COMPLETE HITCH FAILURE while Towing a Fifth Wheel RV! Andersen Ultimate Fifth Wheel Hitch

[@anthonyroberts9034]

In reality, he is VERY fortunate that this failure happened at very low speed, and that the coach stayed on the truck bed, and not on the ground ! Also, he did a Masterful job at maneuvering through the intersection and coming to a safe stop. 👏

[@Skylane2005]

Thanks! I've been saying that since it happened. We drove nearly 3,000 miles on Interstate 10 at highway speeds. We feel quite fortunate that if it was going to happen, it happened at 3 MPH.

[@xe9ys]

Fortunate to have it on video too.

[@tjshine7444]

I own, and love my Anderson Hitch. I blame the HORRIBLE roads in the country. I-40 in Arizona just east of the Cal-Az border used the be the worst, but after pulling our Cedar Creek 36CK2 from Arkansas to Palm Springs, to Seattle and back home, the highway around Denver was the absolute worst. I was actually doing 25mph in areas because my truck started getting airborne through the pot holes and bumps. Very stressful! I commend you on you control abilities and patience with this company. I will be cutting a leg off mine today and purchasing a Gen 3 immediately. Thanks.

[@DavidGoethals]

@@tjshine7444 I'm with you on that! The interstates in my state are harder on my truck than driving offroad.

[@440-6Pack]

At 8:34 you said Anderson says failure may occur due to a harsh braking event. That is completely unacceptable!

[@jeffconley819]

Totally . What are the chances of a harsh braking event while towing…….pretty darn high.

[@makeitpay8241]

@@jeffconley819 yes BMW's are everywhere and they often drive like jackwagons

[@mikefowler301]

@@makeitpay8241 LOL! Well that's certainly one example.

[@RCS1master]

all of those things mentioned.......Severe braking to accident are when a hitch should NOT fail. the trailer should disintegrate before the hitch does

[@Craig2142]

I agree with you. Even after a catastrophic accident, that kingpin should be in that hitch and the hitch still connected to the truck frame whether or not the trailer is still attatched to the kingpin is on the trailer manufacturers.

[@Skylane2005]

I’m the person this happened to and the one who sent the video to JD. Like the video said, the failure rate for the Andersen “Ultimate 5th Wheel Connection” is EXTREMELY LOW. And, since the 2021 version, there have been ZERO failures. Earlier this year, Andersen introduced the “Gen 3” version of the hitch. When I received mine, I compared it to the broken hitch, and the improvements were VERY obvious - the hitch parts are larger and thicker in nearly every dimension. During the factory tour, we were shown examples of the difference between the hand-welded parts on the older hitches, and the complete weld penetration that the robotic machine welders are able to achieve 100% of the time. Andersen was very clear that while the new design is much stronger, they still have complete confidence in their previous versions, and stand behind them 100%. After the factory tour, and learning about the new Gen 3 hitch, I am certain my decision to continue using the Andersen hitch is the right one. Based on my experience, Andersen truly stands behind their product and takes care of their customers. EDIT / ADDITIONAL COMMENTS (9/20/2024): I finally got my fifth-wheel trailer to a scale: 3,915 pounds pin weight, and 16,830 pounds gross. My black and gray tanks were empty, and my fresh water tank was about 1/4 full, which is how I typically tow. If I know I'll be boondocking, I'll fill the fresh water tank, which would put me just under my GVWR of 17,500. Fully provisioned, and I'm sure I'm at gross.... The hitch (both the Gen2 and the Gen3) are rated at 4,500 pin and 24,000 gross. I'm surprised Andersen Hitches didn't increase the ratings for the Gen3, as it's literally a tank compared to the Gen2. As I stated in lots of the earlier replies, I involved my insurance company because I needed to get my truck fixed ASAP. Right after I did that, Andersen and I started a dialog, which in the end was Andersen covering everything for me. They made it clear to me that not everyone receives a payment, it depends on whether or not the damages were the result of an accident, etc. In the end, my insurance company initially paid for the repairs ($18,000+), minus my deductible. Andersen paid me directly for my deductible, loss of use (even though I didn't have to rent another truck while it was in the shop), and for some other expenses. I feel that I was 100% compensated for this issue, and as the legal profession would say, I was "made whole." Separately, Andersen compensated my insurance company for the balance. For those of you who commented something about my "poor insurance company," HAHAHAHA!!! I've paid them many tens of thousands of dollars over the years (after being with them for many decades). I've received little, other than the "what if" part. In this incident, they aren't out a dime. At no time did anyone at Andersen ask me NOT to publish the video that I showed them that I had. It's pretty clear to me that the people at Andersen wish this never happened, but they're focusing on that the knowledge of the existence of the Gen3 hitch will be a net positive. As I've stated over and over in the comments, the difference between the Gen2 and the Gen3 is extreme! If it wasn't, I'd be using something else. More recently, I haven't done much replying in the comments, and I only made one comment in JD's followup video. Dealing with KEYBOARD WARRIORS can be very fatiguing. In fact, I had to change the status of all my personal videos to private, which were mostly memorial slideshows and videos of memorial services, for my parents and for others, because people who were angry that I dared say something positive about Andersen Hitches were posting comments on those memorial videos. Any comment I could say here about them doing that is obvious, and any negative thoughts, well deserved. I'm thinking these will be my last comments EVER on KZbin: My hope is that PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED learn about the Andersen Gen3 hitch. If you think otherwise, fine, use a different hitch system. They've ALL had failures; all you have to do to find them is use Google (IN FACT, THIS MORNING, JD POSTED ABOUT A FAILURE OF A "STEEL" GEN-Y HITCH). And, as JD said, keyboard warriors who have been talking about all the many failures of the Andersen hitch are referring to the many REPEATED postings of the same FEW failures, of which most were related to some sort of accident.... Andersen Hitches has proven to me, to be a top notch company - the type of company I've pushed my own crew to be for me (in my construction company). And, everyone I had contact with at Andersen, from Customer Service, to the owner, was positive and friendly, in every single way. I was the person who had this extreme failure, and I want everyone to know I completely endorse the Andersen Gen3 Ultimate Hitch, and the company, Andersen Hitches.

[@cjkrispy1429]

Did they pay for the damages?

[@user-TomSlick68]

Would you trust the gen 2 again?

[@Skylane2005]

​@@cjkrispy1429Between my insurance company and Andersen, I'm not out of pocket at all.

[@Skylane2005]

​@@user-TomSlick68I would trust a Gen 2 manufactured in or after 2021. But, as part of their warranty, Andersen sent me a Gen 3, which is clearly much stronger....

[@Skylane2005]

During the factory tour, I was able to view side-by-side comparisons of the pre-2021 Gen 2 (like mine that failed), the 2021 Gen 2, and the Gen 3 (2024). The improvements are dramatic.

[@larryfromwisconsin9970]

Wow. Having seen this Anderson needs to recall all Gen 2 hitches and upgrade customers to Gen 3 for free.

