Forum Discussion

jbeliera's avatar
jbeliera
Explorer
Oct 13, 2017

Anderson Ultimate fifth wheel hitch

For those of you that own an Anderson fifth wheel hitch that adapts to your king pin a word of warning. Recently I purchased an Anderson hitch and on return from my last outing, I dropped my fifth wheel off for winter service with the service provided that I have used for quite a few years. I felt quite confident that when I told the service tech that this hitch needed a 2 and 5/16 inch ball to move it around because that was the size that this hitch came with, HE I thought made note of that fact. At this particular center they service various makes of rigs. They use a fork lift with a device on the forks that has a permanent generic size ball attached to the end of the forks to move the rigs around. Well to make a long story short, when I came back to get my fifth wheel I noticed that the red plastic shroud that is attached to the adapter block of the Anderson king pin adapter was cracked. Luckily the hitch people who installed this hitch for me were right across the street from this service center. The hitch rep said that not to let anyone move an Anderson hitch fitted trailer without using the same size and length ball as the Anderson set up or damage to the adapter can occur. The aluminum slide pin hole was also damaged while being moved by the RV service dealer. The hitch service tech managed to clean up the pin hole so the locking pin would lock onto the Anderson ball in the truck. The hitch tech also said that mine was the second one this week that someone did the same thing moving the fifth wheel without the proper size ball. The Anderson adapter block is made of aluminum and the hard steel ball on the fork lift fits sloppily in the adapter socket and can break the plastic shroud,mar the aluminum socket as well as the slide pin hole. The RV service dealer learned a valuable lesson that day and they agreed to pony up the cost of a new plastic shroud and the hitch retail provider's labor cost to bring the adapter back up to speed just like new. Anderson Hitch Owners Beware
  • bluie5's avatar
    bluie5
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2017
    Thanks for the warning. I plan on using an Andersen when our 5er comes next year. The dealer sells them so hopefully they would know better.
  • jbeliera's avatar
    jbeliera
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2017
    That is what I thought too I would trust but verify the next time for me I have been put out of service once but not again
  • laknox's avatar
    laknox
    Nomad
    Oct 13, 2017
    Not an Andersen comment, but I know our dealer ran into an issue when they used a cup on fork of their lift that was too deep and kept breaking or damaging people's lube plates. Ended up making a spacer to drop into the cup so that the end of the king pin would rest on the bottom of the cup instead of the edge of the cup lifting on the pin box (and lube plate). Cost them a couple hundred bucks before they figured out what was happening.

    Lyle
  • Me_Again's avatar
    Me_Again
    Explorer III
    Oct 13, 2017
    If you have a Andersen hitch, it is better to just remove the adapter when you drop it off. Chris
  • Mike_E_'s avatar
    Mike_E_
    Explorer II
    Oct 13, 2017
    Me Again wrote:
    If you have a Andersen hitch, it is better to just remove the adapter when you down it off. Chris


    Yes indeed.
    When I dropped off my trailer for some work I told the service guy that I'd take the adapter off. He said, "that's OK, our forklift has a ball that'll work."
    Told him it'll only take me a couple minutes and that I was going reverse it anyways so it had to come off.

    Fast forward a week when I went to pick it up.
    It had been stored across the street at another lot, so they had to send the lot truck over to get it which only had a conventional 5th wheel hitch in it's bed.

    Much easier for me to take it off and re-install than them having to try and figure it out....or damage something.
  • jbeliera's avatar
    jbeliera
    Explorer
    Oct 13, 2017
    Well maybe you are right Chris, I don't think it should up to me to unhook it myself or for them to do it for me. I think the more you mess around with that adapter the more likely there is room for error and wear of taking it on and off because it is an aluminum block. It also may mean having to take off the cable mounting as well or have it all hang there from the cable release. I think removing the assembly is too much trouble just to move the rig something from point A to B. The Anderson system has been around long enough for these dealers to bone up on the right way to do a job whether it be moving a rig into their shop or fixing it in their shop The Anderson system is widely used and it should be up to the people who are supposed to be experts to do the job right.
  • Me_Again's avatar
    Me_Again
    Explorer III
    Oct 13, 2017
    This is not the first of last report of yard rash on the Andersen Adapter!

    Chris
  • minnow's avatar
    minnow
    Explorer
    Oct 14, 2017
    jbeliera wrote:
    Well maybe you are right Chris, I don't think it should up to me to unhook it myself or for them to do it for me. I think the more you mess around with that adapter the more likely there is room for error and wear of taking it on and off because it is an aluminum block. It also may mean having to take off the cable mounting as well or have it all hang there from the cable release. I think removing the assembly is too much trouble just to move the rig something from point A to B. The Anderson system has been around long enough for these dealers to bone up on the right way to do a job whether it be moving a rig into their shop or fixing it in their shop The Anderson system is widely used and it should be up to the people who are supposed to be experts to do the job right.


    Time is money and new parts to haul an Andersen equipped kingpin cost money. It's easier and quicker for the service dept. to just haul your RV into and out of the garage the way they've been doin' it for that last 30 years. As an Andersen owner myself I'm glad to read this topic and will be removing the adapter when I take mine in for service.
  • jbeliera's avatar
    jbeliera
    Explorer
    Oct 14, 2017
    Well if a push comes to a shove I will be sure it is either done right or I take it off to ensure the integrity of the Anderson system. My particular service rep told me that they don't like the idea of paying for their mistake over and over again They will make their equipment Anderson hitch ready when they get them in, so I guess you have to do what you got to do. I hope you Anderson guys out there are now aware of the potential problem
  • cummins2014's avatar
    cummins2014
    Explorer
    Oct 15, 2017
    jbeliera wrote:
    Well maybe you are right Chris, I don't think it should up to me to unhook it myself or for them to do it for me. I think the more you mess around with that adapter the more likely there is room for error and wear of taking it on and off because it is an aluminum block. It also may mean having to take off the cable mounting as well or have it all hang there from the cable release. I think removing the assembly is too much trouble just to move the rig something from point A to B. The Anderson system has been around long enough for these dealers to bone up on the right way to do a job whether it be moving a rig into their shop or fixing it in their shop The Anderson system is widely used and it should be up to the people who are supposed to be experts to do the job right.



    I agree, you shouldn't have to remove for service, but on the same note, you got some knucklehead moving rigs around, my first ,and last time at a Montana dealer, apparently there is a bit of a rise going into the shop, and he failed to raise the fifth wheel high enough, resulting in the landing gear pads to be bent up. Yes they replaced the pads after I pointed them out.

    If I have to take mine in for something the Andersen adapter is coming off, I don't want to have to deal with getting it fixed or replaced, to me just easier to remove.

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