Here is what GD customer service said today about the Andersen Hitch

[powerscol]

I'm still using the Anderson hitch. I raised the ball height in the hitch but still have a clearance issue with the bed of the truck. This reduces my turning radius when pulling or positioning the fifth wheel. I have an F350 Diesel long bed quad cab that pulls the Solitude model 344GK effortlessly. Jealous of the guy in the YouTube video with his GD Momemtum turning at ninety degrees to position and park without any problem clearing the truck bed walls with the gooseneck. Alternative is a different hitch that is apparently much heavier. I can easily install the Anderson hitch myself.

If you go with a true goose neck hitch like https://www.reeseprod.com/products/pin-boxes/goose-box/uW9rVuV4JAj75t!ZHQnotJoVbxIFMqvl the only thing you remove from the bed is the ball.

 

[TheLexx]

I'm looking at this thread with great interest. I'd really love to get a new hitch so I can take back the space in my bed. The Ford/Reese 27.5 OEM hitch is just too darn heavy and bulky for me to remove by myself.

I'm debating between the AUH and the Reese Goosebox Gen 2. The Reese is quite a bit more money. Is it any "better"? It would seem to stress the frame more than the AUH since the connection point is lower, and thus has a longer lever arm. But it seems like the ideal "clean" solution. Just install the B&W gooseball when towing, and easily remove it when not.

 

[powerscol]

I'm looking at this thread with great interest. I'd really love to get a new hitch so I can take back the space in my bed. The Ford/Reese 27.5 OEM hitch is just too darn heavy and bulky for me to remove by myself.

I'm debating between the AUH and the Reese Goosebox Gen 2. The Reese is quite a bit more money. Is it any "better"? It would seem to stress the frame more than the AUH since the connection point is lower, and thus has a longer lever arm. But it seems like the ideal "clean" solution. Just install the B&W gooseball when towing, and easily remove it when not.

The Reese goose box is Lippert/GD approved. The AUH is not. Also do a bit of research on AUH failures - research all hitch failures and note which pops up more on major ones (exclude the bed drops) as they are operational error in most cases.

Now my Reese R20 Titan comes apart in 3 pieces. I believe the B&W does too.

Hope this helps

 

[hubie1988]

I'm looking at this thread with great interest. I'd really love to get a new hitch so I can take back the space in my bed. The Ford/Reese 27.5 OEM hitch is just too darn heavy and bulky for me to remove by myself.

I'm debating between the AUH and the Reese Goosebox Gen 2. The Reese is quite a bit more money. Is it any "better"? It would seem to stress the frame more than the AUH since the connection point is lower, and thus has a longer lever arm. But it seems like the ideal "clean" solution. Just install the B&W gooseball when towing, and easily remove it when not.

i have the Reese Gen 2 and really like it. Very smooth...it has an internal shock system so I believe that alleviates some the stress on the frame you are referring to. Lippert does not void the warranty with the Reese but may do so with the Anderson. Anderson has an insurance policy to make up for the fact that lippert will void the warranty, but I wasn’t interested in the hoops they make you go through if you needed to file a claim. I very much like my clean bed and the fact that I do not have the added weight in my truck. Good luck!

 

[TheLexx]

Any issues with bedrail clearance? I know the B&W ball adds 1.5", which I probably need. These current gen Ford Superduties are so tall! I'm 6' tall and I can barley reach over into the bed lol.

i have the Reese Gen 2 and really like it. Very smooth...it has an internal shock system so I believe that alleviates some the stress on the frame you are referring to. Lippert does not void the warranty with the Reese but may do so with the Anderson. Anderson has an insurance policy to make up for the fact that lippert will void the warranty, but I wasn’t interested in the hoops they make you go through if you needed to file a claim. I very much like my clean bed and the fact that I do not have the added weight in my truck. Good luck!

 

[TheLexx]

Yes, I did read that. I don't know if it's part of a deal Reese made with Lippert, or if there is actual engineering data for that. I suppose we consumers will never know. But the fact that the frame is warrantied with the Reese, is an excellent point.

The Reese goose box is Lippert/GD approved. The AUH is not. Also do a bit of research on AUH failures - research all hitch failures and note which pops up more on major ones (exclude the bed drops) as they are operational error in most cases.

Now my Reese R20 Titan comes apart in 3 pieces. I believe the B&W does too.

Hope this helps

 

[hubie1988]

Any issues with bedrail clearance? I know the B&W ball adds 1.5", which I probably need. These current gen Ford Superduties are so tall! I'm 6' tall and I can barley reach over into the bed lol.

I have a 2019 F350 and it is tall (Ford lowered the F350 with the 2020 Model), but I have 7-8” of rail clearance. That is clearance above the rail I use for my Velcro bed cover, which is a half inch above the truck bed rail. I am using the Reese goose ball. I can’t use the B&W ball because my issue is the front of RV is a little higher than the back end. You have to make sure the shocks in the Reese hitch have enough air, I keep mine between 35-40 psi.

 

[minnow101]

I'm looking at this thread with great interest. I'd really love to get a new hitch so I can take back the space in my bed. The Ford/Reese 27.5 OEM hitch is just too darn heavy and bulky for me to remove by myself.

I'm debating between the AUH and the Reese Goosebox Gen 2. The Reese is quite a bit more money. Is it any "better"? It would seem to stress the frame more than the AUH since the connection point is lower, and thus has a longer lever arm. But it seems like the ideal "clean" solution. Just install the B&W gooseball when towing, and easily remove it when not.