[@jimm2442]

May be the NHTB should be made aware of this?

[@JS-qd9rz]

Probably not enough failures to force a recall.

[@TheTechnoPilot]

@@larryfromwisconsin9970 not to mention they should be liable for the damage to this truck and their trailer.

[@chucknSC]

That’s exactly what I was thinking. But I guess that the courtroom losses have not approached the cost to recover all the gen2 product. Sad to say, but when there’s a fatality and they lose millions in a case, maybe they will be reactive instead of proactive and recall them. I personally don’t think charging $500 to upgrade is an appropriate incentive. It should be half that, which shows they are committed to eating some of the cost.

[@johnm7340]

thank you for putting this up and letting those with Anderson Gen 2 hitch's that they are not safe and should be replace - regardless of what you replace it with. When I got my ATC 5th wheels toybox in 2024, I was going to use the Anderson hitch - because it was lightweight and ease of in and out - but once I did my research and found that there had been failures - I quickly dropped that idea and swapped out the pin box with a Reese Goose Box to be sure I had a solid connection to the truck. The added cost was well worth the peace of mind of knowing I had a strong connection that would withstand a lot if things went wrong. I know you and the customer indicated the failure rate was low, but to me regardless of circumstances a hitch failure for a trailer that is within the rating is unacceptable. Had his hitch failed at freeway speed, what could have happened - how many injured or even killed with him and/or around him? To say most were under duress (accident etc.) as if that makes it acceptable or not so bad - I think is a mistake on your part. We have a responsibility to tow safely and protect not only those with us, but also those around us. Anderson failed their customers and should not be praised for offering to sell you new version of the same hitch for $500 - with proof that their defective Gen 2 hitch they sold you is destroyed. Ok - stepping back down off the soap box.

[@Skylane2005]

THREE failed hitches (that were non- accident related) out of many hundreds of thousands of units sold is far from a failure overall. The Reese Goosebox, the BMW Companion hitch, and all the other hitches have had failures, the proof is a Google search away....

[@mikz86ta1]

​@@Skylane2005😅 3. Yeah, I don't ever hear of any failures by my Reese Elite or my old Pro Series direct rail or my old Pro Series with Ford 'picture frame' adapter. I'll take the 0 failures of mine with millions sold than 3 of some poorly engineered hope

[@Skylane2005]

@@mikz86ta1 You don't know how to use Google? Lots of Reese Elite hitch failures come up.

[@Skylane2005]

@@mikz86ta1 You don't know how to use an internet search engine? Plenty of Reese Elite failures come up....

[@mikz86ta1]

@@Skylane2005 you're all bent outta shape because people don't agree with you. Go take a nap bro

[@Rustic-Country]

I used to be an RV transporter that delivered RVs from the manufactures to the dealers. We were not allowed to use an Anderson hitch for this very reason. Some people like them because of the easy of putting them in the truck and taking them out. The puck system in the newer trucks make it easy to put in and take out than the older ones that bolted in. The puck system hitches weigh more than the Andersen hitch. I never had a problem putting one in or taking it out by myself.

[@andersenhitches]

We definitely understand the concern. Incidents like these are an anomaly, but we always take them seriously and take care of our customers. There’s a common misconception about the strength of aluminum hitches, but rest assured, all our hitches undergo rigorous testing to meet the demands of our users. We engineer our products to be strong and reliable, and we stand behind them 100%. Our goal is to provide the best towing experience, and we’re confident that we do just that.

[@thechroniclesofmaintenance4192]

I’ve never trusted those hitches simply because; you have a 7Klb truck made of steel and composites connected to a 16Klb RV made of steel and composites going down the road experiencing severe dynamic stresses, but then connect them together with a minimalist lightweight tubular aluminum hitch. I always used a Reese fifth wheel hitch that could take the stresses well with minimal metal fatigue.

[@jimm2442]

@@andersenhitchesAre you going to pay the man for the damage your failed hitch caused? Perhaps you are content letting his insurance pick up the tab and then we all pay via higher premiums?

[@georgesrisomsak9650]

The failed hitches went through the same testing and still failed. That says enough for me. The goose box is the better option for just a few more bucks. Why anyone would sacrifice everyone's safety and even more convenience for literally just a few more bucks is beyond me. I sure hope dude got a new rv and truck paid for by the company. That would be right, and a proper setup like a goosebox to with it! 😂

[@roundsm18]

When I bought my trailer the dealer had changed it over to the Reese goosebox. First change I made to my trailer was to put the kingpin back on it after giving it about 3,000 miles of use. I’m still not a gooseneck fan and would rather move my fifth wheel hitch than deal with the gooseneck.

[@peteengard9966]

No hitch should fail. Imagine the carnage if the trailer went the other way. I remember when Holland hitch came out with the 3500 series for semis. Buyers were unsure of it by the way the jaws were locked around the pin. Holland came out with a short film of one holding 160,000 pound blocks from a crane. It's now the most popular semi hitch with millions sold. There should never be a structural problem with a hitch period.

[@andersenhitches]

We definitely understand the concern. Incidents like these are an anomaly, but we always take them seriously and take care of our customers. There’s a common misconception about the strength of aluminum hitches, but rest assured, all our hitches undergo rigorous testing to meet the demands of our users. Aluminum is trusted in critical applications like aircraft, boats, and military vehicles because of its strength and durability. We engineer our products to be strong and reliable, and we stand behind them 100%. Our goal is to provide the best towing experience, and we’re confident that we do just that.

[@mlogan2112]

I’ve been a commercial driver for 31 years. I believe that the connection between truck and trailer has to be strong. My hitch is made out of steel. It may be a pain to get it in and out, but that’s what I’m willing to deal with. At the end of the day these kind of failures can happen. Be safe out there and happy travels.

[@clydesuckfinger8068]

I agree, I mean as a full timer it isn’t like my hitch comes out much. Plus, it’s real easy to hook up a standard fifth wheel hitch. No real aiming, just line it up side to side (within an inch or so) and vertically, back up until it locks.

[@barrytobias6921]

We have used our Anderson hitch for almost 5 years with no failures. I did however call Anderson yesterday and ordered the newest version of this hitch. We love ours but the minimal cost was not worth having the issue. The hardest part was actually cutting the hitch in 2 places to show them that the old one is destroyed. Thanks for posting.

[@D2O2]

So you love it so much that despite your recognition of it potentially not being safe drove you to buy a newer model from them at even more cost? Didn't they lead you to believe that the original one was safe when you bought it? How can you trust them when they safe the new one is safe?

[@barrytobias6921]

@@D2O2 my reason for having the upgrade being done was a decision I made to be on the safe side. We have had no failures the entire time we have owned this hitch. I also have two other reasons for owning this type of hitch. I used the bed of my F350 all the time so getting the hitch in and out is very easy. I also park our toy hauler in my out building and it is at an angle due to space constraints and many traditional fifth wheel hitches have to be straight when we detach it from the truck. We have done upgrades to other things based on a product getting better even though they had not failed. This was a personal decision we made and in the long one it works for our situation.

