I may have to get a 68RFE in my new truck.

[Cummins2014]

You’ve been HACKED!!!!!

I was wondering why he was not replying to me, but I have been playing nice

 

[AH64ID]

I don't compare the two, I realize there is apparently movement in that style. But lets remember there are a lot of these running around towing fifth wheels with no issues. I believe when he gets it torqued down correctly ,and having his brake controller set right, we can move on here.


Would I buy one ,NO. I have the puck system, I want to be connected at FOUR points, and I am . But the OP has one ,and IMO he will get these things solved, between customer service at Andersen ,and CONSTRUCTIVE advice here, not criticism .

Did I miss where he said he’s been installing it incorrect? I don’t recall him stating that.

This latest round of B&W discussion is because the OP said, 3 days ago, he would be getting a different setup in the future. It’s not a random anti-Anderson tangent right now, it’s all based on the OP’s comments.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

okay I got the horse mat yesterday it's 3/4 inch thick tough tough tough rubber so I've got to drill a hole for the gooseneck ball and then we'll see what happens but yeah I've got the horse stall mats made in Canada it's 48 in by 6 ft so we'll see what happens it should take care of any problems in the future I'm sure and remember I have the Anderson reversed I have the ball forward towards the truck window I do not have it in the standard position because I have a long bed crew cab dually the horse stall mat weighs like a hundred pounds to it's really heavy wow.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

 

[TFucili]

Not trying to incite anything, but I fail to see the logic of introducing flex into what is supposed to be a rigid system. The fact that the hitch can rotate around the ball indicates a problem. Yes, suspension parts, and Rota-Flex pin boxes, etc., have rubber components, but that is engineered in, of some known durometer, and is contained/controlled mechanically. This seems like putting a Band-Aid on a sucking chest wound. I'd sooner put a sheet of boiler plate to spread the load out...

 

[Wiredawg]

Hi Stuart,

I repeat my questions about using a torque wrench every time you reinstall the hitch. Also, neither the instructions nor any of the installation videos I've seen install the hitch backwards (facing forward) AND they are long bed trucks.

I understand you are a dealer and may have better access to the Andersen tech folks, but I'm not sure you're following instruction, and that could be a problem. My friend has the EXACT RV, EXACT same hitch, but has a 2018 Tradesman Ram 3500 Dually 4x4, and has the hitch facing to the rear and has ZERO problems.

It's just there are some of us trying to help you and you seem to ignore our posts. I guess I'll defer to you on this, after all it's you rig and keep my comments to myself.

EDIT: Finally, I think it's a MISTAKE to mount the hitch on the bedmat… It introduces another dynamic of compression that could further EXACERBATE your problem(s).
2: INSTALLING THE BASE UNIT
2-1. Place the Ultimate Connection base in the bed of your truck with the Ultimate Ball closest to the tailgate. You can use your bed grooves to square up the hitch before tightening it down.

Every time you connect a trailer to a tow vehicle using the Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection, you should make sure that all bolts are tightened to the proper torque specs. Additionally, before each trip—and regularly during a trip—check all hardware, bolts and nuts for wear and fatigue.

The instructions ONLY present as an option to turn the coupler around on the RV, not the entire hitch.

Good luck, Ron

 

[AH64ID]

Andersen does talk about using their anti-friction pad or a bedrug, thou neither are as thick as a horse mat. The installation instructions do change a little, in terms of when the torque is applied to the ball. Andersen wants the pin weight on the hitch before final torque.

 

[TFucili]

I saw BTBRV mentioned, and would point out that fairly soon after that video JD went to a Companion, and has since gone to a Reese Goosebox setup.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

I understand about the big truck big RV guy he uses whatever somebody pays him money to use he could care less I think about what works or does not work he gets all his crap for free and no I wanted to put the rubber mat because when I tighten my the main bolt down to about 70 foot pounds or 6570 whatever it'll be fine guys everything's going to be fine I know what I'm doing the whole problem know and I do not want the ball behind the center of the axle so no I want it turned around I talked to some tech nine tech guys and Anderson and they said it's fine it's a pyramid it is a basically a triangle.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

