Andersen Fifth Wheel Hitch

[Jerry S]

Originally Posted by KRumm

I am leaning heavily towards the Andersen hitch for my upcoming 5th wheel purchase as I like the lightweight, ease of hooking up and the ability to adjust the ball height on the fly without any tools.

But in searching reviews and such I came across a YouTuber who at her own fault really screwed things up... I am not telling you this to dissuade you from buying (As I will be buying).. but to warn you to take care in use...

Her first video was about her bed liner being tore up by the pin box... (She obviously had no idea of the adapter orientation measurement check) A few weeks later in another video she mentioned in passing that she broke out her truck rear window... (She most likely changed the orientation but did not know the consequences)... Then on a later video she recounted a harrowing experience seeing her adapter spinning out of control on the pin box... (She made no mention of knowing how to torque the adapters four hex screws)... My bet is she only saw and tightened two of the four hexes as two are inset into the housing... Basically you can’t cure stupid...

My takeaway was measure and know your clearances... Monitor the adapter and check hex torque... Keep a hex wrench on hand in case you need to remove the adapter in an emergency to let another truck tow your rig...

The dealer that installed my king pin adapter tightened down the hex screws, then remove it and where the marks were from the hex screws took a drill bit and just made a small indentation with the bit so the hex screws would set in those indentations then torqued them to spec. Not going to spin or turn anywhere this way. I know there are many out there that do not do this and I am not sure it is necessary but that is my experience. Also make sure the two holding the adapter to the king pin are torqued to specs. I carry a torque wrench in my pickup at all times.

[WDPatterson]

Originally Posted by Jerry S

The dealer that installed my king pin adapter tightened down the hex screws, then remove it and where the marks were from the hex screws took a drill bit and just made a small indentation with the bit so the hex screws would set in those indentations then torqued them to spec. Not going to spin or turn anywhere this way. I know there are many out there that do not do this and I am not sure it is necessary but that is my experience. Also make sure the two holding the adapter to the king pin are torqued to specs. I carry a torque wrench in my pickup at all times.

When I installed mine, I actually called Anderson hitch. They said it was not necessary to Dimple the Pin Box, but it was up to me if I wanted to do so.

That said, I put quite a few miles on this rig, and never had any shifting or anything untoward happen. The only scary part is that it's so smooth, I hardly know it's back there. A look in the rearview is always wise, anyway.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by Jerry S

How old are you Dave? That makes the difference. :-)

Closing on 80 and not showing or acting that age

[WDPatterson]

Originally Posted by Dave W

Closing on 80 and not showing or acting that age

🤣😂😜🤪😁
Yew Da Man !!!
🤓😏😎

[sourdough]

Originally Posted by Dave W

It makes me chuckle when I hear complaints about a B&W Puck non slider hitch being so heavy. When did the American male become so wussified that two ~70 pound pieces were beyond a healthy males ability to lift (make sure you read HEALTHY here)

Aside from those that have physical issues trying to hoist a steel block out of the bed every time they want to do something, I look around me. I've got 5vrs on both sides of me in this park. Both have huge 5th wheel hitches just sitting in the beds and never move. I asked both of them if they ever just pulled them out to do other things; BOTH said they weigh too much and are so bulky they just let them sit in their beds ALL the time when they are traveling and they never move - for anything. One said he takes his home and uses a HOIST to pull it out for the off season. I don't need or want any of that unless it's absolutely necessary. So instead of "wussified" I'm thinking more along the lines of "thoughtful" folks, people that actually try to think through what benefit there is to hoisting 200lbs in and out of the bed of a truck for.....exercise? Just because? Especially if there is a better way that accomplishes the same thing.

[rlh1957]

I have the Anderson Ultimate Aluminum 5th Wheel hitch towing a 2020 Cougar 29RKS which is almost the same in weight, size & specs as yours. The newer trucks have higher sides so turning or uneven ground in a steep turn or backing could touch or drag the pin box. My 2019 F350 Single Rear Wheel 6.5' bed is really close when the assembly crosses over the rails. The SRW sits higher on the side rails than a DRW.
Mine might scrape if I was out on rough uneven ground. My wife is my spotter.
No way to have a tonneau cover or anything else on top of the rails.
As far as towing and maintenance I love it. We are towing on the low end as 5th Wheels go. Never had a problem or complaint in the past year of towing.

You've come to the right place for free experienced knowledge and opinions. When you have a problem or question I come here and I never believe anyone that will be making money off of my decision. Some would tell you a VW will tow a rig just to make a sale.

[jsb5717]

I haven't seen this video before today but it speaks to this thread

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgCLl94HzZU

[Spletbr]

I can’t speak first hand to the Andersen but after doing a lot of comparisons I also went with the B&W Companion. It comes apart into two pieces so I can easily lift each in and out of my 350 with puck system. This is my first 5r too (moved up from TT) and it just seemed more secure/safe. May just be me being overly cautious, however.

