Anderson Weight Distribution Hitch

[Mbranscum]

Looking for opinions on this hitch. Looking for something light and eat to on and off.

Currently have a Husky Centerline and I am tired of throwing 1200 lb bars around.

Tow vehicle is 2017 GMC 2500 with a Jayco Jay Flight 24RBS with approx 6000 lbs weight.

[Midnightmoon]

I've been using an Anderson with my 22BHM (5500#) behind my Ram 2500 and my F150. Incredible hitch and perfect for that size of a trailer. Simple, quick to hook up, no grease, light weight, and extremely easy to adjust. It can be installed by one person in less than an hour using common hand tools and a torque wrench. I've made one call to their customer service with a question and it was answered immediately.

I've got close to 10k miles on the hitch so far and zero issues. I don't see myself going back to a more traditional style hitch anytime soon. It is that good.

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

I've been using an Anderson with my 22BHM (5500#) behind my Ram 2500 and my F150. Incredible hitch and perfect for that size of a trailer. Simple, quick to hook up, no grease, light weight, and extremely easy to adjust. It can be installed by one person in less than an hour using common hand tools and a torque wrench. I've made one call to their customer service with a question and it was answered immediately.

I've got close to 10k miles on the hitch so far and zero issues. I don't see myself going back to a more traditional style hitch anytime soon. It is that good.

X2. As a newbie buying a first TT last year, I knew nothing about hitches. Dealer sold me on the Andersen. A year later, I love it. So easy, DW can hitch/unhitch if necessary. It’s quiet and we’ve seen zero sway with our SLX 212 (~4,500 lbs). The only tricky part is making sure you square up with the TT when you unhitch — makes rehitching much easier than trying to do it at an angle.

[ttavasc]

I agree with what others have already posted. We've got over 23K miles over 4 seasons on ours and it's been great. The DW can hitch/unhitch by herself, and she found out just how nice the setup tows as she started driving some on our longer trips this last season (). We are looking to upgrade to a bit bigger unit in the next year or two - likely in the 6-7K GVWR range - and I plan to stick with the Andersen for that as well.

[Scott_Trailer_Newbe]

The general rule with this type of hitch is stay at 500lbs or below on tung weight and they work great. Above this tung weight, a spring bar type is more effective.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by Scott_Trailer_Newbe

The general rule with this type of hitch is stay at 500lbs or below on tung weight and they work great. Above this tung weight, a spring bar type is more effective.

I'm at 800# tongue weight. No issues.

There was a lot of discussion early on with the Anderson where people felt that it couldn't return enough weight forward to the front axle with a heavier tongue weight trailer. What I found is that the installation instructions give a distance range back from the hitch for mounting the brackets on the trailer frame. When your mounting distance is closer to the front of that range, you can bottom out the adjustment bolt in the bracket before you can get enough tension on the chains to provide the distribution you are looking for. A quick call to Anderson and they suggested trimming a couple of links off of the chains. I ended up taking 3 full links off of my chains and it works perfectly. Plenty of adjustment to get the weight forward that I need for either truck I am towing with.

[Scott_Trailer_Newbe]

I personally don’t have experience with it. I was basing my comment on reviews I had read on this hitch.

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

I'm at 800# tongue weight. No issues.

There was a lot of discussion early on with the Anderson where people felt that it couldn't return enough weight forward to the front axle with a heavier tongue weight trailer. What I found is that the installation instructions give a distance range back from the hitch for mounting the brackets on the trailer frame. When your mounting distance is closer to the front of that range, you can bottom out the adjustment bolt in the bracket before you can get enough tension on the chains to provide the distribution you are looking for. A quick call to Anderson and they suggested trimming a couple of links off of the chains. I ended up taking 3 full links off of my chains and it works perfectly. Plenty of adjustment to get the weight forward that I need for either truck I am towing with.

My dealer just did the same when in for a service — took off one link each side. Now the bushings are compressed far less (3 threads showing instead of 8) and all is tight.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by LuckyDuck

My dealer just did the same when in for a service — took off one link each side. Now the bushings are compressed far less (3 threads showing instead of 8) and all is tight.

Just a correction on my previous post. I removed 2 links per side not 3. I didn't realize the typo until you quoted my post.

[RogerR]

We have about 10K on our 195RB, maybe 3,500 loaded pulling with our Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Much easier than our old bar and chain type!!!! Lighter and have never felt ANY sway. Even in serious wind situations with truck passing us, etc.

Paired with an electric hitch jack it is effortless and much safer to on/off.

I had questions and Andersen rep was very patient and answered every question. They also replaced a broken Andersen leveler with zero argument. I give their company a 10 in customer service.

[TonyCO]

I just posted about my trip home with the Andersen. I used it on my last TT as well. Lightweight and easy, no doubt. Check the post out under the lightweight TT thread.

