Andersen Hitch

[Wingnusa]

Anyone out there have one of these? I could use some feedback on the Ultimate. I especially want to know how things ride inside the rig when you have this hitch...

[fj12ryder]

Mostly because that doesn't really "clamp" the hitch to the floor. That pulls the hitch down and the pin up to take the slack out of the operation. It also ensures that someone cannot inadvertently pull the pin and release the hitch. If you think that 40 lb.fts. of torque on a 1/2-13 bolt have any measurable holding power in the operation of these hitches, you're unclear on the operation of either of them. I have the B&W hitch and know exactly how it works, I don't believe you can say the same. 🙂

I have the Companion and would buy another if necessary. I don't think the Anderson is inferior, but it just "looks" flimsier. 🙂 Just the impression I get when looking at it, I'm sure it's a very strong hitch and have seen the videos, but I can't shake that first impression.

I also wish to disagree with the person that posted "Sorry but chucking has EVERYTHING to do with the hitch...". I think that the position of the hitch in the bed may have something to do with "chucking" but I fail to see how a snugly fitting hitch of any kind will have any thing to do with "chucking". Provided of course that all other inputs remain the same.

[Me_Again]

Housted wrote:
"Any jerky stops or starts put additional stress on the bed floor."

Not true, the Turnover ball has a very large cross member in front and behind the socket. They are securely bolted to the frame and provide support under the bed for both hitches equally. I have had both and will keep the Andersen. Neither of them rest solely on the bed.



Housted

Well I guess I will never get you guys to believe that the turn over ball is used to clamp the hitches to the bed floor. Torquing down to 40 or 50 lbs seems to go right by you. Chris

[jerem0621]

If I get a fiver I would absolutely get the Anderson Ultimate Fifth Wheel Hitch with either a Drop n' Lock or a Blue Ox underbed gooseneck hitch.

The Andersen can be removed quickly and the gooseneck Ball can be turned over on either of these two hitches without leaving the bed of the truck. Very nice, one trip in the bed and everything is done with a clean bed! Woot woot!

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[Housted]

"Any jerky stops or starts put additional stress on the bed floor."

Not true, the Turnover ball has a very large cross member in front and behind the socket. They are securely bolted to the frame and provide support under the bed for both hitches equally. I have had both and will keep the Andersen. Neither of them rest solely on the bed.



Housted

[Chalkie]

Me Again wrote:

Well I guess you failed HS physics as you can not pull and push at the same time.

Of course you can't PULL and PUSH at the same time, you'd go nowhere. That's not HS physics, that is common sense.

I have been unable to find any reports out there of a failure in either one of these hitches (which is not to say they may not be there). I happen to have faith in the engineering of the products. Having had both a conventional fifth wheel hitch and now the Companion in my current truck, I would take the Companion any day. Presuming the Anderson continues to get the great reviews and there is no negative information about them, I will likely get the Anderson on the next truck.

[oweninthekeys]

Wingnusa wrote:
No one has entertained the original post when I asked about stuff moving around INSIDE the 5er... Has anyone noticed any difference on how much stuff has moved around vs a conventional hitch. I'm being told by someone that the 5er will ride as well or better than having an air hitch. I'm having a tough time with that one...

Wing- I haven't had anything move around in my unit. FYI I also feel very little if no wind shift on the hwy when dealing with truckers.

[Me_Again]

Wingnusa wrote:
No one has entertained the original post when I asked about stuff moving around INSIDE the 5er... Has anyone noticed any difference on how much stuff has moved around vs a conventional hitch. I'm being told by someone that the 5er will ride as well or better than having an air hitch. I'm having a tough time with that one...

What, the Anderson hitch flexes like an air ride hitch?

[Cummins12V98]

N-Trouble wrote:
Sorry but chucking has EVERYTHING to do with the hitch...

If your concerned about 4500lb pin weight this should ease any concern: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78l-PadWAro

I have yet to hear anyone who actually "uses" this hitch complain about it, only doubters who can't get over the concept that something so light, simple, and cost effective can be up to the task.

You'll also hear many refer to it as a GN and how it will create additional forces on the kingpin which is entirely untrue. THe fact that the ball is raised makes it no different than any other 5er hitch in this regard.

I have seen the video before I still prefer the B&W Companion. If you have a loose hitch it will rattle no matter what. The B&W is a solid connection as the Andersen but chucking is caused by many things one is when the truck leaves the overpass then the rv does it gives a fore and aft tugging. That to me is chucking.

[Cummins12V98]

Me Again wrote:
Also seems a wind blow over could occur easier with the Anderson hitch, as it would go much farther before the trucks weight and stability came into play. Chris

Now that you mentioned it I agree!

[Wingnusa]

No one has entertained the original post when I asked about stuff moving around INSIDE the 5er... Has anyone noticed any difference on how much stuff has moved around vs a conventional hitch. I'm being told by someone that the 5er will ride as well or better than having an air hitch. I'm having a tough time with that one...

