Anderson Hitch
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 9
Right, I have the steel rail mount version and it said ball forward for LB and to the rear for SB trucks. I have an extended pin box also, so I mounted the adapter with the hole behind the pin to shorten it for bed side clearance. I made a nearly 90 degree turn 2 weeks ago and had no clearance problems with cab or bed. I had clearance issues with both cab and bed with the Reese 16K at about 75 degrees.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 110
From: Lakeland, Fl
I got the Andersen hitch today but it came with installation instructions for a rail mount. Those instructions state to position the hitch one direction for long bed and the other for short bed. I called Andersen to get the correct manual and asked about mounting the hitch with the ball forward or behind the gooseneck ball. He said the #3220 only mounts with top ball aft of the gooseneck ball, for clearance issues you rotate the kingpin coupler 180*. Here are the current install instructions according to the rep. The hitch also is marked with an arrow pointing towards the tailgate.
http://www.andersenhitches.com/uploa...02014%20sm.pdf
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 110
From: Lakeland, Fl
I ended up returning the Andersen, it wouldn't go low enough. I knew it was going to be close but I thought that raising the pin box would give me enough, I was still just over 3* rake with the truck sitting level. I had 8" to the bed rails so there was plenty of room to go down but hitch wouldn't allow it. Truck has stock suspension and 285-16 tires. It's odd that most 5th hitches adjust from 13-17" off the bed and the Andersen starts at 16.5".
I spoke to several Andersen reps, they were great but basically told me I was SOL as most of the fitment problems they had were the hitch wasn't tall enough.
One other thing I noticed was the ball is aluminum and from the few times I hitched and unhitched I could see marks on the ball. With the funnel being steel this would be something to keep an eye on.
I spoke to several Andersen reps, they were great but basically told me I was SOL as most of the fitment problems they had were the hitch wasn't tall enough.
One other thing I noticed was the ball is aluminum and from the few times I hitched and unhitched I could see marks on the ball. With the funnel being steel this would be something to keep an eye on.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 1,040
Likes: 9
I ended up returning the Andersen, it wouldn't go low enough. I knew it was going to be close but I thought that raising the pin box would give me enough, I was still just over 3* rake with the truck sitting level. I had 8" to the bed rails so there was plenty of room to go down but hitch wouldn't allow it. Truck has stock suspension and 285-16 tires. It's odd that most 5th hitches adjust from 13-17" off the bed and the Andersen starts at 16.5"
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,509
Likes: 662
From: Sioux Falls Area
I ended up returning the Andersen, it wouldn't go low enough. I knew it was going to be close but I thought that raising the pin box would give me enough, I was still just over 3* rake with the truck sitting level. I had 8" to the bed rails so there was plenty of room to go down but hitch wouldn't allow it. Truck has stock suspension and 285-16 tires. It's odd that most 5th hitches adjust from 13-17" off the bed and the Andersen starts at 16.5".
I spoke to several Andersen reps, they were great but basically told me I was SOL as most of the fitment problems they had were the hitch wasn't tall enough.
One other thing I noticed was the ball is aluminum and from the few times I hitched and unhitched I could see marks on the ball. With the funnel being steel this would be something to keep an eye on.
I spoke to several Andersen reps, they were great but basically told me I was SOL as most of the fitment problems they had were the hitch wasn't tall enough.
One other thing I noticed was the ball is aluminum and from the few times I hitched and unhitched I could see marks on the ball. With the funnel being steel this would be something to keep an eye on.
did you consider flipping the springs to the top of the axle? depending on the cost of a different hitch, that might be a cost effective solution.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 110
From: Lakeland, Fl
That would be a simple fix but it was already flipped a while ago.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 445
Likes: 2
From: College Station, TX
Just a heads up,
I got the Andersen hitch today but it came with installation instructions for a rail mount. Those instructions state to position the hitch one direction for long bed and the other for short bed. I called Andersen to get the correct manual and asked about mounting the hitch with the ball forward or behind the gooseneck ball. He said the #3220 only mounts with top ball aft of the gooseneck ball, for clearance issues you rotate the kingpin coupler 180*. Here are the current install instructions according to the rep. The hitch also is marked with an arrow pointing towards the tailgate.
http://www.andersenhitches.com/uploa...02014%20sm.pdf
I got the Andersen hitch today but it came with installation instructions for a rail mount. Those instructions state to position the hitch one direction for long bed and the other for short bed. I called Andersen to get the correct manual and asked about mounting the hitch with the ball forward or behind the gooseneck ball. He said the #3220 only mounts with top ball aft of the gooseneck ball, for clearance issues you rotate the kingpin coupler 180*. Here are the current install instructions according to the rep. The hitch also is marked with an arrow pointing towards the tailgate.
http://www.andersenhitches.com/uploa...02014%20sm.pdf
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,399
Likes: 12
I see much concern about being an inch or two high or low on a fifth wheel. I'm going to get my first fifth wheel next spring. It seems to me that given a 40' trailer, 1-2" makes no real difference. The vertical force due to braking or acceleration would be negligible at that angle. My main concern is maintaining at least 6" above my rails to avoid hitting them.
Perhaps I'm missing something. Thoughts?
Perhaps I'm missing something. Thoughts?
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 143
Likes: 2
From: Pocatello, Id
I see much concern about being an inch or two high or low on a fifth wheel. I'm going to get my first fifth wheel next spring. It seems to me that given a 40' trailer, 1-2" makes no real difference. The vertical force due to braking or acceleration would be negligible at that angle. My main concern is maintaining at least 6" above my rails to avoid hitting them.
Perhaps I'm missing something. Thoughts?
Perhaps I'm missing something. Thoughts?
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 6,509
Likes: 662
From: Sioux Falls Area
I see much concern about being an inch or two high or low on a fifth wheel. I'm going to get my first fifth wheel next spring. It seems to me that given a 40' trailer, 1-2" makes no real difference. The vertical force due to braking or acceleration would be negligible at that angle. My main concern is maintaining at least 6" above my rails to avoid hitting them.
Perhaps I'm missing something. Thoughts?
Perhaps I'm missing something. Thoughts?
This is much more of a problem with torsion axles than springs, though.
With torsion axles it has to be pretty much dead level or you are going to overload one of the axles for sure.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 668
Likes: 6
From: FL
Any experiences with the 2017's? I seem to sit higher than nearly everyone in mine; and posts like these make me hesitate when considering trying Anderson.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,352
Likes: 5,946
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
No experience on the 2017, but my 2000 sits pretty high and the Andersen is set to about the middle of the slide bar/ball. It can adjust quite low and high, but each situation is going to be different I suppose.
If you are thinking about trying the Andersen, you can get it from Amazon and return it with free shipping if it doesn't work out. Maybe call then and speak to them, their customer service has been great so far.
If you are thinking about trying the Andersen, you can get it from Amazon and return it with free shipping if it doesn't work out. Maybe call then and speak to them, their customer service has been great so far.