Anderson Ultimate 3200 (Universal Rail Mount)

Ok folks, here goes...
To a small degree, I screwed up. When I bought my Ram in October I didn't get the factory 5th wheel package PUC system. I wanted it, but the truck I got was exactly what I was looking for (minus the 5th wheel prep package) and a price I could not turn down. Considerably less than anything else in fact. So I opted to just install the rails (Curt Rails) and the plug myself. Got it all for about $280 from Etrailer. I have numerous trailers and already had the hitches for all of them, including the rail mount gooseneck ball. And the rail and plug were custom fit so there were no problems with the install. I hardly ever haul anything in my bed of any significance due to having the trailers.

Well, my current hitch that I have had for a while is a Reese 15K slider. I have never had one single issue with it, but I am very OCD with maintenance and hitching/unhitching! I do of course have the occasional chucking and noise from it during start and stops and rough over passes etc. Its now about 10 years old also and I just want something new and improved.

I'm well aware of the various brands and know that B&W seem to be the best out there. But I really don't want another heavy hitch and I am leaning toward the Anderson 3200 for weight, simplicity, price, etc. I am also somewhat interested in the B&W Patriot 16K. I already have a chain hoist in the garage so taking the hitch in and out isn't really that hard per-se, just a pain in the rear. Being able to just man handle it out on my own is very appealing cause with 3 women, it's pretty much just me to do it. We are not full timers and both me and the DW still work and have 2 daughters at 17 and 12 years of age. So we are just the weekend lake warriors and occasional (2-3 times a year) vacationer's with the longest pull being 800-1000 miles RT to the Florida pan handle area.

A few questions about the Anderson.
1. Does anyone use one with a short bed? If so, how are your clearances? My 5th is a 2011 and has the rounded front corners.
2. Is the 3200 as stable and quiet as the ball mounted version?
3. Any other pro's or con's to the hitch?

I'm looking to upgrade this spring, if not sooner, and would really appreciate feedback on this hitch, The 3200 rail mount specifically.

Also, if anyone has anything on the B&W 16K Patriot. I really like the adjustability it has. Up, down, fore, aft etc.
Thanks!

Tow Vehicles

93 Replies

Whatchaupto
Explorer
Apr 01, 2016
When I tow my 5th wheel again, soon, I will not be using my Husky hitch. I will install the other hitch I own, the Andersen. Last fall, I hated the noise and the chucking of the Husky traditional hitch. I am willing to put up with the more difficult task of fore/aft alignment of the Andersen vs the racket of the Husky. Maybe the Husky is just a POS. I enjoy the noise-free towing of the Andersen more.
noteven
Explorer III
Mar 31, 2016
I hear triangles are pretty strong. They use 'em to hang radial aero engines on firewalls. Not sure the forces put on an engine mount by a 2000hp 4 blade prop or that engine and prop undergoing some wing flapping 4g turbulence events are anywhere near a good coffee slopping chuck and slam of a Big Fiver though.
ralphnjoann
Explorer
Mar 30, 2016
My sentiments exactly, WTP-GC. When I'm researching a purchase, I want facts and opinions from people who have owned, used or researched the product, not conjecture and "humble opinions" from those who don't have a clue. Thanks for your posting.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 30, 2016
minnow wrote:
fj12ryder wrote:
I really don't care whether it's Anderson with an "e" or an "o". We all know of who I am speaking. OTOH you can tell when the arguments are running our of steam when the arguers resort to carping about minutia. :)

And when the same statements like this "By redesigned I mean strengthened" are repeated over and over again by the same author. :)

This topic has turned from a discussion of the merits or lack thereof of the Andersen to todays episode of "who will have the last word". Since there is already a topic going with that subject in "Around The Campfire" located here Ad Nauseum
Maybe we should all go over there. And now we return you to our normally scheduled programming.
I promise this will be my last word in this thread.

I really don't see why you keep taking issue with the fact that Anderson has redesigned their hitch to make it stronger. Why does that bother you so much? They discovered they had a problem, they redesigned their hitch to eliminate the problem. What is the big deal? Accept the fact there was an issue and move on.

As far as ATC, I have used the "Ignore" button assiduously and do not see those threads to which you are referring. But yawl have fun now, y'hear. :)
minnow
Explorer
Mar 30, 2016
fj12ryder wrote:
I really don't care whether it's Anderson with an "e" or an "o". We all know of who I am speaking. OTOH you can tell when the arguments are running our of steam when the arguers resort to carping about minutia. :)

And when the same statements like this "By redesigned I mean strengthened" are repeated over and over again by the same author. :)

This topic has turned from a discussion of the merits or lack thereof of the Andersen to todays episode of "who will have the last word". Since there is already a topic going with that subject in "Around The Campfire" located here Ad Nauseum
Maybe we should all go over there. And now we return you to our normally scheduled programming.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Mar 30, 2016
Not quite sure what that was all about ^^^^^.
WTP-GC
Explorer
Mar 30, 2016
Cummins12V98 wrote:

I have said in the past MANY times before the redesign that the ultimate would be fine IMHO towing 12-14K but no more...

Remember Andersen is the one making the 24K rating..

Well, you kinda just contradicted yourself and/or disproved the point you've been trying to make for the last year.

You see, I have an Andersen and I'm happy with it. Others share the same sentiment. I've read a couple posts here and there on various forums where users of the Andersen UH were a little disappointed. But overall, users would agree that they have an excellent product.

So let's see here...
Say I'm in the market for a new hitch and I'm considering the Andersen UH Aluminum. Andersen claims that its rated for 24K. They're enjoying incredible success for this certain product line, they offer a lifetime warranty, they stand behind their product and they provide industry-leading customer service. One anonymous internet forum member says that they've over-rated their product.
Hmmm...
So the company that designs and engineers their products says one thing, but I can't believe them because someone who doesn't have one, has never used one, can't provide any comparable engineering, and has no comprehensive proof of the validity of his/her statement says otherwise. Oh, that's a tough one.

Curious what the opinion is the of the re-designed UH...

And BTW, the frame deformation issues of the B & W Companion was a design flaw.

This thread will be shutdown soon, and then another one will pop-up in a few days where the same information (from both sides of the aisle) is re-hashed. Then it will get shutdown and...repeat...
cummins2014
Explorer
Mar 30, 2016
fj12ryder wrote:
I really don't care whether it's Anderson with an "e" or an "o". We all know of who I am speaking. OTOH you can tell when the arguments are running our of steam when the arguers resort to carping about minutia. :)

We sure can, and you do not disappoint that point :S
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Mar 30, 2016
I really don't care whether it's Anderson with an "e" or an "o". We all know of who I am speaking. OTOH you can tell when the arguments are running our of steam when the arguers resort to carping about minutia. :)
minnow
Explorer
Mar 30, 2016
fj12ryder wrote:
OTOH if it had been simply improper installation that was at the root of the problem then the updated instructions should have been sufficient to solve the issue. It would appear that Anderson didn't feel that updating the installation instructions was enough to keep the issue from occurring. So they have replaced a few hitches with the new design, and redesigned the hitch. By redesigned I mean strengthened.

So now what we have is a good hitch that is even better with the updated design. And by the way, it always improves the credibility of the opinion maker if that opinion maker knows the correct spelling of the product that are criticizing. It's AndersEn not AndersOn.