Anderson Ultimate vs Pullrite Superlite

[richardcoxid]

I will probably be purchasing a new Short bed Extended Cab TV in the next few months and am also looking into new 5th wheel hitches.


At present the Anderson Ultimate and the PullRite SuperLite (Trailer Life, Nov, 2016 article) hitches have caught my interest. In monitoring this as well as other RV blogs, almost all owners are happy with either one. One of the differences that I can see is that between the 2 brands they have reversed the positions of the "Ball" and "Funnel Shaped Cup". I.e. On the Andersen the ball is in the TV bed with the "cup" and latching device mounted upside down on the pin box and the PullRite is just the opposite, the "Ball" is mounted upside down on the pin box, and the "Cup" is mounted in the TV bed.


Is there any clear cut advantage to either way?


In my mind the Anderson overall looks to be something that was clobbered up by a engineer and a welder to prove a concept, while the SuperLite looks more "professional " and has a "finished" product look. Probably only Cosmetic!


When hitching up/disconnecting a extended cab short bed truck can you see over the back seat and see either hitch base in the rear view mirror? If not, what tricks have discovered to assist you in lining up the ball and cup?


One of my local dealers who sells both brands says that because of the 5 inch off set built into the base and the 4 inch off set in the coupler block in the Anderson that there isn't the the sharp turning interference problem between the cab/5W on short bed PU's as there is with the SuperLite. Anybody have any experience with this?


Thanks in advance for all your thoughts and comments!


Coxid

 

[Cummins12V98]

IMHO both are QUALITY made products. The PullRite IMHO has a realistic rating of 20K and does NOT rely on the beds corrugated metal for fore and aft support. The PullRite has different mounting options that are solid and won't cause bed deflection. Also the ball locking mechanism on the Andersen is a T handle that has to be mounted to the bottom to the RV that makes it easy to reach BUT also easy for someone to pull while at rest area or? The PullRite would be harder to do so. Not sure it PR can be locked, so far I have not seen a way to lock Andersen.




I don't know exactly what the SAEJ2638 rating PR uses to obtain the 20K rating means. But I would say they are conservative like B&W are. Andersen just recently re designed their Ultimate because when towing heavy and braking hard the Aluminum tubes would bend.




I know, I know I am bashing! So lets just let everyone have their opinion with out calling names please.*

 

[richardcoxid]

Cummins 12V98-I was told Anderson recently increased the wall thickness of the tubing of the 4 legs and where the legs join at the "ball" they have welded in 4 extra gussets for added strength. Their display model had the gussets "visible" and the thicker rubbing wall thickness "not visible"

 

[Killer223]

i have a pullrite superglide in my truck, it's awesome. i really like it except one feature. you have to be straight on to the trailer to hook n unhook if your using the capture plate. when i tow with my long bed truck i remove the plate and it's like a normal 5er hitch.

 

[Jim W]

I will probably be purchasing a new Short bed Extended Cab TV in the next few months and am also looking into new 5th wheel hitches.


At present the Anderson Ultimate and the PullRite SuperLite (Trailer Life, Nov, 2016 article) hitches have caught my interest. In monitoring this as well as other RV blogs, almost all owners are happy with either one. One of the differences that I can see is that between the 2 brands they have reversed the positions of the "Ball" and "Funnel Shaped Cup". I.e. On the Andersen the ball is in the TV bed with the "cup" and latching device mounted upside down on the pin box and the PullRite is just the opposite, the "Ball" is mounted upside down on the pin box, and the "Cup" is mounted in the TV bed.


Is there any clear cut advantage to either way?


In my mind the Anderson overall looks to be something that was clobbered up by a engineer and a welder to prove a concept, while the SuperLite looks more "professional " and has a "finished" product look. Probably only Cosmetic!


When hitching up/disconnecting a extended cab short bed truck can you see over the back seat and see either hitch base in the rear view mirror? If not, what tricks have discovered to assist you in lining up the ball and cup?


One of my local dealers who sells both brands says that because of the 5 inch off set built into the base and the 4 inch off set in the coupler block in the Anderson that there isn't the the sharp turning interference problem between the cab/5W on short bed PU's as there is with the SuperLite. Anybody have any experience with this?


Thanks in advance for all your thoughts and comments!


Coxid

There is a very long running thread on this style of hitch (Anderson) in two different RV forums. One is the IVR2 Forum and the other is Forest River Forum where this hitch (Anderson) has been beaten to death.

I know several people love this hitch for the AL structure and its mass (weight) being so light. I myself and I have stated this would not buy this style of hitch (Anderson). Why ?

The structure does not look like it will hold up to sever use over the years. If you did a free body diagram of the forces (Design process) on this hitch from the trailer as you pull and stop it, you would be amazed on the loading that is taking place. The loading that this style of hitch has to see is a downward force, (weight of trailer) a bending moment ( pulling force), compression and tension (pulling and stopping force that are applied) all at the same time. What I see taking place with this structure is 4 tubes of some wall thickness and material properties of AL that are bent (twisted 90degs) and have deformed (collapsed) ends. These are than welded to a AL block where a king pin ball is suspended above the bed. This is where you need an additional device that captures the king pin on your hitch and than you need to transfer this to the Anderson hitch's ball. Just one more component to fail in this process. Also from my design and manufacturing experience it is very difficult to successfully weld AL 100 percent of the time.

Another issue is what happens to this hitch if a tube is deformed in use by being hit with something in the bed as you are towing with the hitch. Would the hitch fail at that time?

 

[Cummins12V98]

Cummins 12V98-I was told Anderson recently increased the wall thickness of the tubing of the 4 legs and where the legs join at the "ball" they have welded in 4 extra gussets for added strength. Their display model had the gussets "visible" and the thicker rubbing wall thickness "not visible"

Yes, it's called the Ultimate 2

 

[Lynx0849]

Interesting product.

So, this turns the 5th wheel into a goose neck. Does that now mean it is not legal to occupy the trailer in motion?

 

[Cummins12V98]

Interesting product.

So, this turns the 5th wheel into a goose neck. Does that now mean it is not legal to occupy the trailer in motion?

Never considered that but I would think you are correct! *They do require chains in several states.

 

[Killer223]

Passengers in rv are dependent on the state.*