Anyone Towing w/Andersen Hitch and 800+ Tongue Weight?

m2kamp · 03-24-2016, 01:15 PM

Want to pull the trigger on the Anderson, but concerned about my 860 lb tongue weight and its ability to transfer the load. Thanks

MtnGuy · 03-25-2016, 02:04 PM

It has been a lot of discussion on this forum that the Anderson does not do well distributing a heavy tongue weight. A 3/4 or 1 ton truck pulling a light weight trailer seems to be OK, but not a 1/2 ton truck pulling a trailer with a heavy tongue weight.

thestrangebrew · 03-25-2016, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m2kamp

Want to pull the trigger on the Anderson, but concerned about my 860 lb tongue weight and its ability to transfer the load. Thanks

Have you called them to get their input? I think I read on the F150 Ecoboost forum that someone had the same concern and actually called them. If I remember, Andersen was honest and told him the WDH may not work as well as another brand due to the TW.

That being said, I love my Andersen. My TW is ~650lbs, and I usually can't get the truck back to level with it (measuring wheel well before and after) but I have airbags to help with the leveling. It works marvelously with sway though.

Electra glide · 03-25-2016, 02:33 PM

I just hauled for the first time with my Andersen and really liked it.

Scotty · 03-25-2016, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m2kamp

Want to pull the trigger on the Anderson, but concerned about my 860 lb tongue weight and its ability to transfer the load. Thanks

My setup is a 3/4 ton TV with a tt having 11+ tongue weight. Love the Andersen, but it does not return the weight back to the front. Not a problem for me so far as it the rear only drops about 3/4 inch when hooked up.

uhduh camping · 03-25-2016, 10:39 PM

I would not do it. Your right on the border whether it works for you or not. You got a big kite behind you at 29'. Camping is to be fun, relaxing and enjoyable. I really don't think you will have that experience on the road with the Andersen.

PHS79 · 03-29-2016, 07:53 PM

I had the Andersen on our 26BH Grey Wolf, it was a fine hitch, I never had an actual problem with it. It does a good job at sway control. But I will say that it did not seem to transfer weight to the front axle as well as I was thinking or hoping it would, but for me it wasn't that big of deal because the 26BH has a pretty light tongue weight at only around 700 loaded.

We traded the Grey Wolf in on a Passport 3220BH (35.5', 7500 lbs, roughly 1000lbs TW loaded) and the dealer included the Reese Dual Cam hitch with 1200 lb bars. Once I got the hitch setup correctly it is a great setup! IMO for weight distribution it is far superior to the Andersen.

When I bought the Andersen it was only like $320, so it as great for the price point. But now I see it is up to $500, IMO for that price there are hitches that do a much better job at WD.

m2kamp · 03-29-2016, 08:37 PM

Thank you for all the replies!

This past weekend we camped at Galveston Beach and had to drive through Houston on Friday during rush hour.

Our last trip was our first and was about an hour of two-lane backroads so haven't had a chance to experience "sway" until last weekend.

We got to experience being passed by the whole gamut of highway traffic from speeding cars and semis to a speeding flat front bus.

Thankfully, my fastway e2 hitch is fully dialed in so only the flat front tour bus really got my attention. My speed was 65 and I estimate his was 75+. Kinda freaked me out, but the family was totally oblivious haha. Made my rig wiggle. I took the toll roads home on Sunday and brought my speed up to about 70 on a lonely stretch and the whole rig felt more composed.

Question for you all. Are you supposed to feel when speeding cars pass? At no time was it "white knuckle", but I could feel the wiggle of sedans passing by at 80 mph?

Overall, I am happy with my current setup just would like to hear from some TT veterans.

m2kamp · 03-29-2016, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHS79

I had the Andersen on our 26BH Grey Wolf, it was a fine hitch, I never had an actual problem with it. It does a good job at sway control. But I will say that it did not seem to transfer weight to the front axle as well as I was thinking or hoping it would, but for me it wasn't that big of deal because the 26BH has a pretty light tongue weight at only around 700 loaded.

We traded the Grey Wolf in on a Passport 3220BH (35.5', 7500 lbs, roughly 1000lbs TW loaded) and the dealer included the Reese Dual Cam hitch with 1200 lb bars. Once I got the hitch setup correctly it is a great setup! IMO for weight distribution it is far superior to the Andersen.

When I bought the Andersen it was only like $320, so it as great for the price point. But now I see it is up to $500, IMO for that price there are hitches that do a much better job at WD.

I agree, for the price it is now I don't think its worth it, especially with the input from here.

Unless, my previous question is answered as normal experience. I will start looking at the Dual Cam or Equalizer hitch. Thanks!

thestrangebrew · 03-30-2016, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m2kamp

Question for you all. Are you supposed to feel when speeding cars pass? At no time was it "white knuckle", but I could feel the wiggle of sedans passing by at 80 mph?

Overall, I am happy with my current setup just would like to hear from some TT veterans.

I'm fairly new to towing, having only done it 10x in the last 2 years, but I feel everything that passes me. I feel the push of even the smallest cars like a prius when it passes me going quickly. It's not a big push and pull but it's noticeable. It's never caused me to sway however. My combo moves as one.

