As it has been discussed on here, Andersen recently redesigned their Ultimate 5th Wheel hitch. There's been wide speculation regarding why they did this, or if that was an indication that the original design was insufficient. As an owner of the "lowered" version, I emailed them to discuss whether or not I should be seeking a replacement for my hitch in light of the redesign. They responded back with a long email, which can be summarized below:1. The "lowered" version did not have a redesign, due to being shorter and having reduced leverage points.2. They acknowledged that the redesign of the regular hitch was due to a couple of minor incidents (as we've seen) where the ball coupler shifts about 3 degrees in heavy tow combined with emergency braking situations. The intent of the redesign was to be able to accomodate the heaviest of trailers.3. They've sold over 18,000 ultimate hitch units since 2011 and have had ZERO failures.4. They've upgraded their warranty to a Lifetime Warranty.I'm only providing this information for those who may be on the fence about purchasing one; not meant to be a sales pitch for them. If someone told me they've sold over 18,000 units without failure and only a couple very minor issues, then my confidence is boosted.

Good report! Thanks for sharing... I've called Andersen a few times and the have always been very willing to speak candidly about their products. I spoke with one of their engineers about the Andersen Weight Distribution hitch and he flat told me that it works best with a light tongue weight trailer. I also emailed them about the Andersen Ultimate Fifth wheel gooseneck connections comparability with the Drop N' Lock gooseneck hitch and they replied with yes...and commented on what a neat design the Drop N' Lock is. Which I agree. The Drop N' Lock is a very smart design. Anyway...there I go digressing again. Thanks for the feedback...I really like the Andersens Ultimates design and their Enhanced Aluminum version should resolve the minor issues it's had. Thanks!Jeremiah

WTP-GC wrote:As it has been discussed on here, Andersen recently redesigned their Ultimate 5th Wheel hitch. There's been wide speculation regarding why they did this, or if that was an indication that the original design was insufficient. As an owner of the "lowered" version, I emailed them to discuss whether or not I should be seeking a replacement for my hitch in light of the redesign. They responded back with a long email, which can be summarized below:1. The "lowered" version did not have a redesign, due to being shorter and having reduced leverage points.2. They acknowledged that the redesign of the regular hitch was due to a couple of minor incidents (as we've seen) where the ball coupler shifts about 3 degrees in heavy tow combined with emergency braking situations. The intent of the redesign was to be able to accomodate the heaviest of trailers.3. They've sold over 18,000 ultimate hitch units since 2011 and have had ZERO failures.4. They've upgraded their warranty to a Lifetime Warranty.I'm only providing this information for those who may be on the fence about purchasing one; not meant to be a sales pitch for them. If someone told me they've sold over 18,000 units without failure and only a couple very minor issues, then my confidence is boosted.Good information.#3 - I'm not buying the "no failures" line. If a hitch bent enough that it needs to be replaced, that IS a failure. It may not be a "catastrophic failure" that resulted in a separation of truck and trailer, but in its duty to pull a trailer within rated limits within reasonable expected conditions (i mean not getting rear ended) without damage, it failed. Plain and simple. There isn't a component in any of our setups that should need to be replaced after a panic stop, except for maybe a glass that falls out of a cabinet.I hope they get things sorted out and don't continue to see "minor incidents".

Maybe they need to start doing more than their vertical crush test? Or are they letting people out on the highway test the fore and aft strength?Chris

Cdash wrote:Good information.#3 - I'm not buying the "no failures" line. If a hitch bent enough that it needs to be replaced, that IS a failure. It may not be a "catastrophic failure" that resulted in a separation of truck and trailer, but in its duty to pull a trailer within rated limits within reasonable expected conditions (i mean not getting rear ended) without damage, it failed. Plain and simple. There isn't a component in any of our setups that should need to be replaced after a panic stop, except for maybe a glass that falls out of a cabinet.I hope they get things sorted out and don't continue to see "minor incidents".That's the way I feel about it. If something happens to my hitch and the company think it needs to be replaced, that's a failure. Like you say, not a catastrophic failure, but a failure all the same. If Anderson didn't consider it a failure, they wouldn't replace it with the new design at no cost.

UPDATE - Andersen Ultimate Redesign | Good Sam Community

jerem0621
Explorer II
Mar 26, 2016
Good report! Thanks for sharing...

I've called Andersen a few times and the have always been very willing to speak candidly about their products. I spoke with one of their engineers about the Andersen Weight Distribution hitch and he flat told me that it works best with a light tongue weight trailer.