[@marcg.3830]

I mean you never have a failure until you do! Aluminum should not be used for something like this, just my opinion.

[@chucksterock]

It's aluminum, it will fatigue eventually. The crushed ends of the tubes are a really piss-poor manufacturing method that is cheap and weakens the joint. As an engineer I would never consider that for towing anything.

[@D2O2]

I concur. They will ALL fail in service eventually.

[@trumpio]

This really needs to be the top comment. Aluminum should not be used in a hitch system, and I probably wouldn't even buy patio furniture with this type of manufacturing execution.

[@AlBrowne-l9b]

Absolutely correct. I have done a lot of aluminum fabrication. Another issue is that the rear tubes are always under compressive loads, and these loads increase exponentially under acceleration due to the lever arm above the bed of the truck. There are ways to alleviate this problem, but this is simply not a robust long-term design in my opinion.

[@madmatt113944]

I literally came here to say this. The crushed ends create so many weak points and stresses within the weldment. Who rated this thing? How was is DOT approved?

[@VinniePepperoni]

Its probably the same flawed process copied like the FAA just copied like letting the mfg like Boeing evaluate their own failures with very little oversight from the regulatory body, and god forbid letting a non conflicted party evaluate the design and or failure. DOT, so you state shes good to go, Anderson- yep thoroughly tested with a VW bug pickup truck and a little red wagon, DOT- approved ur good to go.

[@brianpearce5690]

Thanks for highlighting the upgrade program, I have a gen 2 and will be taking them up on their offer.

[@TheTechnoPilot]

You shouldn’t be paying for this, this should be a complete recall!

[@DavidGoethals]

@@TheTechnoPilot Why? Isn't the difference between the older hitches and the newer just a progression, same as with anything? If they had dozens or hundereds of failures, that would made sense, but I don't understand your logic.

[@judykpremier]

We are in our third year full time with our Andersen. 41' reflection. 17000 lbs. We inspect the frame regularly. When we noticed two minute cracks on the frame a few months ago, we contacted Andersen and they shipped us a new one the next day. The original had been purchased in 2017, we bought it with the rv from a private seller.

[@ricwestdoesitwork]

Kudos to Anderson hitches for taking care of a customer.

[@andersenhitches]

Thank you. That is always our goal, to provide the best towing and user experience for our customers!

[@jimm2442]

@@andersenhitchesDid you pay for all the repairs? If not why?

[@marcg.3830]

I mean did they have a choice, especially with video proof?! Take care of it or a lawsuit, which is cheaper?

[@Jez-p9k]

Thanks for thr video. I also have the 2nd gen. Going to upgrade to the 3rd gen.

[@jonhaley815]

Campingworld was pushing that hitch when I bought my toyhauler. It was $100.00 more than the B and W companion. So I bought the B and W. And very happy with it.

[@andyjoslyn0512]

Another amazing and informational video - thanks JD!! I’ll be taking advantage of the swap out program. I’ve never had an issue with my Gen 2, but I always like the idea of better and more robust !

[@CT9905.]

Yes! B&W companion…. Outstanding product!

[@treecatt]

This is why I went with the Goosebox when I bought my 5th wheel.

[@rfkcous]

Best fix for a Andersen hitch is a B&W Companion Hitch

[@philosophicalfloridaman]

Basically another hitch

[@rfkcous]

@@philosophicalfloridaman Basically another hitch made from steel that weighs twice as much.

[@rocketgruntmason3269]

@@rfkcous If you can stomach the extra $600 and weight and maintenanceyes

[@rfkcous]

@@rocketgruntmason3269 An extra $600 for quality, durability, and peace of mind is a bargain.

[@kencasebolt996]

Depends on what you want from a hitch!

[@SouthbySomewhere2024]

This exact Andersen hitch failed on us when we were on an extended trip with our previous unit…a Momentum toy hauler. Fortunately, we identified the weld failures before something bad happened on the road. We contacted Andersen directly and sent them photos as proof. They sent us a new base, but for some reason would not ship it in any kind of timely manner that would allow us to continue our trip, so we ordered a B&W Companion from etrailer and had it delivered to our campground in West Yellowstone. It arrived an hour after we had to check out. We installed it in the parking lot of the visitor center….in the pouring rain. We travel with our 3 kids. This should have never happened.

[@alleydog4309]

I have a 2nd gen Anderson and will be going to 3rd gen. I purchased 6 of the orange jack buckets that had the magnets to hold them to the jack pads. The magnets failed on all 6 after a couple of years due to rust, no real surprise to me. I called Anderson and asked if I could buy replacement magnets and they sent me 6 new buckets within just a few days. Customer service is great!

[@alandugan9310]

On the “Liz Amazing” channel, back when her and Paul were together and pulling their GD Solitude 310GK, they were using the 2nd generation Anderson Hitch. Paul was inspecting it one day and realized it was bending like a rocking chair on the pickup truck bed. The hitch literally looked like rocking chair rails. He reached out to Anderson and if I remember right, Anderson replaced it. I don’t remember if it coast them any money. The video shouldn’t be too hard to find.

[@DavidGoethals]

Paul was awesome! He's missed on that channel by me.

[@patbullard9276]

B&W user here. From the first time I saw the Anderson hitch, at a RV show in Little Rock, I haven’t been sold on its claimed strength. To me it’s just too light to be strong enough for its application. But then I’m no engineer. This video horrifies me. I’m sticking with my B&W until someone shows me video evidence of a failure and I’ve recommended it to many fifth wheelers.

[@jimm2442]

In the history of BW has anyone had a failure?

[@patbullard9276]

@@jimm2442 Don’t know. I have had nothing but success with it and I have never seen any reports of any. If so I would like to hear of it.

[@lkj0822g]

Here's the thing, if that hitch had failed going down the road at highway speeds, the results could have been much, much worse. up to and including a fatal wreck for this family. If this had happened to me, I don't think I would ever trust any product from Anderson again. And after seeing some of the videos about frame flex, I'm not too keen on trusting any of these RV manufacturers and their death traps on wheels.

[@bondobilly9369]

@lkj0822g going down the road isn't the problem, it's stopping and starting that put most of the stress on it.

[@robertaspinall3035]

Used one for hundreds of miles, multiple trips, all types of terrain - zero issues. Many naysayers here who don't look at the facts.

[@TruckingInABlueDream]

As a 35 year trucker and longtime RVer myself, I firmly believe that it’s generally a bad idea to convert a king pin connection to a ball connection. There’s a reason why ball connections require safety chains and king pins don’t. I’ve heard it argued that these conversions allow more articulation, but I’ve never had articulation issues with my B&W Companion 5th wheel hitch.

