Andersen Gooseneck Fiver Adapter??
08-01-2012, 03:48 PM
#1
Registered User
Thread Starter
Andersen Gooseneck Fiver Adapter??
Guys, I need some information.
My wife and I are trading/selling our slide in truck camper and moving to a fifth wheel. My 2010 has a threaded Gooseneck hitch installed now, which I don't like, due to the bed protrusion of the ball. Luckily, the previous owner has a heavy steel flag welded to the shoulder for hammering against to remove it!
I was researching fifth wheel hitch options, wanting to keep a clean bed when not using the hitch. My last fiver hitch used the in-bed mounted rail system and 4 hitch pins, and was a pain. That truck also had the permanent gooseneck ball, but with no flag and no anti-sieze when it was installed. Iowa road salt made that ball permanent! My options seem to be to install a B&W turnover ball gooseneck hitch, then use the Companion Hitch (or equivalent) to keep the clean bed. Or, there are a few different companies with below bed mounting options for removable fifth wheel hitches. The B&W option was kind of middle of the range, even with buying both hitches for the complete package. The other systems require a pretty spendy mounting system and then the hitch itself anyway, so no big deal.
Then I found this at Tweety's:
http://tweetys.com/andersen-ultimate...eck-mount.aspx
Does anyone have any experiece with these? I watched the video of the drop-in for standard rails, and have some reservations.
1. The design seems to use flattened tubing for side bracing. I am no structural engineer or anything, and without knowing the wall thickness, grade, etc., I am concerned for strength.
2. They claim no grease is recommended or necessary on the coupler, ever.
3. The coupler is made from aluminum, with the hitch ball riding inside. Again, no grease. I actually watched small chips drop/scrape off in the video showing the hookup in the truck bed!
Ratings are much higher than anything I am looking to tow - 15k GVWR fiver. Andersen claims 24k trailer max weight, and over 4k lbs pin weight ratings. GTW actually far exceeds the companion hitch rating of 18k lbs. All for roughly half price of the B&W Companion, and I wouldn't need to buy the Turnover ball hitch portion -- the Andersen unit locks to my current hitchball in the bed.
Can the aluminum coupler be trusted to handle the towing stresses like this with no lubrication? Anyone have real world experience with these?
My wife and I are trading/selling our slide in truck camper and moving to a fifth wheel. My 2010 has a threaded Gooseneck hitch installed now, which I don't like, due to the bed protrusion of the ball. Luckily, the previous owner has a heavy steel flag welded to the shoulder for hammering against to remove it!
I was researching fifth wheel hitch options, wanting to keep a clean bed when not using the hitch. My last fiver hitch used the in-bed mounted rail system and 4 hitch pins, and was a pain. That truck also had the permanent gooseneck ball, but with no flag and no anti-sieze when it was installed. Iowa road salt made that ball permanent! My options seem to be to install a B&W turnover ball gooseneck hitch, then use the Companion Hitch (or equivalent) to keep the clean bed. Or, there are a few different companies with below bed mounting options for removable fifth wheel hitches. The B&W option was kind of middle of the range, even with buying both hitches for the complete package. The other systems require a pretty spendy mounting system and then the hitch itself anyway, so no big deal.
Then I found this at Tweety's:
http://tweetys.com/andersen-ultimate...eck-mount.aspx
Does anyone have any experiece with these? I watched the video of the drop-in for standard rails, and have some reservations.
1. The design seems to use flattened tubing for side bracing. I am no structural engineer or anything, and without knowing the wall thickness, grade, etc., I am concerned for strength.
2. They claim no grease is recommended or necessary on the coupler, ever.
3. The coupler is made from aluminum, with the hitch ball riding inside. Again, no grease. I actually watched small chips drop/scrape off in the video showing the hookup in the truck bed!
Ratings are much higher than anything I am looking to tow - 15k GVWR fiver. Andersen claims 24k trailer max weight, and over 4k lbs pin weight ratings. GTW actually far exceeds the companion hitch rating of 18k lbs. All for roughly half price of the B&W Companion, and I wouldn't need to buy the Turnover ball hitch portion -- the Andersen unit locks to my current hitchball in the bed.
Can the aluminum coupler be trusted to handle the towing stresses like this with no lubrication? Anyone have real world experience with these?
08-01-2012, 04:40 PM
#2
Registered User
This one is using the same 2 rails in the bed and 4 hitch pins to install that you're complaining about.
