Have the 5er, have the truck, looking for a hitch

[robbiels7]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

Well, I've thought and thought on this one.

Pro: Everyone that has one raves about it. Still, most raves are about how easy it is to remove from the bed, which is immaterial to me. And mine removes from the bed also, no problems.

Cons: Putting 4,000 lbs pin weight onto the surface area of a ball less than 3" in diameter. I can't get my mind around it.

Here's what an Engineer wrote in another forum on this very same type of discussion. It sums it up better than I can.

Interesting discussion, I didn't realize this hitch was popular.
It is a personal choice much like "flavors of ice cream". I'm sure it is a good product... "wait for it".....but:
For me Anderson doesn't look robust, thus for me it isn't (although I have never seen one in person). It requires an adapter, which for me, my pin "looks" more robust than the adapter ball. I don't use adapters on a torque wrench as the adapter changes the dynamics of the torque.

Curt has more surface area transferring the load of my 3700lbs pin weight to the hitch. My pin's job is to be locked in place, but does not carry any downward weight.

Curt is wider at the base, thus transferring that weight closer to my truck frame.

My curt makes no noise or chucking at all.

Hitch weight is not my concern, I have the truck payload, nor do I remove it.

Not sure if anyone is use the TrailAir with the Anderson, but for me, that would be a deal breaker as well.

Maybe when my hitch wears out, I will look closer at it.


I'm 70 (almost) and I can remove my two piece B&W just fine. I've needed to do it once. I might need to do it once more in the next few years. But it's very rare. Removing a hitch is NOT why I buy a hitch anyway. It's not even on the list. Safety, strength, durability, functionality. In that order.

In your case I would probably do the same if you're not using your truck bed that often. I use mine all the time. The the Blue Ox diamond is just so easy to flip over and has a great rating.

[BandJCarm]

I use my truck bed a lot. I just don't haul many 4X8 sheets of plywood (or such), which is about all I'd need to remove my hitch for. Even then, I have a 16' utility trailer I'd juts hook up.

Still, even if I agree that the ease of removal of the Andersen is just AWESOME (and it probably is), it's not why I own a hitch.

And again.......my B&W comes out just fine. It's not that hard.

[Cypressloser]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

Well, I've thought and thought on this one.

Pro: Everyone that has one raves about it. Still, most raves are about how easy it is to remove from the bed, which is immaterial to me. And mine removes from the bed also, no problems.

Cons: Putting 4,000 lbs pin weight onto the surface area of a ball less than 3" in diameter. I can't get my mind around it.

Here's what an Engineer wrote in another forum on this very same type of discussion. It sums it up better than I can.

Interesting discussion, I didn't realize this hitch was popular.
It is a personal choice much like "flavors of ice cream". I'm sure it is a good product... "wait for it".....but:
For me Anderson doesn't look robust, thus for me it isn't (although I have never seen one in person). It requires an adapter, which for me, my pin "looks" more robust than the adapter ball. I don't use adapters on a torque wrench as the adapter changes the dynamics of the torque.

Curt has more surface area transferring the load of my 3700lbs pin weight to the hitch. My pin's job is to be locked in place, but does not carry any downward weight.

Curt is wider at the base, thus transferring that weight closer to my truck frame.

My curt makes no noise or chucking at all.

Hitch weight is not my concern, I have the truck payload, nor do I remove it.

Not sure if anyone is use the TrailAir with the Anderson, but for me, that would be a deal breaker as well.

Maybe when my hitch wears out, I will look closer at it.


I'm 70 (almost) and I can remove my two piece B&W just fine. I've needed to do it once. I might need to do it once more in the next few years. But it's very rare. Removing a hitch is NOT why I buy a hitch anyway. It's not even on the list. Safety, strength, durability, functionality. In that order.

Do you have have any personal experience with the Andersen Ultimate?

How do you think 30,000 lbs gooseneck trailers are connected when you argue a 2 5/16" ball is unable to carry a 4,000 lbs vertical load? I pulled one for many years and the 2 5/16" ball held up just fine.

The B&W companion also needs to be torqued down properly, same as the Andersen. Why would this be a problem for one but not for the other.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

Safety, strength, durability, functionality. In that order.

From switching from the B&W to the Andersen, I feel like the answer is: they are very similar in safety and strength.

For durability - B&W has been on the market longer, so their durability is proven. Andersen has a ways to go- but I know they've been around with their original version before 2015 (but, I couldn't easily find the date it was released).

Functionality - I'm seeing the same benefits there, as well. My ride is harsher now than before, but given the heavier trailer (21k vs. 16k) and I've lost my air ride pin box in the camper upgrade. I just didn't get enough miles on the B&W to make a fair comparison there.

All told, the praise for the Andersen is legit. Armchair evaluations aside- it seems plenty sturdy and stout. I trust it to do its job with my fulltime family in the truck with 21k behind us.