[@stephanotto9512]

@user-zs4um9lw3n as a truck driver myself and own a fifth wheel I wouldn't do it either and the amount of people that don't do a tug test or inspect there stuff before hooking up and pulling away blows my mind. I know things happen once the road but a lot of these problems wouldn't happen if people would inspect there equipment not saying that wouldn't have happened to this guy.

[@RCS1master]

most RV companies will void trailer chassis warranty with a Goosneck conversion

[@max7143]

That’s not converting anything. It attaches to where the 3” ball would normally, it moves the ball up and back to accommodate for short beds. Insane idiotic design, top that with it being aluminum. Get the right truck for the job.

[@TruckingInABlueDream]

@@max7143 It is converting, the ball adapter is mounted to the kingpin, the Andersen just elevates the ball.

[@max7143]

@@TruckingInABlueDream There is no King Pin, the trailer has been changed from a king pin to a goose ball, and the truck only has a goose hitch receiver under the bed, then that contraption attaches to the goose ball mount of the truck and nothing else. Maybe we are saying the same thing lol.

[@melodygrandinetti5016]

We have the andersen hitch andd tow our fith wheel from Washington state to Iowa on roads from he'll, and never had a problem. So now we are heading back home in a few days. We have the 20,000 lbs rated anderson and our rig in 10,500

[@crazyman3157]

Leaning on the side of fatigue. I have a sense that JD will do a deep dive into this and see what he can find, both on an engineering/design side as well as customers experience and a possible tour at Anderson. I know full well Anderson is seeing and reading the comments and replying to them. Fatigue is a fact of life and failures happen as can be seen in the space program. I am glade that everyone is safe and sound and Anderson took care of the customer, not as a publicity stunt either, they fully owned up to it and stood behind their product.

[@N-M424]

@@crazyman3157 I am firmly on the side of fatigue. This is aluminum, all of the a guaranteed to failed eventually in use, just the nature of a material that doesn't have an endurance limit.

[@SweetBluebonnet]

The suspenseful music during the failure was awesome. Keep up the great work.

[@ruderabbit797]

Seems like another lifetime ago I bought a 2001 F550 Eclipse thoroughbred truck, and it had a Curtis gooseneck hitch and system. I had a 40ft enclosed race trailer with gooseneck, so converted my 34' RV to goose. A year later, I noticed the ball mount was moving a bit more excessively than I wanted, and called Curtis tech help to order a new cross pin, and any other parts for it. Long/short. they sent me a full new unit for free ( I did not ask for that ). From 2008 till now, no issues. Reliability and company customer service is the highest mark in my mind. I'd rather pay for safety, reliability, and CS.

[@williamjames3304]

I'm like you. I have both Anderson and a B&W Companion hitch. The reason I have both is I have two different trucks. I pull my 5 wheel with my 02 Ram, which has a B&W stile gooseneck hitch, and my 2022 Ram has the factory still. I like both, but I still feel safer with the B&W it just feels Heavier duty. Now that being said I have had no problems with the Anderson or the B&W and would still recommend both Anderson or B&W. They are both very well made in my opinion.

[@jimcurry5458]

I bought my first fifth wheel this summer as an upgrade to a bigger roomier unit versus the travel trailer I had. I researched all the different hitches but it seemed everything had some drawback to them. I’m 66 years old so the traditional big heavy cumbersome units were a no go. I strongly considered a Reese Goosebox but the almost $3,000 price put me off. I almost bought the Curt Crosswing but changed my mind. I bought the Andersen Gen 3 and love it. The higher front end lift of the trailer for hitching and unhitching was a little scary at first. But I always chock behind the wheels when doing this and now I’m totally comfortable. I managed large aluminum curtain wall construction jobs for over 25 years. Aluminum framed curtain walls withstand huge wind loads on high rise buildings all over the world. When I got my hands on the Andersen hitch I saw immediately it was a much heavier design than window systems I put on high rise buildings. I have no worries.

[@jlitwin1]

Thanks for this content. As usual you are costing me more $. Been with Andersen for a long time and they have always taken care of issues and just been friendly and helpful. Will be upgrading to gen 3 now.

[@paulneeb]

I have an Andersen 5th wheel hitch their customer service is top notch! I had something I was worried about and they sent me a brand new replacement which was awesome of them!

[@raycosman824]

Looks like there should be a recall of that model.

[@Skylane2005]

Three (non-accident related) failures (including mine) out of the many hundreds of thousands of units Andersen has sold. I don't think that rises to the level of a recall. I was impressed that Andersen is offering 50% off a Gen 3, which is below their cost to produce it.

[@joesainato8051]

@@Skylane2005I don’t know anything about 5th wheel hitches. I have a motorhome. Seems like great customer service that you had. With that said if they are offering a deal to get out of the old hitch at a loss on there end they must be worried about its strength and longevity.

[@HemiDad1963]

We have a B&W Companion slider for pulling our Pinnacle. The rv weighs about 16,000 and I tow with an F350 SRW with the 7.3L gas engine. I am happy with this setup.

[@Jeff-qw3tu]

@btbrv Your talking about hitch failures I just noticed on my gen-y offset ball after one 400 mile trip that the welds are cracking

[@wornwater3537]

I moved to the Andersen WD hitch for my new RV when I bought it in 2021 and would never go back to the traditional bar-style hitches again. It works flawlessly, it's super easy to set up and remove, it's quiet, and it can be stored in my front compartment when I get to the campsite. I know their (Andersen) hitch styles are outside of the box but sometimes "new" technology works that way and it's hard for us to buy into the change. In the end, you have to purchase a hitch that makes YOU feel comfortable when towing; for me, the Andersen does that.

[@Skylane2005]

You said it exactly! Thanks!

[@sandys2672]

Going on year 7 with first generation Anderson. Over 20,000 miles and replaced the orange box once and the cable pin and handle once. My experience has been excellent overall. Im not towing a huge fifth wheel, I keep mine under 10k # using my F250.

[@gizzmo2875]

I personally know of someone who suffered a failure of this hitch. He was traveling at highway speeds when it occurred, luckily he and his family only suffered minor injuries. The failure totaled his 2020 F-250 Platinum AND his 40' 5th wheel. NEVER will I trust this hitch design. When we had our 39' bunkhouse, I elected to use a 21k Reese Goosebox despite my 5th wheel only being rated at 15k. If we ever get another 5'er, I'll either get a Gen-Y goose or another Reese unit. Also, ANY hitch SHOULD deal with "harsh braking" or "tail dragging" or be able to cope with dragging through the brakes!

[@andersenhitches]

We definitely understand the concern. Incidents like these are an anomaly, but we always take them seriously and take care of our customers. There’s a common misconception about the strength of aluminum hitches, but rest assured, all our hitches undergo rigorous testing to meet the demands of our users. Aluminum is trusted in critical applications like aircraft, boats, and military vehicles because of its strength and durability. We engineer our products to be strong and reliable, and we stand behind them 100%. Our goal is to provide the best towing experience, and we’re confident that we do just that.

