Andersen Fifth Wheel Hitch Conversion

[ralphnjoann]

After reading the 12 page discussion, "So light a child can remove it from the truck," I decided "that's for me." The problem is I have a standard hitch that uses rails, not the goose neck hitch being discussed in the thread. But it turns out that Andersen makes a conversion for rails as well. It is the 3200-Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection - Rail Version. It's sold at Amazon by Tweety's. The cost is $399 with free shipping. Note: I have no financial interest in Amazon, Tweety's or Andersen.

Link

[NC_Hauler]

ranchertx wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If I can walk up to the Andersen and grasp the "T" handle twist and pull it is not "locked".

As usual JMHO So no need for childish name calling. If you have an Andersen and are happy that's great I just like to point out things so people in the market can make an informed decision.

You can unlock it but, it wont come off the hitch unless it is lifted off. Unlike a fifth wheel hitch that can drop on your truck and ruin your bed. This happens quite frequently.

How many time have you heard of an Anderson hitch coming lose?

Ron, ranchertx, (Jim), has been using the Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch for probably close to 2yrs, if not longer, towing a 5er around 22,000#. He was one of the first to "find" The Andersen in 13' when finding a "picture frame adapter" for the 5er/GN prep package was like trying to find hen's teeth. He's spent most of his time on the cummins forum....When we couldn't use the 5er/GN prep packages because MOPAR dropped the ball, others looked for alternatives, (which you now have MORE of today)...first thing discovered was the Andersen, which used the center hole....So Jim has had quite a bit of experience with the Andersen Ultimate 5er hitch and towed a pretty heavy 5er with it and as far as I know, he's had zero issues.....I came within a hair of purchasing one myself, just couldn't get rid of my Reese hitch, and I already had my 5er at my camp, so I decided to wait it out. But the Andersen has been proven out by more than several and with some quite heavy 5er's..

[N-Trouble]

ranchertx wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If I can walk up to the Andersen and grasp the "T" handle twist and pull it is not "locked".

As usual JMHO So no need for childish name calling. If you have an Andersen and are happy that's great I just like to point out things so people in the market can make an informed decision.

You can unlock it but, it wont come off the hitch unless it is lifted off. Unlike a fifth wheel hitch that can drop on your truck and ruin your bed. This happens quite frequently.

How many time have you heard of an Anderson hitch coming lose?

Exactly! 2K lb+ pin weight isn't just going to jump off the ball. Unlike a conventional hitch that will simply slide out...

I can see the T-handle plain as day in my rear view mirror. Always take a look at it when getting under way. NO worries, life is good...

And no he hasn't ever heard of a report of one coming off the ball, or one of their hitches failing for that matter. That however won't stop his desire to try to smear this hitch any way he can.

[ralphnjoann]

If anybody wants a complete 12 page discussion of the pros and cons of this hitch, as well as a lot of JMHOs, it can be found here:

Link

[ranchertx]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
If I can walk up to the Andersen and grasp the "T" handle twist and pull it is not "locked".

As usual JMHO So no need for childish name calling. If you have an Andersen and are happy that's great I just like to point out things so people in the market can make an informed decision.

You can unlock it but, it wont come off the hitch unless it is lifted off. Unlike a fifth wheel hitch that can drop on your truck and ruin your bed. This happens quite frequently.

How many time have you heard of an Anderson hitch coming lose?

[Cummins12V98]

If I can walk up to the Andersen and grasp the "T" handle twist and pull it is not "locked".

As usual JMHO So no need for childish name calling. If you have an Andersen and are happy that's great I just like to point out things so people in the market can make an informed decision.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Deb and Ed M wrote:
We JUST sold our 5er; and this morning the buyer picked it up, converting it to a gooseneck hitch while at our place, using one of these: http://tweetys.com/Eaz-Lift-5thwheeltogooseneckadaptor-15inch.aspx clicky This thing is massive and bolts to the kingpin and plate at 5 different points. The Anderson adapter looks frail in comparison (I'm not saying it won't work - just that it doesn't attach nearly as securely as what I saw today)

Granted, he has other gooseneck trailers and the hide-away ball in the bed of his truck, so this made sense; but the first thing that struck me was how high the trailer had to be raised to drop down over the ball; and there wasn't much side-to-side leeway, either.