[sfem192]

I have a 2018 29rks with the Anderson hitch. It works great and is so easy to remove from the bed of my truck I did a lot of research after my dealer installed the hitch on my truck. I am very satisfied with this purchase and would recommend it to anyone. I have shown it to a lot of friends and they are amazed at how easy it is to connect compared to their fifth wheel. I have a Ford F-250 diesel and weight it and the trailer and it is under all weight limits. If you go with the Anderson hitch I don’t think you will be disappointed.

[rlh1957]

My Keystone dealer also recommended and installed my Anderson. So I have it in writing if there was ever any question about warranty, which there is not.

I'm thankful to be living in a country where we can all have our own opinions, make our own decisions and have the freedom of many choices from which to choose.

[rlh1957]

Some people get butterflies when torque wrench or torque specs are mentioned.
For anyone not familiar with them... Torque wrenches are available at good prices and are easy to use. Worth the few dollars spent to have one. You'll use it for many things. Lug nuts really should be torqued on that way they are even, don't get welded on like some tire shops with their air gun set at max. Makes putting the Anderson in or back in easy and sure it is correct.

[Walkerhtc]

Anderson has great customer service for any questions. I love how easy it is. Be aware that your truck will compress a couple inches, therefor when you start to lift the pin off the ball, it will feel like the landing gear is lifting the truck as it decompresses. Freaked me out at first as I was overly cautious about burning out the landing gear motor. Took almost 20seconds before the hitch started lifting off the ball.

[WDPatterson]

Here is Andersen's video on their hitch.

https://youtu.be/qMW-ynhTatA

[rs1718]

I have the Andersen aluminum with the b&w ball. Trailer weighs 15k loaded 2700 on the pin. I have over 40000 miles on this setup no issues. I love it. TV is a2015 ram dually long bed

[rhagfo]

I think I took too many physics and Vector Algebra classes in school. I don't see a strong design in the way the 1" tubes attach to the head unit, you no longer have a triangular structure, more like a trapezoid which doesn't have the strength of a triangle.

In addition you need to lift the pin an additional 3" to 5" to clear the ball, When I have much of the weight off the pin, I can pull out and the truck rises about 1" to 2", when I hook up, pin box is about 1" to 2" lower than the hitch head slides right in. Also no need for safety chains.

[BSHGTO]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

Add me to the list that went back to B&W. Sent the AU to the recycle bin at the county dump. Many think they are great I’m just not one of them. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Why don`t you give us some specific reasons you tossed the hitch.

[Beachside]

In my old tuck I towed a Montana High Country 338DB with a B&W turnover ball and companion hitch. Great hitch, pretty much bomb proof. But, heavy. Yes, I could lift it into the truck and lift it out, but doesn't mean I enjoyed it. That, and I store my hitch about 200' from where I can drive the tuck, so that meant hauling the two halves in two trips on a dolly. New truck, I got a Anderson Ultimate as it did not have the B&W turn over ball so had to get a new hitch. Love the Anderson. So much easier to move. Pulls great and easy to hitch and unhitch. Sometimes with the B&W if I was at an angle it would bind when unhitching. Not a problem with the Anderson. Yes, you have to lift the trailer up higher, but my truck has the factory air, so I can lower the truck, so that isn't even an issue.

[vampress_me]

Originally Posted by Dave W

It makes me chuckle when I hear complaints about a B&W Puck non slider hitch being so heavy. When did the American male become so wussified that two ~70 pound pieces were beyond a healthy males ability to lift (make sure you read HEALTHY here)

I have to laugh occasionally at this too. Since it’s my teen daughter and I who take it out and put ours back in 90% of the time. All summer we’re flipping between the Companion (non-puck version) and the plain turnover ball for the gooseneck horse trailer. Of course, some of the time I cheat and we just put the Companion at the front of the bed and tie it down with a ratchet strap. If I do that, I can put the Companion back to use by myself. And neither one of us is a weightlifter. LOL.

[michaelrc51]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

I think I took too many physics and Vector Algebra classes in school. I don't see a strong design in the way the 1" tubes attach to the head unit, you no longer have a triangular structure, more like a trapezoid which doesn't have the strength of a triangle.

In addition you need to lift the pin an additional 3" to 5" to clear the ball, When I have much of the weight off the pin, I can pull out and the truck rises about 1" to 2", when I hook up, pin box is about 1" to 2" lower than the hitch head slides right in. Also no need for safety chains.

I agree about the tubes. I would think it would be much stronger if the ends were cut and welded at an angle and nut collapsed before they welded them in place. I do some of my own fab and like to engineer stuff, but I am not an engineer.

I'm sure that Andersen has their reasons why they designed it the way they did.

After reading pretty much all positive reviews from people who have tried it, I decided to get one. I don't have any experience towing with it yet though.

[Jnich17]

I purchased an Avalanche 375 rd last summer. I really wanted the Anderson hitch until I found out it was not recommended for my Lippert air ride pin box. Anderson recommended that a rigid pin box is needed for their hitches. Mine pivots on rubber pads. I went with the Demco Recon. Same attachment as the Anderson but will work with non rigid pin boxes. I love it. It comes apart in 3 pieces and leaves a clean bed. I'm not one for lifting heavy loads and it is fairly easy to handle. It attaches to goose neck ball also.