Safety Chains Andersen Hitch

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"Easily jump right off is a bit of a stretch...don't ya think? "

I guess if you have traveled some of the roads I have you would not have posted that!

I would think any bump that could buck off my 1,890# pin box from my Andersen ball would also pin me to the ceiling quite handily.

I started this post and I have enough information to make a decision now. Thanks for your input. It is mostly helpful. However now I think it is becoming a debate.

"Easily jump right off is a bit of a stretch...don't ya think? "

I guess if you have traveled some of the roads I have you would not have posted that!

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"The why is pretty simple, in the fifth wheel hitch world there is but one size king pin and hitch, 2". The system is relatively fool proof. But there are many ball sizes and a couplers latch will be ineffective with an undersized ball. Fail to close the latch on a fifth wheel hitch and you probably won't make it out of the campground. Use an undersized ball and the trailer can bounce off at 65 mph and affect other vehicles and roadways. Visual inspection after hookup will not reveal a coupler on an undersized ball. And if you believe pin weight is sufficient to prevent disconnection, then why do all couplers have a latch or lock pin? Or maybe you feel that since the Andersen is sold as a matching ball and coupler, you can't have a problem. In that you are right, but laws are still valid til changed. "

Excellent points! Also if someone pulls the locking "T" handle on the ANDERSEN that has no way of being locked the RV can easily jump right off the hitch!.

Easily jump right off is a bit of a stretch...don't ya think?

goducks10 wrote:
Pretty easy to tell the difference between jaws and pin or ball and coupler.

What he said ^^^^^! Chris

Pretty easy to tell the difference between jaws and pin or ball and coupler.

The Andersen was developed long after these safety chain laws were implemented. We’re taking a hew technology and trying to make 50 year old laws apply. The Fed’s and individual states need to look at this hitch and make a determination if the Andersen is a ball hitch or not. Until that happens, its all internet conjecture and speculation if chains are required or not.

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"The why is pretty simple, in the fifth wheel hitch world there is but one size king pin and hitch, 2". The system is relatively fool proof. But there are many ball sizes and a couplers latch will be ineffective with an undersized ball. Fail to close the latch on a fifth wheel hitch and you probably won't make it out of the campground. Use an undersized ball and the trailer can bounce off at 65 mph and affect other vehicles and roadways. Visual inspection after hookup will not reveal a coupler on an undersized ball. And if you believe pin weight is sufficient to prevent disconnection, then why do all couplers have a latch or lock pin? Or maybe you feel that since the Andersen is sold as a matching ball and coupler, you can't have a problem. In that you are right, but laws are still valid til changed. "

Excellent points! Also if someone pulls the locking "T" handle on the ANDERSEN that has no way of being locked the RV can easily jump right off the hitch!.

I know you are the king of padlocks , and everywhere possible on your hitch you have one. :)

I don't worry about a fifth wheel hitch being tampered with , but I do a visual check EVERY TIME its left alone.

In reality what everyone here calls a "Fiver" is not a fifth wheel. It is a trailer that is set up to be pulled by a fifth wheel hitch. The name comes from the plate on the original setups being referred to as the fifth wheel on the truck. The hitch is attached to the tow vehicle. When you modify the trailer hitch point to something else it is no longer considered a fifth wheel capable trailer.
Art.

"The why is pretty simple, in the fifth wheel hitch world there is but one size king pin and hitch, 2". The system is relatively fool proof. But there are many ball sizes and a couplers latch will be ineffective with an undersized ball. Fail to close the latch on a fifth wheel hitch and you probably won't make it out of the campground. Use an undersized ball and the trailer can bounce off at 65 mph and affect other vehicles and roadways. Visual inspection after hookup will not reveal a coupler on an undersized ball. And if you believe pin weight is sufficient to prevent disconnection, then why do all couplers have a latch or lock pin? Or maybe you feel that since the Andersen is sold as a matching ball and coupler, you can't have a problem. In that you are right, but laws are still valid til changed. "

Excellent points! Also if someone pulls the locking "T" handle on the ANDERSEN that has no way of being locked the RV can easily jump right off the hitch!.