Request: This thread is about the Andersen, please do not hijack the thread to enlighten everyone about other hitches like the B&W. They are great and each has its place in RV-land.I previously owned the original 2015 Ultimate Aluminum and liked it a lot. Back then I did a Youtube video with comments about my installation. I've made some changes in equipment and I now am back to the Andersen Ultimate only this one is the most recent 2016 model that had a few nice changes.I'm one of those Andersen fans that installed the kingpin adapter backward to change the pivot point to better match my mor/Ryde pinbox. Texas weather these last few weeks has kept me off the road, so I decided to do an updated Youtube video. As with the first one, this video was unsolicited and uncompensated, I just did it for fun and in case it may answer anyone questions. Also, I admit to posting this exact same message on the Forest River Owners forum.Here's the link:Andersen Ultimate 2016 Version

hbillsmith wrote:I previously owned the original 2015 Ultimate Aluminum and liked it a lot. Back then I did a Youtube video with comments about my installation. I've made some changes in equipment and I now am back to the Andersen Ultimate only this one is the most recent 2016 model that had a few nice changes.I'm one of those Andersen fans that installed the kingpin adapter backward to change the pivot point to better match my mor/Ryde pinbox. Texas weather these last few weeks has kept me off the road, so I decided to do an updated Youtube video. As with the first one, this video was unsolicited and uncompensated, I just did it for fun and in case it may answer anyone questions. Also, I admit to posting this exact same message on the Forest River Owners forum.Here's the link:Andersen Ultimate 2016 VersionNice. Thanks for sharing. IMO anyone buying a fifth wheel should really consider this hitch.Its a American made product that is well built. Again thanks for taking the time to show us the Andersen Hitch.

Have you tried running the coupler in the forward position (ball in front) with the MorRyde pinbox? Does it cause problems? Asking because Im looking at picking up a MorRyde pinbox soon. I would think running the coupler the other direction with a short bed truck is going to create cab clearance issues when turning/backing

Thanks for the video. You showed in detail what others have written and made it clear to me what has been discussed about turning the mount around and the Curt 4" offset ball. Never could figure out how that all worked together.

Doesnt the Curt extension and running the coupler backwards affectively cancel each other out? Im not quite following the logic. Wouldnt running the coupler in the traditional direction and ditching the Curt extension put you in about the same position?

N-Trouble wrote:Doesnt the Curt extension and running the coupler backwards affectively cancel each other out? Im not quite following the logic. Wouldnt running the coupler in the traditional direction and ditching the Curt extension put you in about the same position?The adapter flip puts your trailer 8 inches closer to the cab. The Curt puts your trailer 4 inches further away from the cab. If you do both, you are impacted by the net of the combination. 8" closer minus 4" further equals a net ending in only 4" further (8-4=4).

Andersen Ultimate Aluminum 2016 Model Update | Good Sam Community

BarneyS
Explorer III
May 11, 2016
Too much time being spent keeping this thread clean and within the forum rules. Thread closed.
Barney
DirtyOil
Explorer
May 11, 2016
rhagfo wrote:
Well some of my concerns were confirmed just the other day. Camper came into the park with an Andersen Ultimate Aluminum, first issue the cable for the release lock, was pushed and bent at the adapter end, and you couldn't pull the release, until I straightened the cable. I am not sure how it got bent. Second is I noticed this was the persons first tow with the setup and the spray in bed liner was already scared by the base, looked like slight movement fore and aft.
That and one single bolt secures the Andersen to the ball adapter!
B&W uses a hold down bolt, and two "U" bolts to secure to the ball adapter.

My spray liner does not show any scares, flattening or any "ridges" from the Anderson frame. If properly installed that won't happen. Been using the Anderson for 3 years now.
WTP-GC
Explorer
May 11, 2016
rhagfo wrote:

Then the way and where the Andersen base attaches to the GN ball, the hitch has about 12" of leverage on the connection. Making the Andersen weak to being pushed forward or pulled back, and bending during "Hard Braking" Link to backup. If you look at the pictures you will notice and forward force to the connection is applied at the top of the connection, thus giving the 12" of leverage.

I often wonder if the OP for that thread you linked to knew that one day, his experience would be the singular incident that all Andersen UH detractors refer back to. His short story of a bent hitch has somehow managed to dwarf the success rates of the many thousands of UH's that have been sold. Note that even that guy still uses an Aluminum version of the UH.
hbillsmith
Explorer
May 11, 2016
rhagfo wrote:
...I saw results with a smaller 5er moving the base enough to scar a spray in bed liner.
Smith Answer: As with any hitch, good practice to recheck bolts after hitching to looseness

Then the way and where the Andersen base attaches to the GN ball, the hitch has about 12" of leverage on the connection. Making the Andersen weak to being pushed forward or pulled back, and bending during "Hard Braking" Link to backup. If you look at the pictures you will notice and forward force to the connection is applied at the top of the connection, thus giving the 12" of leverage. The B&W the force is applied at the base of the connection.
Smith Answer:Not sure where you see 12", the one I own is 2 inches from the floor. The top ball is level with the kingpin. Of 18,000 hitches sold, less than 5 ever experienced a bend, all were cosmetic that did not inhibit the towing and all were replaced for free under Andersen's lifetime warranty (I did followups to know what I am saying is correct). Even the link you listed ends with a happy owner comment.

That said, I have the other hitch that Cummins12V98 slams, I have a Reese 16K twin jaw. It attaches to the TV FRAME in four places. The jaws pivot behind the pin, so the harder you pull the tighter they shut. So much so, I have pulled my 11,000# for over 20 miles with the jaws UNLOCKED without issue.
Smith Answer:I can identify with that. I hurried out of a campsite once and forgot to turn and push the Andersen lock handle. A few hours later went to unhook and made the discovery. Turns out that a couple thousand pounds of hitch weight is enough to keep the trailer from bouncing off the ball. I now use check lists and the lock handle is on their once in the camp break list and again on the 'before you drive off' list.

