto the truck's bed which is building a clamping force. So the square gooseneck shank coupled with the friction of the hitch base and bed are what prevents it from spinning.

There is only 1 concern I have with the Andersen vs. the B&W Companion. B&W added extra material on their companion hitch to take into account the bed ribs (for lack of a better term), so it doesn't flatten the higher standing portions of the bed with the lower portions. The Andersen doesn't seem to take that into account. I would be concerned over slowly flattening the bed with a loaded hitch. Has Andersen addressed this possible issue?

Also, I'm thinking about adding the Ram's "Puck" system to my truck since it can be retrofitted. Seems like this would open me up to using the sidewinder hitching system which I think would be a home run since that would give me a full 90* turning radius regardless of the trailer nose. Still weighing my options personally.

And in case people don't believe me regarding the tortional force, here it is straight from the horse's mouth.

And in case other RAM owners are curious, appears that the mopar part number for an after-the-fact 5th wheel prep install is 82213665AB.

B&W added those strips to help keep the hitch from turning on the truck bed. Cummins12V98 knows all about that! The Anderson ball most likely does not create as much turning force on the hitch base.

My four major issues with Anderson beyond possible bed damage are:

1. Safety Chains
2. Having to raise the trailer the extra 3-4" to couple or uncouple
3. No one else can easily rescue your trailer off the road, including wrecker companies without removing the Anderson coupler!
4. Some dealers have no way to move your trailer.

Chris