I've been running this hitch for over a year now with a Ram 2500 6.4 pulling a 27' Flagstaff 27VRL. Came from a EAZ-Lift round bar and then a Equalizer E4. In my opinion the Andersen performs worlds better than the EAZ-Lift and as good or better than the Equalizer. The hooking and unhooking is really the amazing part about the Andersen. Plus it's very quiet, no creaking and popping, no need to unhook anything when backing up. I've talked a few fellow RV'ers, who were also doubtful, to get one and they're just as impressed. Another thing I'd like to add. My hitch was missing the big washers that go in front of the bushings. Andersen was very responsive and fast to get those parts out to me, and threw in a couple extra bushings as well. Yes, there are serviceable parts on these hitches. The friction cup under the ball and the bushings will need to be replaced from time to time. About 30 trips on mine and they're holding it fine though, so, who knows when that will be.
Switched from Weight Safe to Anderson. Performs close to the WS and the the ease of use makes up for the small performance gap. Takes some dialing in at first. But when it's right you can feel it. The steering tightens up and becomes more precise. I was very happy with both. I will staying with Anderson.
I've used the Andersen for a year now after this video came out. I'm very pleased with it's ability and we pull a 31' Transcend with a 1/2 ton LTZ Silverado. The ease of connecting and disconnect are what sells me also and I would not care to try anything else. It does not sway as bad in the same winds as his test showed on the B&W testing
This is actually my grandfather's cousin's company. Thank you guys for reviewing their hitch. I personally use one of their hitches and they work extremely well by experience.
I have been using this Hitch for 3 years now, 2 different trailers, on was 25 feet at 4500LB and the other is 31feet at 7000lb, about 7500miles with both. I love it. I did play with the setting of the chains a bit to find my best position for me. i actually disconnect the chain and the bushing. i find it a lot easier. jack up the tonged place the chains to my setting and lower, then drive away
I have had My Andersen hitch for 3 years and was happy too see your review gives it a good rating. I have a 2011 F 150 Ecoboost max tow and an Imagine 2450 RL. Fully loaded it is about 7500 lbs. As you point out the light weight was at the top of my list picking it. I have back issues and the Equalizer I had was a beast to handle. Also I don’t have any idea how many pants I ruined with grease stains with the Equalizer. I’ve towed about 10,000 miles in all conditions and the hitch preforms well. I do see an improvement when I have around 10 gallons of water in the fresh tank.
Just want to say we have a similar setup, 2500 Duramax towing a 7500 lb trailer. We have 13k miles towing using that hitch and absolutely love it. We love that we can do sharp turns and back up easily with no issues and how easy it is to hitch and unhitch. We have never had any real sway on the highway.
@@tash6132 Nope, nothing at all. Backing up and turning sharely requires nothing special. We make a u-turn in our cul-de-sac and back down our 500 foot driveway all the time with it.
@@tash6132 Nothing, our cul-de-sac is about 60 feet in diameter, we are 53 feet long and we do a tight single turn to make a u-turn every time. Our driveway is about 12 feet wide and we back down that no issue.
I have one of these in Australia and I get a lot of questions when they see the Hitch and like you they are all bar none very doubtful or even a bit derogatory. I have been passed by road trains and on coming and these are huge units, never have I felt any sway induced. In short I love it. I noticed the chain was not correctly fitted as it had a twist in it, this may be a small thing but it actually has a decent impact on the ability of the distribution as it does increase the chain rigidity when fitted without any twisting. I have found your series on these hitches very informative, nice work.
I have the same setup, 3/4 ton with 2600rb, absolutely love my Andersen hitch (2.5" shank/4" drop). One point on your install, their instructions mentioned keeping the chains straight when inserting into the bracket and I noticed yours has a 90 degree twist, not sure if that makes any measurable difference in performance but thought I'd point it out since you will continue using it. Great review!
Would like to say thank you for the review on the hitch I went with the Anderson because of medical reasons and have had zero problems. We only have a Chevy 1500 and pull a 22rkhl and it has been great thank you for all your information on everything
Have one. No need to raise jack much to hook/unhook. Just loosen nuts. Just tighten back up to setting when hooking up. Number of threads, or I made a gauge so no counting.
Glad you had the chance to review this hitch and I’m glad it didn’t out perform the weigh-safe since I purchased it not long ago 😂. I was between the two of them and couldn’t find enough recent info on the Anderson so I went with the weigh-safe and love it. Thanks for the reviews , hitch battle was informative and helped me make my buying decision.
We have about 15,000 miles of towing a 8900 lb travel trailer that’s a hair under 32’ exclusively with the Andersen. We had some issues with the brake material in the head but Andersen has stood behind their product and looked after us even when we were on the road. I went to Andersen because of the porpoising while towing with our other hitch and it pretty much eliminated that issue for us. One thing we found was hitching and unhitching when the truck and trailer are not aligned can be a headache the first few times. There are some videos on how to deal with hitching in those situations and Andersen does provide instructions in the hitch manual. Overall I like the hitch, it’s weight is a definite plus. The number of threads showing is recommended by Andersen but in talking with other owners some say they have had to adjust one way or another to achieve the best results.
I posted this above, but I would ask you as well: "Are you still thinking that the under 30 foot rule and 1/2 ton rules apply? I really like the simplicity of this hitch and the price is good compared to the weigh safe, which is my next choice rt now. Just towed our 31 foot Forest River to Wyoming and back and winds and sway were a huge problem. Only my large amount of trailering experience saved us from the ditch....and some luck from above I think too."
@@TreadReview We purchased a longer trailer. I found that the weight transfer was not what I needed which is something I had heard from others. I purchased a different hitch and while I miss the simplicity of the Andersen this one is working better for my needs. In a nutshell I wouldn’t recommend the Andersen for anyone towing longer than a 30’ trailer with a 1500 series truck. Some may disagree but that’s been my experience with it.
Great feedback, as always. I've been using this setup on my trailer since July. I just have a little 21 ft Dutchmen and I Love it. Most of the time I can't even tell the trailer's back there, especially on the freeway going by semis and crosswinds works great for what I consider a lighter weight smaller trailer. Keep on the wandering on!
Regarding Andersen's customer service.... they're great! I bought the Andersen to tow my 14' enclosed trailer from Illinois to Arizona with my 2015 GMC Canyon. I bought the shank that worked with the Canyon and it was the shorter of the two offered. I later bought a 2019 Tahoe which had a hitch height that was taller than the Canyon. I contacted Andersen about getting the extended shank and they traded me even for the longer shank, no problems, even though it was used. Made my day! Not saying that would be everyone's experience, but just saying they were great.
Glad to see you add the Anderson to your review. Perfect timing I was already sold on the Anderson when you put this video out and it just confirmed what I thought. I am ordering mine today. Great reviews, thanks!
Am "older" guy (soon 77), but interested in the Andersen. Would love to see a video on connectivity (after parking). That is, how do you hitch after "dropping" the trailer under diff conditions; e.g., backing str8 in, connecting left/rigt from the hitch, etc. Can you give me/us guidance on that procedure? Thanks for the input! Y'all Be Safe!!!
I have a F350 6.7L diesel and will be pulling a 27 ft Intech OVR Navigate (7,500lbs). I am most concerned about high wind sway. I am going back and forth between the Andersen and Safe Weigh. I like how easily the Andersen is to use. Given my own vehicle and trailer would love your recommendation,
One thing you didn’t mention was porpoising. This hitch is great for that as well. Admittedly, it’s not the best for WD. But for sway and bounce, it’s a winner.
