UPDATE - Andersen Ultimate Redesign
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 origina...
Forum Discussion
Me Again wrote:
Well, I think that trailers grew in size and weight faster than hitch installation setups. Even bed rails that were not installed correctly for years could cause problems with bed ridges if the valleys did not get fillers placed there. When I moved my Hijacker from my 1993 RAM to my 2001.5 RAM I made spacers to fit inside the top hats as one of the rails was centered on a top hat. I cut flat bar pieces for the valley and coated them in rattle can bed liner so they was not rust. That was then(2001) and now things have changed.
The move to the new puck systems is a giant leap that brings trucks up to the standard of the new larger/heavier trailers now common. The RAM pucks each mount between two frame mounted plates and are bolted in place with two large grade eight bolts while resting on top of the frame rails. All HD RAM get the frame plates and only the pucks them self, the goose neck hitch and wiring are include in the prep package for $400(a bargin).
Where am I going with all of this? What the Andersen and Companion hitches are is a compromise, sort of what we would normally call quick and dirty! Set it in the bed and bolt is down at a single point, and rely on the sheet metal truck bed to stabilize the hitch with a wide base. And we all know that steel metal beds are not getting stronger as the years march on.
The market has determined that there is consumer base that will purchase such a product. Hopefully these consumers know what compromises they are making for ease of installation and removal of such a hitch. The introduction of a third similar product indicates the market is continuing to grow.
I was just not willing to make the compromise, install the TO ball, and buy a companion hitch, so I installed the factory pucks that were not in the vehicle we purchase from dealer stock.
Chris
I went with the rails rather than the pucks just for greater flexibility but my reasoning was the same as yours with regard to the turnover style hitches. Good post.
