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03-01-2019, 09:11 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bremerton, Washington
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 1,141
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Ditched the Andersen Fifth Wheel Hitch! BUT WHY?
Here is an interesting video from "Big Truck Big RV" channel. He reviewed the Andersen 5th Wheel hitch in a prior video and really liked it. But then switched back to his B7W hitch.
His reasons were not due to any flaws with the Andersen hitch but more to do with his needs and preferences.
__________________
- Arnie & Paula & Kizzy the rat terrier
https://www.arniesea.com
- 2019 5.0 TA, 2017 Tundra Platinum.
- Bremerton, WA
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03-01-2019, 11:48 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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While the video image is completely pointless, and the audio would be better as text with one photo for illustration, his reasons for the change are interesting.
Although his primary reason is that the base of the B&W Companion is simply smaller than the base of the Andersen, I'll note that his Companion mounts to four pads (called "pucks") which are factory-installed in his Ford Super Duty pickup... and the Ford mounting pattern is the most compact of the three (Ford, Ram, GM), at only 13 inches (on centre) fore-aft. That allows the Companion OEM for Ford base to have a footprint only 33.5" wide and 16.5" long (fore-aft). The other Companion OEM bases are larger (not that anyone towing an Escape has a truck with one of these OEM puck systems), and the Companion that works with the Turnoverball under-bed mount has a base which is 30.5" wide and 36" long (fore-aft)... that's as big as the Andersen Ultimate.
Anyone with an Andersen wanting to save space might want to compare dimensions. The Andersen gooseneck-anchored base is 35.63" wide and 31.5" long (fore-aft), so the Turnoverball-mounted Companion would be just as big, but turned with the longer dimension fore-aft instead of side-to-side. The rail-mounted Andersen is only 24" square; rail-mounted conventional fifth-wheels will be the same size fore-aft, and many are the same width as well (with others even wider).
If you have thick steel flatbed, you can use a Companion Flatbed with a base only 17.25" x 18". Other than that, if you don't have a Ford SuperDuty, the smallest footprint would be a rail-mounted Andersen or similarly shaped conventional fifth-wheel.
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03-02-2019, 05:10 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Naugatuck, Connecticut
Trailer: 2017 50 TA, 2016 F150, 2.7 Ecoboost
Posts: 1,056
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You would have a hard time getting me to switch to a conventional hitch. I have plenty of room in the bed of my truck, it tows quietly, is the lightest hitch available, rated for close to 4 times my trailer weight, easy in and out, adjustability both for and aft, and the simplest hitch out there.
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03-02-2019, 07:40 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
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Hi: All... Didn't watch the vid but maybe he can't be bothered hooking up the safety chains. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie "Searchin for my lost shaker of salt".
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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03-02-2019, 08:49 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Tehachapi, California
Trailer: none
Posts: 515
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Chotch, what was your bed length again?
__________________
Greg
Formerly owned a 2007 24' HiLo/ 2003 Tahoe combo. Interested in the 5.0TA
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03-02-2019, 10:06 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Lanesboro, MN, between Whalan and Fountain, Minnesota
Trailer: 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ - (2018 Escape 5.0 sold)
Posts: 2,174
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
Anyone with an Andersen wanting to save space might want to compare dimensions. The Andersen gooseneck-anchored base is 35.63" wide and 31.5" long (fore-aft), so the Turnoverball-mounted Companion would be just as big, but turned with the longer dimension fore-aft instead of side-to-side. The rail-mounted Andersen is only 24" square; rail-mounted conventional fifth-wheels will be the same size fore-aft, and many are the same width as well (with others even wider).
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Our truck was purchased for one reason: pulling a camper. While we liked the looks of the turnoverball Andersen, with the flat floor when not in use, the rail version is much smaller. Since we want to carry at least one trike in the back (currently we have two in back) we needed all the space possible. In Tucson we finally got to see both versions in the Andersen floor display at an RV dealer. The rail mounted version takes up significantly less space, showing we definitely made the correct choice for us.
Enjoy,
Perry
__________________
Those who know everything use pens. Intelligent people use pencils.
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03-02-2019, 11:14 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Naugatuck, Connecticut
Trailer: 2017 50 TA, 2016 F150, 2.7 Ecoboost
Posts: 1,056
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hilola
Chotch, what was your bed length again?
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6.5 foot you can see I still have room even with a large tool box that's built into tonneau cover.
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03-02-2019, 11:33 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Bremerton, Washington
Trailer: 2019 5.0 TA
Posts: 1,141
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chotch
You would have a hard time getting me to switch to a conventional hitch. I have plenty of room in the bed of my truck, it tows quietly, is the lightest hitch available, rated for close to 4 times my trailer weight, easy in and out, adjustability both for and aft, and the simplest hitch out there.
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I like your tray under the hitch for the Andersen Levelers! Great idea!
__________________
- Arnie & Paula & Kizzy the rat terrier
https://www.arniesea.com
- 2019 5.0 TA, 2017 Tundra Platinum.
- Bremerton, WA
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03-02-2019, 06:26 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Naugatuck, Connecticut
Trailer: 2017 50 TA, 2016 F150, 2.7 Ecoboost
Posts: 1,056
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Quote:
Originally Posted by arniesea
I like your tray under the hitch for the Andersen Levelers! Great idea!
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You have a space, you put something in it 😎
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03-02-2019, 10:09 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Tehachapi, California
Trailer: none
Posts: 515
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chotch
6.5 foot you can see I still have room even with a large tool box that's built into tonneau cover.
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Thanks. You better take that jug of milk out of the bed before it spoils!
__________________
Greg
Formerly owned a 2007 24' HiLo/ 2003 Tahoe combo. Interested in the 5.0TA
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03-07-2019, 02:20 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,550
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perryb67
Our truck was purchased for one reason: pulling a camper. While we liked the looks of the turnoverball Andersen, with the flat floor when not in use, the rail version is much smaller. Since we want to carry at least one trike in the back (currently we have two in back) we needed all the space possible. In Tucson we finally got to see both versions in the Andersen floor display at an RV dealer. The rail mounted version takes up significantly less space, showing we definitely made the correct choice for us.
Enjoy,
Perry
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Given this I would definitely have gone with the rail mount. I chose the gooseneck version for the ability to have a clean bed for work, but in reality rarely made use of this.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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03-07-2019, 02:52 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: WI, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2018 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 465
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Bennett
Given this I would definitely have gone with the rail mount. I chose the gooseneck version for the ability to have a clean bed for work, but in reality rarely made use of this.
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My main reason for choosing rail mount was to save a few lbs. That was the main reason for the Andersen in the first place.
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