Andersen Ultimate not working for me

[wvcampers]

I went from a Reese 16K slider to the Andersen ultimate. My trailer was very stable with the Reese, with the Andersen the trailer is constantly moveing around. It is bad enough that can feel it and it is uncomfortable towing. I have a short bed F350 SRW CC 6.7 diesel. The camper is a 34' Cardinal. I have the Andersen in the rear position because the Cardinal has a flat nose and I need the clearance to get into my driveway. I put the Reese back in the truck and all is well. Any ideas why the trailer movement with the Andersen?

[stro1965]

wvcampers wrote:
I seems that I am the only one using the Andersen and not happy. I am convinced that the problem is particular to my vehicle and camper combination, kind of like that freeway hop that some units have. I believe that I will find someone locally to give the Andersen a try. Maybe they will like it better than I do. Thanks for all of the input.

I'd love to try it...but I doubt I'm local!

[wvcampers]

I seems that I am the only one using the Andersen and not happy. I am convinced that the problem is particular to my vehicle and camper combination, kind of like that freeway hop that some units have. I believe that I will find someone locally to give the Andersen a try. Maybe they will like it better than I do. Thanks for all of the input.

[IdaD]

Cdash wrote:

And again (LOL) when you figure the geometry of the load going rearward (acceleration or hills) or forward (deceleration, braking) on the hitch how do you figure this law of physics only applies to the Anderson? You have the same physical action with a Reese, go up a hill the force on the hitch goes rearward. Hit the brakes the force goes forward.

True. That applies to all of them, however, in my case it would be less since the pivot in my hitch is lower, but only by a few inches. Lower means lead load forward or back. Certainly not enough difference to argue over.

And statically they will all be the same. The weight is spread out over the base.

Not true. The closer a load is placed to a support the more load goes to that support until you are directly over it and then it carries all the load. You can't move a load without affecting the loads on the supports.

The Anderson, with the base rotated to put the ball in the forward direction, would load a truck pretty similar to my Superglide. When the base is rotated to have the ball in the rear position, not so much.

How that changes the truck axle weights is an open question, though. Typically a fifth wheel loaded slightly ahead of the rear axle has very little or no impact on the front axle weight. I don't see why the same wouldn't be true of a fifth wheel loaded slightly behind the rear axle. In either case there's going to be very little leverage working on the front axle when the pin weight is centered so close to the rear axle. We aren't talking about a travel trailer setup here where you've moved the weight several feet back.

[Sport45]

gkainz wrote:

Sport45 wrote:

Cdash wrote:
If someone can measure distance center of rail to center of rail, and distance from center of pin to center of rail, I can tell you how much more is pushed either forward or back.

Will this work?
(image removed to conserve desktop space)

so I only have a little bit of concern with the "Proprietary and Confidential" disclaimer on that image being posted here... ??? Edit - I see the link posted in the previous post is directly to Andersen and is pretty much the same diagram without the Proprietary and Confidential notice ...

The link (now broken) on the Andersen website used to point to the drawing I posted. They made it a matter of public record when they put it out on the interweb. It would still be patent infringement if anyone were to take their design to construct a competing device.

[Bobandshawn]

goducks10 wrote:
Have we determined if the OP has rails or gooseneck?

Poor OP got left out of this conversation!

He has the rail system which is okay to flip the pyramid hitch. My rants have been with the gooseneck hitch style. That can only be mounted one way.

I really don't think the issue is with the hitch inherently as too many people have them without this problem. I have no idea how far off the center point the rail system places the hitch ball as the website PDF on dimensions for the rail system don't work.

I don't have this hitch as I don't have a fifth wheel yet. But I did stay at a Holiday Inn once. I do loads of research.

The Anderson is fantastic if you are running a truck that possibly is getting close to the limitation for load. Huge weight savings in this hitch. That is why I was interested in it. But just like any hitch and design there of, The Anderson is best suited to a long bed truck. Us short bed guys (and I'd have it no other way) and us 3/4 ton short bed guys (no other way)have to balance out many factors when it comes to towing a fifth wheel rig. Cargo weight and turning the sucker around.

My research is aiming at a 2700 Superglide Pullrite hitch. I don't like the weight and expense, but I do like the maneuverability. The combo of a frame to mount it on and the hitch is about 280 lbs. The Anderson set up is about 180 lbs lighter. And $$$$ wise it's a bunch difference. But right is right.