[Me_Again]

Also seems a wind blow over could occur easier with the Anderson hitch, as it would go much farther before the trucks weight and stability came into play. Chris

[Me_Again]

Chalkie wrote:

Me Again wrote:

Chalkie wrote:

Me Again wrote:
Like the B&W Companion I am not convenienced placing hitch loads on sheet metal beds is the best long term design!

Traditional 5th wheel hitches when correctly installed put the load on the frame rails.

The Companion also places the bulk of the load on the frame as the main load bearing is done with the Turnover ball hitch. Granted, some weight is being born by the bed, but then so is some on a conventional hitch. The rails are in contact with the bed all across, therefore placing a portion of the weight on the bed.

The Anderson also bears the weight to a gooseneck or rail-type mount so I can not see any difference nor a reasonable objection.

Had I been aware of the Anderson before I got the Companion I think I would have gone with the Anderson. The Anderson's, where I have read about them in other forums, gets generally rave reviews from those that own them.

I believe you are wrong on where the weight load is placed with both hitches. The turn over ball is used to force the frame of both hitch on to the bed floor and is the exact opposite of supporting weight! Chris

If I am towing a gooseneck, NOTHING is touching the bed, the entire weight is born on the frame. The Companion drops into the Turnover and the main weight of the kingpin is directly over that point. The rails on the bed provide more lateral support than weight bearing.

I'm no engineer, I'll admit it, but the B&W folks are. They sell an awful lot of these things and the liability would be HUGE if they were not doing as promised. Clearly, you don't think they are safe while I think they are. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. 🙂

Well I guess you failed HS physics as you can not pull and push at the same time.

Both of these hitches use the turn over ball to hold them down to the bed floor so they do not turn around in the bed. You place them in the bed and torque down a bolt to hold the hitch down against the bed floor, therefore it does not hold up the hitch. It does prevent left/right and front/back movement. Go read the installation instructions. They get torqued down to 50 ft lbs Anderson and 40 B&W, so the turn over ball is not holding up the pin weight, the bed floor is doing that. Any jerky stops or starts put additional stress on the bed floor.


http://www.andersenhitches.com/Catalog/installation-manuals.aspx

http://www.turnoverball.com/products/rvhitch/companion-5th-wheel-hitch

[Chalkie]

Me Again wrote:

Chalkie wrote:

Me Again wrote:
Like the B&W Companion I am not convenienced placing hitch loads on sheet metal beds is the best long term design!

Traditional 5th wheel hitches when correctly installed put the load on the frame rails.

The Companion also places the bulk of the load on the frame as the main load bearing is done with the Turnover ball hitch. Granted, some weight is being born by the bed, but then so is some on a conventional hitch. The rails are in contact with the bed all across, therefore placing a portion of the weight on the bed.

The Anderson also bears the weight to a gooseneck or rail-type mount so I can not see any difference nor a reasonable objection.

Had I been aware of the Anderson before I got the Companion I think I would have gone with the Anderson. The Anderson's, where I have read about them in other forums, gets generally rave reviews from those that own them.

I believe you are wrong on where the weight load is placed with both hitches. The turn over ball is used to force the frame of both hitch on to the bed floor and is the exact opposite of supporting weight! Chris

If I am towing a gooseneck, NOTHING is touching the bed, the entire weight is born on the frame. The Companion drops into the Turnover and the main weight of the kingpin is directly over that point. The rails on the bed provide more lateral support than weight bearing.

I'm no engineer, I'll admit it, but the B&W folks are. They sell an awful lot of these things and the liability would be HUGE if they were not doing as promised. Clearly, you don't think they are safe while I think they are. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. 🙂

[Cummins12V98]

Me Again wrote:

Chalkie wrote:

Me Again wrote:
Like the B&W Companion I am not convenienced placing hitch loads on sheet metal beds is the best long term design!

Traditional 5th wheel hitches when correctly installed put the load on the frame rails.

The Companion also places the bulk of the load on the frame as the main load bearing is done with the Turnover ball hitch. Granted, some weight is being born by the bed, but then so is some on a conventional hitch. The rails are in contact with the bed all across, therefore placing a portion of the weight on the bed.

The Anderson also bears the weight to a gooseneck or rail-type mount so I can not see any difference nor a reasonable objection.

Had I been aware of the Anderson before I got the Companion I think I would have gone with the Anderson. The Anderson's, where I have read about them in other forums, gets generally rave reviews from those that own them.

I believe you are wrong on where the weight load is placed with both hitches. The turn over ball is used to force the frame of both hitch on to the bed floor and is the exact opposite of supporting weight! Chris

The B&W Companion has a 18K and 20K rating. This is an engineered amount. The exact same head portion attached to the RVK3600 and installed into the RAM puck system has a 26K rating. All of what you are talking is factored into the rating.

[N-Trouble]

Yes safety chains are state by state and that's what Anderson will tell you.

The only forces really exerted on the truck bed come from any deflection in the hitch. A bulk of the forces are transferred directly through the Turnoverball onto the frame.

Oweninthekeys - Got it. I believe Cummins was referring to the coupler T-handle which is why your response threw me for a loop...