We bought the 3200 version (5th wheel rail) as our first 5th wheel hitch. Install was easy and since this was our first 5th wheel trailer and hitch, we were very careful when hooking up.

It took about 5 minutes to install the coupler on the kingpin, but that was only because there was some hardened grease on the kingpin that did not allow for the coupler to be flush with the pin box. Once we scrapped that away, the coupler mounted just fine. Tightened 2 large bolts and 4 allen bolts and we were ready to hook up.

Because the coupler moves the kingpin back a few inches, there was no need to raise the tailgate after backing up and lining the coupler cone up to the ball. We were off by about 2 inches, but because the new version of the coupler has the guide cone, connecting was easy. We lowered the trailer by raising the landing gear and locked the pin in and we were on our way.

Very little chucking, even on road construction surfaces. Again, this is our first experience with a 5th wheel trailer.

Turning radius is truly about 85-90 degrees.

No strange noises or rattling from the hitch or components.

Unhooking was just as easy.

We drove from GA to WI to pick up the trailer which was roughly 900 miles one way and got 18.5 MPG unloaded headed north and 12 MPG loaded with the trailer headed south. This is hand calculated as well, not from a lie-o-meter. I calculated 13 MPG after the first 300 miles headed south, but we had a heck of a tail wind and the ground was mostly flat. I wiped that from the record and calculated the rest of the 700 mile trip since it was through the Smokey Mountains and eastern TN.

In the end, we are very happy with the Andersen hitch and our choice of purchasing it instead of the B&W at a much higher price which weighs much more. I plan to get a rail pin/lock so I do not have to put the hitch in the cab of the truck or trailer when riding around without the trailer.

I hope this helps someone to make their own decision for their own situation.

Total price was $504 from Etrailer.
https://www.etrailer.com/Gooseneck-a...en/AM3200.html

 

I don't have one and have never been around one but I read this yesterday and with the pictures supplied it doesn't look like a good fit for as heavy trailer.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...d/29055614.cfm

Pin boxes are made to take the weight on the plate not the pin alone, it was as lippert pin box so it was likely built light but they have the market cornered so so any hitch manufacturer should take that into consideration.

Denny

 

Denny, I had not ever seen that before until you posted it. That is good knowledge to have and feel that I may not have the same problems, but I certainly know where to keep an eye on for potential problems in the future. At the first site of any damage being done I will immediately change to a B&W hitch and replace damaged parts just like the Big Horn owner on RV.net.

I have the rail version of the hitch, so I do not share his bed mount concerns. The hitch does not move the bed at all when towing and going over uneven surfaces. The truck, trailer and hitch all move as one when the terrain changes.

There is speculation on that forum that the Andersen may not be suited for "heavier" 5th wheels, I don't know. Based on what I saw and my un-engineer trained brain I would say that the pin box failed due to excessive weight and build quality/design of the pin box itself. Perhaps the welds were not done properly or a thinner steel was used on the horizontal portion of the pin box. I have no idea, but it seems that person had the perfect storm scenario and was able to identify that it was not going to work for him.

It is hard to say, but I think he had the previous version of the coupler and not the updated. I know that the coupler I have mounts flush against the bottom of the pin box similar to how a 5th wheel hitch would be in contact with the bottom of the pin box. I have high hopes for the Andersen hitch and it appears to be doing very well so far.

Time will tell, but for now I am happy with the experience and the purchase.

 

Appreciate the review. And yeah, we were just up to Minnesota visiting family. Living here in East Tennessee I forgot how flat parts of this county are. Even in our Highlander we pick up two miles per gallon.

Steve