With your 28BH I highly doubt you’d have any issues whatsoever with the AUH. Yes, there have been some issues in the past with this hitch but every report I’ve seen were on previous versions of the Andersen. Unfortunately for reasons that I cannot grasp, there is a lot of hate out in the RV world for this hitch, 99% of which comes from RV’ers that have never owned the hitch. Hence any reported issue is broadcast wide and far by the haters on social media. Additionally, I’ve never read of any RV frame failures attributed to the AUH despite the internet fear mongering chatter.

All I can say is that I’ve used the AUH for 5 years on our 27RL without issue. I find the benefits of this hitch far and away outweigh the Internet buzzing from Negative Nancy’s.

As far as your Ford sidewall clearance, I cannot comment as I own a ‘16 Ram 3500 LB (which is plenty
high in and of itself). I might suggest finding a local RV dealer that sells the AUH and have them do a test fit. There are a few adjustable options that can be done, eg, turning the king pin adaptor 180 degrees, ball height adjustment on the hitch frame and even turning the frame 180 degrees. These will move the pivot point which increases both tailgate and siderail clearances.

As your RV is similar is size and weight as ours, I’m sure this hitch will work for you.

 

[hubie1988]

Any issues with bedrail clearance? I know the B&W ball adds 1.5", which I probably need. These current gen Ford Superduties are so tall! I'm 6' tall and I can barley reach over into the bed lol.

A couple more pics showing bed rail clearance and slight angle of RV. Again, this is with the Reese Goose ball. If I had the B&W there would be even more of an angle.

 

[larry0071]

I have the Reese Gen 2 Goosebox on my Reflection 311BHS and the Curt OEM Ram ball/chain binder kit for the factory installed RAM 5th/goose bed kit.

The Goosebox pulls extremely nice, super smooth, and is easy on/off. The only limitation is that similar to my old bumper pull camper and equipment trailer, I am limited to about a 45° turn due to my 6' 4" bed.

Overall I am very happy with the Reese Gen 2 Goose. Sure, being able to cut 90° backwards jack Knife turns would be neat. But I do not expect it to be a big deal and for sure not a deal breaker for me.

 

[Txfivver]

I have a 2019 F350 and it is tall (Ford lowered the F350 with the 2020 Model), but I have 7-8” of rail clearance. That is clearance above the rail I use for my Velcro bed cover, which is a half inch above the truck bed rail. I am using the Reese goose ball. I can’t use the B&W ball because my issue is the front of RV is a little higher than the back end. You have to make sure the shocks in the Reese hitch have enough air, I keep mine between 35-40 psi.View attachment 28117

Nothing to add to the topic but just wanted to say what a great pic and beautiful neighborhood, looks just like the one I grew up in up in St Petersburg! I can spot the palm trees, St Augustine grass, and those funny little gutters along the street anywhere lol!

 

[hubie1988]

Ha, thanks! We are not too far from Cocoa Beach along the Space Coast! Love it here!

 

[RetiredJon2017!]

From this forum i found out that i could raise the ball height. I raised mine as high as it would go in the frame. It did not raise the goose neck of the trailer high enough to clear the truck bed walls. As of now I haven’t found a solution that provides clearance of the truck bed walls so we still have a limited turning radius.

 

[minnow101]

From this forum i found out that i could raise the ball height. I raised mine as high as it would go in the frame. It did not raise the goose neck of the trailer high enough to clear the truck bed walls. As of now I haven’t found a solution that provides clearance of the truck bed walls so we still have a limited turning radius.

Unfortunately, the solution would be to add a subframe to raise the height of the RV.

 

[Richter]

I haven’t read this entire thread, so this may have already been mentioned.

We turned the adapter on the kingpin 180 degrees. I was concerned that, with it in that position, it might be too close to the rear of the truck, but we have adequate clearance with the tailgate down, so long as everything is straight.

I had a sliding bed cover installed (obviously open when towing) and the tracks protrude a little over, into the bed. With the adapter in the “extended” position, it would have been hitting the bedrails and the track sections.

Turning the adapter took care of the issue.

 

[GaryinGlobe]

I haven’t read this entire thread, so this may have already been mentioned.

We turned the adapter on the kingpin 180 degrees. I was concerned that, with it in that position, it might be too close to the rear of the truck, but we have adequate clearance with the tailgate down, so long as everything is straight.

I had a sliding bed cover installed (obviously open when towing) and the tracks protrude a little over, into the bed. With the adapter in the “extended” position, it would have been hitting the bedrails and the track sections.

Turning the adapter took care of the issue.

Is your truck a long bed? Does your 5th wheel come close to the truck cab on sharp turns?

 

[Rgkeaney]

I haven’t read this entire thread, so this may have already been mentioned.

We turned the adapter on the kingpin 180 degrees. I was concerned that, with it in that position, it might be too close to the rear of the truck, but we have adequate clearance with the tailgate down, so long as everything is straight.

I had a sliding bed cover installed (obviously open when towing) and the tracks protrude a little over, into the bed. With the adapter in the “extended” position, it would have been hitting the bedrails and the track sections.

Turning the adapter took care of the issue.

There is a specific formula to determine if the Anderson king pin piece should be forward or backward based on ball distance from side rails. I don’t know what it is off the top of my head but I am sure it can be googled.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Richter]

Is your truck a long bed? Does your 5th wheel come close to the truck cab on sharp turns?

We are running the 350, so it is the 6‘9” bed (the 150 has a “shorter” short-bed). I don’t like to make too tight of a turn when backing, as it puts a lot of stress on the tires and suspension, but I think I can get close to 90 degrees in a turn. The nose of the Reflection is quite curved, both side-to-side and top to bottom, so that adds to the available clearance. I’ve never had an issue on a straight-ahead turn.