Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch

[sgh77]

I have an opportunity to buy one of these, I have a 35ft 3008w towed by a Colorado, I have weighed TV and TT on a weigh bridge. The tow vehicle loses 700 pounds (320kg) off the front wheels when I put the Travel Traveler on the tow ball. Does anyone have experience with the Andersem WDH?

[uhduh camping]

Yes don't do it, they really don't transfer weight that well. They are good at controlling sway though.

[fonzie]

A Windjammer 3008W has a GVWR near 9000 lbs (latest model) and a 2015 Chevy Colorado has a max towing of 7000 lbs........might not be a good combination???

[sgh77]

Originally Posted by uhduh camping

Yes don't do it, they really don't transfer weight that well. They are good at controlling sway though.

Apparently according to Andersens that is only on the lighter TT, mines heavy so they say it will do a great job.

[rockfordroo]

Not to be weight police, but I think you're overloading your Colorado. I see dry weight on your TT is about 7038 lbs, and cargo is 1512 lbs, making GVWR of about 8550 lbs. Max tow on the old Colorado's appears to be about 6000 lb, and 7000 lb max on the new version (you don't say which you have). I don't know what your payload limit is (look on your door jamb), but if you're taking 700 lbs off the front axle, I'm betting you're over on payload after you add wife/kids/gear.

[uhduh camping]

Originally Posted by sgh77

Apparently according to Andersens that is only on the lighter TT, mines heavy so they say it will do a great job.

No it won't. You need a lot of truck to have the Andersen work. I was pulling a much smaller Jayco jay flight and the Andersen worked well. But when I got the 34' 8000lb Rockwood the Andersen just didn't cut the mustard.

[MtnGuy]

Originally Posted by sgh77

Apparently according to Andersens that is only on the lighter TT, mines heavy so they say it will do a great job.

I think you got that backwards.

The Andersen seems to work OK with a lighter travel trailer and a big TV, but it won't distribute enough weight of a heavy tongue weight, which is really needed with a smaller TV.

IMHO, the Colorado is not enough tow vehicle for a 35' conventional travel trailer in a number of areas.

[uhduh camping]

Originally Posted by MtnGuy

I think you got that backwards.

The Andersen seems to work OK with a lighter travel trailer and a big TV, but it won't distribute enough weight of a heavy tongue weight, which is really needed with a smaller TV.

IMHO, the Colorado is not enough tow vehicle for a 35' conventional travel trailer in a number of areas.

I also agree the Colorado doesn't have enough wheel base to tow 35' anything regardless of the weight.

[sgh77]

Originally Posted by fonzie

A Windjammer 3008W has a GVWR near 9000 lbs (latest model) and a 2015 Chevy Colorado has a max towing of 7000 lbs........might not be a good combination???

Dry weight of the TT is 7140 and towing capacity of 2015 Colorado is 7700 (3.5t). Combined weight of 13200 pounds.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by sgh77

Dry weight of the TT is 7140 and towing capacity of 2015 Colorado is 7700 (3.5t). Combined weight of 13200 pounds.

Looking at page 9-62 of your 2015 Owners Manual, it says your towing capacity is 7000 lbs. Cominged wt is 12,000 lbs.

See here:

https://www.chevrolet.com/content/da...ers-manual.pdf


And dry weight doesn't mean squat. Always go with the GVWR.

I wouldn't pull that TT with my Silverado (tow capacity of 7500 lbs).

I can hear your salesman now: "Oh, your Colorado can pull this trailer!"

Lies, lies.

[sgh77]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

Looking at page 9-62 of your 2015 Owners Manual, it says your towing capacity is 7000 lbs.

I dont have a Chevrolet Colorado I have an Australian Holden Colorado, like all small trucks in NZ are sold as 3500kg (7700 pound) and 6000kg (13220 pound) combined.

We just dont have the big 250's and 350's over here.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by sgh77

I dont have a Chevrolet Colorado I have an Australian Holden Colorado, like all small trucks in NZ are sold as 3500kg (7700 pound) and 6000kg (13220 pound) combined.

We just dont have the big 250's and 350's over here.

Since almost all of us are American/Canadian, you need to be more specific about what you're using. I'd suspect many on this forum have never even heard of Holden.

That being said, I still think you're pushing it. Again, forget about dry weight, it's just a marketing ploy.

[sgh77]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

That being said, I still think you're pushing it. Again, forget about dry weight, it's just a marketing ploy.

I know the weight limits are close I have spent a bit of time at the weigh bridge, my real question is will the Andersen WDH work? Andersen says it works on heavy TT, others doubt it.

[uhduh camping]

I had a Nissan Titan CC w/big tow option rated towing cap. of 9300lbs. It could not handle the 34' 8000lb trailer. I had just one incident that convinced me of that. I had someone pull out in front of me, I had to get on brakes really hard. The trailer nosed dived, the front axle got really light, the trailer literally pushed me into the turn lane. I had no steering control, very little truck braking, trailer brakes were locking up a little. If there had been a vehicle in the turn lane, I simply would have hit them.
I had purchased three different WDH setups to control sway and to get the weight back to the front axle. One being the Andersen, towed with it twice, I would not tow with it ever again. Scariest ride you could imagine, I towed at 35 MPH for 4 hrs because sway was so bad and trailer had a good balance of tongue weight about 12%. Now I have 3\4 ton truck no sway stops on a dime (for towing a trailer).

[bikendan]

I think it would've helped if you had posted this info and your location, at the beginning.
When you simply posted a Colorado, everyone here thinks Chevy Colorado.
And agree that most in North America have never heard of Holden.

I would never use an Andersen WDH, with such a long trailer and such a short wheelbase tow vehicle.
But I wouldn't tow that trailer with that truck, no matter what the WDH was.

[sgh77]

Originally Posted by bikendan

I think it would've helped if you had posted this info and your location, at the beginning.
When you simply posted a Colorado, everyone here thinks Chevy Colorado.
And agree that most in North America have never heard of Holden.

Yes sorry thought they might be similar... my focus was suppose to be on the hitches ability to shift weight not my trucks suitability.

[Canoe Al]

Works great!
[IMG][/IMG]

[HONDAMAN174]

I do agree that it works best with 2500/3500 trucks. I have an Anderson and pull with my 1/2 but with high tongue weight and squishy suspension there is room for improvement.


2014 Evo 2850 "Woodstock"
2011 Toyota Tundra "Clifford"

[sgh77]

Does anyone have any success stories from using the Andersen with over a 30ft Travel Trailer?

[woody9]

not going to touch the suitability, WB, GVW, etc. but to the basic question 'ya like your Anderson? does it work for you?" I'm going to say YES, for me it does!
towing a 36' 832IKBS (weight around 8800/loaded-wet).. with an 07 GMC Sierra 2500/HD Classic/Crew cab.. and NEVER over 65.. don't like towing in extremely windy conditions (but don't say i don't encounter them sometimes)..

YES, I like mine! I feel it works good for me. Extremely little feeling of sway (maybe in the middle of a semi-sandwich, but i almost expect to feel something when a 'bigger' shoebox goes flying by... I hated the noise with the EZ bars.. this is MUCH quieter! and feel there's enough weight transfer for my needs. Have a class V hitch on truck and rated for over 1,000 hitch (1200 i think?). and believe i'm under that from multiple visits to the scale.
I like mine. but it may not be for everyone!

on a side note, i also pull a 7K 7x17 cargo trailer and don't use any WD on that. It tows real good, but i do have to dial back the brakes on it when empty.