Andersen aluminum hitches

[ka0tyk]

Anyone have one and what have you pulled with it? I have a regular ol draw-tite hitch that I leave on the truck 24-7 (saved my bumper a few times from people that like to drive too close) and was kinda browsing around pics and saw theres an "Alumistinger" hitch available that visually looks pretty nice. Curious if anyone has one and what you regularly pull. If I ever needed decent capacity I'd just switch back to my 10k one obviously.

 

[4Waters]

@Tank to the white courtesy phone

 

[Bigbore500r]

I dunno about those, but judging by the poor decisions they market in the 5th wheel department i'd pass!

 

[ramos45]

If you're going for bling, yeah that Andersen is cute but if you want to be sure why not use something like this?

 

[Tank]

@Tank to the white courtesy phone

ummmmm yeaaaaa, ill probably stick with steel from now on.

 

[KingofBeers]

ummmmm yeaaaaa, ill probably stick with steel from now on.
View attachment 832112 View attachment 832113

Yikes....what was the end result of that??

 

[Singleton]

ummmmm yeaaaaa, ill probably stick with steel from now on.
View attachment 832112 View attachment 832113

Had the same. When I stopped using it and removed the ball, noticed cracks. Went in recycle bin.
Only steel for me as well.

 

[TITTIES AND BEER]

Got one on wifeys 3500 , but it’s just for me to stuff my shin into don’t get me wrong it’s kool looking but Hurts Like a Mother Fucker

 

[warpt71]

Chrome for the winnnnnn!

 

[checkrd past]

when I worked at ATK space,i ask our head scientist about those .After some quick research and some calculations, he said Hell No. Just saying

 

[LazyLavey]

ummmmm yeaaaaa, ill probably stick with steel from now on.
View attachment 832112 View attachment 832113

Details?

 

[LazyLavey]

These drops are only rated for 8k.....

 

[ramos45]

These drops are only rated for 8k.....

And that's why I suggested the curt at 20k

 

[Tank]

Details?

i actually towed our top gun (12,000 plus lbs) with that aluminum receiver for 8 years or so. 85 mph towing out to havasu.

sat for a couple years, used it for lighter stuff here and there. Went to LA when we bought the new cig pulled it home. This was the second launch out of our harbor. Pulling the boat out at the crest of the ramp, hitch snaps trailer roll back slightly yanks the truck back a bit. Bent the safety chain receiver as you can see.

I think we were lucky all this time. I’ll stick with steel. And I went over kill on the receiver and the ball this time.

 

[LazyLavey]

Man's got to know his limitations......

Dirty Harry

 

[squeezer]

ummmmm yeaaaaa, ill probably stick with steel from now on.
View attachment 832112 View attachment 832113

Im no Mechanical Engineer but it looks a lot like the initial cracking was caused by torquing the ball down. Any beach marks in the first few mm of the failure? Would love a closeup of the cracked surface to see if the propagation rate was fast or not.

 

[Tank]

Im no Mechanical Engineer but it looks a lot like the initial cracking was caused by torquing the ball down. Any beach marks in the first few mm of the failure? Would love a closeup of the cracked surface to see if the propagation rate was fast or not.

you’re kinda speaking Greek to me. But I tightened the ball down with a crescent wrench while it was on the hitch by hand. I don’t know what a beach mark is and I didn’t actually inspect it too close. Also, I pitched it after I took those pics. I figured it was really just years of usage causing fatigue. With that said, I’ve seen many pics of aluminum hitches broken. Haven’t seen many of steel hitches breaking that weren’t grossly misused.

 

[mash on it]

Or stressed beyond its design limitations.

Go with a stainless steel ball mount.
And a ball rating greater than the weight towed.

Dan'l

 

[squeezer]

you’re kinda speaking Greek to me. But I tightened the ball down with a crescent wrench while it was on the hitch by hand. I don’t know what a beach mark is and I didn’t actually inspect it too close. Also, I pitched it after I took those pics. I figured it was really just years of usage causing fatigue. With that said, I’ve seen many pics of aluminum hitches broken. Haven’t seen many of steel hitches breaking that weren’t grossly misused.