I have said this before and I will say it again the reason that my truck get bed got dented was because I had the electric brakes on light electric and I had an emergency stop situation and it Rock the Anderson a little bit it walked in about a quarter of an inch or whatever and that cause the engine tatian in the bed so long story short now that I've got the electric brakes on heavy electric I'm not having a problem anymore but I don't want to dent my bed anymore that's why I'm putting the rubber there it should help and also it may provide a little traction for the Anderson base because the spray in bedliner is extremely slippery and I know if anybody has really seen one of these Anderson's they're very Stout I'm not sure about the engineering but I have not given up yet if this final piece does not work and get it right I will be getting something else that's just a fact I've got too much money tied in with this but I'm also I'm trying not to be a quitter on the Anderson because I think it's a decent product not the best product but a decent product a good product.

I am not the typical Andersen ultimate connection customer I have a long bed dually crew cab most of the people that buy the Andersen ultimate are short bed six and a half foot bed owners and no I did not want to mount the base behind I don't want to have it behind the center of gravity which is in the normal position at the Anderson comes in so all right guys sorry for the voice to text but I don't have any internet access I'm on the road right now.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

I meant to say I do not want to have the Anderson ball rear would of the center of axle by trial-and-error I found out the hard way that my truck and my RV and my pin box by the trail air air ride all rides way smoother when I have the Anderson Ball 2 to 3 in a head of the center of the axle I did this by trial-and-error and it works fine at this point I've got a very decent ride and I've got my brakes worked out and I just figured none of it and you know what maybe this this this horse rubber mat will help if it doesn't it's only $39 no big deal????????

 

[Cummins12V98]

You’ve been HACKED!!!!!

no doubt!

I don’t block anyone!!!

 

[Cummins12V98]

Stuart plain and simple this damage would have happened no matter!!! Hard braking is all it takes to cause this damage.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Sure the mat will help but is ANDERSEN paying for it???

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

I don't understand why would Anderson pay for anything when it was my fault that I didn't have the brakes dialed in I had it on light electric not on heavy electric
electric because I have a 16500 lb RV I mean it's my fault I take the licks for it it's not a problem it's because I made a mistake not Anderson the Hitch did fine.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

Okay it's done I got the rubber mat in here's a couple pictures.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Stuart you simply don’t understand. Anytime you hit the brakes hard with a heavier RV you WILL have bed deflection. Plain and simple ANDERSEN is relying on the top layer of the beds corrugation to hold the base solid.

You simply made the damage happen sooner than later!

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

I understand what you are saying perfectly well yes I get it there is deflection also the Anderson base the aluminum base can slide on the truck bed it could maybe slide 1/4 inch or whatever and that is a problem I understand I've already come up with a way to mount it is quite similar to the BW but it would require to weld something to that BW gooseneck ball and Ash after that ball of steel shaft it's it's somewhat involved.

 

[Stuart Carter Brandt]

I wanted to mention I took my ram 19 to the dealership yesterday and they did all kinds of updates to the transmission to the ECM and a bunch of other stuff and it seems like it's getting more miles to the gallon now without the RV the fifth wheel behind it but I'm up to 18 miles per gallon this is nuts but it's so far that's what it's working out to be I don't know maybe it's full of maybe it's not true but I mean seems to be getting better fuel mileage in the transmission the Aisin is shifting differently.

 

[AH64ID]

I understand what you are saying perfectly well yes I get it there is deflection also the Anderson base the aluminum base can slide on the truck bed it could maybe slide 1/4 inch or whatever and that is a problem I understand I've already come up with a way to mount it is quite similar to the BW but it would require to weld something to that BW gooseneck ball and Ash after that ball of steel shaft it's it's somewhat involved.

Andersen does make the bed shaft that would reduce a lot of the movement, but it's designed to work with the OE GN hitch and not the B&W.

As long as you clamp on a GN ball there will be unwanted movement... If its moving 1/4" some is VERY wrong. I'll bet your damage is coming from less than 1/8" movement... just repeated movement.


Did you torque the hitch with the pin weight applied? If you did not you will need to do that before towing otherwise you will get more movement with the mat than without.