gooseneck vs fifth wheel hitch

Learjet wrote:

N-Trouble wrote:

Learjet wrote:
For me, when I was looking at the Andersen, that block that connects to the pin and is held tight by 4 set screw was more of a concern than anything else.

What is the strength of that part? If you look at the edges near the ball and near the 5th pin....just saying...I couldn't get past that part.

I had no problem with the base, since I have rails, but we never talk about that block.

I know I'm stirring that pot :)

Please produce any reports on the internet of people having issue with the set screws/aluminum block...

We can all "specualate" about a lot of things but without data it doesn't mean a whole lot.

And its not just 4 set screws that hold it on. The are also two "large" lag bolts that pass through the front and back of the pin.

You might want to re-read my post, I didn't say there had been failures. I offered what was a factor in making MY decision and what I perceive as being the weak area, or the area I didn't like.

Yes, I know the big bolts go through the pin, but all the pin weight sits on the 4 set screws?

I think a purposed built pin box with the base would be the cats meow. I know it would cost more.

Again, as someone already posted "if you haven't used one..." then you have no idea! The "4 set screws" are not load bearing, they are there to "lock" the king pin block in place, the same as a set screw is used to "lock" a sheave to the keyway on a shaft. The set screw does not carry the force of the shaft to the sheave, the keyway does, just as the king pin block does.

As for "denting" the box floor where the Andersen frame sits.... LOL, I pulled my fiver all summer couple thousand miles this year, stored the fiver for the winter, just pulled the Andersen off to hook my goose neck trailer. The only thing I noticed was some trapped dust/dirt from under the frame, so much for the "dented" floor in the box theory!! Oh did I mention I have been using the Andersen for 3 years now?

Moderator.....help !!!! My little question is becoming a big subject.
With all this being said, we decided to buy another hybrid !!!! go figure!

N-Trouble wrote:

Learjet wrote:
For me, when I was looking at the Andersen, that block that connects to the pin and is held tight by 4 set screw was more of a concern than anything else.

What is the strength of that part? If you look at the edges near the ball and near the 5th pin....just saying...I couldn't get past that part.

I had no problem with the base, since I have rails, but we never talk about that block.

I know I'm stirring that pot :)

Please produce any reports on the internet of people having issue with the set screws/aluminum block...

We can all "specualate" about a lot of things but without data it doesn't mean a whole lot.

And its not just 4 set screws that hold it on. The are also two "large" lag bolts that pass through the front and back of the pin.

You might want to re-read my post, I didn't say there had been failures. I offered what was a factor in making MY decision and what I perceive as being the weak area, or the area I didn't like.

Yes, I know the big bolts go through the pin, but all the pin weight sits on the 4 set screws?

I think a purposed built pin box with the base would be the cats meow. I know it would cost more.

rskeans wrote:
Cummins, You are so fanatical against the Andersen in your OPINION, yet you have never owned one or even used one. Normally your forum contributions are based on your own experience and are excellent with good ideas. But here is one that is strongly based only on opinion, no fact or experience. With the Andersen if you forget to lock the handle, and you go off a ski ramp I would expect the connection to separate. If you forget to lock your handle on your hitch you will drop your 5ver onto the bed rails as soon as you pull away. As for your airborne experience you were clearly driving at an unsafe speed.

BTW, I have never seen an Andersen advertisement.

Thanks for the compliment.

I gave an example of MY experience with the Mighty B&W that it DID cause bed deflection and compared it to what the Andersen WILL do when towing a LARGE RV as I did with my 18K Companion.

I gave a personal example of how the Andersen or any other ball device with the locking mechanism not intact would come off.

NO I was NOT driving at an unsafe speed I exited freeway at 60 and immediately it was a steep offramp and the gouge was at least 8".

I give reasons for my opinions and as said think there is room for improvement with the Andersen and told of my personal experience with my 18K B&W that needed improvement and B&W stepped up for me and since they have updated the 18K to a 20K companion.

Why is it that everyone that has an Andersen get so upset with my OPINIONS??????

I DON'T need to own or use something to comment on it. I give reasons for my OPINIONS but they are considered by some to be "Fanatical", "Bashing" or "Slamming".

There is MUCH more to considering a purchase of the Andersen Hitch than it's weight or "Crush Test Video".

As I have said MANY times if you are happy with yours that's great.

Remember this is a thread about "gooseneck vs fifth wheel hitch" .

