Ordered Andersen WDH; Thoughts/Experience w/them?

thestrangebrew · 05-30-2014, 11:50 AM

Like title suggests, I'm ordering the Andersen WDH and looking for thoughts or experiences with them. Anything. Installation, how it handles, hooking up or unhooking. My TT is a 2014 Rockwood Roo 233s, TV is in my sig. I've read reviews on the WDH and they've all been very positive, but I can only find one thorough installation video. I've read the installation manual as well. Just curious about real world experiences with this setup from you pros out there!

CLT · 05-30-2014, 11:58 AM

I did a lot of research on them before settling on the Equal-i-zer. I mean like 20 browser tabs open at once type research...videos, forum postings, etc.

I think it is pretty much vehicle dependent on how the Anderson will work for you. I've read more than a few times that people using it were unable to get much weight at all to transfer to the front axle. So I personally decided not to take the chance. However your experience with it could be just fine. I did like how lightweight it was and also there is no noise. So there are some big +s there.

comfun1 · 05-30-2014, 12:05 PM

I've had an Andersen for two and a half years now. Previously had a Reese. The Andersen is everything they say it is. I had it on a 21rr and now have it on a 27rr. The 27rr is is 33"-6" and it works great. I don't see much difference in towing with the Andersen vs. a Cardinal 5th wheel I used to have. One thing I think is important is to drill small holes where the Allen bolts contact your frame so the brackets don't slip. Also I believe they recommend tightening the bracket bolts to 100 ft. lbs. of torque. Buy a 1/2 drive ratchet and keep it in your camper.

HONDAMAN174 · 05-30-2014, 01:08 PM

I have been using ours for our 31' for about 6 months now. Like the ease of hooking up, no noise and the ability to back up. Agreed, I can't get my front end down where it should be but I am comfortable with it. Does great over whoop de doos on the highway and doesn't porpoise and upset the ride.

thestrangebrew · 05-30-2014, 01:54 PM

I've been reading up on both the Equalizer and the Andersen and decided with my relatively light TW, I should be ok with weight being distributed back to my front axle. At max my TW would be 800lbs, which from what I've read is the rough threshold. If that is even accurate. I'll hook it up when I get it next week and report back!

HONDAMAN174 · 05-30-2014, 02:21 PM

I'm around 1000 if it helps you

Jammer3025 · 05-31-2014, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comfun1

I've had an Andersen for two and a half years now. Previously had a Reese. The Andersen is everything they say it is. I had it on a 21rr and now have it on a 27rr. The 27rr is is 33"-6" and it works great. I don't see much difference in towing with the Andersen vs. a Cardinal 5th wheel I used to have. One thing I think is important is to drill small holes where the Allen bolts contact your frame so the brackets don't slip. Also I believe they recommend tightening the bracket bolts to 100 ft. lbs. of torque. Buy a 1/2 drive ratchet and keep it in your camper.

90 ft. lbs.

Jammer3025 · 05-31-2014, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thestrangebrew

I've been reading up on both the Equalizer and the Andersen and decided with my relatively light TW, I should be ok with weight being distributed back to my front axle. At max my TW would be 800lbs, which from what I've read is the rough threshold. If that is even accurate. I'll hook it up when I get it next week and report back!

There good for up to 1400 lbs of tongue weight.

Jammer3025 · 05-31-2014, 03:21 PM

I've had one for 8,000 miles on 2 different TT's. A 26 footer, and now the Windjammer 3025W. Tongue weight on this rig I have no idea. It's a lot though.

The Anderson works great. I have been in extremely high cross winds, terrible roads, been passed by every type of Semi Truck, you name the conditions with the exception of ice, and we have been through it. It works great.

When I bought the Windjammer the dealership installed it, and when I got home I noticed it was on wrong.