With the standard rails, which I find to not be a big deal as far as being in the way, and semi obtuse for cleaning, you can pin in the fifth wheel hitch, this thing, or a regular gooseneck ball on an X shaped mount.
I'd be really concerned about an aluminum coupler, no lube, and claims of longevity. Just doesn't add up.
Also, you have the precision lineup requirement of gooseneck. The fifth wheel advantage is you can see the hitch over your shoulder, and if you can hit it within about 3 inches, you capture the pin, slack the jacks, and spill the coffee you left on the table all in one shot.
With the standard rails, which I find to not be a big deal as far as being in the way, and semi obtuse for cleaning, you can pin in the fifth wheel hitch, this thing, or a regular gooseneck ball on an X shaped mount.
I'd be really concerned about an aluminum coupler, no lube, and claims of longevity. Just doesn't add up.
Also, you have the precision lineup requirement of gooseneck. The fifth wheel advantage is you can see the hitch over your shoulder, and if you can hit it within about 3 inches, you capture the pin, slack the jacks, and spill the coffee you left on the table all in one shot.
08-01-2012, 04:48 PM
#3
Administrator
I'm sorry I can't offer any real world experience with these things. They look like a neat concept but I question the materials used.
08-01-2012, 05:08 PM
#4
Registered User
Thread Starter
This one is using the same 2 rails in the bed and 4 hitch pins to install that you're complaining about.
With the standard rails, which I find to not be a big deal as far as being in the way, and semi obtuse for cleaning, you can pin in the fifth wheel hitch, this thing, or a regular gooseneck ball on an X shaped mount.
I'd be really concerned about an aluminum coupler, no lube, and claims of longevity. Just doesn't add up.
Also, you have the precision lineup requirement of gooseneck. The fifth wheel advantage is you can see the hitch over your shoulder, and if you can hit it within about 3 inches, you capture the pin, slack the jacks, and spill the coffee you left on the table all in one shot.
With the standard rails, which I find to not be a big deal as far as being in the way, and semi obtuse for cleaning, you can pin in the fifth wheel hitch, this thing, or a regular gooseneck ball on an X shaped mount.
I'd be really concerned about an aluminum coupler, no lube, and claims of longevity. Just doesn't add up.
Also, you have the precision lineup requirement of gooseneck. The fifth wheel advantage is you can see the hitch over your shoulder, and if you can hit it within about 3 inches, you capture the pin, slack the jacks, and spill the coffee you left on the table all in one shot.
OOPS-- Looks like I just linked the tweety's product, not the video. Look for it online or at the Andersen's site. The gooseneck adapter is a frame with the square downtube that fits over the gooseneck ball, then a top bolt that snugs the unit down. They use a hitchpin to keep the unit from pulling up off the ball. I also was watching the install, and between the adapter hitchball being BEHIND the locking post over the truck ball, and the Trailer Pin Adapter Coupling moving the ball coupling FORWARD on the trailer, it looks like the hitch point may actually be moved back around 3 inches or more in the truck bed compared to a properly setup fiver pin or the Companion Hitch from B&W. I like the price point, but too many flags are flying in my mind for longevity and design.
I would still appreciate any real-world experience information, if anyone has it!
08-01-2012, 05:10 PM
#5
Registered User
Thread Starter
That was my concern when I first saw it as well. It looks really, REALLY cheap.
I saw that too and it didn't do a lot for my confidence in the product.
I wouldn't trust the aluminum, but that's just me.
I'm sorry I can't offer any real world experience with these things. They look like a neat concept but I question the materials used.
I saw that too and it didn't do a lot for my confidence in the product.
I wouldn't trust the aluminum, but that's just me.
I'm sorry I can't offer any real world experience with these things. They look like a neat concept but I question the materials used.
08-01-2012, 05:13 PM
#6
Administrator
But in all reality, I think you had this thing pretty much figured out right from the get-go. Hard steel ball in a soft aluminum hole with no lubrication just doesn't set well!
08-01-2012, 06:50 PM
#7
Registered User
Don't see many Goose Neck's on Fifth Wheels unless your out west. Most of those are small fifth wheels.
The Fifth Wheel Trailer such as a Montana, Carriage, Etc... are not built at the tow point for a Goose Neck. Generally trailers built for Goose Necks are over built in the frame leading up to the verticle hitch on the bed ball.
Applying that Verticle lever to a fifth wheel frame, especially a large fifth wheel is looking for problems. It is possible to beef the frame attachment up on the fiver to accept the gooseneck. But, I think all the welding would just make things shrink in the wrong direction.
