New Hitch

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by Poppy's 5th Wheel

I switched to the Andersen Ultimate 5th Wheel hitch to help lower the weight in my bed. It really is an amazing setup. So much simpler than traditional hitches. I have the rail mount steel version and it only weighs 40 lbs! The gooseneck version weighs 75 lbs.

Between the Andersen and the Mor/ryde you must have smooth pull. I have the gooseneck version of the Andersen (75#), as I had the B&W ball and no rails. If the aluminum version had been available at the time, I would have bought it instead. Great system!

[hoffbrew]

Any new news on this Andersen Hitch?? Desert185.. how is this hitch doing for you now?

[tdawg]

Just installed the aluminum Anderson love it and half the cost of a traditional 5th hitch.

[gkainz]

I bought the Andersen Ultimate aluminum this spring and so far it's all good! Love the 32# weight. Changing out the gooseneck ball for a turn over ball this winter so I can have a completely flat bed when I'm not towing.

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by hoffbrew

Any new news on this Andersen Hitch?? Desert185.. how is this hitch doing for you now?

I have the steel version because the aluminum one hadn't been offered at the time. With the B&W turn over ball, the bed is flat after taking literally a few minutes to remove the hitch. It tows great, hitching is simple, its rated at 24,000# and is everything as advertised. The price and weight advantage is good compared to a Reese Goosebox, too. I wouldn't have anything else.

[hoffbrew]

I guess I will pull the trigger on the rail mount 3200.

[hoffbrew]

Amazon Prime ..... will be here Friday then I will try it out for my trip to Pismo Beach next week....

[hoffbrew]

Baam! Took out the Husky, measured everything then installed Andersen, measurements are at the same points with kingpin block. Not feeling well this afternoon so I am leaving the office and headed home for some beers and a torque wrench.... I mean Advil...

[Desert185]

You're really going to like that hitch.

[omextreme]

Few questions from a newbie on this and any 5th wheel hitch.

I have just ordered a 2016 Cougar that will be available for pickup at the end of august and now i need to prep the truck.

I have a ram with a 6'4" bed. My initial research steered me towards an autoslider. My big issue would be removing the hitch after every camping trip since I would need the truck bed for work. The idea of a 32lb hitch is wonderful, not to mention the price is much easier to swallow.

I thought i read somewhere that the newer Cougars would make it 88deg without a slider.

SO.... Am i better off learning to pull my first 5th wheel with a slider and deal with lugging 200 lbs of hitch in and out of the bed weekly or trying the new anderson hitch system?

Thanks in advance.

[hoffbrew]

I took trailer out for a ride, that hitch is nice, feels solid. No more clunk on start/stops. Feels as one now! Glad I did it. Hitch takes up less room than the Husky while in BUT I can take this out in seconds. Backed up and hitched up first time, no problems.

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by omextreme

Few questions from a newbie on this and any 5th wheel hitch.

I have just ordered a 2016 Cougar that will be available for pickup at the end of august and now i need to prep the truck.

I have a ram with a 6'4" bed. My initial research steered me towards an autoslider. My big issue would be removing the hitch after every camping trip since I would need the truck bed for work. The idea of a 32lb hitch is wonderful, not to mention the price is much easier to swallow.

I thought i read somewhere that the newer Cougars would make it 88deg without a slider.

SO.... Am i better off learning to pull my first 5th wheel with a slider and deal with lugging 200 lbs of hitch in and out of the bed weekly or trying the new anderson hitch system?

Thanks in advance.

Give Andersen a call. They would have the best answer for you. They do mention turning the hitch 180 degrees when installing in a short bed somewhere in their advertising. Personally, I would avoid the weight and expense of a conventional hitch at all costs.

[hoffbrew]

I saw the video that showed the hitch turned 180* for short bed trucks. One of our campers is ordering a Andersen rail mount for his short bed after seeing mine and road with me on my test ride, I will report on his.
After doing some more calcs, my trailer seems to be sitting 2" forward more than hooked up to the Husky.? Did I say that right? Not sure if this will have any towing effect. I leave Thursday am for Pismo, so I should be able to feel the difference.

[gkainz]

Originally Posted by hoffbrew

I saw the video that showed the hitch turned 180* for short bed trucks. One of our campers is ordering a Andersen rail mount for his short bed after seeing mine and road with me on my test ride, I will report on his.
After doing some more calcs, my trailer seems to be sitting 2" forward more than hooked up to the Husky.? Did I say that right? Not sure if this will have any towing effect. I leave Thursday am for Pismo, so I should be able to feel the difference.

The Andersen hitch can be mounted front forward or front to the rear, which positions the hitch ball either 5 1/2" ahead of the gooseneck ball, or 5 1/2" behind it.

The kingpin to ball block can be mounted forward or reverse, which positions the ball 4 1/2" ahead of the kingpin, or 4 1/2" behind it.

I have the hitch positioned "This side forward" in the truck bed, so the Andersen ball sits 5 1/2" ahead of the gooseneck ball, and the kingpin adapter plate positioned to the rear of the kingpin, which then moves the hookup back 4 1/2", putting the kingpin 1" behind the gooseneck, or directly over the rear axle for me.

[hoffbrew]

But with mine being a long bed, dont I want the hitch sitting forward? and the block mounted so the ball hole sits in front of the king pin?

[hoffbrew]

If I just turn that block around the trailer will sit even closer. Should I reverse hitch and block and try that out? Or just tow it on the 3 hr trip and see how it really preforms?

[hoffbrew]

OR... is it all psychological do to being something new and different?

[gkainz]

mine is a long bed, too. I just tried all the different positions to get the king pin of the trailer as close to over the axle as possible, while still giving me enough room to open the tailgate with the trailer hooked up, and also clear the pin box all the way around.

[Desert185]

Originally Posted by hoffbrew

If I just turn that block around the trailer will sit even closer. Should I reverse hitch and block and try that out? Or just tow it on the 3 hr trip and see how it really preforms?

If you have a long bed, install as recommended by Andersen, i.e. "This side forward".

[Rusty]

Does it work with the newer Dodge and Fords with the 5th wheel prep package?