Andersen Ultimate not working for me

Cdash wrote:


The other thing could be your truck. Conventional fifth hitches put the center of pin just in front of the axle. The Anderson, especially in the rear position, is going to increase load on the trucks rear axle and decrease load on the trucks front axle. This is because more load is going towards the back legs of the Anderson. That could cause some change in handling too.

You sure that there isn't any movement in the block that attaches to the pin?

I spoke with the Anderson folks and any weight you put on the hitch will be the same as putting the weight on a fifth wheel hitch. The weight goes on the frame of the hitch which is stationary. The frame fits the truck in the same location as does a rail system. The Anderson hitch frame has no front or rear position. You can swap the pin box adapter end for end to move the trailer 4" further forward, but it still mounts to the ball on the hitch in the same location.

Interesting, I have mine installed with the ball adapter placing the ball behind the kingpin because the back of the kingpin arm hits the tailgate if I install it the other way. Luckily I have the cutouts in the nose of my fiver so it works out pretty good. I'm running up to North Dakota this weekend to tow the kids triple axle Presidential Suites rig down to Wyoming so I'll get a chance to try a different configuration soon. Hopefully my experience works out better than yours. The son in Laws 5er doesn't have the rounded nose so if possible I'll be setting up the hitch the way you were just using yours to get as much cab clearance as possible. I'll let you know how it works out for me, but that will just be as a point of interest as it won't have any impact on how your setup works for you.

wvcampers wrote:
The block that attaches to the pin never moved. Trailer sets level with the Andersen. It was a little nose high with the Reese until I installed the Correct Track that raised it 2". Now it is level with both hitches. I guess it could be because of moving the hitch point behind the rear axel.

I'm no great expert but I would guess you are right. With the pivot point back two inches every waggle of the truck would waggle the trailer. Just a case of that not being the right hitch for your application.

The block that attaches to the pin never moved. Trailer sets level with the Andersen. It was a little nose high with the Reese until I installed the Correct Track that raised it 2". Now it is level with both hitches. I guess it could be because of moving the hitch point behind the rear axel.

wvcampers wrote:
The Reese has the side pivot. The movement is enough that I am aware of it all of the time. Watching the trailer through the mirror, the rear is always moving like a dogs tail wagging. It also seems that the wind affects the trailer more than it has before. A friend followed me on a trip 600 miles each way. He said that the trailer never stopped moving around. It seems that if it was due to the ball connection that gooseneck trailers would have the same characteristics. Could this be because the ball is behind the rear axel?

Does the trailer sit differently, height wise, with each of the hitches? If the Anderson is putting the pin higher or lower it could result in tail wagging. Is it level with the Anderson?

The other thing could be your truck. Conventional fifth hitches put the center of pin just in front of the axle. The Anderson, especially in the rear position, is going to increase load on the trucks rear axle and decrease load on the trucks front axle. This is because more load is going towards the back legs of the Anderson. That could cause some change in handling too.

You sure that there isn't any movement in the block that attaches to the pin?

The Reese has the side pivot. The movement is enough that I am aware of it all of the time. Watching the trailer through the mirror, the rear is always moving like a dogs tail wagging. It also seems that the wind affects the trailer more than it has before. A friend followed me on a trip 600 miles each way. He said that the trailer never stopped moving around. It seems that if it was due to the ball connection that gooseneck trailers would have the same characteristics. Could this be because the ball is behind the rear axel?

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Surface area!

Anderson is a ball with a ball adapter for 5vr pin so very little surface area and 5vr articulates on the ball


5th wheel hitch has a wide plate on head, 5vr pin box has a wide plate on it and any articulation is with the whole hitch

This may be the difference, with a ball mount the trailer is completely unconstrained to roll independent of the truck. If your Reese hitch does not have side pivot, then the fiver is constrained until forces exceed the pin weight and lift one side of the pin box off the hitch head. If you do have a side pivot hitch, then seems like there should be very little difference.

Surface area!

Anderson is a ball with a ball adapter for 5vr pin so very little surface area and 5vr articulates on the ball


5th wheel hitch has a wide plate on head, 5vr pin box has a wide plate on it and any articulation is with the whole hitch

Yes it is the standard rail mount. Everything is tight and there is no slop in the Andersen. The movement is more like rocking from side to side. the trailer has the mor-ryde x factor and the spring bushings and shackles are upgraded to mor-ryde. The trailer suspension it tight. The tires are GY 614 with 100lbs of pressure.

I assume you have the rail mount version? What do you mean by "the trailer is constantly moving around"?

Unless something isn't tightened properly at the coupler I don't see where you can be getting any movement from. Since the ball/coupler attach is so tight you do get some feedback from trailer to TV. Maybe this is what you are feeling? The "slop" in hitches like the Reese can mask some of this.