5th Wheel Stabilizer Tripod Adapter

Searching_Ut wrote:

Me Again wrote:
New model requirement! Andersen manual or auto slide. I was parking my trailer at home the other day with my manual slider in the rear position when I notice that the trailer would have hit the cab if it was not slid back!

Chris

Obviously you're not properly equipped to be on the roads. Haven't your read the forum and learned that a 5er can't be towed with a SHORT BED TRUCK! If you do try something so foolish, not only will you destroy your truck but the ride will be so rough you're beat to death if you drive down the road. I'm really surprised the local Towing cops didn't lock you up in the looney driver bin ;)

Actually, the Andersen moves the pivot point (Ball) approximately 4 inches aft, and depending on how you set the ball adapter on the kingpin it can effectively add approximately 4 inches to the arm which will make the rig slightly more responsive. It will also result in your being able to turn a little bit sharper without hitting, but you'll still have limits.

FYI: Fore Aft adjustments with the Andersen:

- 8 Inches toward the cab if you reverse the kingpin adapter
- 4 Inches away from cab if you use a Curt offset ball
Both of these options are Andersen approved. My setup uses both these and I can do a full 90deg. in my 6.6ft std bed. Of course my trailer has a scupted front end and that's really the key for this combination.

Me Again wrote:
New model requirement! Andersen manual or auto slide. I was parking my trailer at home the other day with my manual slider in the rear position when I notice that the trailer would have hit the cab if it was not slid back!

Chris

Obviously you're not properly equipped to be on the roads. Haven't your read the forum and learned that a 5er can't be towed with a SHORT BED TRUCK! If you do try something so foolish, not only will you destroy your truck but the ride will be so rough you're beat to death if you drive down the road. I'm really surprised the local Towing cops didn't lock you up in the looney driver bin ;)

Actually, the Andersen moves the pivot point (Ball) approximately 4 inches aft, and depending on how you set the ball adapter on the kingpin it can effectively add approximately 4 inches to the arm which will make the rig slightly more responsive. It will also result in your being able to turn a little bit sharper without hitting, but you'll still have limits.

New model requirement! Andersen manual or auto slide. I was parking my trailer at home the other day with my manual slider in the rear position when I notice that the trailer would have hit the cab if it was not slid back!

Chris

For the tripod stabilizer, it looks like it would be really easy to adapt a ball to the mount.

As far as hitting the sides of the truck because of the side to side articulation from the ball mount, that happens with most good 5er hitches as well. You need to keep enough bed clearance to keep that from happening. I run with a hard core off road crowd, many of whom tend to forget the limitations of the RVs when they drag their 5ers into some of the backcountry areas. Several of them have the damaged truck beds to show for it, and even more have the damaged 5ers that were to big, low, or long to have been on the roads they took them on. Some also have the damage to show for improper hitch up of normal 5er hitches, which make quite the noise, and attract a good crowd if you drop the rig on the bed in a campground.

Until I read this thread I never would have realize how difficult it is to hook up the hooks on two safety chains with spring loaded clips. I always though that hooking up the umbilical was the hard part. Maybe it's just that the chains seem awful heavy to those still worn out from lifting a 5er hitch into the bed of the truck ;)

For those looking for a hitch for a lighter 5er like my 15.5k gvwr rig, the Andersen is a great option. The greaseless ball is virtually maintenance free, the hitch is quick and easy to get into the truck, and it won't get you the briefing from your back doctor. It also locks up nice and solid so you don't get the slop you find in many 5er hitches. If you're worried about truck bed deflection you can use the rail mount version with a picture frame rail setup. It's a solid well made design that should last longer than my Ram for sure if kept within the design specs.

"Working by myself I installed the four pucks and in bed wiring in less than 4 hours. With a helper that would have been less to 2 hours"

He keeps reminding me how I could not make it over to help. ;)

Me Again wrote:
You might want to review the weights on these two items. JT kits are heavier than the tripod.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/jt-strong-arm-jack-stabilizer-system-travel-trailer-kit/69725

I believe that was the entire kit. Only the front stabilizers would take away from payload.

Me Again wrote:
...the fact that the trailer can tip enough to contact the bed

Andersen is adjustable and tip only comes in to play if user places ball lower than appropriate for their trailer height.

Me Again wrote:
Light weight and cost are the only pluses for Andersen. With a super lite trailer one might have a case for there use.

