Anderson Ultimate Fifth Wheel Hitch

[Doublegranch]

I am going to call my contact at Anderson and ask the question.

 

[2psnapod2]

I am sure they will have the right answer.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Bones]

I am watching the videos and the one thing they are not saying too much is how it attaches the the ball in the truck. It looks like the have some type of bolting system then another bolt draws it tight to the bed ball which should keep some of the stresses down but you can't get rid of all. The side bars are going to exert some type of force on the bed. If they are really touting their system they would show comparisons to other popular 5th wheels to show superiority. We already know that some 5th wheels are breaking when in a severe accident. All of this aside I still would like to try this system and see how it does in the long run. I would also like to know how it wold behave with a pin box like mine and the trail air rota flex. Those pin boxes are made to have a larger surface area in contact with the 5th wheel. The two pin boxes I saw them using it with were a MorRyde and a fixed box.

 

[Doublegranch]

From the manuals....The part that fits over the truck ball is a two part square tubing...One fits inside the other. When you place these parts together, you slip the tube over the bed ball.
The bottom section of the tube will have a hatch pin type set up to lock it into place with the bed ball. The second or top tube has 3 bolts. The top bolt locks the second tube to the bottom
tube from the top, pulling up on the ball and securing it from movement. The two side bolts are then torqued to lock the two tubes eliminating side play or forward, back play.

From all my reading, this is how I am understanding the set up. Archie did say where the manual calls for you to torque the set up,,,then put the trailer weight on the frame and re-torque to
remove any play. He suggested to just tighten the ball set up snug, place the RV wt on the frame and then torque it all at 50 PSI. The reason is once the wt is on the frame system, you may have
some slop and the torque after the RV is loaded will remove all play...

 

[Bones]

OK I was thinking it was something like that

 

[Rollin_Free]

Isn't hitch certification regarding weight limits and restrictions required for all hitches to meet or exceed prior to manufacturing for public distribution? If so I'd also like to be able to do the comparison myself like others but I sincerely question my ability to apply an apples to apples comparison to the results if the values are in different measurement scales.

I really hope the info is out there and there is a structural engineer within this forum that could give us the cliff notes version in terms we can easily understand.

Even though I have the Anderson Ultimate hitch I'm not taking sides I just want the true accurate facts.

 

[Doublegranch]

Okay...a lot to digest but I got the answer from Anderson....Hope I can remember all he told me.

First of all they do have a side stress test on their hitches and it is 48,000 lbs and 64,000 Vertical...
Now that being said the new Ultimate 2 is currently being tested by a company that tests all DOT compliance testing.
Those numbers will be available soon.

Next: when metal heats up due to stress etc the following happens: Steel begins to break down its consistency and will eventually crack.
Aluminum on the other hand becomes harder with the stress and heating. So over time it actually becomes stronger.

Not too long ago a Anderson customer with a 40 ft Fusion, I think he said toy hauler with the aluminum hitch....the RV driver wasn't paying attention and had to make an
emergency radical turn to avoid rear ending a vehicle....he missed the vehicle but went off the road, down an embankment and jack knifed his truck & RV.
The Anderson Aluminum Hitch did in fact bend but it did not break or come off the truck. Anderson sent him a free replacement hitch. It was totally the RV
drivers fault, but the result was only a bent hitch frame.

Okay....Hope I got everything correctly....don't kill the messenger!

 

[Bones]

Okay...a lot to digest but I got the answer from Anderson....Hope I can remember all he told me.

First of all they do have a side stress test on their hitches and it is 48,000 lbs and 64,000 Vertical...
Now that being said the new Ultimate 2 is currently being tested by a company that tests all DOT compliance testing.
Those numbers will be available soon.

Next: when metal heats up due to stress etc the following happens: Steel begins to break down its consistency and will eventually crack.
Aluminum on the other hand becomes harder with the stress and heating. So over time it actually becomes stronger.

Not too long ago a Anderson customer with a 40 ft Fusion, I think he said toy hauler with the aluminum hitch....the RV driver wasn't paying attention and had to make an
emergency radical turn to avoid rear ending a vehicle....he missed the vehicle but went off the road, down an embankment and jack knifed his truck & RV.
The Anderson Aluminum Hitch did in fact bend but it did not break or come off the truck. Anderson sent him a free replacement hitch. It was totally the RV
drivers fault, but the result was only a bent hitch frame.

