Popular Andersen Hitch Products for Fifth Wheels & Travel Trailers

Andersen Hitches is a company that makes some very popular towing gear and trailer accessories. They offer several well-known products to RVers. But their two most popular products in the RV industry are the Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch and the Ultimate Fifth Wheel Hitch. In this post, we look at several products from Andersen Hitches. We’ll offer an overview of each of the most popular hitches among owners of 5th wheels and travel trailers, and we’ll talk a bit about why many people love ’em, while others are less enthused.

What Are the Most Popular Andersen Hitches for RVers?

Andersen Hitches manufactures several products that are popular among RVers. Let’s take a look at each of these are for and what they accomplish.

Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch

A weight distribution hitch (WDH) can make all the difference in a safe and pleasant towing experience. The Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch provides sway control through an integrated anti-sway control ball housing.

When the trailer couples to the ball, friction inside the ball housing reduces trailer sway by resisting the turning motion. But there’s more that’s appealing about the Andersen WDH, as they’ve raised the bar with this one.

First, it’s a notably lightweight system, weighing less than 60 pounds, which makes it reasonably easy to install, remove, and store. Even more important is the fact that Andersen’s weight distribution hitch has an innovative design that doesn’t use spring bars. A weight distribution hitch requires force to transfer weight from the rear axle to the front axle of a tow vehicle. With a traditional weight distribution hitch, this force is provided by heavy spring bars (weight distribution bars) that are connected to the hitch head and to the frame of the trailer.

When turning, it’s these connection points that make noise due to the movement of the hitch assembly. To counteract this, Andersen’s weight distribution hitch features an improved design that eliminates spring bars and instead utilizes a chain mechanism, which is easier, lighter in weight, and quieter. This also means that not only will you have no heavy, greasy bars to deal with (or store), but you also don’t need to lube the mechanism due to the grease-free system ball and silent friction cone.

As an added bonus, you won’t need to disconnect the Andersen WDH prior to backing up your travel trailer. And removing the hitch from the tow vehicle is as simple as removing the pin. You can also use an Andersen WDH as a standard ball mount when appropriate.

For a review of the Andersen Weight Distribution Hitch based on real-life use, check out this video:

Andersen Hitches Ultimate Fifth Wheel Hitch

Andersen’s Ultimate Fifth Wheel Hitch is rated for 24,000 lbs GTWR (Gross Trailer Weight Rating) and 4,500 lbs tongue weight. However, it’s made of aircraft-grade aluminum, so the base of the Ultimate weighs only 35 pounds.

Being lightweight makes the hitch easier to work with (i.e. when installing and/or removing it from your truck’s bed) and very easy to move, but it could also have a downside: there have been some reports of this hitch failing when the vehicle is involved in an accident, or in the event of an emergency stop. In this situation, the hitch can buckle or even separate from the base. That could cause the tongue of the RV to collapse, causing damage not only to the RV but also to the truck.

On the face of it, it might seem that the issue is that aluminum is not a strong enough choice for the material from which to construct the hitch. However, the reality may be more complicated than that:

First, Andersen designed the Ultimate Hitch to collapse in the event of an accident, with the intention of protecting the RV by having the hitch absorb the brunt of the impact force.

Second, most of the failures with Andersen Ultimate Hitches occurred when the pin was overloaded. If you’re towing a fifth-wheel with a tongue/pin weight near, at, or above 4,500 lbs, the Ultimate is definitely not the right hitch for you. That’s because it has a maximum tongue weight rating of 4,500 lbs. So, failure is far less likely to be an issue if you’re below the maximum tongue weight.

To know for sure whether the Andersen Ultimate is likely to work well for your fifth wheel, have a look at Andersen’s Ultimate compatibility tool and abide by its guidelines.

There are a few other potential issues as well:

• The Lightweight Aluminum Can Bend or Twist: Some Andersen Ultimate users have reported that the hitch bends or twists on the truck bed. Should this occur while you’re driving, your rig could become unstable and begin to sway, potentially causing the hitch to detach from the truck.
• Can Be Noisy: Noise is another issue some have reported with the Andersen Ultimate. This is likely caused by the ball moving around inside the hitch.
• Not Good for Short Beds: The Andersen Ultimate is available in only one configuration that isn’t well-suited for short-bed trucks. The most common complaint regarding the use of the Ultimate in a short-bed truck is the rear window breaking. Here again, though, the compatibility tool should prove helpful.