[@smiley3303]

@@andersenhitches should have replaced their truck and paid them to buy a better hitch.

[@tubeonline629]

Anyone pulling a 40 foot RV with a 3/4 ton pickup is just asking for trouble.

[@gizzmo2875]

@@tubeonline629 While I don't disagree with your statement, I also don't think that the hitch (especially when rated for the weight of the trailer) should be the point of failure. I fully expect ANY hitch to be able to transmit vehicle collision forces to the tow vehicle. This video makes 3 of the hitches that I have "seen" fail under normal conditions. I have read testimonies of more than double that.

[@smiley3303]

@@tubeonline629 what does that have to do with it? Did you read online that 2500 isn’t enough? Some 2500 are some are not.

[@gcflower99]

Been running the Andersen Gen 2 since March 2021, full time RV, SD, TX, AR, NC, FL, AZ with a 17,500 Alpine. Occasional retorque and everything is working fine. But the upgrade for $500 would add an additional level of safety.

[@N-M424]

@@gcflower99 Why should you have to pay $500 more to get something safer? They should be replacing all the old ones free of charge.

[@jimm2442]

@@N-M424My question exactly.

[@DavidGoethals]

@@N-M424 And the hithc supplier is giving a discount to upgrade. I didn't get that either.

[@Midwestcamperguy]

I have had the steel, gen 2 and now gen3. I have a video on my channel comparing the steel to the gen3. I will say the gen3 has very noticeable changes and upgrades. I applaud companies who continue to innovate and improve

[@crankshaft007]

Clearly a issue exists in the gen 2 for them to have a upgrade program to gen3 . Being aluminum it points to a cycling stress fracture so clearly pointed out in the aviation industry. It’s aluminum under extreme multiple direction loadss properly the worst situation for it. I think the company needs to recall it or complete some long term cycling tests. Because imagine this gentleman experiencing this down the freeway !! Wouldn’t be such a happy forgiving experience

[@andersenhitches]

We definitely understand the concern. Incidents like these are an anomaly, but we always take them seriously and take care of our customers. most of the time the user did something outside of normal towing conditions to cause the wear and sometimes manufacturing defects occur. There’s a common misconception about the strength of aluminum hitches, but rest assured, all our hitches undergo rigorous testing to meet the demands of our users. Aluminum is trusted in critical applications like aircraft, boats, and military vehicles because of its strength and durability. We engineer our products to be strong and reliable, and we stand behind them 100%. Our goal is to provide the best towing experience, and we’re confident that we do just that.

[@cynthiabrandt679]

Hello, my name is Stuart, I am using my wife's KZbin channel. I was an Anderson dealer before COVID. I have a huge amount experience about the Anderson products I must say I had a jayco 377 RLBH 5th wheel with the Anderson fifth wheel hitch with the adapter. The orange adapter with the plastic and I was not impressed. In fact it dented my pickup bed. Thankfully I never had a problem with it, but I just got the feeling it wasn't really that good, especially the ball being made of aluminum which I never liked. I think we would be much better served if we had a BMW companion with a lippert flex ride pin box. It would ride much smoother. I am the longer in Anderson dealer cuz I did not really like the products and my contact and sales rep here in Florida died of COVID. A guy named Phil Jackson believe it or not but I think they have some great ideas. I just don't think this all aluminum thing is the way to go in my opinion😮

[@Skylane2005]

Prior to the factory tour, I thought that the ball was the weak link, and if there was going to be a problem, it would be a ball failure. It turns out that the ball is the strongest part of the hitch, by far!

[@andersenhitches]

Its very unfortunate what happend to Phil and were sad to hear you no longer carry our products. We definitely understand the concern. Incidents like these are an anomaly, but we always take them seriously and take care of our customers. There’s a common misconception about the strength of aluminum hitches, but rest assured, all our hitches undergo rigorous testing to meet the demands of our users. Aluminum is trusted in critical applications like aircraft, boats, and military vehicles because of its strength and durability. We engineer our products to be strong and reliable, and we stand behind them 100%. Our goal is to provide the best towing experience, and we’re confident that we do just that.

[@stevedenoyer5956]

I have to agree,I too run the 377rlbh and have the b&w companion, picked for the same reasons, plus this coach has a heavier pin weight.

[@arlav2001]

I installed a Reese Goosebox in 2021 thanks to JDs reviews and I have no regrets. I like the fact I have an empty bed when I unhitch. I never liked the design of the Anderson hitch.

[@N-M424]

I would love to see the J2638 Test Loads they applied. Aluminum does NOT have an endurance limit, which means that it WILL fail, just a matter of time.

[@andersenhitches]

We will be releasing that info soon in some videos and articles. Our hitch did pass the J2638 tests. We definitely understand the concern. Incidents like these are an anomaly, but we always take them seriously and take care of our customers. There’s a common misconception about the strength of aluminum hitches, but rest assured, all our hitches undergo rigorous testing to meet the demands of our users. Aluminum is trusted in critical applications like aircraft, boats, and military vehicles because of its strength and durability. We engineer our products to be strong and reliable, and we stand behind them 100%. Our goal is to provide the best towing experience, and we’re confident that we do just that.

[@trumpio]

@@andersenhitches let's not overlook that anomalies like this can lead to injury or death.

[@DavidGoethals]

Isn't that true with all materials? Even titanium?

[@N-M424]

@@DavidGoethals Nope, not true.

[@raydavis3471]

Great job with the factual elements and overall narrative. When I purchased a hitch for my fifth wheel. I looked at the Andersen and the visual of the design did not offer me the peace of mind that the other manufactures did. Having been in the building business for 43 years the design just didn't seem to be congruent. Pleased to hear that they continued to develop and modify their design to provide an over all better product.

[@jmanyoo3305]

I have the gen 2 and I haven’t had any issues with it. It has been awesome. I also have chains on mine that connect to the b&w gooseneck hitch in case of a failure like this.

[@supporterofsanity]

Holy cow this guy is still fan boying for this company on almost every comment!

[@Skylane2005]

Sorry that I'm interested in the video THAT I SUBMITTED, and the subsequent comments. Wouldn't you be?

[@smiley3303]

@@supporterofsanity it is odd.

[@RoadieWingZZ]

Not odd at all. He’s answer questions and stating facts. Nothing wrong with that.

[@Itsa_Mea]

It's no different than a Ford guy experiencing a CP4 pump failure and after a $12k repair bill still preach how awesome the truck is.

[@smiley3303]

@@Itsa_Mea yeah that never makes sense to me either.

[@rdrun51660]

I use my truck bed a lot when I am not towing my 5th wheel, so I could not have a huge heavy unit in the back. I really looked hard at Anderson, but then I saw the Reese Goose Box 20K and was hooked. Plus I did not have to store the base, the Goose Box stays with the trailer, all you have to do is take out the ball. I also like the suspension on the Goose Box. Even at twice the price, and I am not rich, it was well worth it. Now I am even happier I skipped the Anderson, although I would be confident the 3rd Gen is much better.

