New Andersen WD hitch

BenK wrote:


Then the friction material and the taper of the ball shank will also get worked Since not held in with a nut and the normal approx 500 ft/lbs, how much is there via that clevis pin? I'd assume next to nothing, as that first video shows it just drop off when the tension and pin is removed.

The only sway control is the friction material. On a traditional WD with cams will have both the increase in WD forces and resistance to that side to side by both the pull and compression of the cam on the bar end.

Hi Ben,

I totally agree the ball coupler area is one of concern and the urethane spring brackets. See page 4 for my response. I saw the "light" that the latch has issues with this setup. You where correct on this.

Now to the clevis pin. That pin is intended to be a "key" so to speak to connect the ball shank to the chain plate and drive the chain plate as the WD chains push pull it with the spring action. The pin is also a safety so the tow ball does not fly up and out.

They actually have a bunch of force pressing the tow ball shank into the friction material. I see 2 sets of forces pushing the tow ball shank into the friction material.

1. The dead weight of the TT tongue pushing down. If it is 1,000# TW then they have at least 1,000# pushing on the shank on a shllow taper creating grip. This force will vary pending the TW.

2. The WD forces acting on the tow ball shank. When they pull on the bottom of the tow ball they are creating a very large torque into the tow ball shank, thru the friction materiel and then into the tapered shank socket. This is a large force pushing the shank into the friction material. The more WD the higher the force.

I can see how that can create a bunch of grip to help ward off sway forces acting on the TT.

The tow ball rotates very little to almost nothing. That is why they do not need grease on it plus it may have the Anderson low friction coating on the top of the ball. The only rotation is the small movement of rotation from the tension in the WD chains changing. The 2 chains find equilibrium once the ball slips once.

I think the setup can assist in helping control sway if the WD part and ball coupler area does not create large issues which is yet to be sorted out.

As far as the tow ball rocking back and forth, well it depends on the WD chains forces who wins. See page 4. There is a lot of dynamics going on as to if the chains are towing the camper or the tow ball is.

John