Those that have used Anderson Ultimate Hitch

I've used a Curt slider and a rail mount Andersen, and in my opinion the Andersen is far nicer to use. There's absolutely no play between the truck and trailer and zero clanking or other noise, and there's no question that you're locked and ready to go once you drop onto the ball and push in and twist the pin lock. I prefer gooseneck setups in general and this is a great way to use one on a camper without the possible downsides that go along with gooseneck adapters.

I have the Andersen on my 2015 GMC 2500HD and wouldn't have any other. I've towed 12,000 miles from California to Florida and back and its been great. See my sig for trailer and other setup info. You should consider giving Andersen customer service a call, I have found them to be exceptional in helping make sure the setup is correct and works as required.

I am currently talking with an Andersen Rep and he has been extremely helpful. My hitch is set up correctly, its the FW I purchased. Evidently they are a low FW to begin with.
I'm not questioning the integrity of the hitch, I have not ever experienced first hand the bucking and chucking you guys are talking about or any of the other down sides to the regular hitch.

Let me see if I understand the OP correctly:
You currently have an Andersen UH, but you need the lower version. For $500, they offered to "convert" your existing hitch. Or they're offering to give you some trade-in value on your existing hitch.

If that's the case, then here's my take on it. You're going to be hard pressed to find a good used hitch for less than $400 to $500 on CL. You can buy a brand new "decent" hitch for that.

But really, your problem is that you're riding too high in the first place. The Andersen is basically designed to be approx the same height as a traditional 5er hitch. So if you buy another hitch, I expect that you're still going to have the same issue. I own a regular 5er hitch for my other TV, and even at its lowest position, it still sits higher than my lowered Andersen UH.

If I understand your situation correctly, you either need to invest in the lower version of the Andersen UH or perform one of the various trailer-lift procedures.

WTP-GC wrote:
Let me see if I understand the OP correctly:
You currently have an Andersen UH, but you need the lower version. For $500, they offered to "convert" your existing hitch. Or they're offering to give you some trade-in value on your existing hitch.

If that's the case, then here's my take on it. You're going to be hard pressed to find a good used hitch for less than $400 to $500 on CL. You can buy a brand new "decent" hitch for that.

But really, your problem is that you're riding too high in the first place. The Andersen is basically designed to be approx the same height as a traditional 5er hitch. So if you buy another hitch, I expect that you're still going to have the same issue. I own a regular 5er hitch for my other TV, and even at its lowest position, it still sits higher than my lowered Andersen UH

If I understand your situation correctly, you either need to invest in the lower version of the Andersen UH or perform one of the various trailer-lift procedures.

I need the lower version instead of my current steel version. I will be trading in my current hitch and giving $500 to boot towards the new lower hitch making it a total purchase of close to $1,000.

I am aware that my FW nose is high and is why I am switching hitches.
Anderson Ultimate hitch is not designed to be the same height as a regular FW hitch. The 3225 and the 3220 are designed for a pickup truck bed with a gooseneck ball. The Andersens lowest setting is 16 1/8 in. Most FW hitches start off around 14 in. Also, the coupler that goes on the pin box adds another 7/8 inch. That's 3 inches higher.

I am more interested about the towing characteristics between the two. This is my first FW and I have never towed with a regular fifth wheel hitch. Thanks for your input though.

davisenvy wrote:
I'm in a dilemma between an Anderson Ultimate Hitch vs the regular FW hitch. Not trying to start which is better type thing. Has anyone had an Andersen and gone back to a regular hitch? I'm in a situation where the Andersen is too tall for my FW/ truck set up. They can convert the Andersen hitch for the flat bed to fit my truck, but it will cost me another $500 after I trade my current hitch back in. I have never towed with a regular hitch so this is why I'm asking.

Basically is the Andersen towing experience that much better to warrant the up grade, or pocket the $500 and look for a regular FW hitch on Craigs List.

I use the Anderson UH and love it. After being laid off from the oil industry, I decided to haul/transport RVs this last winter. I had to as a requirement run with a sliding regular fifth wheel hitch. That thing clanked, croaked, wheezed, groaned and moaned. Both my dad and little brother use "conventional fifth wheel hitches" and they both do the same clanking, croaking, wheezing... I have a turn over ball and haul goose neck trailers when I was in the oil field, so the Anderson was best choice for both operation and convenience. I will continue to haul my own fifth wheel with the Anderson.

The Curt hitches start at 13". They are the only one's I found that have that start with that low of an adjustment. The others I've looked at are 15 1/2 and up at the lowest adjustment point. Without knowing how much the rear of the truck will drop after the pinbox is dropped on the hitch, it makes it darn difficult to know what to do. Measuring my 2016 Ram 3500 and having the fifth wheel level, it looks like I have 13 1/2 - 13 3/4 from the bottom of the bed to the top of kingpin. It's a heck of a thing to drop $700 + to find out the hitch you bought will not tow the RV level or provide the bed rail clearance needed.

The dealer just came back with $200 off, so I'm only out $300 additional. I think I'm going to take it. I really like the ease of removal with the Andersen and it sounds like it would suite me best. The DW wouldn't go for the creaking, moaning, and wheezing. I do enough of that without the FW.

I have not used the Anderson but have used around 5 other brands. My favorite is the B&W. By far the easiest to hook too, and no chucking.. Very simple hitch and the easiest hooking and unhooking hitch I've ever used. Sounds like the Anderson is also simple.

kennethwooster wrote:
I have not used the Anderson but have used around 5 other brands. My favorite is the B&W. By far the easiest to hook too, and no chucking.. Very simple hitch and the easiest hooking and unhooking hitch I've ever used. Sounds like the Anderson is also simple.

While I don't have one, I have installed one in my FIL's truck and towed his. I think it is a great setup. Smooth as glass easy to turn and provides tons of clearance. His is coupled with a Mor-Ride pinbox and it is just great. I do tow a gooseneck 5er so the experience is very similar.

I have never heard of anyone going back to a standard hitch after an Andersen. Not that it has not happened but not that I have heard.

Chris