When I first got my trailer and pulled it for the first time, I only had about 10 miles to go from dealer to home. I didn't have my wdh hooked up yet so I pulled it from the ball only. At 50mph the whole time, I felt everything.

m2kamp · 03-30-2016, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thestrangebrew

I'm fairly new to towing, having only done it 10x in the last 2 years, but I feel everything that passes me. I feel the push of even the smallest cars like a prius when it passes me going quickly. It's not a big push and pull but it's noticeable. It's never caused me to sway however. My combo moves as one.

When I first got my trailer and pulled it for the first time, I only had about 10 miles to go from dealer to home. I didn't have my wdh hooked up yet so I pulled it from the ball only. At 50mph the whole time, I felt everything.

Thanks for the reply! I have not had any sway issue yet, but do have experience towing. The largest box I have towed prior was a 6x12 Uhaul box trailer. Towing that many times with lesser TVs and no WDH, I've never experienced the push feeling.

The feeling is akin to sitting at a traffic light waiting for a left turn with traffic passing by to the right at speed.

It seems the speed differential is the variable as I don't feel traffic passing at a slower speed.

Do 3/4 and 1 ton truck drivers towing big sail TTs experience this at all?

uhduh camping · 03-30-2016, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m2kamp

Thanks for the reply! I have not had any sway issue yet, but do have experience towing. The largest box I have towed prior was a 6x12 Uhaul box trailer. Towing that many times with lesser TVs and no WDH, I've never experienced the push feeling.

The feeling is akin to sitting at a traffic light waiting for a left turn with traffic passing by to the right at speed.

It seems the speed differential is the variable as I don't feel traffic passing at a slower speed.

Do 3/4 and 1 ton truck drivers towing big sail TTs experience this at all?

Yeah I can feel some traffic pushing against me with 3/4 T but not like did with my 1/2 T. But by no means is it a white knuckling experience. For what ever reason, I always know when I'm being passed by a mini van of all things.

m2kamp · 03-30-2016, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uhduh camping

Yeah I can feel some traffic pushing against me with 3/4 T but not like did with my 1/2 T. But by no means is it a white knuckling experience. For what ever reason, I always know when I'm being passed by a mini van of all things.

Haha minivans! Thankfully my wife hates them, so we've never had one.

Thank you for the response, especially noting that you are towing with a Hensley Hitch...

It seems that this effect comes with the territory when towing big TT's.

MtnGuy · 03-30-2016, 05:49 PM

Putting some distance between you and the approaching truck is key to keeping some of the "pull" under control. When I see a truck approaching from the left and behind, I steer to the right of the lane, and it makes a big difference. If I am crowding the left of the lane, then the truck bow wave give my trailer a good push, which cause the truck to get even closer to the left before corrections are made.

uhduh camping · 03-30-2016, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtnGuy

Putting some distance between you and the approaching truck is key to keeping some of the "pull" under control. When I see a truck approaching from the left and behind, I steer to the right of the lane, and it makes a big difference. If I am crowding the left of the lane, then the truck bow wave give my trailer a good push, which cause the truck to get even closer to the left before corrections are made.

Yes this is great advice. Many truck drivers know this will happen and will move to the left of their lane. But you will find there is that one guy who gets a kick outta watching you squirm.

windsurfdog · 03-31-2016, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m2kamp

I will start looking at the Dual Cam or Equalizer hitch. Thanks!

Please include Blue Ox Swaypro in your decision making process as well. Excellent weight distribution...no sway...no angle adjustment...quiet...easy hookup...new rig, just buy new bars to match tongue weight requirements.

Better than the other 2? Not necessarily better but it is my preference and certainly worth consideration.

jeffdawgfan · 03-31-2016, 09:35 AM

I am using the Anderson hitch with Catalina 25RKS Deluxe. About 7500# GVW when loaded and tongue weight around 800#. I am having no issues. Weight distribution is good and zero sway issues. You do have to be careful to not over tighten the chain bolts or you will get a bouncing see-saw effect when hitting dips in the road. Using the hitch on a RAM 1500. Dang, showing my age. How many young kids today would even know what a See-Saw is. Unless it is played on an xbox....forget it.

m2kamp · 04-01-2016, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeffdawgfan

I am using the Anderson hitch with Catalina 25RKS Deluxe. About 7500# GVW when loaded and tongue weight around 800#. I am having no issues. Weight distribution is good and zero sway issues. You do have to be careful to not over tighten the chain bolts or you will get a bouncing see-saw effect when hitting dips in the road. Using the hitch on a RAM 1500. Dang, showing my age. How many young kids today would even know what a See-Saw is. Unless it is played on an xbox....forget it.

Thank you for your input!

My kids know what a see-saw is hehe. Teaching them moderation is difficult with all the targeted distractions they have nowadays. Video games, instagram, social media etc... I don't even have Facebook and never have, though my parents do! haha

My trailer is at 6300 lbs (GTWR 7350) loaded for camping with a 860 tongue weight. So i'm a little under 14% on the tongue. Going by the math, your rig would be more likely to sway than mine, all other things equal. Good to know its working for you!

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