[cummins2014]

Me Again wrote:

ralphnjoann wrote:
After reading the 12 page discussion, "So light a child can remove it from the truck," I decided "that's for me." The problem is I have a standard hitch that uses rails, not the goose neck hitch being discussed in the thread. But it turns out that Andersen makes a conversion for rails as well. It is the 3200-Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection - Rail Version. It's sold at Amazon by Tweety's. The cost is $399 with free shipping. Note: I have no financial interest in Amazon, Tweety's or Andersen.

Link

Measure carefully that it matches up to your present rails. My Hijacker rails are different from some of the standard ones. Well which standard really?? Chris

What makes your hijacker rails different then any other standard bed rails, are they Hijacker specific, and only fit a Hijacker hitch ? My previous standard bed rails had the 20.5"and the 29" spacing. I have had two hitches that required both spacings, Front to rear spacing the standard is 22" . Reese, and Pullrite are two that I know use these measurements.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

duplicate - sorry. See below

[N-Trouble]

Road Runners wrote:
Do they make a conversion to convert the fiver hitch pin to a ball hitch? Looks to me that, that ball hitch would be extremely difficult to hitch your fiver too. You would have to get the ball maneuvered just right to line up with the ball and then climb in the bed of the truck to lock the hitch.

Very easy to line up and can be off a little in any direction and still drop on to the ball. Since the ball is raised and visible out the back window this makes it easier than a traditional GN or TT to get lined up. And no you don't have to crawl into the bed to latch. The coupler has a long cable that you attach the locking T-handle to the underside of the 5er or in my case the pinbox.

If you run safety chains then yes you'll likely have to crawl into the bed. The lightweight of the hitch and ease of installing/removing from the bed however far outweigh the safety chain aspect IMO.

[Me_Again]

ralphnjoann wrote:
After reading the 12 page discussion, "So light a child can remove it from the truck," I decided "that's for me." The problem is I have a standard hitch that uses rails, not the goose neck hitch being discussed in the thread. But it turns out that Andersen makes a conversion for rails as well. It is the 3200-Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection - Rail Version. It's sold at Amazon by Tweety's. The cost is $399 with free shipping. Note: I have no financial interest in Amazon, Tweety's or Andersen.

Link

Measure carefully that it matches up to your present rails. My Hijacker rails are different from some of the standard ones. Well which standard really?? Chris

[ralphnjoann]

Road Runners wrote:
Do they make a conversion to convert the fiver hitch pin to a ball hitch? Looks to me that, that ball hitch would be extremely difficult to hitch your fiver too. You would have to get the ball maneuvered just right to line up with the ball and then climb in the bed of the truck to lock the hitch.

The adapter for the 5er hitch pin comes with the conversion:

Link

[MFL]

ralphnjoann wrote:
After reading the 12 page discussion, "So light a child can remove it from the truck," I decided "that's for me." The problem is I have a standard hitch that uses rails, not the goose neck hitch being discussed in the thread. But it turns out that Andersen makes a conversion for rails as well. It is the 3200-Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection - Rail Version. It's sold at Amazon by Tweety's. The cost is $399 with free shipping. Note: I have no financial interest in Amazon, Tweety's or Andersen.

Link

IMO, that Andersen rail mount is a stronger system than the ball.

Jerry

[Road_Runners]

Do they make a conversion to convert the fiver hitch pin to a ball hitch? Looks to me that, that ball hitch would be extremely difficult to hitch your fiver too. You would have to get the ball maneuvered just right to line up with the ball and then climb in the bed of the truck to lock the hitch.

[cummins2014]

ralphnjoann wrote:
After reading the 12 page discussion, "So light a child can remove it from the truck," I decided "that's for me." The problem is I have a standard hitch that uses rails, not the goose neck hitch being discussed in the thread. But it turns out that Andersen makes a conversion for rails as well. It is the 3200-Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection - Rail Version. It's sold at Amazon by Tweety's. The cost is $399 with free shipping. Note: I have no financial interest in Amazon, Tweety's or Andersen.

Link

Great choice, its the hitch of the future. Good you could wade thru, and get beyond the opinions ,and campground surveys.