The Andersen WD Hitch User Thread

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by dmand001

Wondering the cost of the added weight of the other heavy hitches to the stealth lightness of the ", AH", Andersen Hitch on gas. What about medical issues attributed to the heaviness of hitching/unhitches those monster heavy hitches? What about the constant weighing of those set-ups, time spent, scale tickets then of course, maintenance issues from wear due to rigidity of ride. Numbers folks please calculate?
Perhaps when safety is concerned, expense is not an issue, OK I get it, the more expense the safer it is , is that right?
My vintage one can go on now better than the previous 40yrs w/ the "AH".

Hi, this is my opinion, and only my opinion, so take it for what it's worth. When the time comes that I can no longer handle my hitch, then maybe, I can no longer handle towing my trailer either.

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by dmand001

Wondering the cost of the added weight of the other heavy hitches to the stealth lightness of the ", AH", Andersen Hitch on gas. What about medical issues attributed to the heaviness of hitching/unhitches those monster heavy hitches? What about the constant weighing of those set-ups, time spent, scale tickets then of course, maintenance issues from wear due to rigidity of ride. Numbers folks please calculate?
Perhaps when safety is concerned, expense is not an issue, OK I get it, the more expense the safer it is , is that right?
My vintage one can go on now better than the previous 40yrs w/ the "AH".

Another attempt to defend this contraption by going after weight distribution hitches than actually work.

The ProPride stays on the trailer, I don't lift it at all, just back into it and latch it. The drop bar feels no heavier the my former Andersen drop bar.

There's no constant weighing of the trailer, any more than any other hitch. Maybe you should weigh yours though and see how lousy your Andersen actually performs in regard to its primary purpose, weight distribution.

I have used the Andersen and the Propride. Let me tell you the Propride is much gentler than Andersen. In fact, there is almost no flexibility in the Andersen when the chains are tightened; unless you can explain where the flexibility remains in that little compressed red bushing. Contrast that to the spring bar design with a range of movement, some better than others. I have the front banana wrap ripped loose from its rivets just below the A-frame attachment of my Airstream after 4,000 miles using the Andersen.

Cost. There are many weight distribution hitches on the market in the price range of Andersen that actually perform their primary task.

doug k

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by dmand001

Wondering the cost of the added weight of the other heavy hitches to the stealth lightness of the ", AH", Andersen Hitch on gas. What about medical issues attributed to the heaviness of hitching/unhitches those monster heavy hitches? What about the constant weighing of those set-ups, time spent, scale tickets then of course, maintenance issues from wear due to rigidity of ride. Numbers folks please calculate?
Perhaps when safety is concerned, expense is not an issue, OK I get it, the more expense the safer it is , is that right?
My vintage one can go on now better than the previous 40yrs w/ the "AH".

Just checked the shipping weights of the Andersen against the Reese Dual Cam, which most will consider sort of the "gold standard" of anti-sway weight distribution hitches, the RDC is not the lightest convention type WD hitch out there, and the difference is a staggering 34 pounds. You do not have to lift all of the RDC hitch at any one time, so the lifting thing is not really relevant.

If 34 pounds is a go/no go breaking point for you, I'd suggest you have too small of a tow vehicle. Lot of people have dogs with them that weigh more than 34 pounds.

Some of you are really grasping at straws in your effort to support the Andersen, but I guess that's just my opinion.

[Rich of SCal]

Originally Posted by SteveH

Just checked the shipping weights of the Andersen against the Reese Dual Cam, which most will consider sort of the "gold standard" of anti-sway weight distribution hitches, the RDC is not the lightest convention type WD hitch out there, and the difference is a staggering 34 pounds. You do not have to lift all of the RDC hitch at any one time, so the lifting thing is not really relevant.

If 34 pounds is a go/no go breaking point for you, I'd suggest you have too small of a tow vehicle. Lot of people have dogs with them that weigh more than 34 pounds.

Some of you are really grasping at straws in your effort to support the Andersen, but I guess that's just my opinion.

Thats your opinion and you can have it. I had the RDC system. The weight IS the main reason I switched. Not because of towing it, but because of lifting it over and over. I am much happier with the Andersen and even the hassle of changing the coupler, just to be safe, is still worth it to me. It is personal preference. Hitching, unhitching and storage of parts are so much easier with the Andersen. And soon, with my new quickbite, hitching will be even easier.

