Anderson Ultimate and aluminum truck bed compatibility

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.

johndeerefarmer wrote:
I am interested in the Anderson Ultimate (gooseneck ball mounted version) and want to know how much weight is on the truck bed? In other words will it bent my bed or put dings in it or is all of the weight on the ball?

This will work with the Ford/Reese gooseneck ball not just the B&W ball?

All the weight is on the bed floor. The gooseneck ball can not pull it down tight to the bed floor to hold it in place and hold it up at the same time. This is one of those internet myths that the ball holds up the pin weight.

If it was holding it up then be would be turning around above the bed floor.

The only Andersen hitch that transfers the weight directly to the trucks frame would be rail mounted on, and particularly one that is on a picture frame latched into a puck system.

Chris

The B&W Turnoverball uses a square shank ball. Many other gooseneck hitches use a round shank ball.

johndeerefarmer wrote:
I am interested in the Anderson Ultimate (gooseneck ball mounted version) and want to know how much weight is on the truck bed? In other words will it bent my bed or put dings in it or is all of the weight on the ball?

This will work with the Ford/Reese gooseneck ball not just the B&W ball?

All the balls are the same where you hookup.
If you happen to live somewhere in East Tx send me a pm & come look at my Andersen.

Thanks

It was on one of the "First Drive" reviews on the new 2017 trucks. Most likely on Pickup trucks. I think they had several articles so you may need to scan a couple to find it.

I spotted it in that article:

"The frame, typically designed with nine cross-members (most of which are tubed and through-welded for added strength), will also accommodate a stout 10th heavy-duty cross-member when equipped with the in-bed gooseneck/fifth-wheel hitch option. "

This doesn't apply to you but I thought this was interesting:

"All these class-leading numbers are due in large part to a reconfigured and beefed up rear frame section, which now offers a much stronger 2.5-inch and 3-inch hitch option for HD buyers. We're told these new hitches are so much stronger than the previous designs (or any other hitch in its segment) that Ford no longer recommends weight-distributing trailer hitches to any of its Super Duty buyers. "

agesilaus wrote:
The weight shouldn't be on the bed itself. It will be transmitted to the gooseneck hitch support under the bed. I noticed yesterday that Ford will be adding a 10th frame crossbeam support directly under the 5th wheel prep package on the 2017 SD models.

Thanks. Where did you see the info on the added support?

The weight shouldn't be on the bed itself. It will be transmitted to the gooseneck hitch support under the bed. I noticed yesterday that Ford will be adding a 10th frame crossbeam support directly under the 5th wheel prep package on the 2017 SD models.