First trip with Andersen Ultimate Hitch

DutchmenSport wrote:


Thanks for that bit of information. Let's hope everyone who has the Andersen hitch will consider what's been discussed here.

I don't have an Andersen. Like I mentioned earlier, I've been a 5er owner only 5 weeks now, still learning. But as a TT owner, I was always encouraging folks to always think safety first over price. So many will spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a fabulous tow vehicle and a magnificent trailer, then cheap-out on the hitch that connects them together. I never understood that mind-set. Or they'd argue paying $50.00 for a friction sway bar, or argue an extra $100 for a hitch system that would better fit their unique rig combination.

Learning more and more about these 5er's, I'm realizing there is just as much and just as many safety concerns as any TT set-up.

Like I said, I don't have the Andersen, simply because I accepted my dealer stock decisions and so far, been very happy with that. Of course, I've not had any problems "yet" either, so I have nothing to compare.

But this much I know, safety should always come first above the cost of anything. If safety is too costly, then you are engaging in the wrong activity.

I'm surprised to see the chains. I've never seen that in a fifth wheel set up. I've never paid any attention to goose necks. Around where I live, goose necks are used on the farm, and I'm surrounded by farm county. But I still never paid any attention to how they were hitched.

Safety? Yea! use the chains! I think that's good wisdom, even if your state doesn't require them.

Good wisdom on the chains where, with the Andersen or any fifth wheel hitch ?????? . Do remember here folks, we ALL are required to have a breakaway cable to set the brakes on a fifth wheel in case it comes undone from the hitch, what has changed with the Andersen ????? It comes undone the breakaway cable gets pulled .

Safety you say, those chains would be just about as effective as spitting on a forest fire, really safety ??? Have you seen the safety chain setup that Andersen sells.

Dayle1 wrote:

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

Something strange about their statements that does not add up. On their website, the product description for the coupler says

And since the coupler rides on a ball, it has more swivel in every direction than any other 5th wheel hitch available.

. Yet the FAQ wants to claim there is no ball pivot. It says specifically

The Andersen Ultimate Connection does not utilize a latch nor does it pivot at the point of the ball.

Which is totally false. When you attach their coupler to the 2" king pin, the point of connection is clearly a ball connection just like any other.

Totally false ??? , you missed the ball on that one, no pun intended . What it is saying is there is no pivot at the point of connection .The Andersen hitch sits on the gooseneck ball in the bed of the truck, and there is no pivot point there.

The pivot point is at the king pin connection with the hitch, same as any other conventional fifth wheel hitch that pivots at that point of connection , yes the Andersen does have more pivot. A gooseneck hitch pivots at the ball in the bed of the truck .

Totally two different points of pivoting . totally two different style of hitches. The Andersen Ultimate is no more a gooseneck hitch then the B&W. They both have the same thing in common they both attach to the bed with a gooseneck ball. Get over the fact that it is NOT a gooseneck hitch.

The Andersen hitch try as much as you like to say its different ,but the point of connection ,and the point of pivot is the same as any other conventional hitch. The grey area is the adapter on the kingpin to utilize the ball at the top of the hitch .

We can argue the need for chains as much as you like, but facts remains on the reasons for chains on ball connection hitches. None of those apply to the Andersen .Would I lose a case in an incident with the Andersen without chains , probably. And most likely because some states don't have the good sense to know the difference .

I have about 7K miles on my Andersen Ultimate Hitch and I am really happy with it. I have the safety chains because I drive through states where they are required.

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

Something strange about their statements that does not add up. On their website, the product description for the coupler says

And since the coupler rides on a ball, it has more swivel in every direction than any other 5th wheel hitch available.

. Yet the FAQ wants to claim there is no ball pivot. It says specifically

The Andersen Ultimate Connection does not utilize a latch nor does it pivot at the point of the ball.

Which is totally false. When you attach their coupler to the 2" king pin, the point of connection is clearly a ball connection just like any other.

laknox wrote:

Learjet wrote:
here is what Anderson says about chains

...

:B

Lyle

Thanks for that bit of information. Let's hope everyone who has the Andersen hitch will consider what's been discussed here.

I don't have an Andersen. Like I mentioned earlier, I've been a 5er owner only 5 weeks now, still learning. But as a TT owner, I was always encouraging folks to always think safety first over price. So many will spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a fabulous tow vehicle and a magnificent trailer, then cheap-out on the hitch that connects them together. I never understood that mind-set. Or they'd argue paying $50.00 for a friction sway bar, or argue an extra $100 for a hitch system that would better fit their unique rig combination.

Learning more and more about these 5er's, I'm realizing there is just as much and just as many safety concerns as any TT set-up.

Like I said, I don't have the Andersen, simply because I accepted my dealer stock decisions and so far, been very happy with that. Of course, I've not had any problems "yet" either, so I have nothing to compare.

But this much I know, safety should always come first above the cost of anything. If safety is too costly, then you are engaging in the wrong activity.

I'm surprised to see the chains. I've never seen that in a fifth wheel set up. I've never paid any attention to goose necks. Around where I live, goose necks are used on the farm, and I'm surrounded by farm county. But I still never paid any attention to how they were hitched.

Safety? Yea! use the chains! I think that's good wisdom, even if your state doesn't require them.

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

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

Thanks for the link, I kinda thought it would be at least a grey area, and with mine its the rail mount , no ball connection to the bed ,just the ball to kingpin.

No plans to add chains, just doesn't make sense .

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

cummins2014 wrote:

laknox wrote:


NP. FWIW, in AZ, doesn't matter if the ball is an "innie" (gooseneck) or an "outie" (AUH), gotsta have chains. :B

Lyle

Seeing that my last inquiry disappeared ,I will try again. Could you please reference a link where it states thats chains are required for an Andersen Fifth wheel hitch. Would like to see it. Tried google, and did not see anything stating such a thing about the Andersen hitch

We seem to get these statements with nothing but blind faith to go by , then some run right out ,and spend money on something thats not needed .

Given that the AUH uses a ball connector, AZ law is a catchall of "all ball-style" hitches much have safety chains, IIRC. (I will admit that I haven't checked since the AUH came out, but I doubt our MVD has, either, so they would "default" to "all ball".) Same goes for pintle hitches. Clevis hitches are =supposed= to have them, but I've never seen one with them; I know =we= never did on the farm. I'd say we fell under the "implement of husbandry" rule that exempts farm use. :B

Lyle

Hammerboy wrote:

Merrykalia wrote:
We LOVE our Anderson hitch and I was also just waiting on the "Anderson bashing" to begin on this post.

I'm sure if we had pictures and posts from EVERY hitch that failed, we would all be afraid to use ANY hitch.

Comments like this are asking for a another debate to begin. The Anderson style is a good hitch period, and so are the quality brands traditional style. BOTH have advantages and BOTH have disadvantages.
I picked my B&W because I needed a slider and I leave my hitch in all summer (needing it in and out is not an issue for me). And generally speaking the advantages of the my B&W are more important to me than the Anderson style advantages. But that is ME. The next person may be totally different and don't listen to the people that say "I will never go back too....blah blah..." Never say never I always say. Look them both over and check the pro's and con's of each and make your decision from there. There isn't an obvious choice for everyone.

OP, I'm glad you like your Anderson, sounds like you made a good decision.

Dan

"Bashing" is when you make a comment about a product as in an opinion or fact and the product owner does not like it so they say you are "Bashing". Kinda like throwing the "race card".