Andersen Hitch

Me Again wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
Probably not an issue because the weight of the 5th wheel is not carried on the bed. Most of the weight is transferred through the pin to the frame members.

If you're were carrying the full weight of a large, heavy 5th wheel in the bed only, you'd have some serious denting issues, not to mention probable failure of the bed in several places.

Guess what that is how a B&W Companion and Anderson hitch works, the pin weight is on the floor of the bed not the turnover ball. Some of you need to go back to school!

Watch this video. The pin goes under the shoulder of the gooseneck ball, and then the bolt is tighten, pulling the high down the the bed floor. If it gets compress enough the pin will just move away from the shoulder of the ball. Very simple process with nothing to transfer downward weight to the ball. B&W works in a similar fashon.

http://www.andersenhitches.com/Catalog/ultimate-5th-wheel-connection.aspx

Chris

Have you ever even seen a B&W hitch in operation?

But yeah, you're right, sure enough, right as rain. Nah, not really.

Me Again wrote:
Anderson really hedges on the requirement for safety chains! I would get tired along with my front jacks with the extra lifting to couple or uncouple it. Trailer has to be lifted and extra 3 or 4"!

I would like to see one after a wreck? Compress test is testing it in a single direction at it's strongest point.

Like the B&W Companion I am not convinced 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.

If I get a new RAM it will have factory prep and a four puck hitch that locks onto the frame.

Chris

Me Again, could not agree with you more!! I believe that both B&W and Anderson have had issues with bending the bed floor.

Sorry, but for all the bad press, I am convinced that my Reese 16K twin jaw hitch is a great hitch. That especially when I have towed my fiver over 30 miles, with the locking latch in the unlocked position!

Solidly connected to the frame at four locations!!

Sorry Cummins9812V, I may someday think about the rail mounted Patriot, but not one that depends on the sheet metal bed floor.

fj12ryder wrote:
Probably not an issue because the weight of the 5th wheel is not carried on the bed. Most of the weight is transferred through the pin to the frame members.

If you're were carrying the full weight of a large, heavy 5th wheel in the bed only, you'd have some serious denting issues, not to mention probable failure of the bed in several places.

Guess what that is how a B&W Companion and Anderson hitch works, the pin weight is on the floor of the bed not the turnover ball. Some of you need to go back to school!

Watch this video. The pin goes under the shoulder of the gooseneck ball, and then the bolt is tighten, pulling the high down the the bed floor. If it gets compress enough the pin will just move away from the shoulder of the ball. Very simple process with nothing to transfer downward weight to the ball. B&W works in a similar fashon.

http://www.andersenhitches.com/Catalog/ultimate-5th-wheel-connection.aspx

Chris

Probably not an issue because the weight of the 5th wheel is not carried on the bed. Most of the weight is transferred through the pin to the frame members.

If you're were carrying the full weight of a large, heavy 5th wheel in the bed only, you'd have some serious denting issues, not to mention probable failure of the bed in several places.

I received this reply from Anderson.

"Chris,

Thank you for contacting us in regards to our Ultimate Fifth Wheel Connection Hitch. We are having great success with this hitch selling several hundred every month to satisfied customers. We have had about 5 issues where there was some small dimpling in the rear corners on each side where the bed of the truck dimpled almost an 1/8". We are still trying to determine in these circumstances all the issues and the one thing they all had in common were very heavy RVs and the hitch just lined up with the corrugated in the bed of the truck to be barely on the outer most parts of the hitch. If I was worried about the paint scratching or small dimpling of the bed I would have either a bed liner, bed mat or a rubber pad placed under the hitch.

Keep us posted if you need more information.

Thanks.

On 2014-08-23 11:33, xxxxx@gmail.com wrote:
> Is appears the pin weight of a fifth wheel is carried on the pickup
> bed floor and not directly onto the trucks frame. Has this caused any
> issues with pickup beds, such as dents or damage to hat cross members
> under the bed?
>
> -- Chris "

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

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.

stewks wrote:
I was able to rotate the Andersen hitch around to get the best clearance (about like a no slide hitch).

Just curious if you have called and asked andersen about turning the base around as i know at least my hitch has a sticker on it that indicates which way to have it facing. I really would like to turn it around to move the weight forward a little more, but just not sure if they decided to put the sticker on there for safety reasons or not.

I recently purchased a new to me fifth wheel, new Dodge Ram and an Andersen ultimate hitch to go on top of the B&W ball. I considered a B&W slider but chose Andersen based upon reviews, fore and aft adjustability, and ease of removal. I'm really happy so far, the slider would have been no use because of tailgate and pinbox clearance. I was able to rotate the Andersen hitch around to get the best clearance (about like a no slide hitch). Two trips so far and no chucking, easy hookup viewing hitch and pinbox from seat. To specifically answer the ops question, I had a can of wd-40 in a cupboard at the back of the fifth wheel in a rear kitchen 5er and my wife commented that it and all the other cans and stuff had not moved or tipped over in the travel 2 hours away. They were very loosely packed and certainly could have with any significant movement. I did have one defective part on the new Hitch but they were very responsive when called and overnighted a corrected part so I could continue with weekend plans. For the price, ease of removal, and weight penalty I think this is a great choice. As for moving another fifth wheel, 10 minutes or less would swap the connector, or $169 buy another spare. You will still have a lot in the bank vs the slider.

Mostly because that doesn't really "clamp" the hitch to the floor. That pulls the hitch down and the pin up to take the slack out of the operation. It also ensures that someone cannot inadvertently pull the pin and release the hitch. If you think that 40 lb.fts. of torque on a 1/2-13 bolt have any measurable holding power in the operation of these hitches, you're unclear on the operation of either of them. I have the B&W hitch and know exactly how it works, I don't believe you can say the same. :)

I have the Companion and would buy another if necessary. I don't think the Anderson is inferior, but it just "looks" flimsier. :) Just the impression I get when looking at it, I'm sure it's a very strong hitch and have seen the videos, but I can't shake that first impression.

I also wish to disagree with the person that posted "Sorry but chucking has EVERYTHING to do with the hitch...". I think that the position of the hitch in the bed may have something to do with "chucking" but I fail to see how a snugly fitting hitch of any kind will have any thing to do with "chucking". Provided of course that all other inputs remain the same.