Dave
The Fifth Wheel Trailer such as a Montana, Carriage, Etc... are not built at the tow point for a Goose Neck. Generally trailers built for Goose Necks are over built in the frame leading up to the verticle hitch on the bed ball.
Applying that Verticle lever to a fifth wheel frame, especially a large fifth wheel is looking for problems. It is possible to beef the frame attachment up on the fiver to accept the gooseneck. But, I think all the welding would just make things shrink in the wrong direction.
Dave
Trending Topics
08-02-2012, 08:02 AM
#8
Administrator / Severe Concussion Aficionado
Not just you, me too. If there will be ANY cyclical stressing at play, I would NOT even consider aluminum. Sure, alloys and billets have come a long way, but they still have a fatigue point.
I know its a lot more expensive, but if I were spending the money, and wanted quality, as well as convenience, My money would be spent on a B&W Turnover Ball and Companion hitch.
I know its a lot more expensive, but if I were spending the money, and wanted quality, as well as convenience, My money would be spent on a B&W Turnover Ball and Companion hitch.
08-02-2012, 09:15 AM
#9
Administrator
Not just you, me too. If there will be ANY cyclical stressing at play, I would NOT even consider aluminum. Sure, alloys and billets have come a long way, but they still have a fatigue point.
I know its a lot more expensive, but if I were spending the money, and wanted quality, as well as convenience, My money would be spent on a B&W Turnover Ball and Companion hitch.
I know its a lot more expensive, but if I were spending the money, and wanted quality, as well as convenience, My money would be spent on a B&W Turnover Ball and Companion hitch.
That's twice now that's happened... the end of the world MUST be coming in December!
08-02-2012, 09:18 AM
#10
Administrator / Severe Concussion Aficionado
08-02-2012, 09:35 AM
#11
Administrator
Well what can I say, you do know what you are talking about in this instance. One day, Ill make it up to Kalamazoo, and we can hang out in the saw garage, you smoke your pipe, Ill have a big ole pinch of Copenhagen, and we can discuss the finer intricacies of Advanced Fuseology.
08-03-2012, 10:13 AM
#12
Registered User
Thread Starter
Don't see many Goose Neck's on Fifth Wheels unless your out west. Most of those are small fifth wheels.
The Fifth Wheel Trailer such as a Montana, Carriage, Etc... are not built at the tow point for a Goose Neck. Generally trailers built for Goose Necks are over built in the frame leading up to the verticle hitch on the bed ball.
Applying that Verticle lever to a fifth wheel frame, especially a large fifth wheel is looking for problems. It is possible to beef the frame attachment up on the fiver to accept the gooseneck. But, I think all the welding would just make things shrink in the wrong direction.
Dave
The Fifth Wheel Trailer such as a Montana, Carriage, Etc... are not built at the tow point for a Goose Neck. Generally trailers built for Goose Necks are over built in the frame leading up to the verticle hitch on the bed ball.
Applying that Verticle lever to a fifth wheel frame, especially a large fifth wheel is looking for problems. It is possible to beef the frame attachment up on the fiver to accept the gooseneck. But, I think all the welding would just make things shrink in the wrong direction.
Dave
I have pretty much written this off as an added expense between getting what I really should and what I have now. Since I already have the 4" hole in the middle of the bed, and the pricing is less than installing an undermount railset and accompanying fiver hitch, The B&W setup looks like the winner. I may research some other adapter hitches, as the Companion Hitch isn't the only option, but for certain, this Andersen unit has me too worried to purchase.
Out of curiosity -- anyone heard of a hitch coupling on ANY trailer being made from Aluminum??
08-04-2012, 05:48 AM
#14
Administrator / Severe Concussion Aficionado
But that is just me. If you, or anyone, should choose to buy one, I would really appreciate a PM with a physical location and travel plans so I can avoid any rogue trailers traveling unhitched down the highway....
08-05-2012, 04:13 PM
#15
Registered User
Sorry, I was not aware that aluminum doesn't corrode. I bet that thing could be fun to get back off the kingpin in about two or three years of getting rained on.
With a steel coupler under the trailer- and one that doesn't have a chance of spinning around the kingpin- and a stronger frame from the rails to the ball- that doesn't look like a bad set-up. But I think I would still spend the money on the right hitch to start with.
With a steel coupler under the trailer- and one that doesn't have a chance of spinning around the kingpin- and a stronger frame from the rails to the ball- that doesn't look like a bad set-up. But I think I would still spend the money on the right hitch to start with.