[@cameronshiley5595]

I live about 30 minutes from Andersen Hitches facilities, and know one of the owners sons. They are all amazing people and are always trying to better their products and want to take care of their customers.

[@iamsuprmn1]

I don't know anything about either of these hitches, I just like how thorough your videos are.... that being said, not to knock Anderson or anything, but if you are using a B&W, I'm using a B&W. Plus after reading some of the comments it just seems like a better product.

[@tonyndebr]

I am a B & W owner and very happy.

[@patriotcanuck6485]

You said he traveled in the southern states. Did he mention temperature? Aluminum is a soft metal and high heat would make it a lot softer. I agree with some of the comments saying using Aluminum for a hitch is not good.

[@95dodgev10]

Haven't watch this whole video yet but the intro reminded me of my brothers story. PSA if you have someone install a hitch for you make sure you or someone competent inspects the work. My brother got a Reese rail type 5th wheel installed as part of buying his trailer. I don't remember all the details but basically there are brackets or something that help tie the rails in the bed to the frame. The shop missed a bunch of holes and/or didn't install all the hardware so the bed floor was holding most of the weight not the frame. Fortunately his failure wasn't as catastrophic as this video but when he went to slide the hitch back it slid too hard and bottomed out. This normally wouldn't be too bad but because of the bad install it bent the bed floor. He took everything apart and discovered along with missing or incorrectly install hardware the shop had drilled a bunch of holes in the wrong spots that the rails covered up so you couldn't tell. Very easily could've ended up like this or worse.

[@keithhathaway3004]

Excellent video. Very well done. Thanks..

[@dkmoon4339]

I'm perfectly happy with my B&W companion hitch.

[@Shuffler703]

I have been very happy with my Andersen hitch (second gen). No matter what hitch you choose, you should always check it over before towing. I was unaware of the deal for the third gen. That is nice and I'll probably take advantage of that. The new hitch has a smaller footprint along with other improvements mentioned.

[@philosophicalfloridaman]

Had one that came with my 5th wheel. Getting rid of it best upgrade ive made. It was the roughest towing experience ive ever had

[@DavidGoethals]

Really? Rough? Everyone else commenting says that aluminum hitch is a better towing experience. im confused. Others say the ball joint is smooth, but for you it was the opposite?

[@williamrogers4556]

I'm a minute 30 seconds into this, and before I watch it any further I gotta tell you I never cared for those type of hitches. They never looked that sturdy to me.

[@BadmunkyWRX]

I would not use one of these hitches if it was free!!!!! I thought this was a good idea, and I bought one. Loved it so much I talked my buddy in to getting one. (I regret that now) After less than a year of use and about 5k miles of towing my Gen 2 hitch developed a crack next to the weld of one of the legs. Anderson was contacted and set photos, they sent me a new hitch, old hitch was cut up and tossed in my scrap pile. I got it all installed, (What a pain to have to bolt the thing down and torque that bolt every time you install it. Stupid design) and went for a test tow. All good. 1 month later we winterized and parked our rigs for the season. We both get them out and ready to go in the spring. After 2 trips with the new hitch and it failed. Pulled out of a campground I caught a rather large pothole at the shoulder on the right side I could not see. This caused a SLIGHT tug against the truck but did not hurt the truck or the trailer and was for sure nothing that would have caused you to stop and inspect things. I have hit much worse over the years and thought that it for sure did damage only to find none. I drove home and backed the trailer into its parking spot. Then when I when to disconnect the trailer I found the hitch was bent. I was not happy. I called Anderson and they said it was impact damage and not covered under warranty. I tossed that pile of junk in my scrap pile and ordered a Reese Goose box. My buddy had his Gen 2 Anderson crack after about 2.5 years. I have no idea how many miles but it was a lot for sure. It also ended up in my scrap pile. He also ordered and installed a Reese Goose box. We both have the Gen 2 Goose box and have both had them for years now. And a lot of miles. Both are still working great. I have hit several large potholes with the Goosebox and 0 damage. Another friend of mine bought a trailer that had a Goosebox already installed and decided to try it out. He ended up really liking it. Sadly that was left on the trailer after his accident. But he got another one for the new trailer. He was headed to a camp ground when a car crossed the centerline and hit them head on at about a 30% overlap. The truck was ripped apart bad, the camper was hit by the car, and he drove the truck and camper in to the ditch and rolled over on his side. Now the hitch in the bed of the truck was bent, and so was the trailers frame where the pinbox mounts. But the Goosebox was not bent, was still hooked up, and looked like it could have been put on another trailer! It even unhooked like nothing was wrong after they got the truck a trailer back on their wheels and pulled up on to the road. There is no way in hell an Anderson hitch would take that kind of hit and not have the trailer just rip that hitch apart. If it cant survive a minor impact, it has no place towing a heavy trailer. And if it cant stay connected in a decent accident its just not safe at all. They need more designee work, and they need to go back to it being made from steel, or they should stop making it.

[@LordFalconsword]

Aluminum is awesome because it's so light and potentially inexpensive. It's not as strong as steel, and there is much more flex, which is why it's preferrable to steel in aircraft design, because it needs to flex. However, that flex can and does lead to weld failure because the welds will have less flex than the structural tub component. I'll take the higher weight of my B&W so I don't ever have to see something like this.

[@PHMadness]

Once a POS erector set, always a POS erector set. I personally have no confidence in any of their products after our red bucket failure. I'd rather have a good product than a good warranty.

[@kevinthomas8025]

I've had mine for 8 yrs now, pulled two different 5th wheels. The one we have now is a toy hauler, I just checked mine and it looks brand new. It will be something I keep my eye on, basically a weld check.

[@andersenhitches]

Thank you for your support! We definitely understand the concern. Incidents like these are an anomaly, but we always take them seriously and take care of our customers. There’s a common misconception about the strength of aluminum hitches, but rest assured, all our hitches undergo rigorous testing to meet the demands of our users. Aluminum is trusted in critical applications like aircraft, boats, and military vehicles because of its strength and durability. We engineer our products to be strong and reliable, and we stand behind them 100%. Our goal is to provide the best towing experience, and we’re confident that we do just that.

[@sgriffith2353]

It may be an issue beyond the strength and quality of the welds. There could be fatigue failures elsewhere.

[@markhoward3851]

I have a B&W companion and love it, other than weight. This is certainly interesting, thanks for the info!

[@FINfinFINfinFINfin]

You have to love Anderson cutting and pasting the same reply to all the questions and comments in this thread. LMAO!

[@RoadieWingZZ]

@@N-M424You really are a sad case. Even after Andersen responded directly to you multiple times, you’re still stuck on the bot conspiracy line. You might want to loosen up your tin foil hat a bit…..🙄

[@jimbauer5560]

I have had my Anderson hitch since 2017 and have not any issues, thanks be to God. Granted that my 2017 Grand Design Reflection 29RS is not a heavy 5th wheel, if we went to a bigger trailer, I would go to the Reese Goose Neck on the trailer.

