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11-14-2022, 09:50 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Trinidad,TX
Posts: 975
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Andersen safety concern
I use an Andersen Ultimate hitch. The hitch adapter is attached to the fifth wheel pin box with two 5/8 x 6 inch bolts. These bolts are also the attachment point for the two safety chains. Recently I failed to disconnect one of the safety chains when I unhitched. I was moving the truck forward about three feet to close the tailgate when the safety chain tightened abruptly. Rather than stop my truck, or move the camper, it snapped off the attachment bolt! If the bolt failed this easily I question how effective it will be if my camper should become separated from my truck at highway speeds. As you can see this is not a high strength bolt but it is the bolt supplied by the factory. I am the original owner and the hitch and safety chain kit were purchased new by me.
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Woody
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Laredo 290 SRL
2019 Ram 2500, 4x4, Cummins diesel
Andersen hitch
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11-14-2022, 10:00 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,341
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Interesting. Over torqued nuts?
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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11-14-2022, 10:13 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,462
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My safety chains are retained on my Anderson Ultimate pin box part by eye bolts supplied with the kit for safety chains which I bought from that company. Clarify which bolt sheared... You said your safety chains are attached to the bolt that sheared but there doesn't seem to be a way to attach. I can't figure out what grade bolt that is either. Here is a chart:
https://www.aftfasteners.com/grades-...trength-chart/
Note it doesn't show the three lines with NDF but your bolts might be Grade 5? I can't tell what bolts were used on my kit as the tops have eyes welded to them.
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wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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11-14-2022, 10:15 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Trinidad,TX
Posts: 975
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
Interesting. Over torqued nuts?
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I doubt it. The "nuts" are eye nuts that were dealer installed. You couldn't put a torque wrench on the nut but could on the bolt portion but this wasn't done. I've watched them remove and reinstall the adapter when they had the camper in their yard and it didn't appear to be excessive force but I never saw them check the torque. Fortunately no damage was done other than a $6 bolt (which I amazing found at an Ace hardware store in Gila Bend, AZ).
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Woody
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Laredo 290 SRL
2019 Ram 2500, 4x4, Cummins diesel
Andersen hitch
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11-14-2022, 10:18 AM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,341
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Were the “eyes” oriented vertical or horizontal ?
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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11-14-2022, 10:18 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Trinidad,TX
Posts: 975
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George they are actually eye nuts on the bolt where the chains attach, not eye bolts. The bolt is grade five. You can see the three marks on the bolt head if you enlarge the photo.
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Woody
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Laredo 290 SRL
2019 Ram 2500, 4x4, Cummins diesel
Andersen hitch
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11-14-2022, 10:20 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Trinidad,TX
Posts: 975
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
Were the “eyes” oriented vertical or horizontal ?
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Chuck I think they are vertical.
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Woody
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Laredo 290 SRL
2019 Ram 2500, 4x4, Cummins diesel
Andersen hitch
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11-14-2022, 10:25 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,462
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CedarCreekWoody
George they are actually eye nuts on the bolt where the chains attach, not eye bolts. The bolt is grade five. You can see the three marks on the bolt head if you enlarge the photo.
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Interesting; my eyes are welded to the bolt heads and not the nuts. Also, never saw the NDF on a bolt and was curious if they are still Grade 5. Posted a link with a chart and nothing with NDF.
You posted important info and perhaps should contact the company directly for their take. If this is a safety issue they may be able to address it with a more appropriate bolt grade.
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wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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11-14-2022, 10:35 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Trinidad,TX
Posts: 975
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George your adapted is slightly different. I'm posting a photo from their website.
I don't know what the NDF means.
I've sent the same post to the manufacturer and they just asked for photos.
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Woody
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Laredo 290 SRL
2019 Ram 2500, 4x4, Cummins diesel
Andersen hitch
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11-14-2022, 10:38 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Milwaukie, OR
Posts: 1,398
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Hmmm...I used to have the Andersen with the OEM supplied eye bolts for the chains. They were a one piece item with a standard nut on the opposite side. I wonder if the dealer installed an actual OEM product or used their own assembly since the parts are less money than OEM. The bolts in your pic look like standard, low grade hardware store bolts. However, I just looked at Andersen's web site and their current version of the eye bolts assembly looks like what you have. If that's the case...buyer beware.
