So light a child can remove it from the truck

ArmyColonel wrote:
Got the Ultimate Fifth Wheel hitch and love it. Shortbed and no slider needed.

I would think if you are hooked up over the axle or slightly forward of the axle as it should be, then what changes with the Andersen to eliminate a sliding hitch with a shortbed . Granted some of these newer fifth wheels don't require a slider with a shortbed , but a lot of fifth wheels still require a slider in certain conditions.

NC Hauler wrote:

Housted wrote:
OK Guys I have the Andersen and have used it for over 2 years. I carry the chains and the pucks for my 2015 Ram with the factory gooseneck prep. Most of the people on this forum have never even seen the hitch other than on the net. I can tell you it is hell for stout and the welds are top notch. As to the someone could pill the pin when you are not looking thing, that could happen to any hitch. I am loathe to admit it but I have driven on two occasions for a whole day having forgotten to close the pin. Nothing happened. Try that with your Binkley head, you won't even get out of the campsite. I can see the ball in my rearview mirror so hookup is no problem. I used a BW Companion before, it is a good hitch, just too heavy for me to get out of the truck.

Housted

uh...yes, I HAVE seen it..I posted first on this thread about it actually being a 5th wheel hitch...I came within a hair of purchasing one back in May of 13'...I have a friend who has one mounted in his Ram truck and he's had it for about 2 yrs in July....He tows a Carriage that has a GVW of about 19,000#....never had an issue...and in some states, NC being one, you DON'T need the safety chains....may want to use them, my buddy never has....Also have a couple of friends on the Cummins forum that use them to tow with, one, ranchertx is name he goes by tows a 22,000# 5er with his....SOOOOOOO, like the looks of them or not, they work....I had my doubts, would never have anything but a conventional 5er hitch, but knowing what I know from friends who have them and tow with them, plus the buddy that has one, I would purchase one, but I was getting a picture frame adapter and I already had my Reese 20K Signature hitch...."IF" I would HAVE HAD to tow, I very well may have went with the Andersen in May of 13'...but waited....Don't think I've read anything bad about them.

If I wanted to tow my buddies 5er, all you would have to do is remove the adapter and I could tow it....IF he wanted to tow my 5er, all he would have to do is put his adapter on my pin...neither being a big deal.

Jim, Its refreshing to hear a voice of reason. Having never owned a Andersen, I would seriously think about one. The only negative is if one needs a slider, this hitch may not work out.

They are gaining in popularity it seems.

jerem0621 wrote:

just me wrote:
You still do not have a FLAT floor when its removed.

You are right...you still have to get out and turn over the gooseneck ball with the gooseneck adaptor version of the Andersen. Then you have a flat floor..

There are two versions of the Ultimate Fifth Wheel, the gooseneck and the rail version. Similar to the B&W model...they make a Companion that mates to the turnover ball and the Patriot that attaches to industry standard rails. The big difference with the Andersen Ultimate gooseneck version is that it mates to ANY gooseneck receiver...Curt, Reese, B&W, Unagoose, Drop N' Lock, Blue Ox, and the fixed gooseneck balls...

the only ones I can think of that wouldn't work is the gooseneck plates that attach to fiver rails like "The Goose" or the Pro Series gooseneck plate...the. Again..Those are rail accessories.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

yep, once you remove the ball that the Andersen mounts to, the bed of the truck has nothing in it..clean bed...

just me wrote:
You still do not have a FLAT floor when its removed.

You are right...you still have to get out and turn over the gooseneck ball with the gooseneck adaptor version of the Andersen. Then you have a flat floor..

There are two versions of the Ultimate Fifth Wheel, the gooseneck and the rail version. Similar to the B&W model...they make a Companion that mates to the turnover ball and the Patriot that attaches to industry standard rails. The big difference with the Andersen Ultimate gooseneck version is that it mates to ANY gooseneck receiver...Curt, Reese, B&W, Unagoose, Drop N' Lock, Blue Ox, and the fixed gooseneck balls...

the only ones I can think of that wouldn't work is the gooseneck plates that attach to fiver rails like "The Goose" or the Pro Series gooseneck plate...the. Again..Those are rail accessories.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

You still do not have a FLAT floor when its removed.

Road Runners wrote:
That Anderson ball fifth wheel hitch looks like it would be really difficult to hook up to your fiver. I don't think I could readily line up my fiver to hit that little ball. The video seemed to skip over how you hook up. Or, am I missing something?

I have the steel version. It takes a bit of practice to get a feel for backing up to it. I can just barely see the top of the ball from the drivers seat. I think most of the learning is me getting a feel for how slowly my truck responds. With a bumper pull trailer, moving the steering wheel a little moves the ball as expected. With the ball at the axle, moving the steering wheel a little barely moves the ball.

