First trip with Andersen Ultimate Hitch
Just completed our first trip with the new Andersen Ultimate FW hitch. 1580 miles and I must say I am really pleased with the hitch's performance. No chucking or bucking. Easy loading and unloading to...
Forum Discussion
Learjet wrote:
here is what Anderson says about chains ...I'm just passing on info
https://help.andersenhitches.com/faq/do-i-have-to-have-safety-chains-for-my-ultimate-fifth-wheel-connection
From Andersen's FAQ:
"This is kind of a grey area. We were tested as a fifth wheel hitch and are approved as a fifth wheel hitch. According to DOT regulations because it is a fifth wheel hitch we does not need safety chains. However we do utilize a gooseneck ball to secure the fifth wheel hitch into place creating a solid base with no moving points. On conventional gooseneck trailers chains are required due to the latching mechanism on the gooseneck trailer. The Andersen Ultimate Connection does not utilize a latch nor does it pivot at the point of the ball. Our unconventional setup is much like the OEM puck system that is utilized to accept fifth wheel hitches sold in the newer trucks today.
Unfortunately it is up to the DOT office to interpret the regulations and laws. We have only heard of one case, out of the 35,000 units that we have on the road today, where the DOT officer insisted on having the customer add safety chains to his setup. For this reason we do offer safety chains (part # 3230) for our Ultimate Connection."
Huh?! There's "no latch" on the AUH? What's that cable that goes to the adapter, then? There's =some= sort of =something= that keeps the trailer on the ball, so that's not totally correct, IMO.
Huh, #2?! There's "no pivot at the point of the ball"? Where =does= it pivot if not directly on the ball? Again, not totally correct, IMO. The AUH is, for all intents, a GN hitch, with the ball raised up to the point of a standard FW pin box. I'd say that it qualifies it as a "ball hitch" under even the most lenient definition and, if a jurisdiction requires chains on a "ball hitch", you've got to have them. Yes, they've only had one report of an issue regarding this (that they admit to) but, in reality, how many of us RVers have =ever= been safety-checked unless something else happened (Canadians exempted)? Around here, the only time you'll get nailed for a safety chain violation is if you're dragging a chain throwing sparks. That =will= get you pulled over PDQ, especially during fire season! :B
Lyle