[Cdash]

Bobandshawn wrote:

Cdash wrote:

The Anderson, with the base rotated to put the ball in the forward direction, would load a truck pretty similar to my Superglide. When the base is rotated to have the ball in the rear position, not so much.

??? If you were to put the ball the trailer hooks to in front of the gooseneck ball in the floor? Which the manufacturer says not to do?

Is your Superglide hitch point 5.5" in front of the area a gooseneck ball would mount? That don't sound right.

All of my comments relate to the rail mounted Anderson. I have no clue where my hitch is in relation to a gooseneck ball - I don't have one.

[goducks10]

Have we determined if the OP has rails or gooseneck?

[Bobandshawn]

Cdash wrote:

The Anderson, with the base rotated to put the ball in the forward direction, would load a truck pretty similar to my Superglide. When the base is rotated to have the ball in the rear position, not so much.

??? If you were to put the ball the trailer hooks to in front of the gooseneck ball in the floor? Which the manufacturer says not to do?

Is your Superglide hitch point 5.5" in front of the area a gooseneck ball would mount? That don't sound right.

[wvcampers]

Bobandshawn wrote:
Best contact Anderson about flipping that hitch. Big no-no they told me.

The Andersen owners manual says that with a short bed truck "install with the ball closest to the tailgate"

[Cdash]

And again (LOL) when you figure the geometry of the load going rearward (acceleration or hills) or forward (deceleration, braking) on the hitch how do you figure this law of physics only applies to the Anderson? You have the same physical action with a Reese, go up a hill the force on the hitch goes rearward. Hit the brakes the force goes forward.

True. That applies to all of them, however, in my case it would be less since the pivot in my hitch is lower, but only by a few inches. Lower means lead load forward or back. Certainly not enough difference to argue over.

And statically they will all be the same. The weight is spread out over the base.

Not true. The closer a load is placed to a support the more load goes to that support until you are directly over it and then it carries all the load. You can't move a load without affecting the loads on the supports.

The Anderson, with the base rotated to put the ball in the forward direction, would load a truck pretty similar to my Superglide. When the base is rotated to have the ball in the rear position, not so much.

[gkainz]

Sport45 wrote:

Cdash wrote:
If someone can measure distance center of rail to center of rail, and distance from center of pin to center of rail, I can tell you how much more is pushed either forward or back.

Will this work?

so I only have a little bit of concern with the "Proprietary and Confidential" disclaimer on that image being posted here... ??? Edit - I see the link posted in the previous post is directly to Andersen and is pretty much the same diagram without the Proprietary and Confidential notice ...

[Bobandshawn]

http://www.andersenhitches.com/uploads/Ultimate%20GN%20Dimensions%203220%203225%20Mar%202015.pdf

Cut and paste the dimensions of the unit.

Per Dave of Anderson customer service: "The pin box coupler block can be rotated 180 degrees to eliminate the extra 4" offset that it creates. We do not like to see the pyramid base itself rotated as most vehicles has a cross member to the frame we are trying to keep the pressure over." This was as of 1/25/16, I doubt much has changed since then.

Just an FYI, flipping the pin box coupler actually moves the connection point 8" as the center to center of the king pin to ball location is 4". But either way, front or rear, it would be 4" offset from the king pin.

And again (LOL) when you figure the geometry of the load going rearward (acceleration or hills) or forward (deceleration, braking) on the hitch how do you figure this law of physics only applies to the Anderson? You have the same physical action with a Reese, go up a hill the force on the hitch goes rearward. Hit the brakes the force goes forward. And statically they will all be the same. The weight is spread out over the base.

[Cdash]

Ok, went in the garage and measured my Suoerglide. I have 21" center to center on the rails. 3.5" from center of front trail to center of pin, hitch height is about 13".

For a 1000 pound pin load, 167 pounds goes to the rear rail and 833 pounds on the front rail.

Every hitch will be different, but this shows how different it can be.

[N-Trouble]

Bobandshawn wrote:
Best contact Anderson about flipping that hitch. Big no-no they told me.

Which version you have? GN or rail? Andrrsen manual for the rail version clearly states its OK to flip.

[Bobandshawn]

Best contact Anderson about flipping that hitch. Big no-no they told me.