I used it for a couple of years, the weight and ease of use were phenomenal. I then realized that the Andersen does not “pull” the trailer by the ball receiver but it pulls the trailer WITH THE CHAINS towards the tow vehicle. The pressure and wear on the ball receiver is not in the front, as all of them are meant to, but in the back where the locking mechanism is. The ball actually had a pretty evident wear on the “back”. I didn’t like it and I sold it, got myself a ProPride…
We love this hitch. We used it for 3 years with our 33-foot long Wildcat Maxx travel trailer. My only gripe was the connecting of the lower 'triangle' on our model. It caused grief if not lined up almost exactly as it was taken off. If level and straight it was excellent, if off it was loosen the chains then drive a bit and readjust the hitch back to where it was set. For years before getting the Anderson when we bought the Wildcat, we'd always had and used a Reese weight distribution hitch with trailers. The Anderson is so much better, really good in crosswinds, no clanking, popping, or groaning like the Reese and many WDHs have. When we traded in the Wildcat on our Jayco 5th wheel we kept the Anderson hitch. In 2018 we bought a 20-foot Winnebago Mini travel trailer and now use the Anderson with that RV. The Winnebago is a lot lighter weight but the Anderson works fine on that RV too.
I bought mine2 years ago and damn I always draw a crowd during our trips. We take it across country all the time. A few little tweaks here and there but easy as hell to manage.
The light weight also comes into play for those of us with lower payload ratings (I'm looking you, Toyota) and need to keep things light up front without loading the trailer improperly to adjust tongue weight.
So would this be good for a 1/2 ton chevy pulling a 21 foot trailer weighing in a 4800lbs loaded? I know the truck can easily tow that without but I am looking for added anti-sway when towing the trailer. I will also have a quad and dirt bike in the truck at times (most of the weight in front of the rear axle and directly over it) so want to help take some load off the rear axle.
I was hoping you'd get a chance to compare the Amdersen. I love the one I have. I started with it installed on a 30' TT (StarCrafy 25BH) towed with a 1/2 ton and have since switched it to our current 38' TT (KZ Sportsman 333kbkle) towed with a F350 diesel. Mountains of Eastern and Flat of western PA all the way to Maine, I've experienced no problems. When I needed a new shank (2" to 3") Andersen sold me the replacement shank and for a small fee ($50?) sent me new hardware, mounting plate and head assembly in my requested ball size. They have been great to deal with when I had technical questions too.
I'm towing a 26 foot (5600lb. dry) Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BHDS with a 1/ ton Silverado and the Anderson performs great. However, I also experience some porpoising on certain road conditions.
Anderson has a unique way of engineering things. I had an Anderson Ultimate 5th wheel hitch for a few years. I was shocked at how light it was and how much easier it made hitching up. To anyone who’s curious look that hitch up. It’s definitely unique and awesome. The ride and maneuverability were fantastic. I currently have an old school Reese hitch for my TT and my F350 handles it well so I’ll stick with what I have. However, having used Anderson products before I would not hesitate to try this hitch if I were in the market for one.
Great review Cory !! I’ve been waiting for this .. I was thinking about the Kurt tru track but the simplicity of this Anderson changed my mind..Thank You
Thanks for the review. I have been wondering about this hitch because of the weight and ease of hooking and un hooking. We have a Flagstaff TT that weights 7600lbs. From hitch to rear bumper, it's 35'. We are using an equalizer 4pt hitch. It's working fine with a little porpoising. I thought about the propride, but that's a chunk of change.
I bought this hitch for one primary reason, weight. I have been using a Curtis Trutrack, works well just very heavy to handle. The Pros: Light easy to handle; sway control is as good as the Curtis; easy to set up, hook and unhook; weight transfer good, no issues. The Con: the hitch is advertised as "no bounce", I can confirm that is the case. The truck and trailer are locked together with very little flex. If your running on a fairly smooth interstate tracks great. However if the roads are a bit ruff, there is no give, and with the bounce that shock is transmitted directly into the truck frame. After coming through Pennsylvania on I 81, it about beat us to death. It was so uncomfortable and unsetting, we had to slowed way down to around 50 in many areas. I removed the hitch and never used it again. I feel like there is a reason that every hitch out there uses spring bars. Think about the were you drive, and the road condition, how much bounce you experience. It is a great product, but all products have trade off, for us the ride quality wasn't worth it
I have a 34' ATC Toy Hauler and was ready to buy the Weigh Safe True Tow, based on your evaluation of the 6 products. I appreciate that you do your homework on these hitches, but ran into a roadblock with the Weigh Safe. The ATC has an 8"x 2" frame and this is the response from Weigh Safe. "Our brackets are made for trailer frames up to 6" tall and 2.5" thick, we've had some customers who have bolted them onto their larger trailer frames. This does void the warranty, and so we cannot provide instructions or advice on going about it, so if you choose to do so we just anticipate that you reach out to your trailer manufacturer to make sure you can make those modifications (especially with it being aluminum). the warranty would be" Do you have a recommendation for this type of trailer?
like i mentioned before, i've ran this hitch for years on my scout troop's cargo trailer. my truck really doesn't need it (ram 2500 power wagon) but man does it knock down the sway on the road from wind etc. i'm going to pick up another complete setup for my camper next.
Question if you have a moment. 2011 Duramax short bed 2500 with Imagine 22 mle (7,000 max). I'm looking for easy hitching as I think my truck and RV is not an issue for weight or sway. Have not towed yet. TR3 with no lifting with the jack or Anderson with chains? TR3 will be heavier to pull and carry, but Anderson is much lighter, but possibly more work to hitch lifting the trailer and truck to install the chain plate. Which is easier to hitch?
Just put my andersen hitch on today and my first impression was that it did what they said it would do. It was a gusty windy day and the hitch keep my truck and trailer straight when the wind was blowing us around.it cut out the bounce when we hit the rough roads
Looking to purchase a GD 23Lde in the near future. Saw the video on the Anderson hitch. I'm very interested in it. I also saw where you said you would recommend it up to a 26ft trailer with it. It's 28ft. My tow vehicle is a 01 Ford F-150 with a 3.5 and 1,950. Thanks.
HELP! I have just purchased an Outdoors RV, 25rds. I have watched pretty well all of your weight distribution hitch presentations and am impressed with your knowledge so please help me with this. I was going to purchase the Tru Tow Weigh Safe system but discovered that it does NOT fit an 8" frame. All Outdoors rvs have 8 " frames. Max weight for my trailer is 10,000lbs. What system would you recommend. Thank you very much for any help you can give me.
Good information. I've heard mixed reviews on their products. I did purchase one of their locking hitch pins that turned out to be the wrong size. I had contacted them by phone before buying to be assured that they had a product that would work for me. They assured me that it would work. Turns out it did not. They were very unhelpful and charged me a restocking fee and return shipping! Not a pleasant experience! I hope others will find differently.
I had an Anderson hitch with a 24” travel trailer. I found it to be difficult when hitching up when the truck and trailer were not perfectly straight and on a slope. This is a common problem in my driveway. I believe my sway pro to be a better performing for weight distribution and sway control on my current 28 ft travel trailer. Then Anderson did have a bounce to it. The light weight was a plus. Also the friction bushing wore out and pushed up. Mine was a previous version and the newer Anderson hitches do have improved plates and a different ball assembly. Considering the competition, I was surprised you rated the Anderson in the middle of the pack.
Which triangle plate did you have, the one with the solid ring that goes around the ball shank or the one that forms a hinge on the attachment pin? The latter seems to solve your sloped driveway and bouncing issues. As for hitching when the truck and trailer aren’t perfectly straight (or after unhitching at an angle), I got a piece of 5/8” aluminum rod from Home Depot about 3ft long for like $10 that I insert into the ball shank pin hole and can then rotate the ball shank so the pin holes are aligned perpendicular to the trailer so everything goes together easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Towing a 35 ft 11in Imagine 3100 RD with a 1 ton 2024 Ram 3500 diesel. Can you please tell me the length of the chains on the Andersen hitch? My propane tanks might be in the way, and I noticed Andersen sells chain extensions.
I'm not sure. I gave that hitch away quite some time ago. Based on instructions from Andersen I would guess 30-31 inches. Andersen doesn't mention it in thier install video.