...and having a fifth wheel trailer is the only reason to have a diesel truck ( ;-) sorry Chris, just couldn't resist)

Me Again wrote:


Lifting the trailer the extra distance, the fact that the trailer can tip enough to contact the bed, the chance of bed floor damage by the Andersen frame carrying the weight on the pickup bed vs the trucks frame and the requirement for safety chains to the reason's I would not want an Andersen.

Light weight and cost are the only pluses for Andersen. With a super lite trailer one might have a case for there use.

Like I previously said, you won't find hardly any information about the Andersen causing any bed deflection. It has such a large footprint that the possibility of bed deflection is almost completely eliminated. Perhaps in some heavy pin weight applications it could occur, but at that point, I believe you would need to be re-evaluating your entire rig.

The height of the Andersen isn't a problem. Its designed to have the same height configuration as traditional hitches. And I can't envision a situation where it would tip enough to hit the side of the truck (maybe unless you're towing a short 5'er and/or have a lifted truck). There's not anymore movement in this hitch arrangement than the normal side-to-side movement of traditional hitches.

Enough with the safety chain talk. That's been beaten to death.

The tri pod has to be carried when traveling and for this reason it was not something I wanted to deal with.

chevman

hbillsmith wrote:
Install a set of JT Strongarms and forget about hauling around a heavy tripod. You can find many users that no longer use their tripods. You got the Andersen to lighten your load, getting JTs fits that theme perfect.

You might want to review the weights on these two items. JT kits are heavier than the tripod.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/jt-strong-arm-jack-stabilizer-system-travel-trailer-kit/69725

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/heavy-duty-king-pin-stabilizer/20307

Lifting the trailer the extra distance, the fact that the trailer can tip enough to contact the bed, the chance of bed floor damage by the Andersen frame carrying the weight on the pickup bed vs the trucks frame and the requirement for safety chains to the reason's I would not want an Andersen.

Light weight and cost are the only pluses for Andersen. With a super lite trailer one might have a case for there use.

Once you have seen and worked with new Ford or RAM frame mounted puck system one see how much better this set up is over any 5th wheel hitch mount system that came before it.

All new RAM trucks come with the mounting plates on the frame and like I did the pucks are fairly easy to add if the truck did not have the factory option when ordered. Working by myself I installed the four pucks and in bed wiring in less than 4 hours. With a helper that would have been less to 2 hours.

I Chose the Demco Hijacker 6099 picture frame over Reese one base on the much better puck latch setup.



Chris

Cummins12V98 wrote:

What I mean by "another negative"

1. Side to side movement off road.
Even a regular 5th wheel hitch has a head that pivots side-to-side. In an off-road situation, though, you're traveling slowly and cautiously, so even a little bit more side-to-side shouldn't impact anything.

2. can't lock the kingpin to hitch.
The Andersen has a locking pin that locks the adapter to the hitch. The adapter is locked onto the kingpin with 2 bolts. I'd argue that the attachment mechanism on the Andersen is as good as any 5th wheel hitch.

3. Need to use safety chains since it is considered a Gooseneck hitch.
This is not entirely true, and its a horse that's been beaten to death since the Andersen first hit the market. Here's what it boils down to: if you're state requires safety chains for a 5th wheel hitch, you need them. If not, then you don't. Andersen has addressed the issue on multiple occasions. However, what does it hurt to have safety chains?

4, On heavier RV's the hitch will deflect the bed with fore and aft movement. Just like the old 18K B&W Companion did with my heavy MobileSuites.
I've read every article/thread/post I've ever seen on this hitch. Maybe in 1 or 2 circumstances did someone mention an actual case of bed deflection. I do not believe that is at all an issue with this hitch.

5. Ratings are not realistic. They leave little to no safety factor when advertising their ratings. Kinda like a Craftsman shop vac "develops" 6 HP. Just look at a 20K Companion side by side with the highest rated Andersen that's I think is 24K. I am not an engineer but I have had to build things my whole career that have held up and there is no way the Andersen is a stronger hitch.
Andersen gives to you their ratings. B & W gives you their ratings. In either case, do they tell you that its safe to exceed these ratings (by any amount)....???? NO! The engineers at Andersen say that its rated for 24K, then that's what you got. Neither you nor I are in any position to question that.

All the above is JMHO!

Overall, this always comes down to preference. If you're sold on the B & W, then rock n roll with it. If, like me, you believe the Andersen is a sufficient hitch setup within their design parameters, then rock n roll with it.