Andersen Aluminum Ultimate and RAM OEM puck

[eb145]

Just passing along some information to help others out that might be in the same situation I am now in.

I have a 2014 RAM 3500 SRW crew cab with the RAM OEM 5th wheel prep.

I just purchased the Andersen Aluminum Ultimate 5th wheel hitch (goose neck version) and I ordered the Andersen safety chains to use with it. I will be using the safety chains to minimize the chance of the trailer falling off the rear of the truck in case of goose ball failure, as well as to help keep the trailer out of the back seat of the truck cab in case of a collision.

I purchased the Curt brand goose neck ball and safety chain anchor kit that is compatible with the RAM OEM 5th wheel prep.

And when I went to do a test assembly last night I found a little surprise / incompatibility:

It turns out the Curt safety chain anchors can't be used in my truck with the Andersen hitch. The reason is the Curt safety chain anchors are manufactured with an angle to the anchor loops and they use a pin that needs to be clipped on that interfere with the base of the Andersen pyramid. Here is a picture of the Curt product:


The angle on the anchor loops and the way the pin is used to secure the anchor loop to the truck just doesn't work in my setup.

So,I looked closely at pictures of the Reese brand gooseneck ball and safety chain anchor and I see it will work with my setup so I ordered it. You can see the Reese brand anchor chain is a different shape and has a different attachment mechanism that will not interfere with the Andersen pyramid base.


So in summary, the Curt brand safety chain anchors fit my 2014 RAM 3500 SRW crew cab but they can't be used with the Andersen Aluminum Ultimate 5th wheel hitch due to the shape of the Curt brand anchors.

Hopefully this information will save someone the aggravation of discovering this for themselves the hard way.

Ed

[ranchertx]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

ramgunner wrote:
Since the OP has a Ram with the Factory 5th Wheel / Gooseneck Prep Package, there are plenty of 5th wheel hitch options that will leave him with a flat bed when removed. The Anderson isn't the only product that does this.

http://www.ramgunner.com/ram5thwheel.htm

I am not going to trust a 30# hitch to tow this little baby!



But I will trust towing it with this! The bed is clear in a couple minutes.

I have been pulling my 43' Atlanta for a year and a half with the Anderson set up. It does great.

[NC_Hauler]

This has been discussed before on this forum as well as the cummins forum. The reese ball was used and worked perfectly with the Anderson 5er hitch. So yes, the Reese ball will drop in center puck and the Anderson hitch will lock down on the ball.. Quite a few are using this combo with no issues.

[Me_Again]

'Or does the kingpin never have to go up or down when levelling?"

Both have to move the same distance to remove the pin weight from the truck, then with the Andersen you have to go another 3-4". Then you mostly likely have to come back down a few inches to level.

Those with them refuse to acknowledge this short coming. But I guess those coming from bumper pulls are use to the extra raising and lowering if they have not had a 5th wheel hitch.

Chris

[Sport45]

It goes without saying the best hitch is the one in the back of your truck. 😉

But folk who use the Andersen (as bad as that may be in many's mind) with the Ram OEM setup are well served by the OP's comments.

But one thing the OP hasn't said was if the Reese parts actually worked. At this point all we know is they've been ordered.

We don't have our 5th wheel yet, but when we do the Andersen is on the top of my list for hitch choices. As far as jacking goes, isn't it just as likely I'll have to lower the levelled trailer onto the ball as raise it to clear the ball? Or does the kingpin never have to go up or down when levelling?

[Me_Again]

Or lifting the trailer the extra distance to clear the ball while hitching or unhitching. Chris

[cummins2014]

Cummins12V98 wrote:

ramgunner wrote:
Since the OP has a Ram with the Factory 5th Wheel / Gooseneck Prep Package, there are plenty of 5th wheel hitch options that will leave him with a flat bed when removed. The Anderson isn't the only product that does this.

http://www.ramgunner.com/ram5thwheel.htm

I am not going to trust a 30# hitch to tow this little baby!



But I will trust towing it with this! The bed is clear in a couple minutes.

But many do without issue, as they say everyone has an opinion, but not many know the facts

[Cummins12V98]

Sport45 wrote:
And it's the only one the OP currently owns. (At least the only one mentioned.)

He was just sharing info about what pucks can be used to secure safety chains with the Andersen hitch. I say job well done!

And he was mentioning some other options that probably do not require chains.

[Cummins12V98]

ramgunner wrote:
Since the OP has a Ram with the Factory 5th Wheel / Gooseneck Prep Package, there are plenty of 5th wheel hitch options that will leave him with a flat bed when removed. The Anderson isn't the only product that does this.

http://www.ramgunner.com/ram5thwheel.htm

I am not going to trust a 30# hitch to tow this little baby!



But I will trust towing it with this! The bed is clear in a couple minutes.

[Sport45]

And it's the only one the OP currently owns. (At least the only one mentioned.)

He was just sharing info about what pucks can be used to secure safety chains with the Andersen hitch. I say job well done!

[jujububbajr]

ramgunner wrote:
Since the OP has a Ram with the Factory 5th Wheel / Gooseneck Prep Package, there are plenty of 5th wheel hitch options that will leave him with a flat bed when removed. The Anderson isn't the only product that does this.

http://www.ramgunner.com/ram5thwheel.htm

It's the only one that weighs 30lbs.

[ramgunner]

Since the OP has a Ram with the Factory 5th Wheel / Gooseneck Prep Package, there are plenty of 5th wheel hitch options that will leave him with a flat bed when removed. The Anderson isn't the only product that does this.

http://www.ramgunner.com/ram5thwheel.htm

[bigdave720]

Wow! Now I get it. That's pretty cool. Thanks for schooling this newbie!

[DirtyOil]

bigdave720 wrote:
Just curious. Why buy a 5th wheel camper and install a 5th wheel hitch to pull it with a goose neck? I'm a newbie. Am I misunderstanding something? Is this a better way?

To help you understand what OP is talking about, you need to know what hitch he is using... see http://www.andersenhitches.com/Catalog/ultimate-5th-wheel-connection.aspx

[eb145]

bigdave720 wrote:
Just curious. Why buy a 5th wheel camper and install a 5th wheel hitch to pull it with a goose neck? I'm a newbie. Am I misunderstanding something? Is this a better way?

Well, it uses the goose neck ball, but it is not a goose neck hitch. It's a pyramid hitch that uses the goose neck ball for attaching to the truck bed. For my needs, it looks like the best option:
- Lighter hitch.
- Easy to remove from truck bed and have perfectly clean bed.
- Goose ball is used to connect the pyramid hitch to the truck bed.

Watch this video to get a quick idea:

Andersen Aluminum Ultimate 2 minute video.

Ed

[rskeans]

He's not pulling it with a goose neck. He's just using the goose neck ball in the truck bed. The Andersen attaches to the bed goose neck ball. The advantage is that he has full use of the truck bed when removing the 32 lb hitch. Check out Andersen ultimate 5th wheel hitch to understand what's happening.