Thank you for the video! I've wondered how well this hitch would work. Seems like it gets the job done! I certainly like how simple and lightweight it is. 👍
thanks for the update. just wondering if you or any other Anderson users try to turn off the vehicle traction/sway control, or just ignore the suggestion in the manual. I am currently running an E4, and just the hitch head adds 100 pounds to my rear axle on the cat scale, and my Lumbar disc is not happy about it.
I’ve been using it on my 23’ TT towing with Expedition with tow package. I disable the sway control. The way it was explained to me the sway control works by activating the TT brakes to compensate. So, it would be fighting the Andersen. Not sure it would damage anything. This is my first WDH and I love the simplicity of it and performance so far.
@@ormartinez2000 thanks. I did get an e-mail response from Anderson saying "For most all newer model vehicles the built in sway control would be just fine to use with our hitch."
Thank you, I was waiting to see what you thought of the Andersen. Great review. I'm probably not in the market until next year so I will be interested what you have to say after you get a few more miles on it.
I had a 2019 Tundra 1794 and a Lance 2465. Total Rig 13970 lbs Trailer only 6468 Truck only 6600 Tongue Wt 902 The payload is 1185 lbs. As you can see a max trailer weight of 9100lbs means nothing, as a tongue weight of 902 from payload of 1185 leaves nothing for people and supplies in the truck. I tried towing, but it wasn’t very good. I switched to a 2022 F350 with a 3700 lbs payload and max trailer of 15000 lbs. So, everything well within capacity. However, I could not get the trailer to stop swaying. Anything more than 60 mph, bad sway. Going downhill even worse. I tried everything with the Andersen hitch, adjusted height, chain tensions, reload weight, etc. It just would not stop swaying at more than 60 mph or downhills greater than 50 mph. I switched to a trunion bar hitch (Weighsafe) and have zero sway. Im extremely disappointed in Andersen hitch and would ver recommend it in a trailer more than 2000-3000 lbs.
I have the exact same set up with the truck and trailer weight and my set up does the same thing as yours that I am not the only one experiencing problems with the Anderson hitch going back to the bar set up
I am looking to get this Andersen hitch. My rv has a loaded weight of 10500 lbs. Can I get the one rated for 14000 lbs as the next lower is only rated for 10000 lbs?
Yes, I should probably do a video on that subject. A good hitch definitely performs better than using nothing. Also, many truck receivers require a WDH if hitch weight is over 500lbs (which most TT are).
Great review I’m debating on this one and the recurve R6. Did you notice any minor damage to your A frame with the set screws from the Anderson. Saw something on a chat and just wanted to know your experience with the bracket mounts. Thanks for your help
Thanks for the response and info. If it was your money, Anderson or recurve R6 (25’ travel trailer at 5000pound 500pounds tongue weight). I respect your opinions either way.
I had this hitch for about 4-5 years. I never liked the sway performance of it. I recently went with Blue Ox Sway Pro and the difference is night and day.
It's a 33 foot. I had it on a 24 foot trailer previously and had the same opinion. Reading all of the reviews, I'm wondering if maybe I didn't have the chains tight enough. That being said.... I super happy with the Blue Ox.@@WanderingWeekends
@@WanderingWeekends that should save quite a bit of time I’m always taking off my round bar hitch before backing in I liked how easy it was to hook up once it was set up
I ordered the Andersen when I ordered my TT, but the trailer showed up early and Andersen said they were still 4 weeks out so I had to go with a Curt. Then I upgraded from a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton and bought a Gen-Y boss hitch instead. Would probably still be using the Andersen if I were able to get it in time.
I like the Anderson hitch for ease of use, but I feel that the brackets kept walking up the box metal frame hence loosening up the chains. Did any one experience that also?
@@WanderingWeekends I used a torque wrench to tighten down the bolts, but i was a little lighter and was concerned of crushing the box frame. The set screw helped but it still drug along the frame. Great video! Thx.
Thanks for sharing your early findings! Was hoping that you would share your scoring criteria like what was presented for the others, but maybe that is a future update? Also would like to know if u experience excessive wear between the chain shackles and flat plate as well as having the elastomer between the ball neck and chain plate start extruding its way out of that area. Keep up the great work!
What was there about the andersen hitch that it was rated below the equalizer I currently have a flat bar system with sway bar attached. Thinking about a different model as I still get some serious sway unless I have the sway bar tightened VERY tight.. THX CURT
I'm a 5'3" 100lb 59 year old woman with not a lot of strength so I REALLY want to buy this for my travel trailer I'm about to get. I have a 2018 RAM 2500 Big Horn Turbo Diesel truck and the travel trailer is a 2016 Forest River ROCKWOOD ULTRA LITE at 33.3' and about 7500lbs. PLEASE tell me this will work! The other hitches I'm looking at are really heavy and really hard to install and Camping World won't help me unless I buy from them and they don't have this one or the Camco EAZ Lift Recurve R3 I was looking at before I found this. And I have to order ASAP because my Rockwood will be ready to pick up in a week and shipping takes time. Please let me know ASAP. Thank you very much!
Are you still thinking that the under 30 foot rule and 1/2 ton rules apply? I really like the simplicity of this hitch and the price is good compared to the weigh safe, which is my next choice rt now. Just towed our 31 foot Forest River to Wyoming and back and winds and sway were a huge problem. Only my large amount of trailering experience saved us from the ditch....and some luck from above I think too.
Cory What do you do with the emergency chains? Over or under the sway control plate? Also what has been the longer term evaluation of the Andersen WD with the Transcend? Thanks, Larry
Hi Larry. I’ve always been told to cross chains under everything. Supposedly they will act as a “basket” and catch whatever they can. I’ve been impressed with the Andersen. If someone needs a lighter weight hitch this one is the way to go. It doesn’t perform as well as the WeighSafe but it’s much lighter and the performance is still better than some.
Cory: we appreciate your informative podcasts. This one was perfect timing. So we are 70+ year old couple just now getting into RV’s for the first time for the grandkids down here in Central Florida. One of my main concerns is the safety of trailering our just ordered Jayco Jayfeather Micro 199 mbs ( 23 ft, 5800 max cargo) down the highway and potential sway. After your review of the WDH’s, I was all set on the Weighsafe despite its 140 lbs. It seemed the safest I could afford. But I cannot lie, the 88 lb difference is enticing. And yes, I’m towing with a 1/2 ton F150 hybrid, so that reduced weight could help. So I’m asking for your advice- what’s the best WDH on your list for my setup when you consider our age and lack of experience. Thanks, Larry
At 23ft I think the Andersen will serve you well. Weigh Safe will perform better but considering your specific wants/needs you may be happier overall with the Andersen. If you were in a 30ft trailer I would feel differently. Assuming your F150 is a 4 door truck (supercrew)?
@@WanderingWeekends Cory- What do you do to your emergency chains? Do they go under or over the sway control plate? Also you said you were going to leave it on the Transcend up to April. Are you still satisfied with the Andersen? Thanks for your experience, Larry McCorkle
@@larrymccorkle3409 I always "basket"/ criss-cross the chains under everything. we finished up with the Transcend last month and I can't complain about the Andersen. I think I put 1600-1700 miles on it. This review still holds true. No issues. Performance would still rate it 4th.
Cory, as my wife and I continue to decide what camper is next for us you have become my go-to guy for detailed and unbiased information. Appreciate your presentations. Question for you: friends of ours are looking to buy their first camper (travel trailer) and they asked if they can test-pull a trailer?? We've owned four trailers and never once did I think about and/or ask about doing a test-pull. Do you know if dealers allow people to do this with a travel trailer? If I were buying a motorhome I know they would let/encourage me to drive it...but what about pulling a trailer?
We appreciate your support! It will likely depend on the dealer. I know I’ve had TRUCK dealers say they’d allow a test pull. Not sure about RV dealers. It would be nice if everyone were allowed to “test pull” but I don’t see it becoming a terribly common practice (unfortunately).
