austinjenna
Columbus, Ohio
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Joined: 03/27/2002
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I had a Reese solid hitch for years and had no issues with it. I then bought a Trailersaver air ride hitch because my truck already rides like an old stagecoach going down a gravel road. This really improved the ride. I can look in my rear-view mirror and see the hitch doing it thing by absorbing the bounce of the trailer and not transferring it to the truck.
To me its not a question of Anderson or Trailersaver but rather any solid mounted hitch compared to any air ride hitch. They are pricier but it is a one and done thing.
I am happy with my purchase and if I ever needed to get a new hitch it would be an air ride hitch
2010 F350 CC Lariat 4x4 Short Bed
2011 Crusader 298BDS 5th Wheel
Reese 16K
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Cptnvideo
Arizona - most of the time
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Joined: 11/05/2006
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Totally agree, AustinJenna.
Bill & Linda
Arizona
2019 Dodge Ram Laramie 3500 dually 4x4 diesel
Hensley Trailer Saver BD5 hitch
2022 Grand Design Solitude 378MBS
1600 watts solar, Victron 150/100 MPPT controller, GoPower 3kw inverter/charger, 5 SOK 206AH LiFePo4 batteries for 1030 ah
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ReneeG
Meridian, Idaho
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Joined: 07/13/2005
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We've never had any other FW hitch but the TrailerSaver BD3. We went from a travel trailer using the Hensley Arrow to the FW using the Hensley TrailerSaver.
2011 Bighorn 3055RL
2011 F350 DRW 6.7L 4x4 Diesel Lariat and Hensley TrailerSaver BD3
1992 Jeep ZJ and 1978 Coleman Concord Pop-Up for remote camping
Dave & Renee plus (Champ, Molly, Paris, Missy, and Maggie in spirit), Mica and Mabel, both Rat Terriers!
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sayoung
Tx
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Joined: 09/17/2012
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ssthrd wrote:I also have an Andersen. I have seen on these and other pages anecdotal accounts of issues with it, but have never seen a picture to show what exactly is going on. Except for one that I recall which is shown over and over again to illustrate the many problems with the Andersen.
If you or anyone else can post some shots, I would love to see them.
I have travelled thousands of miles pulling a 14,000 lb trailer over some pretty rough roads and have no issues at all.
Please post what you have.
Some say that because it is aluminum, it is not all that strong and must be dangerous. Seems like it can be used structurally in aircraft, and also as the outer skin which is only 2-3 mm thick. I imagine it would be scary for some people if they knew that 2mm of aluminum was the only thing between them and certain death while travelling over 500 mph and 30,000 feet in the air. And then slamming down onto a runway in a 300 ton aircraft at 180 mph.
Gives me the shivers.
No issues with the Andersen after those thousands of miles, and no issues with flying after those hundreds of thousands of miles.
Pictures please. ??
Do a search as I've posted my pics a couple times. I don't have my computer set up now as we are living in our 5er while building a new house.
As to aircraft structure , the skin, spars , bulkheads do wear . I've spent a lot of $ keeping planes flying so have some experience as well as Andersen time. The original AUH used lighter tubeing than later versions along with adding some reinforcement .
I am and will continue to be very unhappy with that hitch. Friends don't let friends use an AUH, imho.
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brianpearce
Central Coast, CA
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Joined: 10/14/2008
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Have you considered a Reese Goosebox to replace your pinbox, then simply hitch onto the ball in your bed? I am currently happy with my Andersen, but the Goosebox eliminates the frame footprint in the truck bed.
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TravelinDog
Nevada
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Joined: 07/20/2018
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sayoung wrote:ssthrd wrote:I also have an Andersen. I have seen on these and other pages anecdotal accounts of issues with it, but have never seen a picture to show what exactly is going on. Except for one that I recall which is shown over and over again to illustrate the many problems with the Andersen.
If you or anyone else can post some shots, I would love to see them.
I have travelled thousands of miles pulling a 14,000 lb trailer over some pretty rough roads and have no issues at all.
Please post what you have.
Some say that because it is aluminum, it is not all that strong and must be dangerous. Seems like it can be used structurally in aircraft, and also as the outer skin which is only 2-3 mm thick. I imagine it would be scary for some people if they knew that 2mm of aluminum was the only thing between them and certain death while travelling over 500 mph and 30,000 feet in the air. And then slamming down onto a runway in a 300 ton aircraft at 180 mph.
Gives me the shivers.
No issues with the Andersen after those thousands of miles, and no issues with flying after those hundreds of thousands of miles.
Pictures please. ??
Do a search as I've posted my pics a couple times. I don't have my computer set up now as we are living in our 5er while building a new house.
As to aircraft structure , the skin, spars , bulkheads do wear . I've spent a lot of $ keeping planes flying so have some experience as well as Andersen time. The original AUH used lighter tubeing than later versions along with adding some reinforcement .
I am and will continue to be very unhappy with that hitch. Friends don't let friends use an AUH, imho.
Sour grapes. If there was really an issue with Anderson hitches they would not be in business.
There are thousands upon thousands of those hitches out on the road with zero broblems.
You simply don't like them for whatever reason.
Just say no to the payload police ">
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nick11
California
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Joined: 08/27/2012
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I have the Anderson steel version. I have had it on two different 5ver toy haulers with no issues. 16400 GVWR and 18000 on my current trailer. This hitch works incredibly well. I ditched my 150lb+ slider hitch and will never go back. I can hookup and unhitch at any angle making it very nice when unhooking during camping. So easy to hitch up knowing the ball is inside the receiver and no issue of wondering if your lock bar captured the king pin or not. It also rides better going down the road than any of my friends even with their air boxes. Since the trailer articulates on a ball there is freedom in all directions.
Some people are just afraid of change. Anderson designed this and stands behind the product with a 20k rating. Far superior in every aspect IMO.
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Cptnvideo
Arizona - most of the time
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Joined: 11/05/2006
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My Hensley BD5 articulates in all directions. But it won't let the trailer articulate enough to contact the bed rails. And it has 3 air bags and 4 shocks for a very smooth ride.
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ReneeG
Meridian, Idaho
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Our Hensley TrailerSaver BD3 has two airbags and two shocks and articulates as well.
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nick11
California
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No doubt the BD3 is an awesome hitch and has some articulation. The drawbacks are that it weighs 160 lbs, is over $2k and you need to be pretty level and straight with the trailer to hook-unhook. With the Anderson you can be un level and at 90 deg to your trailer and still hook - unhook with ease. It also rides great going down the road with no airbags to deal with. Extremely simple, easy to use and easy to remove.
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