Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Towing: New Andersen WD hitch

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Topic: New Andersen WD hitch

Posted By: JBarca on 06/11/12 08:41pm

Ron Gratz wrote:

JBarca wrote:

---Knowing the 2500 Suburban, the truck is compensating for the issue with not being able to transfer the weight.---

I don't know what you mean by this -- but I would like to avoid more of the "receiver consumes WD torque" discussion. [emoticon]

The spring compression and front-end load transfer reported by Renojack were consistent with the compression and transfer reported by Bruce H.

Ron

Ron,

Sorry... I was saying the 2500 suspension of the truck being a heavier truck has the ability to hold more to over come the lack of WD transfer.

If this was a 1,500 Burb it would not compensate like the 2500 has the ability to hold more weight. A 960# TW on a 1,500 Burb is going to be hurting (sagging) without good WD and may overload the rear axle pending how much cargo is inside. The 2500 having a much higher GAWR-RR can hold the same TW 960# weight and not run out of axle capacity. I used the word compensate to make up for the lack of WD transfer. The heavier suspension was allowing the truck to "compensate" for the lack of WD transfer.

Nothing was being absorbed, consumed, eaten up or other such attributes.... [emoticon]

OK we are past compensating... [emoticon]

* This post was edited 06/11/12 09:05pm by JBarca *

John & Cindy

2005 Ford F350 Super Duty, 4x4; 6.8L V10 with 4.10
CC, SB, Lariat & FX4 package
21,000 GCWR, 11,000 GVWR
Ford Tow Command
1,700# Reese HP hitch & HP Dual Cam
2 1/2" Towbeast Receiver

2004 Sunline Solaris T310SR
(I wish we were camping!)

Posted By: Ron Gratz on 06/11/12 09:20pm

Thanks John, now I see what you were saying.

Numerically, being 260# light on the front means being about 400# heavy on the rear.

And, I agree the 2500 could more easily handle the extra 400# than could a 1500.

Ron

Posted By: Gallifrey on 06/12/12 09:59am

renojack wrote:

In a conversation early on with Jason (Anderson) he cautioned against lifting the TV and TT with the tongue jack too much as the ball will pull out and a replacement will be necessary.

So...that's an interesting comment. I accidentally pulled the ball out when I was setting things up. I just put it back in and everything seems to continue to work. Are you saying that Anderson says you need to replace the ball and its holder if that happens?

Posted By: renojack on 06/12/12 12:24pm

I spent an hour going back in this thread and could not find the Post that indicated he pulled the ball out and sent the receiver and ball back for a replacement. Maybe it was on the Jayco or Forest River threads. I did talk with Jason @ Andersen earlier before I bought and he said that the ball is pressed into the socket and acknowledged the situation I detailed above. I don't know the ramifications of the ball coming out and then being replaced into the hitch and continuing on, if any.

RENOJACK
"The journey IS the destination"
2014 Denali 287RE TT
NV Plate "THETRLR"
2016 Ram 2500 Laramie Cummins 6.7
NV Plate "THE RAM"
Equalizer 1400#

Posted By: zues on 06/12/12 12:48pm

I got the setup for my trailer and the ball was a 2 5/16.I sold the trailer. My new trailer has a 2 inch ball. I used the toy hauler electric jack to get the ball out of the hitch. I purchased a 2 inch ball and installed the ball into the hitch. I have no problems so far.

Posted By: Gallifrey on 06/13/12 10:18am

I just heard back from Anderson. They said that if the ball is removed from its tapered socket, you can just put it back in, no problem, as long as it's clean (i.e., no dirt or grime got on it while it was out).

Posted By: rexlion on 06/14/12 06:38pm

Anderson told me that I could buy an extra ball/shank of the other size and switch them back and forth for my two trailers, but they did caution that if it was really wedged in tightly I might need a press to get it out.

Posted By: Ron Gratz on 06/16/12 06:36am

Another Andersen WD hitch user has reported axle load data on AIR Forums in this post.

At first glance, it appeared he had been able to transfer 280# to the steer axle.
At second glance, it appeared only 160# had been removed from the drive axle.

Since it physically is not possible for a WDH to add more load to the steer axle than is removed from the drive axle, I followed up with a post seeking clarification.

The user's reply included unhitched axle loads and trailer axle loads.
The additional data showed a difference of 200# in the GCW values for hitched with loose chains and hitched with tight chains.
However, the two GCW values should be the same, within the accuracy of the scales.
The user replied he might have been out of the truck and off the scales when some measurements were made.

One scenario for resolving the discrepancy suggests that the tongue weight was around 800#, and about 360# was removed from the steer axle when hitched with loose chains.
Tightening the chains caused about 180# to be added back onto the steer axle.

The user stated he still had plenty of room to adjust and felt confident he could adjust when he loads up to travel.
Perhaps we'll seen another set of load data with more load transfer indicated.

Ron

Posted By: PHS79 on 06/17/12 03:39pm

We just got back from a long weekend camping and put about 200 miles on with the Andersen. The roughly 100 miles to the camp ground we were being chased down by thunder storms and had winds in the 20-30mph range with gusts higher, about 40 miles were side winds. The truck and camper were very stable and never once felt any sway that made anything feel uneasy. We also had about 20 miles of country backroads with 3 RR crossings, there was no bucking what so ever and was a smooth ride.

Honestly the truck rode and handled like the camper wasn't even back there. Except, of course when on hills, taking off from stop signs, stopping, ect. I was very impressed!

2004 F150 FX4, with lots of mods and way too much money dumped into the truck for said mods
2013 Passport 3220BH
old TTs:
2012 Grey Wolf 26BH
2001 Kodiak K215

Posted By: Housedad on 06/25/12 10:20am

I thought I'd throw some quicky diagrams into the mix to show if there is a difference at the ball between the Anderson and conventional WD systems.

[image]

I'm going to get this system soon to replace the Reese dual cam that keeps failing me.

* This post was last edited 06/25/12 11:10am by Housedad *

2005 Ford Excursion XLT 6.8L V10 4.56 ratio, F/R ARB air lockers, 285's, airbags w/onbrd air, Helwig swaybar, Prodigy, F350 springs, Front and rear Buckstop bumpers, 16.5ti Warn winch, Landyot radius rods.
2010 Jayco Eagle 322fks.

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