@@WanderingWeekends and that's what I figured but thought I would reach out. Keep up the good work you're doing. Like I said, your presentations are solid and I can trust the information. Also, really enjoyed your video on cast iron restoration. Between camping and cast iron you've got my attention!
Hey Cory. Any updates on towing with the Anderson since this review. I keep reading some reviews that it's bad for sway and isn't great in windy weather. Thanks!
Just from an overhead view of comments and reviews, it seems the cutoff for this hitch is about 30ft. Anything much bigger and it seems to lack a bit. This trailer was 30ft 11inches and it did well. I'm not sure how well it would do on our current trailer which is 6ft longer
@@WanderingWeekends Does it look like it might be possible for some folks to rotate the tongue jack 90 degrees or maybe even 180 degrees for the tailgate to clear? Not knowing where exactly your tailgate would hit the jack makes it hard to visualize whether or not repositioning the jack might help.......of course each tailgate is different as well as the TT involved, but if your tailgate hits the jack in the middle of the gate, then it would probably be a no-go for moving the jack.
Thank you for posting this. You seemed to like the hitch but what was the reason to put it in #4? I am shopping and the things mentioned are why I'm leaning towards this hitch. But it would be nice to know, outside of the propride which is obvious, what makes the other two rate higher? Thanks!
Less sway and less porpoising from #2 and #3. Performance just wasn’t quite up to par. Very good for its design but not on the level of the Weigh Safe. Close to the Equalizer but not quite there either. Totally silent but I can’t use my tailgate when hitched so those cancel out. Overall 4 is a fair placing and much better than I thought it would do. I also believe larger trailer could become an issue but I was wrong about this hitch once… I could be wrong about that as well.
I have a half ton 2015 F-150 Sport package with a 5.0 V8 would you have a good recommendation for a no sway hitch? We tow a keystone bullet ultra lite that is right about 30' hitch to tail. Truck is GVWR 6800 and trailer is 7600 GVWR
I have an equalizer e2 setup and hate dealing with the cross bars and the grease etc. Seems like what this give up in performance it makes up for in ease of use. Also, dislike the noise at lower speeds. How was noise in low speed maneuvering/backing ?
Same as them, zero noise with my Andersen hitch either driving through a park or backing into a site. Both my prior Curt and Blue Ox hitches drew everyone's attention when heading to a site.
@@22apoach much easier to hitch/unhitch due to the overall weight and not needing to jack the trailer up and down to release tension (unless you want to like WW's video). You'll need to keep a ratchet with you to turn the adjusting nut but it's pretty quick.
My wife and I are picking up a Grand Design XLS 17MKE next week, my tow vehicle is 2023 Silverado 1500, 3.0 duramax with tow package (not max tow package). Looking at either the Anderson or the E4. Of the two, which one in your opinion would work best with my setup? I like the fact that the Anderson is lighter in weight (I'm no spring chicken) but don't want to sacrifice sway control.
Went from the 1500 to a 2500 HD (got an excellent deal on a 2019 low mileage and needed more payload) and looking for your opinion on the Anderson hitch using this truck pulling our MKE17.
Been watching all your videos as I am researching WDHs. We’ve been in a fifth wheel full time for last 5 years but are downsizing back to a TT. We had an E4 on our last TT and could not stand the noise. Because of that I am considering the Andersen for our next TT (29 feet 8600 lb GVW) towing with a Diesel F350 SRW SB. Do you still feel this is a good option for a 30 footer with a substantial tow vehicle 2 years later?
Love the reviews, just wondered why you didn,didn't, give the number of the ratings in each category. Was there a special reason it fell below the equalizer and and why. Thx curt
I have a question about maneuverability of this hitch. Our drive way has two switchbacks and two 25 degree inclines. Thankfully, I do tow with a quadrasteer so we can make the turns, but wondering how this would do in such a condition. Would it limit the turns or create too much stress? The turns and inclines start and end gradually.
I am trying to decide hitch for Sierra 1500 SLT 2020 V8 10 speed between weighty True Tow and Anderson. I do have specs that say truck dry hitch at 920lbs, tow wt 9300, GCVW 15000, my new trailer at 755 dry and 25 ft dry wt 6155. Leary of another 70 lbs in back of truck but has payload of 1613 and only 2 of us. Comparing porpoising, sway to True tow, was Anderson equal , alot worse , or what. Like the no bar removal to back, would I be wrong with Anderson seeing my trailer specs on a half ton???
I've been running this hitch for over a year now with a Ram 2500 6.4 pulling a 27' Flagstaff 27VRL. Came from a EAZ-Lift round bar and then a Equalizer E4. In my opinion the Andersen performs worlds better than the EAZ-Lift and as good or better than the Equalizer. The hooking and unhooking is really the amazing part about the Andersen. Plus it's very quiet, no creaking and popping, no need to unhook anything when backing up. I've talked a few fellow RV'ers, who were also doubtful, to get one and they're just as impressed. Another thing I'd like to add. My hitch was missing the big washers that go in front of the bushings. Andersen was very responsive and fast to get those parts out to me, and threw in a couple extra bushings as well. Yes, there are serviceable parts on these hitches. The friction cup under the ball and the bushings will need to be replaced from time to time. About 30 trips on mine and they're holding it fine though, so, who knows when that will be.
I noticed a tad less sway and porpoising with the E4 but it’s close!
thanks for posting this. I m on the fence of switching to the Anderson from my E4 to primarily save my back.
I have been towing rvs for 35 years. I recently purchased the Anderson which was my 5th hitch. By far the best I have owned. No issues at all.
What size trailer?
@@TreadReview 25ft
@@chriswadlington2465 Thanks I ordered an Andersen today.
Switched from Weight Safe to Anderson. Performs close to the WS and the the ease of use makes up for the small performance gap. Takes some dialing in at first. But when it's right you can feel it. The steering tightens up and becomes more precise. I was very happy with both. I will staying with Anderson.
What did you do to get it dialed in? I have a 34’ Brinkley 285 towing with a 2023 f350 6.7. Def didn’t feel comfortable doing over 5-60. Thx
I've used the Andersen for a year now after this video came out. I'm very pleased with it's ability and we pull a 31' Transcend with a 1/2 ton LTZ Silverado. The ease of connecting and disconnect are what sells me also and I would not care to try anything else. It does not sway as bad in the same winds as his test showed on the B&W testing
I’m glad it’s doing well for you!
This is actually my grandfather's cousin's company. Thank you guys for reviewing their hitch. I personally use one of their hitches and they work extremely well by experience.
Theyve done a great job on this hitch!
I have been using this Hitch for 3 years now, 2 different trailers, on was 25 feet at 4500LB and the other is 31feet at 7000lb, about 7500miles with both. I love it. I did play with the setting of the chains a bit to find my best position for me. i actually disconnect the chain and the bushing. i find it a lot easier. jack up the tonged place the chains to my setting and lower, then drive away
I have had My Andersen hitch for 3 years and was happy too see your review gives it a good rating. I have a 2011 F 150 Ecoboost max tow and an Imagine 2450 RL. Fully loaded it is about 7500 lbs. As you point out the light weight was at the top of my list picking it. I have back issues and the Equalizer I had was a beast to handle. Also I don’t have any idea how many pants I ruined with grease stains with the Equalizer. I’ve towed about 10,000 miles in all conditions and the hitch preforms well. I do see an improvement when I have around 10 gallons of water in the fresh tank.
Just want to say we have a similar setup, 2500 Duramax towing a 7500 lb trailer. We have 13k miles towing using that hitch and absolutely love it. We love that we can do sharp turns and back up easily with no issues and how easy it is to hitch and unhitch. We have never had any real sway on the highway.
Do you need to get out and adjust it, (loosen it I guess) to back?
@@tash6132 Nope, nothing at all. Backing up and turning sharely requires nothing special. We make a u-turn in our cul-de-sac and back down our 500 foot driveway all the time with it.
@@twodogsandtheirfamily so sharp turns required type backing from the street into a narrow driveway doesn't need any adjustment to do?
