I have a 2017 RAM 3500 SRW short (standard) bed. My Andersen hitch is set up with the pin box adapter putting the 5th wheel closer to the cab. The pin box is over the rear axle. My question is would I notice a difference in towing if I reversed the adapter and put the trailer further back. I believe I would clear the tailgate and the box sides and it might give me a better turning angle. Trailer is a Genesis 28IKS, 14000 lb loaded max.

I would say a few inches you will not notice....from everything I read. I'm sure someone will disagree.It will not hurt anything to try...see if you like the feel.

You can speculate until the cows come home, but the only way to know for sure is to just try it and see how it does. Everybody's rig is different, and they don't all act the same.

Be very careful Flashman. I got the Anderson hitch installed when I bought a new 5er last year. I have a regular cab Ram and a standard 8 foot bed. They installed the Anderson hitch wrong. It was installed on the pin with the red pick up facing to the front, that lets the 5er back and when I was backing in to a spot the 5th wheel pin box hit the side of the truck. They had to re do it and turn the red pick up 180 degrees around facing the back. This moves the 5er farther up in the bed of the truck. But when backing, I can now back it in a 90 degree turn and it misses the bed of the truck 3 or 4 inches. So get the instructions and read them and measure your bed. I had never heard of these Anderson hitches and the last thing I was thinking of is the pin box hitting the inside side of the bed of the truck. I have had a Reese hitch for years. What I don' like is hooking up. Put the tail gate down and back under, then put the tail gate up before backing completely in as it is very close to hitting the 5er unless you are perfectly square with the front of the 5er. I should get the 5th wheel tail gate that you leave up while backing in....

Flashman wrote:I have a 2017 RAM 3500 SRW short (standard) bed. My Andersen hitch is set up with the pin box adapter putting the 5th wheel closer to the cab. The pin box is over the rear axle. My question is would I notice a difference in towing if I reversed the adapter and put the trailer further back. I believe I would clear the tailgate and the box sides and it might give me a better turning angle. Trailer is a Genesis 28IKS, 14000 lb loaded max.I too tow with the adapter putting the fifth wheel closer to the cab with my 2014 Ram 3500 SRW Megacab ,same bed as yours, short bed ,now called standard :B As said in a previous post ,it depends on the pin box ,and whether it could make contact with the bed. With my previous fifth wheel with a MorRyde pin box ,same truck, I ran the adapter with it putting the fifth wheel further from the cab, without any issues .This new fifth wheel I have now has more rounded front corners ,and a lippert pin box. I did have the adapter putting the fifth wheel further from the cab, but just didn't like the distance from the tailgate I was seeing, so I never did tow with it in that position ,I reversed it. That being said , when backing I actually notice I am not any closer to the corners then I was with my previous fifth wheel if anything I am further away . The lippert pin box also sticks further out from the fifth wheel ,then my previous fifth wheel with the MorRyde pin box.To answer your question on towing ,I never noticed any difference between the two fifth wheels in the different tow positions . If you think you have the clearance on tailgate or box side , I would go for it , it will for sure give you more turning ,and backing clearance . I doubt you will notice any difference in the way it tows . You will be further back by 8" if the adapter is reversed .

Whiskey River wrote:Be very careful Flashman. I got the Anderson hitch installed when I bought a new 5er last year. I have a regular cab Ram and a standard 8 foot bed. They installed the Anderson hitch wrong. It was installed on the pin with the red pick up facing to the front, that lets the 5er back and when I was backing in to a spot the 5th wheel pin box hit the side of the truck. They had to re do it and turn the red pick up 180 degrees around facing the back. This moves the 5er farther up in the bed of the truck. But when backing, I can now back it in a 90 degree turn and it misses the bed of the truck 3 or 4 inches. So get the instructions and read them and measure your bed. I had never heard of these Anderson hitches and the last thing I was thinking of is the pin box hitting the inside side of the bed of the truck. I have had a Reese hitch for years. What I don' like is hooking up. Put the tail gate down and back under, then put the tail gate up before backing completely in as it is very close to hitting the 5er unless you are perfectly square with the front of the 5er. I should get the 5th wheel tail gate that you leave up while backing in....I can go in at a bit of an angle when hooking up without worrying about the tailgate, but thats an issue with any hitch, although with a conventional hitch ,most likely you won't over shoot it unless you are way to high , and go right up over the kingpin. Granted with the Andersen you have to clear the ball to line up, and its very possible you can back your tailgate into the front of the fifth wheel. I can see when backing in ,and I do take it in very careful with the tail gate down, I would have to over shoot the ball by aways. With the tailgate down, and hooked up ,I can squeeze between fifth wheel ,and tailgate.

