Looking for reviews on this

[Peppercatt]

We are changing to a 5th wheel and are looking at this hitch set up. Can anyone give us first hand "reviews" on it?

[Mr. Dan]

This is the set-up I use although my Andersen Ultimate is an early model made of steel instead of aluminum. I have pulled my trailer 21,590 miles with no issues whatsoever. Just so you know, one member will find a picture of a bent one with no back story. One member will tell you this set-up hurt his wife's back. Members who don't have this set-up will tell you they don't like it.

[Jim34RL]

Things fail for a reason!

Sometimes the reason is; we may the wrong decision in purchasing that product!

All I have to say is do a force diagram on the Anderson hitch. I did so, I went with a DEMCO Glide hitch for my needs!

[Bama Rambler]

We're very happy with our Andersen Ultimate and have been for several years. Any mechanical part can fail, but if there was a problem with the Andersen we'd see a lot more failures.

We went from a conventional fifth wheel hitch to this one and I have no regrets.

[Springerdad]

We're using an aluminum Andersen and I love it. My truck has the 5th wheel package, so all I need to do is pop the ball in, set the hitch over it, and turn a few bolts. Having a hitch I can put in and take out by myself is a blessing, as I use my truck for work, too. At 35lbs, I can carry it myself and hang it on my garage wall when I'm not using it. And, hitching and unhitching is a breeze at any angle or pitch. It's quiet as can be as well.

[NMWildcat]

This Anderson hitch will be loved by some, hated by some, and misunderstood by most everybody. Kind of like the Sidewinder king pin hitch.
So are you planning on a short or long bed truck? Does the truck already have a gooseneck ball in the bed? What is most important to you, weight, functionality, reliability, ease of use, etc?
I helped a friend install his Anderson a few months ago. Personally I wasn't impressed with the stability. It has one point of connection to the truck (the gooseneck ball), and relies on the square frame for stability where it contacts the bed. The first few few trips the frame would rotate slightly in the bed and the rear of the hitch frame dented his bed. He fixed the looseness and movement of the frame by placing a rubber mat underneath it. Also prevented anymore dents.
Now, he loves it for the light weight and ease of removal. He is still working on lining it up a little quicker. The rest of us (with standard fifth wheel) are hooked up and ready to go, and he is still trying to line it up. But I think that is mainly his poor backing skills

[wde]

Bought an Anderson hitch for rails already installed in my truck.
Have used it for two years and it is far better than the Reese fifth wheel hitch I had been using.
I wondered about the Anderson that hooks up to the gooseneck ball in bed being able to rotate slightly, but mine in the rails is working great.

[Springerdad]

Scott - yes, they can shift around, mostly on a painted bed. Mine is factory spray in liner, so my hitch hasn't shifted. It did mark the liner a little so I'm now using a thin rubber mat under the hitch. Getting lined up is actually easy. I cut the bottom off a plastic soda bottle and stick it over the Andersen ball. I can look out my rear view mirror and line it up first shot. When the bottle is pushed off, I know I'm almost under the pin box in the right spot. I put a string on the bottle so it makes for easy retrieval out of the bed.

[Hersbird]

If you want versatility to tow bumper, 5th wheel, or gooseneck hitches it seems like the way to go. I don't have one but it's what I would have gotten for my Cummins which already had a turnover ball installed in the bed, had I gotten a 5th wheel trailer. If you don't have a turnover gooseneck hitch already and never will tow a gooseneck trailer then a standard 5th wheel hitch may be better for you.

[tomkatb]

what we installed. My son installed the B&W hutch in less than two hours. A dealer should do it in an hour.

I was concerned with two items.

The weight of the system and the distance of the ball from the cab.

The Anderson took care of both of these.

We can turn near 90 degrees. We do not as it is hell on the trailer tires.

Ours is really easy to hook up. very secure.

[CaptnJohn]

Some love them others hate them. Those that are using them say they like them. I believe most do, others — misery loves company.
The Reese slider on my 1st 5er was worse. I bought the Anderson rail mount as I had payload problems on an F250 and every 150# helped. When I bought an F350 the Anderson went to recycle and was replaced with a B&W I’m still using on the dually.
F250 payload problem enough I removed the heavy tailgate and replaced with a 5er tailgate.

[Tundra 2014]

This hitch is one of the most discussed, loved/cursed . I considered the steel version for a short bed F350 w/ puck system. The length of bed makes a difference as the Anderson will work w/ the short bed w/o a slider. Before I made my decision, we found a deal on a long wheelbase w/ puck system. Went w/ the 2 piece B&W, great hitch. Brother in Law has the Anderson, likes it but has a slightly harder time backing up to connect on uneven ground.

[Mr. Dan]

My steel version does not rotate in the bed of my truck.


My neck must be longer than some. I can look over my right shoulder and see my top ball and pin box connector. I have no issue backing the ball under the connector.

[tom39]

I currently own a B&W Companion 5th wheel hitch that I use in conjunction with a B&W turnoverball.

I have nothing but great things to say about the turnover ball setup and I find that it works flawlessly as a gooseneck hitch and as an attachment point for my B&W Companion 5th wheel hitch.

I have personally installed the Turnover Ball hitch in my last 2 trucks and have found that if you follow the instructions provided the installation will go flawlessly and it only takes about 2 hours and 3 beers.

As for the Anderson hitch portion of your question, I have no experience with the Anderson hitch and cannot provide any information good or bad.


Just my $0.02

[RMWSierra]

Originally Posted by Peppercatt

We are changing to a 5th wheel and are looking at this hitch set up. Can anyone give us first hand "reviews" on it?

If buying a new 5th wheel, be sure it does not void the factory camper warranty.

[Jack350]

Have been using the aluminum Andersen for at least 4 years now. I agree with all the positive comments and have never had any other style of hitch. Mine is on a full bed mat and does not move at all. I can see the ball while hooking up so there is no issue with that. I have been in other trucks with conventional hitches and have noticed alot of chucking. That does not happen with the Andersen. I would really look closely at this hitch before you purchase.

[Okie Dokie 2]

We have the Anderson ultimate and a 16,000lb 5er we have pulled it around 35k miles and it hasn’t moved- twisted- collapsed or any other thing disastrous. I’m wondering those who have had theirs turn if they had properly torqued it upon installation. 50 ft lbs with the weight of the trailer then tighten up the locking bolts on it and re-torque it after 50 miles or so.

[NMWildcat]

Originally Posted by Okie Dokie 2

We have the Anderson ultimate and a 16,000lb 5er we have pulled it around 35k miles and it hasn’t moved- twisted- collapsed or any other thing disastrous. I’m wondering those who have had theirs turn if they had properly torqued it upon installation. 50 ft lbs with the weight of the trailer then tighten up the locking bolts on it and re-torque it after 50 miles or so.

While I don't own one, yes, we torqued and re-torqued it, as per instructions. It moved around until he used a rubber mat. Just the facts.

[lesptr]

Originally Posted by rmwmiata

If buying a new 5th wheel, be sure it does not void the factory camper warranty.

It does not void the warranty.

[Okie Dokie 2]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

While I don't own one, yes, we torqued and re-torqued it, as per instructions. It moved around until he used a rubber mat. Just the facts.

Good facts.