@@tash6132 Nothing, our cul-de-sac is about 60 feet in diameter, we are 53 feet long and we do a tight single turn to make a u-turn every time. Our driveway is about 12 feet wide and we back down that no issue.
I use this hitch on a 1/2 ton with a 26' camper trailer, it works really well, is super easy on and off and it doesn't make any noise. Great review.
Does he recommend 1/2 ton with 26' box or 26 total?
Is your 26' camper a 26 foot living area, so frame and hitch about 32 feet, or is it 26 feet overall with hitch and frame.
@@JasonGroom my camper overall including hitch I'm at 26'. Personally I wouldn't pull anything over 30' with a 1/2 ton, but that's just me.
I have one of these in Australia and I get a lot of questions when they see the Hitch and like you they are all bar none very doubtful or even a bit derogatory. I have been passed by road trains and on coming and these are huge units, never have I felt any sway induced. In short I love it.
I noticed the chain was not correctly fitted as it had a twist in it, this may be a small thing but it actually has a decent impact on the ability of the distribution as it does increase the chain rigidity when fitted without any twisting.
I have found your series on these hitches very informative, nice work.
I have the same setup, 3/4 ton with 2600rb, absolutely love my Andersen hitch (2.5" shank/4" drop). One point on your install, their instructions mentioned keeping the chains straight when inserting into the bracket and I noticed yours has a 90 degree twist, not sure if that makes any measurable difference in performance but thought I'd point it out since you will continue using it. Great review!
Would like to say thank you for the review on the hitch I went with the Anderson because of medical reasons and have had zero problems. We only have a Chevy 1500 and pull a 22rkhl and it has been great thank you for all your information on everything
That is awesome to hear. I am glad it’s working out well for you!
Have one.
No need to raise jack much to hook/unhook. Just loosen nuts.
Just tighten back up to setting when hooking up. Number of threads, or I made a gauge so no counting.
Correct... either/or... thanks for watching
Glad you had the chance to review this hitch and I’m glad it didn’t out perform the weigh-safe since I purchased it not long ago 😂.
I was between the two of them and couldn’t find enough recent info on the Anderson so I went with the weigh-safe and love it.
Thanks for the reviews , hitch battle was informative and helped me make my buying decision.
Haha! Weigh Safe is tough to beat… but it’s heavy!
We have about 15,000 miles of towing a 8900 lb travel trailer that’s a hair under 32’ exclusively with the Andersen. We had some issues with the brake material in the head but Andersen has stood behind their product and looked after us even when we were on the road. I went to Andersen because of the porpoising while towing with our other hitch and it pretty much eliminated that issue for us. One thing we found was hitching and unhitching when the truck and trailer are not aligned can be a headache the first few times. There are some videos on how to deal with hitching in those situations and Andersen does provide instructions in the hitch manual. Overall I like the hitch, it’s weight is a definite plus. The number of threads showing is recommended by Andersen but in talking with other owners some say they have had to adjust one way or another to achieve the best results.
I posted this above, but I would ask you as well:
"Are you still thinking that the under 30 foot rule and 1/2 ton rules apply? I really like the simplicity of this hitch and the price is good compared to the weigh safe, which is my next choice rt now. Just towed our 31 foot Forest River to Wyoming and back and winds and sway were a huge problem. Only my large amount of trailering experience saved us from the ditch....and some luck from above I think too."
@@TreadReview We purchased a longer trailer. I found that the weight transfer was not what I needed which is something I had heard from others. I purchased a different hitch and while I miss the simplicity of the Andersen this one is working better for my needs. In a nutshell I wouldn’t recommend the Andersen for anyone towing longer than a 30’ trailer with a 1500 series truck. Some may disagree but that’s been my experience with it.
@@Jd-yc3gw Thanks for your answer!
Great feedback, as always. I've been using this setup on my trailer since July. I just have a little 21 ft Dutchmen and I Love it. Most of the time I can't even tell the trailer's back there, especially on the freeway going by semis and crosswinds works great for what I consider a lighter weight smaller trailer. Keep on the wandering on!
I use the andersen hitches and love it. I have a 2014 toyota tundra with a 5.7 moter pulling a 36 ft 11 in camper it pulls it great.
Thanks for doing this video and putting your preconceived thoughts to the side. The light weight is a plus for us.
Regarding Andersen's customer service.... they're great! I bought the Andersen to tow my 14' enclosed trailer from Illinois to Arizona with my 2015 GMC Canyon. I bought the shank that worked with the Canyon and it was the shorter of the two offered. I later bought a 2019 Tahoe which had a hitch height that was taller than the Canyon. I contacted Andersen about getting the extended shank and they traded me even for the longer shank, no problems, even though it was used. Made my day! Not saying that would be everyone's experience, but just saying they were great.
Glad to see you add the Anderson to your review. Perfect timing I was already sold on the Anderson when you put this video out and it just confirmed what I thought. I am ordering mine today. Great reviews, thanks!
I have used the Anderson hitch for years. Love it and works great on my dump trailer.
Am "older" guy (soon 77), but interested in the Andersen. Would love to see a video on connectivity (after parking). That is, how do you hitch after "dropping" the trailer under diff conditions; e.g., backing str8 in, connecting left/rigt from the hitch, etc. Can you give me/us guidance on that procedure?
Thanks for the input!
Y'all Be Safe!!!
I have a F350 6.7L diesel and will be pulling a 27 ft Intech OVR Navigate (7,500lbs). I am most concerned about high wind sway. I am going back and forth between the Andersen and Safe Weigh. I like how easily the Andersen is to use. Given my own vehicle and trailer would love your recommendation,
One thing you didn’t mention was porpoising. This hitch is great for that as well. Admittedly, it’s not the best for WD. But for sway and bounce, it’s a winner.
I used it for a couple of years, the weight and ease of use were phenomenal. I then realized that the Andersen does not “pull” the trailer by the ball receiver but it pulls the trailer WITH THE CHAINS towards the tow vehicle. The pressure and wear on the ball receiver is not in the front, as all of them are meant to, but in the back where the locking mechanism is. The ball actually had a pretty evident wear on the “back”.
I didn’t like it and I sold it, got myself a ProPride…
We love this hitch. We used it for 3 years with our 33-foot long Wildcat Maxx travel trailer. My only gripe was the connecting of the lower 'triangle' on our model. It caused grief if not lined up almost exactly as it was taken off. If level and straight it was excellent, if off it was loosen the chains then drive a bit and readjust the hitch back to where it was set.
For years before getting the Anderson when we bought the Wildcat, we'd always had and used a Reese weight distribution hitch with trailers. The Anderson is so much better, really good in crosswinds, no clanking, popping, or groaning like the Reese and many WDHs have. When we traded in the Wildcat on our Jayco 5th wheel we kept the Anderson hitch. In 2018 we bought a 20-foot Winnebago Mini travel trailer and now use the Anderson with that RV. The Winnebago is a lot lighter weight but the Anderson works fine on that RV too.
How has this hitch performed up to date. How does it do with way on that size TT?
I bought mine2 years ago and damn I always draw a crowd during our trips. We take it across country all the time. A few little tweaks here and there but easy as hell to manage.
I've been debating on this hitch for pulling our '76 Travelaire 1500 15' trailer with our Nissan Xterra.
The light weight also comes into play for those of us with lower payload ratings (I'm looking you, Toyota) and need to keep things light up front without loading the trailer improperly to adjust tongue weight.
So would this be good for a 1/2 ton chevy pulling a 21 foot trailer weighing in a 4800lbs loaded? I know the truck can easily tow that without but I am looking for added anti-sway when towing the trailer. I will also have a quad and dirt bike in the truck at times (most of the weight in front of the rear axle and directly over it) so want to help take some load off the rear axle.
I can only say probably because I haven’t experienced your particular setup.
Watch that payload! Haha.