Yes, I have a lighter trailer, so some of the issues don't apply to me. If I start an Andersen thread for only lightweight Airstreams would all of you detractors stay away from it?????? This one is so full of arguing it is a chore to sort through and recover information...and yes I use the search function.

[HowieE]

Originally Posted by SteveH

If 34 pounds is a go/no go breaking point for you, I'd suggest you have too small of a tow vehicle. Lot of people have dogs with them that weigh more than 34 pounds.

Some of you are really grasping at straws in your effort to support the Andersen, but I guess that's just my opinion.

Steve you have really gone out on a limb this time. Yes there may be 34 lbs difference in the shipping weights of an Andersen and a Reese Duel cam system. However once installed that difference is out of the equation.

The weighs to consider and the handling efforts to consider are the difference between lifting the 2 bars on opposite sides of the tongue, the lifting of the chain brackets into place, again on both sides of the tongue and the lifting of the triangular plate, about 2 lbs, onto the bottom of the ball shaft from just one side of the tongue and slipping the pin in place. There is just another advantage of the Andersen to us Old Folks.

Oh and another advantage that you may have missed is the fact that it takes me about 2 minutes to completely hitch up my trailer compared to time a PP takes. I have watched campers spend up to one hour depending on alignment of the trailer and TV.

My second Andersen was waiting on the porch when I got home from camping in my Heavy trailer equipped with an Andersen.

But don't get discouraged. You keep launching these ballons and those that actually use the hitch will continue to point out your misrepresentations.

[dkottum]

Wrong again.

ProPride lifting, only the drop bar. ProPride hitching, about 6 minutes:

Pro Pride Hitching Up - YouTube

doug k

[HowieE]

doug

Please read a post before you comment on it.

My comments relate to Steve's comparison of the SHIPPING WEIGHT of a bars system and the Andersen and somehow how that might make a difference on the operation of the 2 systems.

I never mentioned anything about the LIFTING requred to hitch up a PP. I did mention that I had watched individuals spend a disproportional amount of time attempting to hitch up a PP.

I have never mentioned the insane difficulty that many have aligning the stinger with the receiver while the trailer and TV are anything other than in a straight line and on level ground. It reminds one of artificial insemination. Some of us camp in the woods and just don't have the luxury of the perfect conditions necessary to use a PP.

I wish I had taken pictures of the time I had to beat a Ha Ha stinger out of the receave with sledge hammer to free a friends TV.

[Craiglud]

Where is that 100 lbs?

I really don't understand the argument of restoring all of the original weight back to the front axle and as some have stated their new user manuals require a return of only 50% of the change in ride height to the front axle. Which seems much more reasonable to me.

My problem is that if you are starting with a truck as a tow vehicle this vehicle has been designed to carry heavy loads at the rear of the vehicle generally centered over the rear tires. Lets say you load this up to capacity, so do you still adhere to the philosophy of restoring all the original weight to the front axle? How would you even do that?

It's not like we are talking about moving 1,000 lbs from the front axles to the rear that needs to be restored. What is being debated now is that a 100 lb variance from the original weight of the front axle is somehow going to cause these catastrophic side effects.

If there is that little room for variance with these vehicles it seems like we'd be having and hearing of a lot more problems, with any hitch or weight distribution system used. Seriously out of all the trailers that are out there on the road how many do you believe actually go through all the setup steps required to return the front axle to 100% of its original weight? I am sure it is a minority of the total vehicles. Arguing that you have to return that last 50 to 100 lbs to the front axle seems to be bordering on the absurd to me

[Mike91208]

Oh please, Craiglud, why introduce some common sense into the discussion? We were having so much fun without it! LOL!

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Craiglud

Where is that 100 lbs?

I really don't understand the argument of restoring all of the original weight back to the front axle and as some have stated their new user manuals require a return of only 50% of the change in ride height to the front axle. Which seems much more reasonable to me.

My problem is that if you are starting with a truck as a tow vehicle this vehicle has been designed to carry heavy loads at the rear of the vehicle generally centered over the rear tires. Lets say you load this up to capacity, so do you still adhere to the philosophy of restoring all the original weight to the front axle? How would you even do that?