Smith Answers: Thank you for your observations, I love a good discussion ;-)
hbillsmith
Explorer
May 11, 2016
cummins2014 wrote:
I have read where you can trim some off the back of the pin box without hurting anything to clear the bed rails.

Yes, I saw that mod and considered it. My problem is I don't have the tools (and probably ability) to do the mod. I may do it someday but for now the Reverse+Curt is workin' for me.
rhagfo
Explorer III
May 11, 2016
cummins2014 wrote:

I am curious, you state you are not a fan of the Andersen. Have you owned ,and towed with one, and decided it was not the hitch for you ?

Being a non owner of the Andersen, I have read all the supposed negatives, everything from you have to lift the fifth wheel higher and it will wear out the landing gear, to its overrated on capacity, but overall what is there that really distracts from the Andersen to not purchase one.

IMO being lightweight , and strong , easy to remove, pretty much outweighs any negatives. I could give a list of negatives on my conventional sliding hitch, but bottom line it hooks up my fifth wheel, and pulls it down the road without issue. I'm thinking the Andersen does the same.

Well now both second hand and first hand knowledge.

I don't like hitches that depend on the floor of the bed for support, both the Andersen and B&W Companion depend on the bed for support.
I saw results with a smaller 5er moving the base enough to scar a spray in bed liner.

Then the way and where the Andersen base attaches to the GN ball, the hitch has about 12" of leverage on the connection. Making the Andersen weak to being pushed forward or pulled back, and bending during "Hard Braking" Link to backup. If you look at the pictures you will notice and forward force to the connection is applied at the top of the connection, thus giving the 12" of leverage. The B&W the force is applied at the base of the connection.

That said, I have the other hitch that Cummins12V98 slams, I have a Reese 16K twin jaw. It attaches to the TV FRAME in four places. The jaws pivot behind the pin, so the harder you pull the tighter they shut. So much so, I have pulled my 11,000# for over 20 miles with the jaws UNLOCKED without issue.
csamayfield55x
Explorer
May 11, 2016
hbillsmith wrote:
csamayfield55 wrote:
1.5 pages before the B&W crowd start taking over!!! Good job for holding off this long

We did the adapter flip with the Mor ride om ny FIL's 5er. He was coming in contact with the bed rails on his 12 Ram SB. The 4" difference was just enough to clear the pinbox corners when hard turning. BTW, with this configuration we got close to 88 degrees of turn before I got nervous.

I am going to get the new adapter for him prett quick so he can get that funnel installed.

Chris

Chris you can get the Funnel adapter anytime by contacting Andersen customer service (customerservice@anderseninc.com). The instructions describe removing the 2 bolts that secure the adapter to the kingpin and also removing the lock cable where it screws into the adapter. The Funnel then slips over the adapter. Lastly you then you reinsert and tighten the 2 bolts and reinsert and tighten the lock cable. Its pretty easy and will work for anyone that has the Ultimate. They were charging current Ultimate owners just $32 for the Funnel add on. Also, be sure and give them the serial number off the Ultimate frame. That will tell them if they need to include a ball replacement also. When they came out with the funnel, they extended the ball's neck to provide additional clearance to the funnel skirt. Note the truck bed to ball top distance did not change, just the neck design.

Thanks, will give them a call this afternoon.

Chris
hbillsmith
Explorer
May 11, 2016
csamayfield55 wrote:
1.5 pages before the B&W crowd start taking over!!! Good job for holding off this long

We did the adapter flip with the Mor ride om ny FIL's 5er. He was coming in contact with the bed rails on his 12 Ram SB. The 4" difference was just enough to clear the pinbox corners when hard turning. BTW, with this configuration we got close to 88 degrees of turn before I got nervous.

I am going to get the new adapter for him prett quick so he can get that funnel installed.

Chris

Chris you can get the Funnel adapter anytime by contacting Andersen customer service (customerservice@anderseninc.com). The instructions describe removing the 2 bolts that secure the adapter to the kingpin and also removing the lock cable where it screws into the adapter. The Funnel then slips over the adapter. Lastly you then you reinsert and tighten the 2 bolts and reinsert and tighten the lock cable. Its pretty easy and will work for anyone that has the Ultimate. They were charging current Ultimate owners just $32 for the Funnel add on. Also, be sure and give them the serial number off the Ultimate frame. That will tell them if they need to include a ball replacement also. When they came out with the funnel, they extended the ball's neck to provide additional clearance to the funnel skirt. Note the truck bed to ball top distance did not change, just the neck design.
cummins2014
Explorer
May 11, 2016
csamayfield55 wrote:
1.5 pages before the B&W crowd start taking over!!! Good job for holding off this long

We did the adapter flip with the Mor ride om ny FIL's 5er. He was coming in contact with the bed rails on his 12 Ram SB. The 4" difference was just enough to clear the pinbox corners when hard turning. BTW, with this configuration we got close to 88 degrees of turn before I got nervous.

I am going to get the new adapter for him prett quick so he can get that funnel installed.

Chris

I have read where you can trim some off the back of the pin box without hurting anything to clear the bed rails.
csamayfield55x
Explorer
May 11, 2016
1.5 pages before the B&W crowd start taking over!!! Good job for holding off this long

We did the adapter flip with the Mor ride om ny FIL's 5er. He was coming in contact with the bed rails on his 12 Ram SB. The 4" difference was just enough to clear the pinbox corners when hard turning. BTW, with this configuration we got close to 88 degrees of turn before I got nervous.

I am going to get the new adapter for him prett quick so he can get that funnel installed.

Chris

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