I was hoping you'd get a chance to compare the Amdersen. I love the one I have. I started with it installed on a 30' TT (StarCrafy 25BH) towed with a 1/2 ton and have since switched it to our current 38' TT (KZ Sportsman 333kbkle) towed with a F350 diesel. Mountains of Eastern and Flat of western PA all the way to Maine, I've experienced no problems. When I needed a new shank (2" to 3") Andersen sold me the replacement shank and for a small fee ($50?) sent me new hardware, mounting plate and head assembly in my requested ball size. They have been great to deal with when I had technical questions too.
I'm towing a 26 foot (5600lb. dry) Flagstaff Micro Lite 25BHDS with a 1/ ton Silverado and the Anderson performs great. However, I also experience some porpoising on certain road conditions.
Any issues with the brackets moving and the set screw and bolts compressing or deforming the trailers A-frame rails?
Anderson has a unique way of engineering things. I had an Anderson Ultimate 5th wheel hitch for a few years. I was shocked at how light it was and how much easier it made hitching up. To anyone who’s curious look that hitch up. It’s definitely unique and awesome. The ride and maneuverability were fantastic.
I currently have an old school Reese hitch for my TT and my F350 handles it well so I’ll stick with what I have.
However, having used Anderson products before I would not hesitate to try this hitch if I were in the market for one.
Just a word of caution on their 5th wheel hitches... there have been quite a few failures of them on emergency stops reported.
Great review Cory !! I’ve been waiting for this .. I was thinking about the Kurt tru track but the simplicity of this Anderson changed my mind..Thank You
Thanks for the review. I have been wondering about this hitch because of the weight and ease of hooking and un hooking. We have a Flagstaff TT that weights 7600lbs. From hitch to rear bumper, it's 35'. We are using an equalizer 4pt hitch. It's working fine with a little porpoising. I thought about the propride, but that's a chunk of change.
I bought this hitch for one primary reason, weight. I have been using a Curtis Trutrack, works well just very heavy to handle.
The Pros: Light easy to handle; sway control is as good as the Curtis; easy to set up, hook and unhook; weight transfer good, no issues.
The Con: the hitch is advertised as "no bounce", I can confirm that is the case. The truck and trailer are locked together with very little flex. If your running on a fairly smooth interstate tracks great. However if the roads are a bit ruff, there is no give, and with the bounce that shock is transmitted directly into the truck frame. After coming through Pennsylvania on I 81, it about beat us to death. It was so uncomfortable and unsetting, we had to slowed way down to around 50 in many areas. I removed the hitch and never used it again. I feel like there is a reason that every hitch out there uses spring bars.
Think about the were you drive, and the road condition, how much bounce you experience. It is a great product, but all products have trade off, for us the ride quality wasn't worth it
I have a 34' ATC Toy Hauler and was ready to buy the Weigh Safe True Tow, based on your evaluation of the 6 products. I appreciate that you do your homework on these hitches, but ran into a roadblock with the Weigh Safe. The ATC has an 8"x 2" frame and this is the response from Weigh Safe.
"Our brackets are made for trailer frames up to 6" tall and 2.5" thick, we've had some customers who have bolted them onto their larger trailer frames. This does void the warranty, and so we cannot provide instructions or advice on going about it, so if you choose to do so we just anticipate that you reach out to your trailer manufacturer to make sure you can make those modifications (especially with it being aluminum). the warranty would be"
Do you have a recommendation for this type of trailer?
like i mentioned before, i've ran this hitch for years on my scout troop's cargo trailer. my truck really doesn't need it (ram 2500 power wagon) but man does it knock down the sway on the road from wind etc. i'm going to pick up another complete setup for my camper next.
Enjoyed your review but would like to have see the ratings you used on the previous tests. Keep up the good work.
Question if you have a moment. 2011 Duramax short bed 2500 with Imagine 22 mle (7,000 max). I'm looking for easy hitching as I think my truck and RV is not an issue for weight or sway. Have not towed yet. TR3 with no lifting with the jack or Anderson with chains? TR3 will be heavier to pull and carry, but Anderson is much lighter, but possibly more work to hitch lifting the trailer and truck to install the chain plate. Which is easier to hitch?
They’re both pretty easy but in different ways.
Thanks for the info! Will be interested to see how the hitch works for you down the road.
Just put my andersen hitch on today and my first impression was that it did what they said it would do. It was a gusty windy day and the hitch keep my truck and trailer straight when the wind was blowing us around.it cut out the bounce when we hit the rough roads
Looking to purchase a GD 23Lde in the near future. Saw the video on the Anderson hitch. I'm very interested in it. I also saw where you said you would recommend it up to a 26ft trailer with it. It's 28ft. My tow vehicle is a 01 Ford F-150 with a 3.5 and 1,950. Thanks.
HELP! I have just purchased an Outdoors RV, 25rds. I have watched pretty well all of your weight distribution hitch presentations and am impressed with your knowledge so please help me with this. I was going to purchase the Tru Tow Weigh Safe system but discovered that it does NOT fit an 8" frame. All Outdoors rvs have 8 " frames. Max weight for my trailer is 10,000lbs. What system would you recommend. Thank you very much for any help you can give me.
Take a look at B&W Continuum, TR3, or Equal-I-zer. ProPride if $4k doesn’t bother you.
I am handicapped with limited mobility and I like this hitch!
Our RV is 33'.5" and using a Ram 2022 1500 E-Torque the Andersen has performed very well, and would recommend if you have a RV about 6670lbs.
What trailer do u have?
@@Exceptionaldiamonds , we have the 2020 27DBS Primetime Avenger.
Do you think this wdh is less likely to to cause trailer tongue damage when going up a sudden incline as traditional hitches have done?
Good information. I've heard mixed reviews on their products. I did purchase one of their locking hitch pins that turned out to be the wrong size. I had contacted them by phone before buying to be assured that they had a product that would work for me. They assured me that it would work. Turns out it did not. They were very unhelpful and charged me a restocking fee and return shipping! Not a pleasant experience! I hope others will find differently.
Does the Anderson hitch
make your truck sqaut less?
I had an Anderson hitch with a 24” travel trailer. I found it to be difficult when hitching up when the truck and trailer were not perfectly straight and on a slope. This is a common problem in my driveway. I believe my sway pro to be a better performing for weight distribution and sway control on my current 28 ft travel trailer. Then Anderson did have a bounce to it. The light weight was a plus. Also the friction bushing wore out and pushed up. Mine was a previous version and the newer Anderson hitches do have improved plates and a different ball assembly. Considering the competition, I was surprised you rated the Anderson in the middle of the pack.
Which triangle plate did you have, the one with the solid ring that goes around the ball shank or the one that forms a hinge on the attachment pin? The latter seems to solve your sloped driveway and bouncing issues. As for hitching when the truck and trailer aren’t perfectly straight (or after unhitching at an angle), I got a piece of 5/8” aluminum rod from Home Depot about 3ft long for like $10 that I insert into the ball shank pin hole and can then rotate the ball shank so the pin holes are aligned perpendicular to the trailer so everything goes together easy peasy lemon squeezy.
Towing a 35 ft 11in Imagine 3100 RD with a 1 ton 2024 Ram 3500 diesel. Can you please tell me the length of the chains on the Andersen hitch? My propane tanks might be in the way, and I noticed Andersen sells chain extensions.
I'm not sure. I gave that hitch away quite some time ago. Based on instructions from Andersen I would guess 30-31 inches. Andersen doesn't mention it in thier install video.
Are you going to do a follow up video after more towing? Also, what happened to the hitch after you tested it?
I towed with it another 400-500 miles. Nothing new to report. Good hitch.
I sold the hitch once I was done with it.
Have you thought of testing the camco r6 recurve?
Thank you for the video! I've wondered how well this hitch would work. Seems like it gets the job done! I certainly like how simple and lightweight it is. 👍
It surprised me… but it does well!
@@WanderingWeekends it surprises me as well! I'm still using the old school weight distribution hitch and sway bar haha maybe someday I'll upgrade!