Andersen Hitch | Good Sam Community

bsbeedub
Explorer
Feb 23, 2021
Thanks to all who replied to my question. I appreciate it.
N-Trouble
Explorer
Feb 23, 2021
bsbeedub wrote:
We will be getting a fifth wheel soon and I plan on getting an Andersen hitch. One of the disadvantages I see regularly, and in this thread, is having to align the red hitch pin adaptor directly over the ball on the Andersen. I currently have a TT and have to do basically the same thing with aligning the ball on the truck under the coupler on the tongue . I don’t understand what the difference is and why some indicate this is a difficult thing to do. Can someone shed some light for me please?

Its NOT an issue. Well according to some it is but not sure why. Easier than your TT to align...
ZeeLet50
Explorer
Feb 22, 2021
I agree if you have a camera on top of the cab aligning and hitching is a breeze. I have the cup forward on my 6'6" bed and the only thing I did was take a gouge out of my bed cover rail. I will grind off the wings on the hitch this spring to prevent further hitting. Thought about turning it around to see if it eliminates some of the chunking I am getting but my new TV will probably take care of that as I am going from 3/4 to 1 ton and longer wheel base.
cummins2014
Explorer
Feb 22, 2021
MFL wrote:
If you can align ball and hitch on your TT, should not be hard to align with the Andersen. You do need to raise the FW a bit higher than with a standard hitch.

Jerry

Hell, I got a back up camera not a problem hooking up my ATV trailer , and I can see the ball on the Andersen , neither is an issue . Back in the day before cameras, it still never seemed an issue hitching up bumper pulls .
cummins2014
Explorer
Feb 21, 2021
bsbeedub wrote:
We will be getting a fifth wheel soon and I plan on getting an Andersen hitch. One of the disadvantages I see regularly, and in this thread, is having to align the red hitch pin adaptor directly over the ball on the Andersen. I currently have a TT and have to do basically the same thing with aligning the ball on the truck under the coupler on the tongue . I don’t understand what the difference is and why some indicate this is a difficult thing to do. Can someone shed some light for me please?

It’s a perceived issue , mostly by those that have never had one . The new Andersen’s have that red line up cone , and no need to be dead on . I have the older Andersen that didn’t come with the cone . I have no problem getting lined up side to side , no different then lining up the kingpin .I can see the ball from the cab, on occasion I may have to get back in the truck to move further back or pull forward a bit .
MFL
Nomad II
Feb 21, 2021
If you can align ball and hitch on your TT, should not be hard to align with the Andersen. You do need to raise the FW a bit higher than with a standard hitch.

Jerry
bsbeedub
Explorer
Feb 21, 2021
We will be getting a fifth wheel soon and I plan on getting an Andersen hitch. One of the disadvantages I see regularly, and in this thread, is having to align the red hitch pin adaptor directly over the ball on the Andersen. I currently have a TT and have to do basically the same thing with aligning the ball on the truck under the coupler on the tongue . I don’t understand what the difference is and why some indicate this is a difficult thing to do. Can someone shed some light for me please?
cummins2014
Explorer
Feb 19, 2021
ford truck guy wrote:
I had long beds early on.. started camping and went to short beds.. Probably early to mid 80's ish.. the last 3 RV's were fivers, all before were TT's.

always had the SB till March of 2020.... That's when I went to the dark side with the LB AND the B&W.... After 1 partial season of towing, I can honestly say that I LOVE that combo....

As said many times "HAD" the long beds, glad you enjoy yours :B
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Feb 19, 2021
ford truck guy wrote:
I had long beds early on.. started camping and went to short beds.. Probably early to mid 80's ish.. the last 3 RV's were fivers, all before were TT's.

always had the SB till March of 2020.... That's when I went to the dark side with the LB AND the B&W.... After 1 partial season of towing, I can honestly say that I LOVE that combo....

Nice to see the light! Had one 77 GMC shorty, loved the truck but hated the useless bed.

“NO COMPROMISE”
Njmurvin
Explorer
Feb 19, 2021
I have the Andersen with the adapter set for more distance to the cab (red ball receiver forward). My truck bed is 6'9" with the OEM puck setup. I have good clearance to the tailgate and side rails. It tows just fine in this position. I don't really notice much of a difference driving down the road between this and my 2004.5 Ram with a Superglide (same trailer) - except that the Andersen is smoother and quieter. And, there's no comparison in removing/installing the hitch as the Andersen is about 200lbs lighter. Hooking up is a bit more effort due to ball alignment vs. backing into a slot. But, I'll take that tradeoff any day. I'm super happy with the Andersen so far.

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