New Andersen WD hitch

BenK wrote:


With the Andersen WD Hitch system, there is NO un-weighting and over-weighting in whop-d-doos/etc. The coupler and ball take that as just a pivoting motion and the spring rates remain constant, as I see it now...have to noodle that some more later...

Ben are you sure? Think about it.

If the front of the truck changes elevation or the entire truck changes elevation in relation to the TT still being on level ground, the hitch shank in the truck receiver is going to change angles in relation to the TT frame. If the hitch shank changes angles to the way it was tensioned when the rig was level the WD chain forces will change along with it.

Think of the high up nasty RR crossing as an example. TT wheels down on the level and TT frame level with the road. The truck now starts going up hill at a 30 to sometimes 45 degree angle to get over the tracks. (At least hear in outbacks of Ohio that is.) During that transition the hitch shank attached to the truck is going to change angles in relation to the TT frame. It will back flex on the way up and unflex going over the top to again back flex on the way back down. When the to ball shank changes angles in relation to the TT frame rails, the WD chains will change tension.

And I "think" the Andersen will be worse then the traditional WD hitch. If the mechanical advantage of the Andersen is 3.6 times less then the traditional WD hitch then the change in angle at the hitch head will affect the Andersen more to totally unload 3.6 times faster. The spring rates constants are greatly different. I'll have to think more on this but my gut tells me both will generate a higher WD load when the TV goes up the ramp and then totally unloads going over the top to once again go way up in force coming back down over a nasty RR crossing. To figure this out one has to do a spring rate change verses the angle of hitch head change and tow ball shank change to see who is worse per degree of shank angle change.

OK did I mix that up or not?

John