Do you have a current discount code for Andersen hitches?
I don’t ☹️
thanks for the update. just wondering if you or any other Anderson users try to turn off the vehicle traction/sway control, or just ignore the suggestion in the manual. I am currently running an E4, and just the hitch head adds 100 pounds to my rear axle on the cat scale, and my Lumbar disc is not happy about it.
I’ve been using it on my 23’ TT towing with Expedition with tow package. I disable the sway control. The way it was explained to me the sway control works by activating the TT brakes to compensate. So, it would be fighting the Andersen. Not sure it would damage anything. This is my first WDH and I love the simplicity of it and performance so far.
@@ormartinez2000 thanks. I did get an e-mail response from Anderson saying "For most all newer model vehicles the built in sway control would be just fine to use with our hitch."
Thank you, I was waiting to see what you thought of the Andersen.
Great review.
I'm probably not in the market until next year so I will be interested what you have to say after you get a few more miles on it.
Absolutely. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
dang! missed the boat on the shipping. still wanna pick one up for a similar combo.
I had a 2019 Tundra 1794 and a Lance 2465.
Total Rig 13970 lbs
Trailer only 6468
Truck only 6600
Tongue Wt 902
The payload is 1185 lbs. As you can see a max trailer weight of 9100lbs means nothing, as a tongue weight of 902 from payload of 1185 leaves nothing for people and supplies in the truck. I tried towing, but it wasn’t very good.
I switched to a 2022 F350 with a 3700 lbs payload and max trailer of 15000 lbs.
So, everything well within capacity.
However, I could not get the trailer to stop swaying. Anything more than 60 mph, bad sway. Going downhill even worse.
I tried everything with the Andersen hitch, adjusted height, chain tensions, reload weight, etc. It just would not stop swaying at more than 60 mph or downhills greater than 50 mph.
I switched to a trunion bar hitch (Weighsafe) and have zero sway.
Im extremely disappointed in Andersen hitch and would ver recommend it in a trailer more than 2000-3000 lbs.
I have the exact same set up with the truck and trailer weight and my set up does the same thing as yours that I am not the only one experiencing problems with the Anderson hitch going back to the bar set up
How well do you think it'll work for a 40ft 12000lb travel trailer with 1300lb tongue weight?
I wouldn’t
I am looking to get this Andersen hitch. My rv has a loaded weight of 10500 lbs. Can I get the one rated for 14000 lbs as the next lower is only rated for 10000 lbs?
In your testing of WDH, did you test without a WDH? How did the rig perform?
Yes, I should probably do a video on that subject. A good hitch definitely performs better than using nothing. Also, many truck receivers require a WDH if hitch weight is over 500lbs (which most TT are).
I love this system. If I go back to a TT. I would buy one of these units.
Great review I’m debating on this one and the recurve R6. Did you notice any minor damage to your A frame with the set screws from the Anderson. Saw something on a chat and just wanted to know your experience with the bracket mounts. Thanks for your help
The set screws are designed to dig in a bit but I didn’t have anything concerning. Just a small dimple.
Thanks for the response and info. If it was your money, Anderson or recurve R6 (25’ travel trailer at 5000pound 500pounds tongue weight). I respect your opinions either way.
I had this hitch for about 4-5 years. I never liked the sway performance of it. I recently went with Blue Ox Sway Pro and the difference is night and day.
What size trailer?
It's a 33 foot. I had it on a 24 foot trailer previously and had the same opinion. Reading all of the reviews, I'm wondering if maybe I didn't have the chains tight enough. That being said.... I super happy with the Blue Ox.@@WanderingWeekends
Right on Cory thanks the review is there any problem backing up the trailer into a site still hooked to the trailer
No, no need to unhook when backing.
@@WanderingWeekends that should save quite a bit of time I’m always taking off my round bar hitch before backing in I liked how easy it was to hook up once it was set up
I ordered the Andersen when I ordered my TT, but the trailer showed up early and Andersen said they were still 4 weeks out so I had to go with a Curt. Then I upgraded from a 1/2 ton to a 3/4 ton and bought a Gen-Y boss hitch instead. Would probably still be using the Andersen if I were able to get it in time.
I like the Anderson hitch for ease of use, but I feel that the brackets kept walking up the box metal frame hence loosening up the chains. Did any one experience that also?
I personally did not have that problem but I’ve heard of it happening.
@@WanderingWeekends I used a torque wrench to tighten down the bolts, but i was a little lighter and was concerned of crushing the box frame. The set screw helped but it still drug along the frame. Great video! Thx.
Thanks for sharing your early findings! Was hoping that you would share your scoring criteria like what was presented for the others, but maybe that is a future update? Also would like to know if u experience excessive wear between the chain shackles and flat plate as well as having the elastomer between the ball neck and chain plate start extruding its way out of that area. Keep up the great work!
I’ll certainly keep an eye on it. If anything pops up I’ll report back for sure.
What are you doing with all the hitches you tested? Returning?
The plan is to sell them and donate to a good cause. Likely Friends of Georgia State Parks.
What was there about the andersen hitch that it was rated below the equalizer
I currently have a flat bar system with sway bar attached. Thinking about a different model as I still get some serious sway unless I have the sway bar tightened VERY tight.. THX CURT
The Equalizer controls sway a bit better AND has a lifetime warranty. Just my experience of course.
I think your spot on brother I loved the easy set up and yes 30' max I do think it would be a great set up! Best of luck with it and happy camping!
I'm a 5'3" 100lb 59 year old woman with not a lot of strength so I REALLY want to buy this for my travel trailer I'm about to get. I have a 2018 RAM 2500 Big Horn Turbo Diesel truck and the travel trailer is a 2016 Forest River ROCKWOOD ULTRA LITE at 33.3' and about 7500lbs. PLEASE tell me this will work! The other hitches I'm looking at are really heavy and really hard to install and Camping World won't help me unless I buy from them and they don't have this one or the Camco EAZ Lift Recurve R3 I was looking at before I found this. And I have to order ASAP because my Rockwood will be ready to pick up in a week and shipping takes time. Please let me know ASAP. Thank you very much!
Are you still thinking that the under 30 foot rule and 1/2 ton rules apply? I really like the simplicity of this hitch and the price is good compared to the weigh safe, which is my next choice rt now. Just towed our 31 foot Forest River to Wyoming and back and winds and sway were a huge problem. Only my large amount of trailering experience saved us from the ditch....and some luck from above I think too.
Cory
What do you do with the emergency chains? Over or under the sway control plate?
Also what has been the longer term evaluation of the Andersen WD with the Transcend? Thanks, Larry
Hi Larry. I’ve always been told to cross chains under everything. Supposedly they will act as a “basket” and catch whatever they can. I’ve been impressed with the Andersen. If someone needs a lighter weight hitch this one is the way to go. It doesn’t perform as well as the WeighSafe but it’s much lighter and the performance is still better than some.
Cory: we appreciate your informative podcasts. This one was perfect timing.
So we are 70+ year old couple just now getting into RV’s for the first time for the grandkids down here in Central Florida.
One of my main concerns is the safety of trailering our just ordered Jayco Jayfeather Micro 199 mbs ( 23 ft, 5800 max cargo) down the highway and potential sway. After your review of the WDH’s, I was all set on the Weighsafe despite its 140 lbs. It seemed the safest I could afford. But I cannot lie, the 88 lb difference is enticing. And yes, I’m towing with a 1/2 ton F150 hybrid, so that reduced weight could help. So I’m asking for your advice- what’s the best WDH on your list for my setup when you consider our age and lack of experience. Thanks, Larry
At 23ft I think the Andersen will serve you well. Weigh Safe will perform better but considering your specific wants/needs you may be happier overall with the Andersen. If you were in a 30ft trailer I would feel differently. Assuming your F150 is a 4 door truck (supercrew)?
Yes- supercrew. Can you backup with the Andersen fully engaged? Thanks again!
