ball stuck in coupler

[balesfam]

I just brought home my new andersen ultimate hitch all hooked up. No problems getting home, but after releasing lock handle and raising the trailer, the ball is struck in the coupler. The truck is pulled up while raising the landing gear. I thought the bar that slides into the coupler block was not releasing, but I unscrewed the connection from the coupler so that was not the problem. The ball is just struck. Any thoughts from andersen hitch owners.

[N-Trouble]

Lance835 wrote:
It seems like this setup would require safety chains like those required for a goose neck trailer? I didn't see any mention of this in the etrailer.com information.

This has been discussed up-down, side-side so many times... Bottom line is each state is different in terms of how their regulations are stated. Andersen offers an optional chain kit for those that need it.

[sdetweil]

Lance835 wrote:
It seems like this setup would require safety chains like those required for a goose neck trailer? I didn't see any mention of this in the etrailer.com information.

In my opinion this is because of a wording gap in the regs..

the trailer does not have a GN hitch head, but a FW hitch head.

the connection is not to the ball at the bed.

so....

anyhow, Anderson sells an optional chain kit.

[Lance835]

It seems like this setup would require safety chains like those required for a goose neck trailer? I didn't see any mention of this in the etrailer.com information.

[balesfam]

I had a pullrite supeglide, you don't notice the weight coming off the bed because you are in the truck, and it happens so fast. With the andersen you are standing right there slowly lifting the truck, it seems as if the landing gear is lifting the bed as the weight comes off. I'm glad I kept going just a little farther, or I would have taken it back to the dealer.

[Sport45]

rhagfo wrote:

balesfam wrote:
There is no need to lube. I unscrewed the coupling pin from the block to make sure the pin was releasing, that didn't help. I looked through the coupling pin hole to try to look at the ball for damage, couldn't see any. But the space where the coupling pin goes in, it doesn't even look like it would the pin would be under the curve of the ball. It's almost like the wrong ball. But I am sure they would use the ball that came with the hitch.

Wow, that must really be an ultimate hitch if you don't need to lube a metal to metal contact supporting between 1,200# to maybe 3,000#!

It's not metal to metal. From the pictures it looks like there is a polymer cap for the ball inserted in the adapter. I suppose it works like the lube plate many use for their traditional hitches.

Link to etrailer site

[rhagfo]

balesfam wrote:
There is no need to lube. I unscrewed the coupling pin from the block to make sure the pin was releasing, that didn't help. I looked through the coupling pin hole to try to look at the ball for damage, couldn't see any. But the space where the coupling pin goes in, it doesn't even look like it would the pin would be under the curve of the ball. It's almost like the wrong ball. But I am sure they would use the ball that came with the hitch.

Wow, that must really be an ultimate hitch if you don't need to lube a metal to metal contact supporting between 1,200# to maybe 3,000#!

[sayoung]

balesfam wrote:
Good news, the bed was lifting up because of the weight coming off the truck. I was just being overly cautious. The hitch works great

Was just fixin to ask if you had raised it enough,don't ask how I know about a trailer not coming off ball.
You will really like this REAL hitch.I wouldn't go bac to a regular 5er hitch.

[Mountain_Travel]

Glad to hear there wasn't a problem. We just got the Anderson hitch. Pulled it once and loved it!!!

[balesfam]

Thanks to all, all is well. truck bed wasn't coming up because it was stuck, it was the weight coming off the bed.

[hbillsmith]

I have the Ultimate. There is nothing but aluminum that contacts the ball. The twist lock releases the ball and the only thing that can cause it to be stuck is pressure from the truck angle, nudge the truck or go to neutral and it drops fine.

[gkainz]

whew! 🙂 I've been running Andersen Ultimate this summer and so far, nothing out of the ordinary, nothing odd, nothing surprising!

[CarlT100]

Glad to hear there was not a problem. Thanks for letting us know.

[balesfam]

Good news, the bed was lifting up because of the weight coming off the truck. I was just being overly cautious. The hitch works great

[Ed9824v]

my boy has the anderson and it slips right,BUT we needed a pliers to get the pin out to slip off the square collar, put the pin in the lathe and took off a few thousands and work free by hand. he has the system hooked to his toy hauler and travel trailer and both work great.