Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-29-2016, 02:27 AM   #1
4 Rivet Member
 
1991 25' Excella
Stanfield , Oregon
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 317
Anderson WD Hitch

Hi there im wondering if anyone on here has an experience using Anderson weight distribution hitch setup. https://www.andersenhitches.com/Prod...-brackets.aspx
SpletKay06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2016, 05:24 AM   #2
Rivet Master
 
SeaLevel's Avatar
 
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Jupiter , Florida
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,140
There have been many discussions here about that brand. Here is one:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...ead-92131.html
SeaLevel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2016, 07:17 AM   #3
Rivet Master
 
AWCHIEF's Avatar
 
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi , Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
Images: 33
http://www.airforums.com/forums/sear...archid=5903686
__________________
MICHAEL

Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
AWCHIEF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2016, 07:24 AM   #4
2 Rivet Member
 
Levelland , Texas
Join Date: Nov 2015
Posts: 24
Images: 1
I have an Andersen hitch. It is the best for towing I have ever used. The folks at Andersen are very helpful if you have questions,Especially Nick in Service to answer your questions.
Troy Tyson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2016, 12:15 PM   #5
4 Rivet Member
 
1991 25' Excella
Stanfield , Oregon
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 317
Ok thanks for the links. And Troy I fully agree ive used there products for years just never the wd hitch.
SpletKay06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2016, 12:25 PM   #6
Rivet Master
 
dkottum's Avatar
 
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake , Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
You have a 25' Excel, you better do a little more research before buying that thing. We had one.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles

The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
dkottum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-29-2016, 11:35 PM   #7
4 Rivet Member
 
1991 25' Excella
Stanfield , Oregon
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 317
Did you have a bad experience with it?
SpletKay06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 12:22 AM   #8
Rivet Master
 
ROBERTSUNRUS's Avatar

 
2005 25' Safari
Salem , Oregon
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 8,369
Images: 18
Blog Entries: 55
Quote:
Originally Posted by SpletKay06 View Post
Did you have a bad experience with it?

Hi, I was contemplating buying one of those hitches, but from what I've seen and read, it was a great idea that didn't work for most people.
__________________
Bob 2005 Safari 25-B
"Le Petit Chateau Argent" Small Silver Castle
2000 Navigator / 2014 F-150 Eco-Boost / Equal-i-zer / P-3
YAMAHA 2400 / AIR #12144
ROBERTSUNRUS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 06:48 AM   #9
Rivet Master
 
AWCHIEF's Avatar
 
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi , Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
Images: 33
Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS View Post
Hi, I was contemplating buying one of those hitches, but from what I've seen and read, it was a great idea that didn't work for most people.

I would say it did not work for "some" people. Many happily use the Anderson system. Honestly you have to take the somewhat distorted and highly questionable comments here from some with a whole shaker of salt.
__________________
MICHAEL

Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
AWCHIEF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 07:29 AM   #10
Rivet Master
 
2010 25' FB Flying Cloud
Davenport , Iowa
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,146
Blog Entries: 1
I have/had an Andersen and liked it. It traveled great and was light to lift on and off the truck. We got a couple of new toys and converted from a queen to twins and now can't get the truck level. I have adjusted the raiser and torqued the hitch but the truck still is 2 inches higher in front.
I have a Blue Ox on order and should be here Wednesday, hopes this works. Sure liked my Andersen. I have had it for 3 years.

Trailer: 2010 FC 25 fb Truck: 2011 Ram 1500 quad

mike
Airtandem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 07:58 AM   #11
Rivet Master
 
AWCHIEF's Avatar
 
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi , Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
Images: 33
Mike, I also moved from the Anderson to the Blue Ox when moving up to a larger trailer. Words of advise learned the hard and painful way. Make sure the frame brackets are sufficiently tightened to the A-Frame. Also hooking or unhooking up lift the tongue jack as high as is necessary to remove all pressure from chains/bars. Takes bit of trial and error but set up is very easy and repeatable. Blue Ox has excellant customer service if required.
__________________
MICHAEL

Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
AWCHIEF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 08:24 AM   #12
Rivet Master
 
dkottum's Avatar
 
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake , Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
The Andersen hitch doesn't have the leverage designed into its "unique" weight distribution idea to transfer enough weight but for very small trailers. We tried everything to get it to work, tried to believe in it; finally a series of problems realized for us it was poorly designed and made us wonder if they even tried it on a medium sized trailer before dumping it on the market.

Very light duty components that all showed significant wear within our 4,000 miles of use before we got rid of it. We had to drill onto our Airstream A-frame to run bolts through to try to keep it in place, the "unique" design caused enough stress to elongate the bolt holes in our frame. The friction material squeezed out of the stinger. The hitch ball wore severely. The chain keepers wore away part of the chains. The urethane bushings squeezed down so bad they began to fail, and allowed virtually no flexibility in the assembly as conventional w.d. bars provide; the front corner of our new Airstream's banana wrap tore loose from its rivets.

It's too weak to be a weight distribution hitch, better to think of it as an expensive friction sway control device that will do little to nothing keeping your medium sized Airstream from being pushed around by gusting side winds and passing semis.

