B&W Companion vs Andersen Ultimate Showdown!

If you have a GoPro camera, take comparative videos from the side of the bed of each hitch in action while towing.

Chris

LOL, I'd better go make some popcorn! :B

I'm looking forward to your review of it. I'm starting to think it may not be a bad way to go myself.

Looking forward to review. Thinking of getting the Anderson ultimate too since I own a slide in truck camper too.

While I do like my Andersen UH...and while I do believe that the B & W is a quality product...how exactly will the results of the "showdown" be measured. Its like apples and oranges. We already know that the AUH weighs less and is easier to install/remove. We already know that the B & W is "beefier" and can be used with the puck system. We already know that the AUH requires the truck to be raised higher to hitch up. So what's next? Quality of ride? Chucking? Better for shortbeds? I see them as 2 separate products that serve 2 separate interests.

Sorry, not trying to be critical, but I'm just having a hard time seeing what could learned through this "showdown" that isn't already known.

WTP-GC wrote:
While I do like my Andersen UH...and while I do believe that the B & W is a quality product...how exactly will the results of the "showdown" be measured. Its like apples and oranges. We already know that the AUH weighs less and is easier to install/remove. We already know that the B & W is "beefier" and can be used with the puck system. We already know that the AUH requires the truck to be raised higher to hitch up. So what's next? Quality of ride? Chucking? Better for shortbeds? I see them as 2 separate products that serve 2 separate interests.

Sorry, not trying to be critical, but I'm just having a hard time seeing what could learned through this "showdown" that isn't already known.

Good question- the specific things I'm interested in is how each handles a heavier trailer (starting with a 17,000 lb. trailer and likely moving up to a 20,000 lb. trailer).

How is hitching up? My past experience of hitching up a bumper pull trailer was aggravating, at best. Will hitting the gooseneck ball be just as bad? Secondly, for the Andersen- how annoying is connecting the safety chains?

How is the ride for the truck's occupants? Is there a difference between the 2?

Is there any noticable difference in the trailer with how it rides?

And yes, how different is installation and removal? For me, both end up usin the B&W Turnover gooseneck as I don't have pucks in my '12 Ram.

Me Again wrote:
If you have a GoPro camera, take comparative videos from the side of the bed of each hitch in action while towing.

Chris

Hmm, no GoPro- but we have a **** ton of devices that can take video. I'll rig something up.

Someone please POST a pic of the ANSERSEN 24K Ultimate right below in my post of my 25K Companion for a "VISUAL" comparison just as I have done in the past comparing my B&W to the CURT 25K hitch.

I'm a real world user of both. A B&W Patriot and a rail version Andersen.

Here's my showdown.
Towing=100% identical.
Hitching ease=B&W
Unhitching=B&W
Loading and unloading the hitch=Andersen.

What I do like about the Andersen thats not mentioned above is I have more room to walk around in the bed with the Andersen. I carry two kayaks on the rook of my truck. I load them from the tailgate forward. Sliding them into the bed is way easier. The handle on the Andersen always seems to be in the way.

I have nothing else to say except if someones looking for the magic tow miracle that you think the Andersen will give you then you'll be disappointed.
FWIW I'm also using a MORyde pin box. It feels exactly the same when towing. Both are 100% silent.
To those that say they have no chucking with the Andersen, either used nothing before and wouldn't have it with a B&W, Reese or Curt.
I bought mine because I don't like lifting the B&W up in the truck. Nothing more.

The issue I'm having with the Andersen is with my 1716 style pin box. If I have the coupler in front f the pin then the box hits the sides of my bed. Move it behind the pin and I have a hard time getting it to release when unhitching in my driveway. My truck and 5er are in a bit of a V' position and the 5er won't release. Much like with a typical TT coupler thats in a bind.

One will be for sale this spring.

C'mon Cummins, tell the whole story. The =only= Companion rated at 25k is the RAM puck version. All other standard Companions, GN mount, Ford or GM pucks, are 20k. All has to do with the extra-wide fore/aft spread of the pucks on the RAM. I can only a$$-u-me that the rail versions are also 20k, because I didn't look them up. I've been around long enough that you know that I'm a B&W fanboy, but we've got to tell the whole story, too.

Lyle

goducks10 wrote:
To those that say they have no chucking with the Andersen, either used nothing before and wouldn't have it with a B&W, Reese or Curt.

I get no chucking with my Andersen but did with the Curt that I had previously. Same truck and trailer - only difference was the hitch.

To the prior trolly assertion by Cummins that the Andersen's "ONLY" advantage is installation and removal, I'd submit the following:

- Easy hitching/unhitching at an angle
- Travels better over uneven terrain than most 5th wheel hitches
- No chance of dropping trailer on truck (no tug test needed)
- Zero grease/lubrication ever required
- More affordable
- Made in Idaho (I like local)

I'm not saying it's better, but there are multiple factors to consider beyond ease of installation and removal.