Anderson hitch coupler issue......

[catsmith]

Don't want to start everybody up again. Lord knows I don't.

I have read hundreds of pages of debate on this hitch. Can someone please either identify this Atwood hitch or show a picture of the 88 series hitch in question?

Not trying to get the easy way out but cannot refund a pic of it.

Thanks!

[AWCHIEF]

From the Anderson site,

"NOTE: Currently the Andersen WD Hitch is not compatible with Atwood 88xxx series couplers (all other Atwood couplers are fine)."

I read this to mean all the 88 series couplers.

What trailer is this photo from?

[kscherzi]

Here's a photo of the incompatible hitch. I switched to an Equalizer hitch.

[HowieE]

This is the Atwood coupler in question. With the tab pulled up and to the rear of the tab you can see what we call the shark fin. The rod that extends down from the tab has a notch on it that hooks under the fin.

The way the Andersen applies force on the ball causes the pawl of the coupler to be forced upwards and will in time shear off the connection between the rod and the fin.

If you are using this coupler over time you will see the tab start to show signs of lifting when hooked up. In he extreme case, very unlikely because of the tongue weight, the trailer could come off the ball because the pawl has been moved from it's position of holding the coupler to the ball. However good design practice requires one to design against any possibility thus the recommendation to no use an 88 series coupler.

I installed a Quick Bite coupler to complete my Andersen system.

[Airtandem]

Since adequate R & D was NOT done before the selling of this hitch, should Andersen not be offering a refund on those hitches sold? Also should not the National Safety Council be stepping in on this issue? AWCHIEF has stated that Andersen has admitted that the hitch should NOT be used with the Atwood 88xxx series.
Mike

[cwf]

I think the info warning is sufficient. They may also include in the install instructions and a warning.

Remember, a screen door is a great invention, however it is a lousy application on a submarine.

[HowieE]

Originally Posted by Airtandem

Since adequate R & D was NOT done before the selling of this hitch, should Andersen not be offering a refund on those hitches sold? Also should not the National Safety Council be stepping in on this issue? AWCHIEF has stated that Andersen has admitted that the hitch should NOT be used with the Atwood 88xxx series.
Mike

Think of all the products that are on the market today that are not universally compatible. You can not just buy a wheel and assume it will meet the weight limits, offset dimension, and bolt pattern of your axle. Are you assuming the wheel manufacture should give you a list of compatibility or off a refund.

You mention adequate research. Reese, a company that has been around for over 50 years periodically puts out a product that has problems. The oiling holes on a head they marketed several years ago were in the wrong place, the yokes on the new Straight Line system did not allow for a sharp turn without braking the yoke. The ignition key switch on the GM cars for the last 10 plus years has been a problem. GM had the capacity to do adequate research.

The difference is some companies advise or correct such problems and some do not.



There are

[catsmith]

Thanks for the pics. That helps me out. The coupler I put a pic of is on a 1977 avion.