And the package will now come with a note inside advising you the hitch is incompatible with the hitch coupler all modern Airstreams use. The design can wear away your hitch latching mechanism causing the trailer to disconnect from your tow vehicle. You can cut off your Airstream coupler and weld on a different one to use it.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles

The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
dkottum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 09:20 AM   #13
4 Rivet Member
 
2016 25' Flying Cloud
Holly Springs , Mississippi
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 426
Quote:
Originally Posted by dkottum View Post
The Andersen hitch doesn't have the leverage designed into its "unique" weight distribution idea to transfer enough weight but for very small trailers...finally a series of problems realized for us it was poorly designed...Very light duty components that all showed significant wear within our 4,000 miles of use...We had to drill into our Airstream A-frame to run bolts through to try to keep it in place...the "unique" design caused enough stress to elongate the bolt holes in our frame. The friction material squeezed out of the stinger. The hitch ball wore severely. The chain keepers wore away part of the chains. The urethane bushings squeezed down so bad they began to fail...the front corner of our new Airstream's banana wrap tore loose from its rivets...The design can wear away your hitch latching mechanism causing the trailer to disconnect from your tow vehicle.
But other than those minor inconveniences, it worked okay?
__________________
Bob

2016 FC 25' FB twin
2013 F-150 Lariat CrewCab 3.5 EB 4X4 3.55 axle
Bob662 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 09:30 AM   #14
Rivet Master
 
2010 25' FB Flying Cloud
Davenport , Iowa
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,146
Blog Entries: 1
Mike and Doug, agree with both. Mike, that is the way I hooked up with the Andersen. I found this to be easiest.
Doug, Sanme here. Before toys and mod to AS, all went well. The added wt. in truck and mod changed everything. Considered new suspension in truck, but ??? I replaced the friction material 4 times under warranty.
I thought of Pro and haha, but for my age and travel, couldn't t justify.
I think the Andersen is a good hitch for some units but outgrew mine.
Mike
Airtandem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 11:14 AM   #15
Rivet Master
 
HowieE's Avatar
 
1991 34' Excella
Princeton , New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
Images: 12
Spletkay06

You did not mention your TV. I say this because if you are towing with a a very lightly sprung rear axle vehicle you may not be able to transfer enough weight to the front axle to return to the original steering geometry. The Andersen is clearly designed with sway as the principle consideration as most TV have changed from sedans to trucks.

As for the stated limitation of a few commentators that the Andersen is limited to light trailer I have been towing my 34 fter for 4 years now and have converted my daughters 8,000 lb trailer to an Andersen because of excessive sway she was having while towing with a Reese Straight Line system.

What is your TV?
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles

HowieE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 12:22 PM   #16
4 Rivet Member
 
1991 25' Excella
Stanfield , Oregon
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 317
I have a 2015 ram 1500 ecodiesel with full air ride. Im currently not using a wd hitch at all and it tows great front axle is 3400 but rear is axle 4400 so im a little overloaded. My trailer came with a resse wd hitch and it terrible makes the trailer ride horrible. When I first bought it and towed it home 280 miles nothing moved in the trailer and it towed great but then I setup up the wd hitch and everything moves around, it turns poorly etc. All im looking for is to lower the tongue weight a little and some sway control wouldmt hurt.
SpletKay06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 12:37 PM   #17
Rivet Master
 
HowieE's Avatar
 
1991 34' Excella
Princeton , New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
Images: 12
60 lbs is about as low as you can go.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles

HowieE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 12:51 PM   #18
4 Rivet Member
 
1991 25' Excella
Stanfield , Oregon
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 317
Quote:
Originally Posted by HowieE View Post
60 lbs is about as low as you can go.
60 lbs less tongue weight? Thats not much
SpletKay06 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 12:52 PM   #19
Rivet Master
 
Vintage Kin Owner
N/A , N/A
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 989
Images: 1
The extreme issues one user has had seems to be setup related. Otherwise, how come andersen works fine for a heavier, longer 34?

Did you contact Andersen regarding the issues you were having? What did they say/advise?
rostam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2016, 01:28 PM   #20
Rivet Master
 
HowieE's Avatar
 
1991 34' Excella
Princeton , New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
Images: 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by rostam View Post
The extreme issues one user has had seems to be setup related. Otherwise, how come andersen works fine for a heavier, longer 34?

Did you contact Andersen regarding the issues you were having? What did they say/advise?
Unfortunately early on in the discussion of the Andersen system there was a concerted effort to discredit the system by some that feared the new competition. Even knowing the design intentions of the newer system, sway control over weight distribution, several tried to achieve the historically now unnecessary results of the older systems with the intent of discrediting the Andersen system. However there are very few modern TV that require the WD that older softly sprung cars required. Just do a count of those using the Andersen against those claiming it can't work and then make up your mind.

And yes there is an issue with some of the Atwood couplers failing when using the Andersen. That is not a problem with the Andersen but a design limitation of the Atwood. A type of problem often encountered when a new concept is invented.

Many had to decide what to do with their single cylinder gas engine washing machines when the electric motor came on line. The problem was not in the electric motor.
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles

HowieE is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Anderson Hitch and Atwood Coupler Siegmann Hitches, Couplers & Balls 11 11-27-2016 11:28 AM
Used Anderson WD Hitch Secguru Airstream Classifieds 0 10-02-2014 09:58 AM
Anderson hitch coupler issue...... catsmith Towing, Tow Vehicles & Hitches 7 09-26-2014 08:01 AM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:32 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.