Yes, absolutely
@@WanderingWeekends
Cory-
What do you do to your emergency chains? Do they go under or over the sway control plate?
Also you said you were going to leave it on the Transcend up to April. Are you still satisfied with the Andersen?
Thanks for your experience,
Larry McCorkle
@@larrymccorkle3409 I always "basket"/ criss-cross the chains under everything. we finished up with the Transcend last month and I can't complain about the Andersen. I think I put 1600-1700 miles on it. This review still holds true. No issues. Performance would still rate it 4th.
Cory, as my wife and I continue to decide what camper is next for us you have become my go-to guy for detailed and unbiased information. Appreciate your presentations. Question for you: friends of ours are looking to buy their first camper (travel trailer) and they asked if they can test-pull a trailer?? We've owned four trailers and never once did I think about and/or ask about doing a test-pull. Do you know if dealers allow people to do this with a travel trailer? If I were buying a motorhome I know they would let/encourage me to drive it...but what about pulling a trailer?
We appreciate your support!
It will likely depend on the dealer. I know I’ve had TRUCK dealers say they’d allow a test pull. Not sure about RV dealers. It would be nice if everyone were allowed to “test pull” but I don’t see it becoming a terribly common practice (unfortunately).
@@WanderingWeekends and that's what I figured but thought I would reach out. Keep up the good work you're doing. Like I said, your presentations are solid and I can trust the information. Also, really enjoyed your video on cast iron restoration. Between camping and cast iron you've got my attention!
Hey Cory. Any updates on towing with the Anderson since this review. I keep reading some reviews that it's bad for sway and isn't great in windy weather. Thanks!
Just from an overhead view of comments and reviews, it seems the cutoff for this hitch is about 30ft. Anything much bigger and it seems to lack a bit. This trailer was 30ft 11inches and it did well. I'm not sure how well it would do on our current trailer which is 6ft longer
Was wondering if your tailgate hits the tongue jack with this hitch?
Yep! Thanks for bringing that up. Part of why I bumped it down a tad.
@@WanderingWeekends Does it look like it might be possible for some folks to rotate the tongue jack 90 degrees or maybe even 180 degrees for the tailgate to clear? Not knowing where exactly your tailgate would hit the jack makes it hard to visualize whether or not repositioning the jack might help.......of course each tailgate is different as well as the TT involved, but if your tailgate hits the jack in the middle of the gate, then it would probably be a no-go for moving the jack.
How would you rate the anti sway as a number 1-20?
I had to go back and see what I rated the others. 13.75
I would have loved to see the numerical score like you did on the other six hitches.
I’m wondering if I’d be able to significantly shorten the chains in order to tow a short tongue utility trailer.
According to Andersen you can shorten the chains by up to four links.
Thank you for posting this. You seemed to like the hitch but what was the reason to put it in #4? I am shopping and the things mentioned are why I'm leaning towards this hitch. But it would be nice to know, outside of the propride which is obvious, what makes the other two rate higher?
Thanks!
Less sway and less porpoising from #2 and #3. Performance just wasn’t quite up to par. Very good for its design but not on the level of the Weigh Safe. Close to the Equalizer but not quite there either. Totally silent but I can’t use my tailgate when hitched so those cancel out. Overall 4 is a fair placing and much better than I thought it would do. I also believe larger trailer could become an issue but I was wrong about this hitch once… I could be wrong about that as well.
Thanks for responding! Gives me things to think about!
@@WanderingWeekends are u not able to drop your tailgate with the Andersen? I have rotated my head and with the equalizer my tailgate just clears
@@MrKfcflores correct. Rotating the jack would likely work but I was in the Transcend loaner and didn't bother.
Wow that unit looks awesome 😎
I have a half ton 2015 F-150 Sport package with a 5.0 V8 would you have a good recommendation for a no sway hitch? We tow a keystone bullet ultra lite that is right about 30' hitch to tail. Truck is GVWR 6800 and trailer is 7600 GVWR
My limit for a 1/2 ton is 26ft so yes, I’d get a bigger truck.
I have an equalizer e2 setup and hate dealing with the cross bars and the grease etc. Seems like what this give up in performance it makes up for in ease of use. Also, dislike the noise at lower speeds. How was noise in low speed maneuvering/backing ?
Zero noise! I neglected to mention it because noise doesn’t bother me too much but many love this hitch because it is silent.
I don't hear noise on mine at all
Same as them, zero noise with my Andersen hitch either driving through a park or backing into a site. Both my prior Curt and Blue Ox hitches drew everyone's attention when heading to a site.
@@JetmechF16 how do you the Anderson compared to the traditional arm bar WDHs ? Is it easier to hitch/unhitch ?
@@22apoach much easier to hitch/unhitch due to the overall weight and not needing to jack the trailer up and down to release tension (unless you want to like WW's video). You'll need to keep a ratchet with you to turn the adjusting nut but it's pretty quick.
My wife and I are picking up a Grand Design XLS 17MKE next week, my tow vehicle is 2023 Silverado 1500, 3.0 duramax with tow package (not max tow package). Looking at either the Anderson or the E4. Of the two, which one in your opinion would work best with my setup? I like the fact that the Anderson is lighter in weight (I'm no spring chicken) but don't want to sacrifice sway control.
Went from the 1500 to a 2500 HD (got an excellent deal on a 2019 low mileage and needed more payload) and looking for your opinion on the Anderson hitch using this truck pulling our MKE17.
What grade chain does this use?
That is a great question for the folks at Andersen. I don’t have a clue.
Been watching all your videos as I am researching WDHs. We’ve been in a fifth wheel full time for last 5 years but are downsizing back to a TT. We had an E4 on our last TT and could not stand the noise. Because of that I am considering the Andersen for our next TT (29 feet 8600 lb GVW) towing with a Diesel F350 SRW SB. Do you still feel this is a good option for a 30 footer with a substantial tow vehicle 2 years later?
When you say 30’ are you speaking of overall length or box length?
OAL
@@WanderingWeekends ok, our TT is around 35’ overall
I currently run a Blue Ox Track Pro and a Nissan Titan Single Cab
I have a large Equalizer which is good but I'm done. The ball hitch, bars, and everything is greasy, heavy, and huge to store.
Love the reviews, just wondered why you didn,didn't, give the number of the ratings in each category. Was there a special reason it fell below the equalizer and and why. Thx curt
It sways a tiny bit more that the Equalizer. It’s close though.
Great information. Thank you
Was that the 8” drop shank you were running?
Does your truck have trailer sway control? And did you notice any issues with that? I don’t think there is a way to turn it off on some models.
I have a question about maneuverability of this hitch. Our drive way has two switchbacks and two 25 degree inclines. Thankfully, I do tow with a quadrasteer so we can make the turns, but wondering how this would do in such a condition. Would it limit the turns or create too much stress? The turns and inclines start and end gradually.
That’s a great questions. I’d reach out to Andersen and see what they say.
@@WanderingWeekends Thanks, I just sent them an email.
I am trying to decide hitch for Sierra 1500 SLT 2020 V8 10 speed between weighty True Tow and Anderson. I do have specs that say truck dry hitch at 920lbs, tow wt 9300, GCVW 15000, my new trailer at 755 dry and 25 ft dry wt 6155. Leary of another 70 lbs in back of truck but has payload of 1613 and only 2 of us. Comparing porpoising, sway to True tow, was Anderson equal , alot worse , or what. Like the no bar removal to back, would I be wrong with Anderson seeing my trailer specs on a half ton???
No price mentioned here. Website does not list prices. Cannot add to cart on site. Don't see how this works. I'm sure it does, but I don't see how.
Thanks for your hard work putting together this video. Could you please test the McHitch?
have them email me! I'd love to.
I’m curious how it will perform with a 36 foot trailer with a tong of weight of 1100 pounds and trailer weight of 9400 pounds
Based on 100’s of comments that will be too much trailer for this hitch.
@@WanderingWeekends thank you
Love to see you review Reese Steadi Flex