I would like to know if anyone is using the Andersen 5th wheel hitch on a short bed ( 6'9" ). How do you like it? Any issues because of short bed? Also if you don't use the Andersen what are good short bed hitches.

 

Read this thread - https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...l#post17291403

 

There are over 40,000 Andersen 5th wheel hitches sold. Lots of fans over at RV.net.

I considered one but wasn't 100% convinced? I got a great deal on a Pullrite superglide http://www.pullrite.com/products/isr...-wheel-hitches. It's an auto slide hitch. Takes all the worry about hitting the cab. I tapped my cab using the old Reese manual slider (forgot to slide it back).

Also my Reese slider wouldn't always slide for some reason.

S

 

Had a B&W slider. Too heavy, would bind when moving forward and back. Went with the anderson on my Shortbed F250.

My take away:
Less chucking
Can remove with one hand
CHEAPER
No slider necessary for a newer trailer.

Newer trailers have clearance built in to the cap for shortbeds. The anderson offsets the hitch point to the rear.

Bottom line, one of the better investments I've made for my setup. I kept it when I moved to an F350 DRW truck.

 

Can you turn the hitch 180° and offset the hitch point to the front?

 

Yes. You can also turn the coupler that mounts on the pin box around as well. I've done this on my long bend F350 to keep the box from hitting the bed sides at extreme angles.

 

I knew about the coupler on the pin box. I watched a video from "Big Truck Big RV" on YouTube that reviewed the Andersen 5th wheel hitch. That was informative and it sounds like he really liked it. But he didn't address turning the hitch itself.

I don't have a fifth wheel but hope to someday, so I soak up knowledge as I find it.

 

Yep I watch his videos too. He makes some bold statements occasionally, but generally I agree with his experience and I like his reviews.

 

Just finished my first trip with my 5th wheel and the my new AUH. Much more solid ride feel than my prior Reese 20K (heavy as all get out) hitch. I had to do some pretty tight turns and not even close to being an issue.

 

The Andersen Ultimate is what I use in my F350 short bed and I love it. Talk to Andersen about reversing the hitch. My previous AUH rail mount directions said it could be mounted either way; ball forward for LB and to the rear for SB. My gooseball 3220 instructions just said ball toward the tailgate.

 

My instructions said the hitch can mount either way also but for SB they recommend the ball towards the tail gate. Guessing they just don't want the liability concerning the older 5er's that are more squared off than the newer ones. When I have the chance or need to make some really tight turns I am going to get a better idea of clearance to the cab.
I would like to reverse the hitch and put the weight more over the axle as it is just a little behind that point now. From just an eyeball guesstimate it looks like that sort of switch may put the ball as much as a foot closer to the cab. If anyone has actually measured it please chime in.
From the pictures I have seen of the mount you have it looks like your AUH ball is more over the bed GB. Have you measured to see what you would lose if you did the switch?

 

We towed our first 12K miles (full-time) with the AUH rail-mount in a Sierra 2500HD with 6.5' bed. Loved it. The only reason it didn't move over to the F350 was that we traded trucks within 48 hours of leaving the area and our RV dealer couldn't get a "picture frame" adapter for the Ford puck system in time. The guy I sold the AUH to is towing all over New Mexico and Texas with it and is a happy camper (pun intended).

Rob

 

The picture frame adapter raised my AUH over 2" so my 5th was nose high. Goose ball and 3220 leveled my fiver nicely.

 

What bedcover works the best with the Anderson? I wont have a front mounted toolbox in the bed so a full length cover is what I would like. This would be for a 6'9" bed.

 

Just about any should work. I have the Truxedo Lo-Pro roll up.