Here's what came with my hitch, but mine was a little older. I don't know if these would have held up any better in the same scenario.
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Jeff & Sandi (and Teddy - 7lb Schnorkie)
2018 Montana High Country 305RL
2015 RAM 3500 Crew Cab 4x4 DRW
Demco Recon Hitch on RAM Puck Ball
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11-14-2022, 10:48 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Trinidad,TX
Posts: 975
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That looks like what George has on his. The dealer ordered and I stalled my kit, they did not stock them, so I feel there was no substitution.
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Woody
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Laredo 290 SRL
2019 Ram 2500, 4x4, Cummins diesel
Andersen hitch
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11-14-2022, 12:05 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Trinidad,TX
Posts: 975
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Andersen responded and offered to send me a replacement grade 5 bolt or said I could buy a grade 8 or higher bolt at a local hardware store. I declined their offer.
I really don't expect any type of acknowledgement but felt I should alert them to the incident.
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Woody
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Laredo 290 SRL
2019 Ram 2500, 4x4, Cummins diesel
Andersen hitch
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11-14-2022, 12:09 PM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,341
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Most of the newer Anderson hitches I’ve seen have the eye nut.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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11-14-2022, 01:04 PM
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#14
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,690
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With that clean of a break I'm wondering about some flaw in that bolt? Whatever the situation is/was I'll be at the hardware store tomorrow getting grade 8s. BTW mine has the screw on eyes as well.
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Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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11-14-2022, 01:22 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Trinidad,TX
Posts: 975
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I couldn't see any flaws but I'm not a metallurgist. I expect I will upgrade my bolts as well.
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Woody
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Laredo 290 SRL
2019 Ram 2500, 4x4, Cummins diesel
Andersen hitch
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11-14-2022, 03:36 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,690
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IMO those should be grade 8s anyway. Dealer put mine on as well and I've checked torque (don't recall what) on them but 5s aren't enough IMO for their intended purpose.
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Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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11-14-2022, 04:19 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Trinidad,TX
Posts: 975
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I wasn't sure is a stronger bolt would be appropriate as steel gets brittle as it is hardened. It is a balancing act to know what is best. That is why I contacted the manufacturer to see if they recommend stronger bolts. Apparently they do.
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Woody
Cedar Creek Lake, Texas
2019 Laredo 290 SRL
2019 Ram 2500, 4x4, Cummins diesel
Andersen hitch
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11-14-2022, 04:25 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,462
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I am kinda surprised that those Anderson folks didn't want the sheared bolt so they could compare it to what they are shipping. I think they should magnaflux a few to determine the integrity and it was crappy they didn't suggest they look into how it sheared. They are setting themselves up for legal stuff.
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wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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11-14-2022, 04:29 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Liberty, Texas
Posts: 5,034
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Yeah I would go straight to the grade 8 bin for replacement.
There could be a reason Andersen didn’t use a grade 8. There is the “bend before it breaks”issue that has been discussed in other applications.
Another call to Andersen to discuss that.
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 Laramie CC DRW LWB 4X4 Cummins Aisin 3.73
Reese Goosebox 20K
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4 LB Cabover
2023 CanAm Defender SXS
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11-14-2022, 04:31 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Liberty, Texas
Posts: 5,034
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wiredgeorge
I am kinda surprised that those Anderson folks didn't want the sheared bolt so they could compare it to what they are shipping. I think they should magnaflux a few to determine the integrity and it was crappy they didn't suggest they look into how it sheared. They are setting themselves up for legal stuff.
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Agreed. They are putting themselves “out there”. A metallurgist needs to look at that
__________________
2018 Ram 3500 Laramie CC DRW LWB 4X4 Cummins Aisin 3.73
Reese Goosebox 20K
2018 Heartland Landmark 365 Oshkosh
2008 Bigfoot 25C9.4 LB Cabover
2023 CanAm Defender SXS
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