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by TonyCO

I just posted about my trip home with the Andersen. I used it on my last TT as well. Lightweight and easy, no doubt. Check the post out under the lightweight TT thread.

Glad you got it home with no issues. What did the overall hitch height end up being?

[TonyCO]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

Glad you got it home with no issues. What did the overall hitch height end up being?

Just like you guys said. The 23” measurement was a little off. It was about 28” so I just set the shank at the highest setting, but with no water or other weight up front I thought it looked a little nose high. I’m going to start over and really dial it in now. I have the light weight Timbrens without the spacer puck. This thing must be tongue heavy (2-30# bottles, 2 batteries plus electric jack) compared to my last TT which was pretty close on the length and weight. The rubber was kissing the axle which it only did on my last TT when we were full of water. I have to drag it to the scales and figure everything out. Thanks again for the info. This site is awesome and collectively is way more knowledgeable than most of the people working at the dealerships.

[madmaxmutt]

Originally Posted by Scott_Trailer_Newbe

The general rule with this type of hitch is stay at 500lbs or below on tung weight and they work great. Above this tung weight, a spring bar type is more effective.

Originally Posted by Scott_Trailer_Newbe

I personally don’t have experience with it. I was basing my comment on reviews I had read on this hitch.

Well, I think your weight estimate is off. I have read most and written a few myself. I had tons of miles on my Andersen all over the country. I would only be thoughtful about it above 900lbs TW; that would only be on a short wheelbase like an SUV, not a truck.

[madmaxmutt]

Originally Posted by TonyCO

Just like you guys said. The 23” measurement was a little off. It was about 28” so I just set the shank at the highest setting, but with no water or other weight up front I thought it looked a little nose high. I’m going to start over and really dial it in now. I have the light weight Timbrens without the spacer puck. This thing must be tongue heavy (2-30# bottles, 2 batteries plus electric jack) compared to my last TT which was pretty close on the length and weight. The rubber was kissing the axle which it only did on my last TT when we were full of water. I have to drag it to the scales and figure everything out. Thanks again for the info. This site is awesome and collectively is way more knowledgeable than most of the people working at the dealerships.

If needed, Andersen does have longer shanks avaialble. But like you said, I would get it loaded for camping before I made that decision.

Salt Lake and back at this time of year can be tricky. I will assume it is the motorsports dealer or something like that? They have some enticing prices compared to the front range dealers.

[TonyCO]

Hey Mad, small world (Ecoboost forum). It was CW in Kaysville. The trailer had exactly what I wanted and it was sitting there since September. There where a few on the front range, one in South Fork, and one up in WY, but not exactly optioned like I wanted. I kept going back and forth with all of them since the end of summer. I was going to wait them all out into February, but I think the end of year forced them to deal now. The reactions from the other dealers made me feel great about the price. 29 hours out and back and less than $400 for fuel was definitely worth it to me. No precipitation, just the crazy WY wind. I think I’m real happy with it. I love the Rocky Mountain and Baja editions, Goodyear tires, and the exterior lighting. At this price point I don’t think you can do better.

[RogerR]

Originally Posted by madmaxmutt

Well, I think your weight estimate is off. I have read most and written a few myself. I had tons of miles on my Andersen all over the country. I would only be thoughtful about it above 900lbs TW; that would only be on a short wheelbase like an SUV, not a truck.

I checked the Andersen site and this is a copy paste

14,000 lbs GTWR (2-5/16" ball) — 10,000 lbs GTWR (2" ball)
1,400 lbs tongue weight

I have had great response from Andersen customer service phone help. If you have doubts I would check with them directly.

[madmaxmutt]

Originally Posted by RogerR

I checked the Andersen site and this is a copy paste



14,000 lbs GTWR (2-5/16" ball) — 10,000 lbs GTWR (2" ball)

1,400 lbs tongue weight



I have had great response from Andersen customer service phone help. If you have doubts I would check with them directly.

The quote was not about the hitch rating. The individual I quoted was talking about the theory, that the Andersen has a finite amount of weight transfer capability. The theory is at a weight much less than the rating on the hitch.

[madmaxmutt]

Originally Posted by TonyCO

Hey Mad, small world (Ecoboost forum). It was CW in Kaysville. The trailer had exactly what I wanted and it was sitting there since September. There where a few on the front range, one in South Fork, and one up in WY, but not exactly optioned like I wanted. I kept going back and forth with all of them since the end of summer. I was going to wait them all out into February, but I think the end of year forced them to deal now. The reactions from the other dealers made me feel great about the price. 29 hours out and back and less than $400 for fuel was definitely worth it to me. No precipitation, just the crazy WY wind. I think I’m real happy with it. I love the Rocky Mountain and Baja editions, Goodyear tires, and the exterior lighting. At this price point I don’t think you can do better.

Awesome, I had to go to Kansas to find what we wanted. Congrats.

[Mbranscum]

Thanks for all of the replies. We are definitely considering one of these.