Searching_Ut wrote:
As Me-Again pointed out, all of the weight is carried by the bed of the truck when using the Andersen Ultimate hitch. I'd have to look in depth at the truck bed to see if I thought it would hold up to the weight and potential flexing. Personally I probably wouldn't use one with 5er of any size if I had an aluminum bed. That said, I would avoid the aluminum bed if possible as I use my bed for a lot of stuff, much of which would seriously scratch and gouge aluminum.
If towing in the upper limits with the Andersen Ultimate you will have bed deflection. They had to upgrade the hitch because people that BRAKED HARD ACTUALLY BENT THE TUBES. I guess that Circus type "Crush Test" did not reveal that weakness I had pointed out long ago.
My B&W deflected my bed on my 11 HO Dually towing 18K with the old style 18K Companion. They sent me a new base with spacers so it would transfer the force to the bed cross member NOT the bed.
The bed is NOT designed to carry the load On these newer trucks with paper thin beds.
The 20K companion is has a beefed up base to allow for this condition. B&W can only justify 20K, why can Andersen justify so much more?
I think Andersen does make a quality product but the ratings are very unrealistic. IMHO!
