Andersen Ultimate Issues
I'm coming up on the one year marks with the Andersen Ultimate steel version approximately 5k miles with the Bighorn, a around 800 miles with a Presidential suites. I've given up on the hitch as it's ...
Forum Discussion
Searching_Ut wrote:
I haven't contacted lippert or heatland about this, but probably should. Dealer claims to have spoken to Andersen and had them say this is "normal" and not an issue. I tried to get specifics from them though and they kind of gave me a blank stare. I've personally contacted Andersen twice by e-mail, twice by phone, and sent them photos. No response to the e-mail, by phone they just said they'd get back to me.
Personally, I don't see how this isn't happening to others when you think about it. Lot of force applied to a pretty small area when you get things rockin and rolling down the road. My pin weight is only around 3k, trailer loaded 14-14.5k with about 1k to go to my GVWR (base weight 12,000 with 2520 on the pin). I have done a lot of mountain road driving where the truck engine brake is straining to hold back the load. I would imagine that is where the dynamic loads are the highest on the pin. For the most part though the roads were pretty good. Shortly though I'm heading out to Seattle, and last time I drove through that area the roads were pretty rough.
Again, I think the question should be why aren't others having this issue? you have several thousand pounds of static weight riding on the end of two set screws. Then you in effect start pounding on the back of the screws as you drive down the road. It really isn't a very good design. Of course the energy is also getting transferred elsewhere, which is why I decided to purchase a suspension style pin box. I didn't have a bad ride or chucking to any extent, but at the same time, I'm hoping to prevent future problems in other areas in the process of taking care of my current hitch issue.
Now, how about constructive brainstorming type stuff and maybe figure out why my pin box failed and others haven't:
1. Is my pin weight maybe higher than most using this hitch?
2. Is it likely I'm driving on different types or roads?
3. Could the factory air suspension on my truck maybe be making the loads different somehow?
4. Bad batch of steel making my pin box exceptionally soft?
5. Problem possibly more common than thought and just not being reported?
Any constructive thoughts?
Your pinbox was not designed to have the load placed on such a small area.