I just finished the job this morning. I have the brackets exactly where they should be and all torqued down, and set screws set. While I was doing it I also re-routed all the battery and, and emergency brake break-away wires, and put them all through wire loom. Pulled the battery box off and put washers under the screws that hold the box don't. Why don't the cheap ***** dealers put a washer under things. Jeez! This is the second trailer I've had to do this to. Oh well I did it, and made it bomb proof. Ina couple of weeks were gonna take off somewhere.

The Anderson does it's job. Just remember to line up your TV as close to straight on to the hitch as you can. If your TV is at an angle when trying to install the triangular plate, It may not go on. Just line up better and it will go on. Don't even waste your time kicking it, or using a hammer, cuz , it won't move. Believe me. This WDH makes for a very very pleasant drive. And that's what it's all about Friends.

thestrangebrew · 05-31-2014, 05:24 PM

Thanks for the feedback. It should be delivered on Tuesday so sometime next week I'll be hooking up and finding level ground to hook it up and drive it around.

Jammer3025 · 05-31-2014, 06:57 PM

I'm sure you will enjoy the towing experience with the Anderson WDH as we have. It's a clean and quiet rig.

thestrangebrew · 06-02-2014, 11:00 AM

Quick question for you owners. I downloaded the manual for installation and it recommends to load anything heavy like atvs prior to dialing it in. I don't have anything heavy like that to load, so I'm wondering, do you guys load 1st then dial the hitch in, or do you dial it in, load, then make adjustments? Should be getting the hitch tomorrow and will be setting it up sometime this week.

HONDAMAN174 · 06-02-2014, 11:29 AM

"Adjustments" are just how many turns you put on the bushings. So once you are loaded, check your heights and adjust as nessisary. .

Jammer3025 · 06-02-2014, 05:29 PM

^^^^^ YUP!

HONDAMAN174 · 06-02-2014, 05:30 PM

Jammer- how's that new unit working for you?

Jammer3025 · 06-02-2014, 05:52 PM

Well Sir, the only trip in it so far has been the 2 day trip home from the Dealership. That went good though. We absolutely love it. I way under calculated how big this thing is, and barely got it up our drive and turned around. Had to un-hitch, and it took almost 1 hour to get it in place.

Tomorrow I'm renting a Bobcat, and I'm going to do some serious excavating to remove a very large bank thats at the top of our drive. I made it up, but it would be hard to get it back down.

I also had to do a upstairs guest bathroom re-model since that last trip, and it was brutal. I'm done except the counter-top, and that's a piece of cake. Son's coming home in 2 days for a week, and then it's back to the Ship. He's in the Navy in San Diego. After that the DW, me and the dogs are going to make our second trip in the Jammer. Can't wait. Oh Hey, I also got a new pickup. What a month. I'm one lucky Hombre. Broke, but lucky :-)>

HONDAMAN174 · 06-02-2014, 06:02 PM

Saw the new truck to go with the new toy. DW suddenly changed her mind about going to sequioas next weekend and now we will be headed to Big bear instead.

Jammer3025 · 06-02-2014, 06:06 PM

That sounds good. I want to head down there myself. We were supposed to go to the Sequoia's park last trip to SD, but ran out of time and stopped south of it at Lake Isabella. The lake was so low you wouldn't believe it. Pretty depressed area due to the drought. We'll get down there soon I hope.

Hutch333id · 06-02-2014, 06:56 PM

I used one last year on my 8315BSS. It worked flawlessly. No noise, no sway, easy to attach and dismantle. I installed it myself to the frame of the TT and that was a simple, follow the instruction job that didn't take long at all. I would highly recommend it.

thestrangebrew · 06-13-2014, 11:34 AM

I setup my andersen last weekend and forgot to take pics. I think it looked pretty good and level for being empty and took it out for a spin. It still felt like I was getting pushed forward from the trailer a bit. Maybe it was the poirposing effect, but being new to pulling, I wasn't sure if it was "right" or not. The trailer was empty however. This weekend, I'll be filling up the fresh tank and loading a bunch of stuff in it and take it out again. When I did the final adjustments, I was showing about 6 exposed threads on both sides.

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