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Sport45 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

The point I am making is the base just sits on the sheet metal of the bed and WILL deflect it when the fore and aft forces of a large 5er are applied. By direct connecting the base to the pucks it would be an improvement in design IMHO.

I agree. If the Andersen has a shortcoming, it's that it doesn't have a more direct tie to the truck frame. In this regard the rail mount version looks better than the gooseneck ball version. If they came up with a puck mounted version that would be better yet.

Yes

There are other issues for me like not being able to lock release handle. Of course I get the slamming comments for even saying that! Or there is no way the RV will jump off the ball comments. I guarantee it can! My heavy MS was airborne coming off an offramp that they had gouged the asphalt out for re paving, the inside of the RV was not pretty when we stopped. But again i'm bashing.

This is just my OPINION their advertisements are like a late night infomercial!

I do like they have US Made products, I just think they make them seem better than they are.

So anyone saying I am "BASHING" or "SLAMING" please provide a quote.

I think you loose credibility when you state things like B&W underrates their hitches while all others (Andersen in particular) overrate theirs. It comes across sounding like you'll believe everything B&W feeds ya and your mind is closed to anything else.

It would like me saying Ford obviously has the tougher looking truck and it has to be better than GM or RAM. Heck, I talked to a mechanic at one of the dealerships who said they were way underrated. Anybody who's thinking of pulling a trailer with a RAM or GM should open their eyes and see things the same way I do. They're really taking a chance trying to use their trucks for anything more than maybe, and I mean maybe half its rated capacity. Now if you have a Ford on the other hand, you could easily go 150% of its capacity without worry.

Disclaimer: That's not my stance on Ford or any other pickup.

Cummins, You are so fanatical against the Andersen in your OPINION, yet you have never owned one or even used one. Normally your forum contributions are based on your own experience and are excellent with good ideas. But here is one that is strongly based only on opinion, no fact or experience. With the Andersen if you forget to lock the handle, and you go off a ski ramp I would expect the connection to separate. If you forget to lock your handle on your hitch you will drop your 5ver onto the bed rails as soon as you pull away. As for your airborne experience you were clearly driving at an unsafe speed.

BTW, I have never seen an Andersen advertisement.

Sport45 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

The point I am making is the base just sits on the sheet metal of the bed and WILL deflect it when the fore and aft forces of a large 5er are applied. By direct connecting the base to the pucks it would be an improvement in design IMHO.

I agree. If the Andersen has a shortcoming, it's that it doesn't have a more direct tie to the truck frame. In this regard the rail mount version looks better than the gooseneck ball version. If they came up with a puck mounted version that would be better yet.

Yes

There are other issues for me like not being able to lock release handle. Of course I get the slamming comments for even saying that! Or there is no way the RV will jump off the ball comments. I guarantee it can! My heavy MS was airborne coming off an offramp that they had gouged the asphalt out for re paving, the inside of the RV was not pretty when we stopped. But again i'm bashing.

This is just my OPINION their advertisements are like a late night infomercial!

I do like they have US Made products, I just think they make them seem better than they are.

So anyone saying I am "BASHING" or "SLAMING" please provide a quote.

Allworth wrote:
And the original question was??????

"gooseneck vs fifth wheel hitch"

Happy?

Cummins12V98 wrote:

The point I am making is the base just sits on the sheet metal of the bed and WILL deflect it when the fore and aft forces of a large 5er are applied. By direct connecting the base to the pucks it would be an improvement in design IMHO.

I agree. If the Andersen has a shortcoming, it's that it doesn't have a more direct tie to the truck frame. In this regard the rail mount version looks better than the gooseneck ball version. If they came up with a puck mounted version that would be better yet.

csamayfield55 wrote:
not sure why I ma engaging here again but I guess I can't help.

If you look at the darn hitch instead of just bad mouthing it you would see that most of the weight is taken up with either the gooseneck ball and trasnfered into the goose hitch not sitting on the bed. Yes it makes contact but it transfers the weight just like the companion does.

The rail mount acts just like any other 5er hitch and transfers the weight across the bed rails.

Again, has anyone ever heard of ANYONE having the bed crumble around their Anderson???

Chris

Interesting the way you think about the physics of the attachment. :h

One tightens a bolt into a replacement for the ball, this pulls the the device up unweighting that device at the he same time putting the weight of the hitch on the bed of the truck! So the weight of the hitch is resting on the bed.