[@andersenhitches]

We definitely understand the concern. Incidents like these are an anomaly, but we always take them seriously and take care of our customers. There’s a common misconception about the strength of aluminum hitches, but rest assured, all our hitches undergo rigorous testing to meet the demands of our users. Aluminum is trusted in critical applications like aircraft, boats, and military vehicles because of its strength and durability. We engineer our products to be strong and reliable, and we stand behind them 100%. Our goal is to provide the best towing experience, and we’re confident that we do just that.

[@TimsTechThoughts]

very happy I chose a Reese Goosebox over the Andersen. I was about the pull the trigger on the andersen, but my dealer found a good price on a goosebox and would install before I picked up the new trailer.

[@joefiganootz2425]

Comparing the elastic modulus (also known as Young’s modulus) of steel and aluminum, there is a significant difference in their stiffness and resistance to elastic deformation. Steel: • The elastic modulus of steel is approximately 200-210 GPa (gigapascals) • This high modulus indicates that steel is very stiff and resistant to elastic deformation. Aluminum: • The elastic modulus of aluminum is approximately 69-72 GPa. • This is about one-third that of steel, meaning aluminum is less stiff and more prone to elastic deformation under the same load. So, steel is much stiffer than aluminum, making it more suitable for applications requiring high rigidity. Aluminum’s lower weight and good strength-to-weight ratio make it a popular choice for applications where weight savings are crucial. That is just not the case when towing an RV. In my opinion, you just can’t too much truck or hitch. Andersen talks about their cycle testing. Just how many cycles does a hitch experience in a minute, or hour of driving? Assume 1 cycle per second in any direction, and that makes 3,600 per hour. Divide 1,000,000 by 3,600 and you will hit 1,000,000 cycles in ~278 hours, which ~ 35 days. How big, how much pressure, counts as a cycle? Is the pressure generated by just standard bumps and chucking their threshold value? All of that said, do you think I'm going to buy an Andersen?

[@D2O2]

Now compare the fatigue properties. Steel has an endurance limit where you can design for infinite life, Aluminum doesn't. The Aluminum design will fail at some point with continued use. No way around it unless you scrap it at some point.

[@sgriffith2353]

Great comments. We also have to ask whether the cycle testing effectively emulated the conditions seen in real world towing in terms of amplitude and frequency.

[@renonative]

A harsh event or events could just be the roads in California. Seriously though, I'm wondering if it's possible that something in the bed came in contact with one of the legs and dinged the leg enough to cause structural damage. A large spare tire bouncing around on the leg comes to mind. I use an Andersen and have been for 7 or 8 years with a 36' toy hauler, usually running around 16k and on some bad roads while boon docking. I am very conscious of what's in the bed near the legs like wood, fire pit, or spare propane tanks. Overall I've been very pleased with the hitch. I have been eyeballing a Goosebox or Gen Y more for bed space than anything else. However I'll be taking a look at whatever offer Andersen has for the Gen3 hitch. Thanks for a good, non-biased, non-bashing video!

[@andersenhitches]

We definitely understand the concern. Incidents like these are an anomaly, but we always take them seriously and take care of our customers. There’s a common misconception about the strength of aluminum hitches, but rest assured, all our hitches undergo rigorous testing to meet the demands of our users. Aluminum is trusted in critical applications like aircraft, boats, and military vehicles because of its strength and durability. We engineer our products to be strong and reliable, and we stand behind them 100%. Our goal is to provide the best towing experience, and we’re confident that we do just that.

[@newrepairman1211]

I will never own an aluminum hitch, knowing how aluminum will work harden and get brittle. I have a b and w, and I will never recommend any other hitch. I have personally had an rv rollover, and the b and w hitch did not fail. The hitch stayed strong, and the pin box failed on rv.

[@mosquitofleetfishing6599]

Wait, you’re from Corpus? That’s insane! Didn’t know that! Cruising up SPID like it’s nothing.

[@cajunroadwarrior]

The main issue with any structure made of aluminum is fatigue life. It's the reason aluminum connecting rods have to be replaced after a specific run time. Creating any cyclic load-bearing structure is difficult. Most aluminum structures fail at the welds. So it is important to inspect for cracks often.

[@DavidGoethals]

Isn't aluminum similar in strength to steel, if the thickness and other parameters are considered? Back when I had energy, I bought an alumnum bicycle. The frame was about half again thicker than my previous bike, but it was lighter, and it lasted way longer.

[@cajunroadwarrior]

@@DavidGoethals Aluminum by volume is half the strength and one third the weight. However there are stronger alloys that have the same strength as mild steel but can't be formed as easily.. Aerospace alloys can't be welded so they are bonded or riveted instead. 6061 is one of the most common aluminum alloys used due to it's strength, weldability, and bendability as long as the bend line is perpendicular to the grain, otherwise it will crack.

[@jeffboquist3904]

Thanks . Good show very informative.

[@kbarnes2984]

Would love to see a video on other fifth wheel hitches and failure rates on those? Great video

[@judykpremier]

Good point. People he are commenting like there has never been a failure of a traditional system.

[@DavidGoethals]

@@judykpremier Exactly! Dang, point on!

[@i70show]

good info..... my guess, combo of hard stops adding up over time & too light of material used..... Glad to see a company make it right though!

[@cpfpv6410]

What a NIGHTMARE!! OH MY GOSH!! I am soooooo sorry that happened to them!! I also have to say that this makes me glad I have the Reece goose box!

[@Skylane2005]

After this happened to me, and BEFORE seeing the Gen 3, I was planning to switch to a Gen-Y goose box adapter. It was easy for me to change my mind back to the Andersen after seeing the improvements, and knowing that a goose box adapter comes with its own significant (leverage) risks.

[@keithmalmberg8395]

As a former fabrication worker it looks like a weld failed and that lead to a failure of the entire thing. A weld failure comes from a bad weld OR fatigue. Fatigue is caused by movement at the joint. That movement COULD be caused by not having the tie down tight enough or simply the truck bed flexing. With what was in the video there is no way to say what caused the failure except that it was a complete system failure. The new generation looks like they are taking the over/under tight in account and they are thinking about the bed flexing. These are lessons that can only be learned from putting the product into the public and watching it in the real world.

[@genehart261]

At 5:19 you can clearly see that the weld is not broken. Long-term metal fatigue of the tubing?

[@jf1a8x1]

How did the guy happen to have a video right on the bed of the truck just in time to capture the failure?

[@TheRangerman00]

Exactly that’s what I’m trying to figure out anyone have any answers

[@michaela.aguilar2921]

If your gonna carry a spare in the bed, probably not a bad idea to center it behind the hitch.

[@DavidGoethals]

Why?

[@905Metalhead]

This is why we don’t use Anderson or other gooseneck adaptors. It’s a 5th wheel…use a 5th wheel hitch.