It's not like we are talking about moving 1,000 lbs from the front axles to the rear that needs to be restored. What is being debated now is that a 100 lb variance from the original weight of the front axle is somehow going to cause these catastrophic side effects.

If there is that little room for variance with these vehicles it seems like we'd be having and hearing of a lot more problems, with any hitch or weight distribution system used. Seriously out of all the trailers that are out there on the road how many do you believe actually go through all the setup steps required to return the front axle to 100% of its original weight? I am sure it is a minority of the total vehicles. Arguing that you have to return that last 50 to 100 lbs to the front axle seems to be bordering on the absurd to me

We would do it with a proper weight distribution hitch, and that's exactly what they are designed to do, and that is their purpose. All of them will do it assuming they are properly sized for the tongue weight of the trailer.

All, except the Andersen if it's a large trailer.

And Howie, you cannot show me where I have ever said the ProPride is a "perfect" hitch without problems. It is a very good hitch, but even it is not without fault.

[Ron Gratz]

Originally Posted by HowieE

I wish I had taken pictures of the time I had to beat a Ha Ha stinger out of the receave with sledge hammer to free a friends TV.

As with most things -- it's much easier if you know how to do it properly.

Obviously, neither you nor your friend knew how to do it properly.

Ron

[dkottum]

A note on Airstream tongue weights, which is the major factor in weight distribution.

They have gotten heavier over the years. For example my 2012 25' Flying Cloud has a Heavier factory spec tongue weight than a 1991 34' Excella.

Did the Andersen actually work properly on my heavy trailer? Unsafe weight distribution capability as evidenced by light steering on slippery roadways, rigid connection as evidenced by trailer damage, premature wear on the chains, hitch ball, and friction material, washers being forced into the red bushings, and incompatible standard Airstream hitch coupler which would wear and disconnect from the tow vehicle.

No it did not work on my heavy mid-size Airstream.

doug k

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by dkottum

A note on Airstream tongue weights, which is the major factor in weight distribution.

They have gotten heavier over the years. For example my 2012 25' Flying Cloud has a Heavier factory spec tongue weight than a 1991 34' Excella.

Did the Andersen actually work properly on my heavy trailer? Unsafe weight distribution capability as evidenced by light steering on slippery roadways, rigid connection as evidenced by trailer damage, premature wear on the chains, hitch ball, and friction material, washers being forced into the red bushings, and incompatible standard Airstream hitch coupler which would wear and disconnect from the tow vehicle.

No it did not work on my heavy mid-size Airstream.

doug k

Doug, are these problems that you actually had or just what you have selected from the post of others? Your list seems to be getting longer and longer. A bit strange because I believe it has been several months from when you stopped using the Andersen WD system.

[SteveH]

Years ago my father towed a 31' Airstream, a 60's model, with a Chrysler station wagon. If I remember correctly he had an Eazylift WD hitch. He adjusted the hitch so a portion of the tongue weight was actually on the front axle of the Chrysler. There is no way that could be done even with that same trailer with the Andersen hitch. That is also why Andy T couldn't get the hitch to distribute the required weight with the sedan he was using.

But now, all the proponents of the Andersen say that's really not necessary. I say you are just making excuses for a weight distribution hitch system that does not distribute weight adequately.

[AWCHIEF]

Steve you brought it up so I must respond. I believe it was not that Andy could not move the weight. He got exactly the result he wanted to get and you fell for it hook line and sinker.

[SteveSueMac]

Whatever happened to agree to disagree?

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

Whatever happened to agree to disagree?

Things change, that is one of the great things about free will.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Steve you brought it up so I must respond. I believe it was not that Andy could not move the weight. He got exactly the result he wanted to get and you fell for it hook line and sinker.

Actually, at the time I believed Andy had somehow stacked the deck, but now after so many have not been able to get the Andersen to distribute the tongue weight properly, I realize his testing had to be lagit.

So, now everyone towing a large trailer with the Andersen accepts that it won't distribute correctly, so no matter because it tows well. I just don't understand it as I know you wouldn't accept something like a brake controller, for instance, that just sort of operates the brakes.

[AWCHIEF]

Everyone? I think not. Now you are just being silly.

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by AWCHIEF

Everyone? I think not. Now you are just being silly.

You think not? OK then, show us the weight slips.