I haven't towed a lot yet, but I can hook it up pretty quickly. I back up once and notice I'm off then I pull forward a bit and back up again and usually get it right.

While the Andersen isn't necessarily hard, the 5th wheel hitches have the advantage on hookup and disconnect.

The Andersen has the huge advantage on taking the hitch in and out of the truck. I'm not a full timer so my hitch does not stay in my truck. I take it in and out every time I use the hitch. For those that want a clean bed and use their truck more for non-towing things, the Andersen is really nice.

I'm going to start a new acronym. Andersen Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection = AU5WC. Can we all agree to use that? :)

Housted wrote:
OK Guys I have the Andersen and have used it for over 2 years. I carry the chains and the pucks for my 2015 Ram with the factory gooseneck prep. Most of the people on this forum have never even seen the hitch other than on the net. I can tell you it is hell for stout and the welds are top notch. As to the someone could pill the pin when you are not looking thing, that could happen to any hitch. I am loathe to admit it but I have driven on two occasions for a whole day having forgotten to close the pin. Nothing happened. Try that with your Binkley head, you won't even get out of the campsite. I can see the ball in my rearview mirror so hookup is no problem. I used a BW Companion before, it is a good hitch, just too heavy for me to get out of the truck.

Housted

uh...yes, I HAVE seen it..I posted first on this thread about it actually being a 5th wheel hitch...I came within a hair of purchasing one back in May of 13'...I have a friend who has one mounted in his Ram truck and he's had it for about 2 yrs in July....He tows a Carriage that has a GVW of about 19,000#....never had an issue...and in some states, NC being one, you DON'T need the safety chains....may want to use them, my buddy never has....Also have a couple of friends on the Cummins forum that use them to tow with, one, ranchertx is name he goes by tows a 22,000# 5er with his....SOOOOOOO, like the looks of them or not, they work....I had my doubts, would never have anything but a conventional 5er hitch, but knowing what I know from friends who have them and tow with them, plus the buddy that has one, I would purchase one, but I was getting a picture frame adapter and I already had my Reese 20K Signature hitch...."IF" I would HAVE HAD to tow, I very well may have went with the Andersen in May of 13'...but waited....Don't think I've read anything bad about them.

If I wanted to tow my buddies 5er, all you would have to do is remove the adapter and I could tow it....IF he wanted to tow my 5er, all he would have to do is put his adapter on my pin...neither being a big deal.

for those who missed the install video on this hitch..

Here is the Video

• As to security... even if someone unlatched the trailer at a gas station..YOU should be checking everything before you start rolling again. A padlock only keeps honest people honest
• If lifting the fiver 2-4 inches causes problems for a fifth wheel... I am never going to buy one.. come on now, they are not that weak
• As to safety chains... Its really not a big deal either way... clip..clip..done
• Thousands of users have the Ultimate Connection and not one reported catastrophic failure (per Andersen)
• This is a niche product... obviously if you are not open to it then it will NEVER work for you..However.. report after report of actual use come back overwhelmingly positive. No chucking, bucking, noise... etc etc etc
• it is gaining a cult following much like the B&W (which is a FINE hitch in and of itself) and many other brands.

I really like this hitch... I like the fact that I don't need any help, any lift, any other accessories other than a wrench to remove it (even then, you can get a rail version that simply pins in, no tool removal)

I'm not an Andersen or Nothing kind of guy... but I do appreciate the technology and the simplicity of the Andersen products... and most anything else towing related... for that matter.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

OK Guys I have the Andersen and have used it for over 2 years. I carry the chains and the pucks for my 2015 Ram with the factory gooseneck prep. Most of the people on this forum have never even seen the hitch other than on the net. I can tell you it is hell for stout and the welds are top notch. As to the someone could pill the pin when you are not looking thing, that could happen to any hitch. I am loathe to admit it but I have driven on two occasions for a whole day having forgotten to close the pin. Nothing happened. Try that with your Binkley head, you won't even get out of the campsite. I can see the ball in my rearview mirror so hookup is no problem. I used a BW Companion before, it is a good hitch, just too heavy for me to get out of the truck.

Housted

Me Again wrote:
What he was saying that if you break down someone (the majority) can not tow your trailer for you without removing the Anderson coupler and you can not tow someone else trailer with added your coupler to it. Conventional 5th wheel hitches interchange between all makes (except sliders) including semi trucks!

Oh. OK.
I guess that you are referring to the adapter block that secures to the King Pin? If that is the case, It takes less than 3 minutes to remove it. i.e. You'll need a 1/4" allen and a 15/16 box or open end. Release the tension on the (4) 1/4" allen screws, then remove the two 15/16" bolts that go around the neck of the King Pin. That's it.
I think we are making a big deal out of nothing.