Okay....Hope I got everything correctly....don't kill the messenger!

Awesome. Not as high as I would have hoped. Your already at 50% capacity with some toy haulers and cold easily double in an emergency. If aluminum gets stronger instead of bending it will snap if it hardens but if should already be hardened when it is treated and annealed. But that said I still would try one.

 

[Doublegranch]

Bones: Remember these are the numbers for the older version...not the new Ultimate 2...
I would only hope things improve with newer models...We will get the new numbers soon, I hope.

That said...I still feel my decision to order the Anderson vs the Reese Goosebox for my application is
a good selection. May not be a fit for everyone...but I do know if I upgrade down the road, the Anderson
will fit all models where the Goosebox is wt specific.

 

[JWalker]

I like The new cone system. It looks like it will make hitching a lot easier. I was watching a video on their Facebook page. You do not need to be exactly over the ball to hitch up.

 

[Doublegranch]

Nope...only within 3 inches according to Archie and it will guide the ball into the socket.
Since I am single and my "Aussie Girls" don't talk, this will be of assistance to me....
I am hoping the new bed camera that came with the new Ram will also be of assistance.

 

[Bones]

Nope...only within 3 inches according to Archie and it will guide the ball into the socket.
Since I am single and my "Aussie Girls" don't talk, this will be of assistance to me....
I am hoping the new bed camera that came with the new Ram will also be of assistance.

Keep us posted as to well it works.

- - - Updated - - -

I like The new cone system. It looks like it will make hitching a lot easier. I was watching a video on their Facebook page. You do not need to be exactly over the ball to hitch up.

Jamie are you going to get one now?

 

[Rollin_Free]

Chains for the Anderson Hitch. If anyone has purchased the Anderson Chains did you receive everything you were expecting? The picture I purchased from showed a complete package that clearly shows replacement nuts as well. Please tell me if you actually received everything expected. Thanks

 

[Doublegranch]

I will be getting mine next week...It says new eye bolts etc.. I will let you know.

 

[JWalker]

Jamie are you going to get one now?

I like the design. Simple to hook up and unhook. Not worried about the weight of the hitch, as I have 2k lb winch in the garage ceiling put there just for that reason. I'm going to stew on it for a little. We can talk in 2 weeks.

 

[Rollin_Free]

I will be getting mine next week...It says new eye bolts etc.. I will let you know.

Thanks that would be great - I already know what the answer should be but I want to make sure I am correct. The issue is if it says everything needed and has a picture with a parts list right next to the picture that's what it should be. Just bullheaded I guess

 

[Doublegranch]

Jamie: When you get your new 2016 Ram, I tried an experiment on mine this morning...I was hoping the rear tie down pucks would fit in the front but unfortunately they do not..
If we are able to find tie downs that will fit the Ram front puck holes, the Anderson Hitch will rest just behind them and you can use Tie down pucks for the safety chains. I went online and could not find anything in the way of front tie downs. I will call my dealer in the morning. If all else fails, I will use the Anderson Frame for the safety chains as they recommended. I could not find the eye holes Anderson Factory stated were on the Ram factory set up. I guess if you knew exactly, then perhaps the dealer could drill and insert the eyes.

 

[Mrsfish]

Garry - what happened to your signature line??

 

[Rollin_Free]

Garry - what happened to your signature line??

Hey your right his signature is gone. I just noticed that it for sure has been gone for over 4 days at least.

 

[Bones]

Jamie: When you get your new 2016 Ram, I tried an experiment on mine this morning...I was hoping the rear tie down pucks would fit in the front but unfortunately they do not..
If we are able to find tie downs that will fit the Ram front puck holes, the Anderson Hitch will rest just behind them and you can use Tie down pucks for the safety chains. I went online and could not find anything in the way of front tie downs. I will call my dealer in the morning. If all else fails, I will use the Anderson Frame for the safety chains as they recommended. I could not find the eye holes Anderson Factory stated were on the Ram factory set up. I guess if you knew exactly, then perhaps the dealer could drill and insert the eyes.

I'm not sure I understand which way your going but I don't think there is a difference in how the pucks are made. Do you have the pucks for your truck?