Andersen rail mount and safety chains....

[Mike_E_]

Hi folks,

Wondering if anybody who has an Andersen rail mount hitch can tell me where they attach their safety chains.....if you have 'em?

Was thinking I might attach a couple eye bolts to the rails before I install them.

Thanks, and Merry Christmas.

Mike

[johndeerefarmer]

I use these as I have a gooseneck ball that attaches to my fifth wheel rails.
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories-and-Parts/Reese/RP50223.html

[tinner12002]

goducks10 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"No - the Andersen IS NOT a gooseneck hitch."

If it's not then why are using the chains?

Cause it's a ball mount hitch. A true gooseneck has the ball mount in the bed. The Andersen is on the top of the 5th hitch. No gooseneck pin box either.
Of course you already knew that.

The reason for chains is because some states aren't clear on what constitutes chains. Even though it's not a true gooseneck it is a ball mount and will fall under ball mount/coupler laws. JMO at least thats the way I would figure it. Better safe than sorry.

And how was someone suppose to know that he had the Anderson Ultimate hitch from the OPs orig post...I had an Anderson gooseneck hitch that had chain provisions...they do make them...guess the OP maybe should have explained better.

[Second_Chance]

BB_TX wrote:
Someone recently posted that the dealer/installer told him he did not need safety chains even though the Andersen uses a ball hitch. His reasoning was that it is not a gooseneck. Not trusting the dealer, he took the hitch info to the DMV and the LEO said chains were required since it is a ball hitch.

There are two states in the U.S. that require chains for the Andersen... and I don't like keeping track of which ones. I just use the chains. In the states that do require them, the law is written using the "ball" terminology and not specific trailer types. Andersen's web site has the exact info, I believe.

Rob

[BB_TX]

Someone recently posted that the dealer/installer told him he did not need safety chains even though the Andersen uses a ball hitch. His reasoning was that it is not a gooseneck. Not trusting the dealer, he took the hitch info to the DMV and the LEO said chains were required since it is a ball hitch.

[Mike_E_]

Thanks guys.

If I can't find an eye bolt to use on the rails (there's a lonely hole on each end of the rail) I'll most likely do the loop-around trick for the time being.
Trick will be trying to find an eye bolt with a short enough thread to get a nylock nut on it and not have it hit the bed.

I totally agree....might not be necessary, but why not just have 'em?

Also discovered that I need to upgrade my Driver's Licence if towing over 10K lbs. Ahhh, gonna' have to study a manual to pass the written test.....been a long time since I was faced with some learnin' 🙂

Thanks again.

[IdaD]

Second Chance wrote:

tinner12002 wrote:
I assume your talking about a gooseneck trailer since 5th wheels don't have nor do they require safety chains. The goose hitch I had already had provisions for chains, if yours doesn't then you'll have to add them.

No - the Andersen IS NOT a gooseneck hitch.

OP - I use an Andersen rail mount. Until I purchased the Reese attachment loops that mount in the rails, I just looped the chains around the back legs of the hitch and attached them back to themselves. Never had a problem.

Rob

Thus far I've done just that - looped them around the rear rails. At some point I'll probably buy the rail mounted loops.

Safety chains on a trailer are just a good idea, regardless of whether they're required or what kind of hitch you're using.

[Farmerjon]

tinner12002 wrote:
I assume your talking about a gooseneck trailer since 5th wheels don't have nor do they require safety chains.

I guess they don't need them because a 5th wheel never ends up wandering around loose in the bed and falling out on the road?

[N-Trouble]

goducks10 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"No - the Andersen IS NOT a gooseneck hitch."

If it's not then why are using the chains?

Cause it's a ball mount hitch. A true gooseneck has the ball mount in the bed. The Andersen is on the top of the 5th hitch. No gooseneck pin box either.
Of course you already knew that.

The reason for chains is because some states aren't clear on what constitutes chains. Even though it's not a true gooseneck it is a ball mount and will fall under ball mount/coupler laws. JMO at least thats the way I would figure it. Better safe than sorry.

^^THIS^^

[goducks10]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
"No - the Andersen IS NOT a gooseneck hitch."

If it's not then why are using the chains?

Cause it's a ball mount hitch. A true gooseneck has the ball mount in the bed. The Andersen is on the top of the 5th hitch. No gooseneck pin box either.
Of course you already knew that.

The reason for chains is because some states aren't clear on what constitutes chains. Even though it's not a true gooseneck it is a ball mount and will fall under ball mount/coupler laws. JMO at least thats the way I would figure it. Better safe than sorry.

[Cummins12V98]

"No - the Andersen IS NOT a gooseneck hitch."

If it's not then why are using the chains?

[Second_Chance]

tinner12002 wrote:
I assume your talking about a gooseneck trailer since 5th wheels don't have nor do they require safety chains. The goose hitch I had already had provisions for chains, if yours doesn't then you'll have to add them.

No - the Andersen IS NOT a gooseneck hitch.

OP - I use an Andersen rail mount. Until I purchased the Reese attachment loops that mount in the rails, I just looped the chains around the back legs of the hitch and attached them back to themselves. Never had a problem.

Rob

[tinner12002]

I assume your talking about a gooseneck trailer since 5th wheels don't have nor do they require safety chains. The goose hitch I had already had provisions for chains, if yours doesn't then you'll have to add them.