Our purchase of a 5th wheel is not far off so I am doing my investigating of hitches. I would like the Andersen Ultimate hitch as its lightweight and easier for me to remove. I would also like to not have rails in the bed all the time. So solution is to use a B&W turnover ball under bed mount. Now this is where I am not sure but I will need a mounting plate to adapt to the ball and provide rails for the Andersen to mount. There is a Demco DM6140 mount that appears to do this job. My question is am I thinking properly here or is there something I am missing. Does anyone use a setup like this? Will this be a solid setup? 5th wheel GVW is 13.5 and its going on a '16 GMC 2500.

The Andersen Ultimate 2 mounts to the B&W with no need for any plate or rails. It pins the ball in place inside the Andersen and you tighten 3 bolts to lock it in place. Many people put a rubber mat under it to keep it from marking the bed liner. I love mine. You can really carry the entire hitch in one hand.

There are reports of anderson colapses. You might do some research before spending money. My Hyjacker comes apart for ease of removal. Not a big deal to me. Turnovers require you to put a big hole in the bed. Are you ready for that?Personally I would be more interested in a air ride hitch if it were me.

If you are going to have a goose-neck hitch, ball in the bed of the truck, and you are going to have a trailer that uses a Lippert frame, you might want to look at a Reese Goosebox so you won't need a hitch at all.( nothing in the bed) This is a little more expensive but no lifting, less weight, and it's an air ride system as well. I'm going this route.

jkw that is good news. Hard to decipher that from pictures thus the question. Cheaper too. Etrailer sounded confused when I posed the question.I have heard of a few problems with the Andersen but it was with early models that have since been strengthened. I was wondering if there was a gooseneck option pin box. Other than simplicity, I wonder what other advantages it has. Not that popular out there so there must be some draw backs.

After reading about how the owner of Andersen Hitches defaced Corona Arch, I won’t be buying an Andersen Hitch. I’ll be getting a B &W hitch instead.

new 5th wheel hitch info needed | Good Sam Community

jkwilson
Explorer II
Apr 05, 2018
The Andersen Ultimate 2 mounts to the B&W with no need for any plate or rails. It pins the ball in place inside the Andersen and you tighten 3 bolts to lock it in place. Many people put a rubber mat under it to keep it from marking the bed liner.

I love mine. You can really carry the entire hitch in one hand.
donn0128
Explorer II
Apr 05, 2018
There are reports of anderson colapses. You might do some research before spending money. My Hyjacker comes apart for ease of removal. Not a big deal to me. Turnovers require you to put a big hole in the bed. Are you ready for that?
Personally I would be more interested in a air ride hitch if it were me.
rbcamping
Explorer
Apr 05, 2018
If you are going to have a goose-neck hitch, ball in the bed of the truck, and you are going to have a trailer that uses a Lippert frame, you might want to look at a Reese Goosebox so you won't need a hitch at all.( nothing in the bed) This is a little more expensive but no lifting, less weight, and it's an air ride system as well. I'm going this route.
ZeeLet50
Explorer
Apr 05, 2018
jkw that is good news. Hard to decipher that from pictures thus the question. Cheaper too. Etrailer sounded confused when I posed the question.I have heard of a few problems with the Andersen but it was with early models that have since been strengthened. I was wondering if there was a gooseneck option pin box. Other than simplicity, I wonder what other advantages it has. Not that popular out there so there must be some draw backs.
Mortimer_Brewst
Explorer II
Apr 05, 2018
After reading about how the owner of Andersen Hitches defaced Corona Arch, I won’t be buying an Andersen Hitch. I’ll be getting a B &W hitch instead.
laknox
Nomad
Apr 05, 2018
ZeeLet50 wrote:
Our purchase of a 5th wheel is not far off so I am doing my investigating of hitches. I would like the Andersen Ultimate hitch as its lightweight and easier for me to remove. I would also like to not have rails in the bed all the time. So solution is to use a B&W turnover ball under bed mount. Now this is where I am not sure but I will need a mounting plate to adapt to the ball and provide rails for the Andersen to mount. There is a Demco DM6140 mount that appears to do this job. My question is am I thinking properly here or is there something I am missing. Does anyone use a setup like this? Will this be a solid setup? 5th wheel GVW is 13.5 and its going on a '16 GMC 2500.

Personally, I'd also investigate installing the OEM FW prep to the bed of the truck, then getting the B&W OEM Companion. Clean bed without having the, possibly useless-to-you, GN hitch. I needed both GN and FW, so went the full monty with TO Ball and Companion. The Companion does come apart into 2 pieces and I'm still hearty enough to be able to move them around (need the workout anyway), though I =do= prefer to have my gym-rat son-in-law around to help. :B

Lyle
MFL
Nomad II
Apr 05, 2018
Agree with Lyle, kind of foolish to install TOB if no need, other than attachment. The puck system is the best, and the Companion for GM OEM pucks is 2 pieces, light wt, easy in/out.

Personally, I'd rather have the rails, if no need for TOB. Then you could use a more solid Andersen hitch, or a light wt Patriot hitch, which would be my choice.

Puck system still the best choice!

Jerry
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Apr 05, 2018
Mortimer Brewster wrote:
After reading about how the owner of Andersen Hitches defaced Corona Arch, I won’t be buying an Andersen Hitch. I’ll be getting a B &W hitch instead.
They said he wrote a letter of apology, but probably wouldn't have done a thing if he hadn't been caught at it. Not the kind of guy I want to give my business to either.
slapshot12
Explorer
Apr 05, 2018
jkwilson wrote:
The Andersen Ultimate 2 mounts to the B&W with no need for any plate or rails. It pins the ball in place inside the Andersen and you tighten 3 bolts to lock it in place. Many people put a rubber mat under it to keep it from marking the bed liner.

I love mine. You can really carry the entire hitch in one hand.

That is what I'm using also, right down to the rubber mat. I'm very happy with the entire set up.
john_bet
Explorer II
Apr 05, 2018
rbcamping wrote:
If you are going to have a goose-neck hitch, ball in the bed of the truck, and you are going to have a trailer that uses a Lippert frame, you might want to look at a Reese Goosebox so you won't need a hitch at all.( nothing in the bed) This is a little more expensive but no lifting, less weight, and it's an air ride system as well. I'm going this route.
X-2. Mine is here waiting on the weather to break. Truck is due here in < 10 days. Oh and the ball is here to.