I also emailed them about the Andersen Ultimate Fifth wheel gooseneck connections comparability with the Drop N' Lock gooseneck hitch and they replied with yes...and commented on what a neat design the Drop N' Lock is. Which I agree. The Drop N' Lock is a very smart design. Anyway...there I go digressing again.

Thanks for the feedback...I really like the Andersens Ultimates design and their Enhanced Aluminum version should resolve the minor issues it's had.

Thanks!

Jeremiah
Cdash
Explorer
Mar 26, 2016
WTP-GC wrote:
As it has been discussed on here, Andersen recently redesigned their Ultimate 5th Wheel hitch. There's been wide speculation regarding why they did this, or if that was an indication that the original design was insufficient. As an owner of the "lowered" version, I emailed them to discuss whether or not I should be seeking a replacement for my hitch in light of the redesign. They responded back with a long email, which can be summarized below:

1. The "lowered" version did not have a redesign, due to being shorter and having reduced leverage points.
2. They acknowledged that the redesign of the regular hitch was due to a couple of minor incidents (as we've seen) where the ball coupler shifts about 3 degrees in heavy tow combined with emergency braking situations. The intent of the redesign was to be able to accomodate the heaviest of trailers.
3. They've sold over 18,000 ultimate hitch units since 2011 and have had ZERO failures.
4. They've upgraded their warranty to a Lifetime Warranty.

I'm only providing this information for those who may be on the fence about purchasing one; not meant to be a sales pitch for them. If someone told me they've sold over 18,000 units without failure and only a couple very minor issues, then my confidence is boosted.

Good information.

#3 - I'm not buying the "no failures" line.

If a hitch bent enough that it needs to be replaced, that IS a failure. It may not be a "catastrophic failure" that resulted in a separation of truck and trailer, but in its duty to pull a trailer within rated limits within reasonable expected conditions (i mean not getting rear ended) without damage, it failed. Plain and simple.

There isn't a component in any of our setups that should need to be replaced after a panic stop, except for maybe a glass that falls out of a cabinet.

I hope they get things sorted out and don't continue to see "minor incidents".
Me_Again
Explorer III
Mar 26, 2016
Maybe they need to start doing more than their vertical crush test? Or are they letting people out on the highway test the fore and aft strength?

Chris
SabreCanuck
Explorer
Mar 26, 2016
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 26, 2016
Cdash wrote:
Good information.

#3 - I'm not buying the "no failures" line.

If a hitch bent enough that it needs to be replaced, that IS a failure. It may not be a "catastrophic failure" that resulted in a separation of truck and trailer, but in its duty to pull a trailer within rated limits within reasonable expected conditions (i mean not getting rear ended) without damage, it failed. Plain and simple.

There isn't a component in any of our setups that should need to be replaced after a panic stop, except for maybe a glass that falls out of a cabinet.

I hope they get things sorted out and don't continue to see "minor incidents".
That's the way I feel about it. If something happens to my hitch and the company think it needs to be replaced, that's a failure. Like you say, not a catastrophic failure, but a failure all the same. If Anderson didn't consider it a failure, they wouldn't replace it with the new design at no cost.
MFL
Nomad II
Mar 26, 2016
Yep, I got to agree with guys above, a failure is when the hitch can no longer be trusted to stay in service.

I think this is a set back for them, and hope their correction, and taking care of customers keeps them moving forward.

Pass the popcorn SabreCanuck!

Jerry
BarneyS
Explorer III
Mar 26, 2016
No popcorn will be needed as long as the comments remain on topic and do not become personal in nature. So far-so good. Keep it up! :)
Barney
kohai
Explorer
Mar 26, 2016
It's naive to think that companies never improve their designs and that they make the perfect design the first time and use that design forever.
BB_TX
Nomad
Mar 26, 2016
My concern would be that if the coupler can shift 3 degrees during emergency braking, what would happen in the case of an accident? Bend enough to come off the coupling and set the trailer free?
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Mar 26, 2016
Ok Barney!

Obviously Andersen realized that what I have been saying all along is their design IMHO would be good for the 12-14K crowd. NO way 24K as they advertised. They still need to address bed deflection, yes there is bed deflection with that design.

Chris I agree that "Chrush test" just seemed so unrelated to what the real world would be like. But it sure did impress many!!! Kind of like those knives at the fairs that cut steel then easily slices a tomato.