Question for fellow Andersen WDH users...

[LuckyDuck]

I noticed the other day that I could twist the ball slightly in my Andersen hitch when I took it off the truck. A quick response from Andersen support said I need to replace the “friction cone” that provides the sway control. A new one is on the way and it looks pretty straight forward to swap it out.

Have any of you fellow Andersen users had to do this yet? Any tricks or tips? They said it’s normal after 3,000 miles or so. I’ve gotten 10,000.

I’m still a big fan of the hitch and the support was very quick and helpful.

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by LuckyDuck

I noticed the other day that I could twist the ball slightly in my Andersen hitch when I took it off the truck. A quick response from Andersen support said I need to replace the “friction cone” that provides the sway control. A new one is on the way and it looks pretty straight forward to swap it out.

Have any of you fellow Andersen users had to do this yet? Any tricks or tips? They said it’s normal after 3,000 miles or so. I’ve gotten 10,000.

I’m still a big fan of the hitch and the support was very quick and helpful.

I replaced this on my original model Andersen and it was pretty quick. There is a retaining clip on the bottom of the tapered shaft. Remove that and the shaft should pull right out. Then carefully tap out the old friction cone and drop the new one in. I did have to apply some weight on the ball to seat it down enough to replace the retaining clip.

Andersen has some good videos on these procedures on their web site - scroll down the page for the videos:

Andersen No-Sway Support

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by ttavasc

I replaced this on my original model Andersen and it was pretty quick. There is a retaining clip on the bottom of the tapered shaft. Remove that and the shaft should pull right out. Then carefully tap out the old friction cone and drop the new one in. I did have to apply some weight on the ball to seat it down enough to replace the retaining clip.

Andersen has some good videos on these procedures on their web site - scroll down the page for the videos:

Andersen No-Sway Support

Great to hear! Thanks! I was planning to check their videos before starting. They are usually good.

[Midnightmoon]

If for some reason the ball doesn't want to pull out, remove the clip from the bottom and hook up to your trailer. Then, lift the ball out with tongue jack. Trust me when I tell you that the tongue jack will make short work of removing the ball.

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

snip.... Then, lift the ball out with tongue jack.....snip

Great idea

Bob

[ttavasc]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

If for some reason the ball doesn't want to pull out, remove the clip from the bottom and hook up to your trailer. Then, lift the ball out with tongue jack. Trust me when I tell you that the tongue jack will make short work of removing the ball.

I hadn't thought of that but would definitely do the trick. I put some padding on the ground and turned it upside down in the receiver - made it easier to pull the retaining clip. Then just tapped it a couple times with a small 8lb sledge and it dropped right out.

[LuckyDuck]

Originally Posted by Midnightmoon

If for some reason the ball doesn't want to pull out, remove the clip from the bottom and hook up to your trailer. Then, lift the ball out with tongue jack. Trust me when I tell you that the tongue jack will make short work of removing the ball.

Lol. Great idea. At first I thought you were going to tell me to hitch it up and drive around . I was also told to turn it over and use a piece of wood and a sledgehammer. Do you just pop the clip off with a screwdriver?

[Midnightmoon]

I used a pair of snap ring pliers. But, you could probably work it off with a screwdriver.

[ttavasc]

X2 on the snap ring pliers - I got a pair with multiple attachments for ~$15 at Lowes.

[LuckyDuck]

Sounds like a good investment! Thanks!

[Murff]

There's a You Tube video of a guy that reonved the ball, once the snap ring was off, by putting the shank into the TV receiver. He then used a hydraulic bottle jack on a block to pop the the ball shaft out of the friction cone.

Murff

[LuckyDuck]

Thanks! I’ll check it out. Actually, I’m more worried about getting it seated down fully with the new friction material. I guess you do the reverse and pound it back in?

[Midnightmoon]

Originally Posted by LuckyDuck

Thanks! I’ll check it out. Actually, I’m more worried about getting it seated down fully with the new friction material. I guess you do the reverse and pound it back in?

Drop your trailer back on it when you are finished installing the new cone. It will press it in for you.

[LuckyDuck]

Thanks!

[LuckyDuck]

Well, Anderson sent the friction cone in two days! I went to swap it out today and got the clip off and old cone out, no problem. Put the new cone in and it sticks up more than an inch. New cone is shorter and bottom end is a wider diameter. Even with the ball in and a lot of pressure, I don’t see any way it will jam down into that housing. Aaarrrgghh. Back on the phone to Andersen in the morning.

[Midnightmoon]

That is definitely not the correct cone. I wonder if that is for the newer design head?

[LuckyDuck]

That is my guess. A bit frustrating as I sent them a photo of my ball assembly and told them when I purchased it. I’m up against the clock as we are leaving on a trip soon.

[Midnightmoon]

You may just need to use your old cone if the correct new one doesn't arrive.

[LuckyDuck]

Yep. It seems to be in pretty good shape actually.

[LuckyDuck]

Update: I emailed Andersen Sunday night about the wrong cone. Got an email back first thing Monday apologizing and saying they’d ship the right one quickly. Nothing as of today (Friday) so I called. At first they said it hadn’t shipped, then said it had, then said they’d ship it next-day air. But that won’t help, since they don’t deliver on Saturday. So if I’m lucky it will come on Monday. I’ve always talked up Andersen’s customer service but this time it was a hot mess.