Andersen Ultimate Aluminum 2016 Model Update
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 ow...
Forum Discussion
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.