Of course, if you use any hitch that isn’t compatible with your RV or truck (according to the manufacturer’s specs), then any bending, twisting, or collapsing of the hitch may be due to user error. To avoid this, be absolutely sure not to exceed your hitch weight while using the Andersen Ultimate hitch (or any other hitch, for that matter).

Remember that to use the hitch, you’ll need to attach it to the bed and frame of your truck. If you overload the pin (i.e. if the weight in your RV isn’t properly distributed), you could damage the hitch and/or the truck bed. Of course, you should never overload your pin weight (regardless of the brand/type of hitch you’re using) as this not only puts stress on the hitch but can make your fifth wheel unstable and cause a loss of control while driving.

All 5th wheel hitches are rated for a stated Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) and tongue weight. You’d think it’d go without saying, but the fact that accidents have been caused by exceeding weight limits means we should reiterate: Any hitch must stay within all truck and trailer specifications.

So, the bottom line is that the Andersen Ultimate Fifth Wheel Hitch can work very well when installed and used correctly.

This couple ditched their Andersen Ultimate Fifth Wheel Hitch, and in this video, they’ll tell you why:

Andersen Hitches Ranch Hitch Adapter

Andersen Hitches’ Ranch Hitch Adapter allows a standard fifth-wheel hitch to utilize a gooseneck adapter in the towing truck’s bed, freeing up space round it to carry or haul other gear. The Ranch Hitch Adapter fits a 2 ⁵/₁₆ ball hitch and is easily installed and adjustable. This adapter is rated for 24,000 pounds of trailer weight and 6,000 pounds of tongue weight, and meets VESC-19 standards.

It’s essential to note that Andersen doesn’t recommend this adapter for use on a cushioned or movable pin box, but only for static pin boxes.

It has a remote cable mechanism that allows the user to engage & release the coupler while standing on the ground outside the truck. Users also like the bell-shaped receiver, which allows for the hitch ball & adapter to be as much as 3″ off-center, and still slide into place, simplifying hooking up when breaking camp.

To see if the adapter will fit your 5th wheel, you’ll need to back your truck into position as though you’re hooking up your 5th wheel, and then measure from the bottom of the pin box, (the “pin plate”) down to the top of the ball in the bed of your truck.

Andersen Levelers

Although this is a post about Andersen Hitches, the company makes a very popular non-hitch item that’s well worth mentioning (if you’re not yet familiar with leveling, see our post, “Do You Need RV Leveling Blocks?“). Andersen Levelers are popular for a reason: they’re a great tool for leveling any trailer/RV without leveling jacks, and they’re super easy to use.

Note: Andersen Levelers are designed for use with trailers that weigh up to 30,000 lbs, and with tires up to 32″ in diameter. The radius of a leveler is roughly 15″-16″, which provides a perfect curve for tires up to 32″.

Each kit includes one leveler and one chock, and Andersen recommends using one leveler per axle (per Andersen, only one leveler per axle on one side of your RV, motorhome, or trailer is needed, since you place them only on the low side of the trailer when leveling side-to-side).

Andersen levelers offer accurate leveling at any increment between 1/2″ and 4″. They’re sturdy and come with a lifetime warranty. And the curved design of these levelers makes them easy to use to get your rig level, especially when combined with a LevelMatePRO/LevelMatePRO+.

Both LevelMatePRO and LevelMatePRO+ are available at TechnoRV, and you’ll save 5% with our coupon:

They’re also available on Amazon.

Final Notes

We want to note that Andersen also makes ball mounts, including their EZ Hitch and Rapid Hitch, both of which are also very popular hitches (you may want to have a look at our post on trailer hitch locks).

We also want to direct you to our post on how to hitch a trailer to tow it safely, for anyone who may need a refresher on safe hitching and towing techniques.

And finally, if you’ve used an Andersen hitch (or the levelers), how was your experience? As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts based on your own personal use in the comments section below.

UPDATE! NEW TRAILER TOWING & WEIGHT LIMIT POST, VIDEO & CALCULATOR!

We’re excited to announce that we’ve released a new video and blog post all about Trailer Towing & Weight Limits. We’ve included a FREE towing and weight calculator that we designed to do all the math for you, making sure your rig is properly balanced and within all weight limits. Don’t let a sagging trailer alert everyone in the campground that you’re overweight, and don’t let the dreaded trailer sway ruin your trip (or worse)!

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