[@aaronbritt2025]

Reese Goosebox is a much better solution for wanting an open bed.

[@Skylane2005]

Except for the leverage issues....

[@smiley3303]

@@Skylane2005proven to not be a thing that is how they got it approved.

[@Skylane2005]

@@smiley3303 Common sense says there's more stress if you pull with a lever than if you pull relatively straight. Minimal, perhaps, but zero? No....

[@smiley3303]

@@Skylane2005 they did testing to prove the Goosebox would not harm the frame anymore than a 5th wheel pin box.

[@aaronbritt2025]

@@Skylane2005 Trucks that have a factory Gooseball are designed for that. Doesn't matter if it's "more" stress. The stress is within the factory specs.

[@watchman2279]

Shock hitch systems are awesome

[@apacheone3643]

I first would like to say Aluminum does not give a warning when it fails . I know this as I tig weld Aluminum . So, with this said, I would like to know what grade aluminum was used 6061-t6 ? Was the metal heat treated after welding ? The thickness of the tube and all related attaching parts ? This failure in this video appears to be a stress failure due to improper sizing and / or quality of the materials.

[@An0maly6_9]

I bought my 41' trailer used and it came with the Anderson Ultimate hitch. I really like how simple it is to use. I just got done towing my family for 2 months around the US. 4500 miles 20 different states. I recall someone in front of me breaking harshly and it forced me to brake extremely hard, causing the breaks to lock up. If this stress may be considered a "catastrophic breaking incident" I am worried that this may have weakened the structural integrity of my hitch, maybe now or in the future. For this reason, I'm out. I'm buying a B&W Companion.

[@p.t4769]

I can about guarantee you the roughness of the roads is what caused it to fail, my wife and I traveled a lot with 5th wheel, we managed to break/crack 2 different camper frames, split the fiberglass on another in the neck which is a break in frame, all from from terrible interstate roads, i95 is worse I ever seen, I run the Anderson hitch and loved it, we finally gave up after 3rd break

[@austinburns6236]

This makes me happy to lift the heavy b&w hitch in and out with piece of mind. I've envied how light the Anderson hitch is but not now.

[@angelajohnson2184]

Reese Goosebox. Only way to go.

[@joshgarner805]

I'm glad they stand behind their product but could you imagine that hitch failing at 65mph on the interstate? That could have easily killed someone. There is zero price on safety and when it comes to hitches they need to be designed way above and behind its failure point. They can do all this testing on these hitches that they want but the real world will expose any weaknesses. The absolutely last thing that should fail is the hitch. That's my opinion. I'm a mechanical engineer and if I were to design a hitch it would have a very high safety factory. This type of failure should never happen period.

[@toddrunyon]

@@joshgarner805 Anderson Hitches responded to my comment that they stand behind their product. I asked if that meant they would pay for the customer's repair... They stopped responding.

[@tubeonline629]

Well I'm not a engineer, but I am a welder of 36 years and have never seen one of these hitches other than in this video, but in my opinion the four pieces of tubing that angle down on the front and rear should not have been flattened on the ends where it's welded, it would be much stronger if they would have miter cut the ends and welded.

[@toddrunyon]

@@tubeonline629 I agree 100%.

[@DavidGoethals]

@@toddrunyon In at lest one of the posts, it says that they covered all of the costs.

[@nomadbiker4040]

Thanks for posting this. I dont see any backup chains in position on that clip where it failed. Those have to be used with ball connections like Anderson hitches according to most state laws. Not sure if it would have helped with the damage, but if it decoupled with no chains at high speeds, that could have been extremely dangerous I have an earlier one from 2018 and used it only for short distance tows. Looking at the newer model upgrade. Thanks for the info

[@CF542]

As someone who owns a travel trailer, I value the safety and security of a superior hitch and went with a ProPride. I am please to see that Andersen took responsibility and actions to prevent this from happening again. When I do get a 5th wheel, I will be looking at Andersen's products for sure.

[@andersenhitches]

We definitely understand the concern. Incidents like these are an anomaly, but we always take them seriously and take care of our customers. There’s a common misconception about the strength of aluminum hitches, but rest assured, all our hitches undergo rigorous testing to meet the demands of our users. Aluminum is trusted in critical applications like aircraft, boats, and military vehicles because of its strength and durability. We engineer our products to be strong and reliable, and we stand behind them 100%. Our goal is to provide the best towing experience, and we’re confident that we do just that.

[@1005dragrcr]

These anderson hitchs use the bed for stability. The beds are not designed to withstand those type pressures hense the reason for the pucks being welded directly to the frame for a standard fifth wheel hitch. Besides that...they just look wimpy.

[@bishopgeorge1333]

Hmmm, he for bless that it didn't happen when he was going highway speed. When we went to the 5th wheel I was going to get one but for this reason I decided not to, I know you said that it happening is low but, I will always have failure in the back of my mind which I don't want. The one thing about this at first he was having problems trying to get CS to listen I feel that this should have been better handled, but at least he got it taken care of and no one was hurt. I will continue using what I have I'm happy with my setup, thank you JD for another awesome video.

[@matthewrogers94mr]

Okay wow this company doing this and trying to go above and beyond to help him is a great way to get alot of good attention, sad alot of companies dont do this now days.

[@AlanSanderson-u4t]

I had a pin box fail on a Forest River toy hauler that was built in California. The pin was only 4 inches diameter and reinforced by a 6 inch length of channel welded to 1/4 inch plate. It buckled when the steel plate failed from fatigue cracks. I now have a Desert Fox toy hauler with an air ride pin box and a Colibert Free Ride hitch. It separates into 2 pieces that can be lifted by one person. It is held in place by a 2 inch bolt that screws into a plate in the bed. A gooseneck ball can also be screwed into the same plate. When either hitch is removed, the floor is flat.

[@rorikolson]

If there's any kind of stretching/compression in the aluminum, it will fatigue and break over time. Look up Aloha Airlines Flight 243. Part of the fuselage blew off the top of the plane in flight, fatally ejecting a flight attendant. Airplanes must be retired after a certain number of flight hours, or pressurization/depressurization cycles. It fatigues the aluminum. This is also why you do not run aluminum connecting rods in a street engine. They will eventually break and destroy the engine. (They are replaced after a certain number of runs in a race engine) So if they're going to build a hitch out of aluminum, it must be overbuilt enough to not flex at all, which at that point kind of defeats the purpose.

[@DavidGoethals]

So, based on Aloha Airlines thing, you hide in your house? just curious.

[@rorikolson]

@@DavidGoethals Yeah, with your mom. She came over again last night

[@texillini1]

Thanks for the video. Good to know what NOT to buy.

[@zacharieulmer1012]

If you pay close attention when the king pin slider plate moves and hits its stop is when the hitch buckles. I’m not saying this could be the cause but it could over time have shocked the hitch enough that it could play a factor

[@mikenimmick3920]

This was a best case scenario of what could have been a completely catastrophic/life threatening failure.