The size and orientation of the lines would give an indication on what the failure mode was... Overloaded then fatigued vs large impact would look different

 

[bsand]

I Towed with a 10” Alumistinger for about 10 years. the hitch was always on the truck, exposed to the elements. No issues
never towed anything too heavy with it, but I did use it to tow my 28 Magic Sceptor.

I’ve since upgraded to a B&W tow & stow, Because I always had that “what if” in the back of my mind.

I’m at a different point in life financially. That said, I would not purchase another aluminum hitch.

 

[Motor Boater]

I’ve had one for about 10 years. Towed my 288 sunsation and now my 24 Tige. No issues but these threads scare me.

 

[Tank]

I think you can trust the ratings of the aluminum hitches. Hate to say it but The lawsuits that would befall multiple failures would ensure the safety is there. If you’re within the tow rating on an aluminum hitch, I think you’re fine for things under say 8k lbs. you get up into the 10-15k plus area? Let’s just say I’ll never get another aluminum receiver again. Figure our current boat is 9k ish dry. Holds 200 gallons of fuel. 2500 lb trailer, plus random crap on the boat. The weight goes up quick. Proooooobably should have never been towing with that hitch I broke to begin with. And don’t even ask me what it was rated at. I don’t remember. But I’m guessing it was underrated. I was younger and gave less fuxks and most importantly didn’t have two little boys riding with me while towing. Kids, experience and age brings more caution. I went way above what I needed for the newest hitch I bought. And why not? They’re not THAT much More money for the little piece of mind.
Seems to be less wiggle room with aluminum

 

[CHECKERED_PAST]

I had a 10” drop 2” shank adjustable for years, towed quite a bit until I got the Ford, it was too big to level with the old boat. Still pulled a 28 enclosed with toys plus when I got the Nordic I used it when I towed down and back to Havasu. The max rating was right at what I was pulling and didn’t like the feeling and with its age I couldn’t trust it. I now have a Fastway 12” 2.5 shank that is well over max rating I use.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[450grip]

I use an aluminum weigh-safe hitch https://www.weigh-safe.com/product/weigh-safe-drop-hitch/
any horror stories to share? this post has me concerned.

 

[TPC]

"Chrome don't get Ya Home."

 

[lbhsbz]

I think you can trust the ratings of the aluminum hitches. Hate to say it but The lawsuits that would befall multiple failures would ensure the safety is there. If you’re within the tow rating on an aluminum hitch, I think you’re fine for things under say 8k lbs. you get up into the 10-15k plus area? Let’s just say I’ll never get another aluminum receiver again. Figure our current boat is 9k ish dry. Holds 200 gallons of fuel. 2500 lb trailer, plus random crap on the boat. The weight goes up quick. Proooooobably should have never been towing with that hitch I broke to begin with. And don’t even ask me what it was rated at. I don’t remember. But I’m guessing it was underrated. I was younger and gave less fuxks and most importantly didn’t have two little boys riding with me while towing. Kids, experience and age brings more caution. I went way above what I needed for the newest hitch I bought. And why not? They’re not THAT much More money for the little piece of mind.
Seems to be less wiggle room with aluminum

While the picture isn't clear enough for me to zoom in and read it, that sticker on your hitch looks just like mine, and claims max capacity is 5K lbs without load distributing, and 10K with load distributing. Why they'd put a hitch like that on a 3/4 ton or larger truck...I have no idea.

I realized this when U-haul would not rent me a trailer to pull home a 3600lb car with my Silverado 1500HD (8 lug).

 

[mash on it]

I use an aluminum weigh-safe hitch https://www.weigh-safe.com/product/weigh-safe-drop-hitch/
any horror stories to share? this post has me concerned.

There was a pic of a red Dodge truck pulling a 22'ish chaparral type family boat with an adjustable aluminum ball mount, and it's failure. Aluminum has a fatigue point. Same reason I won't run aluminum roller rockers.
Stainless steel only, ball mounts or rockers.
Some people will get away with it,
I'm not that lucky.

Dan'l

 

[Tank]

While the picture isn't clear enough for me to zoom in and read it, that sticker on your hitch looks just like mine, and claims max capacity is 5K lbs without load distributing, and 10K with load distributing. Why they'd put a hitch like that on a 3/4 ton or larger truck...I have no idea.

I realized this when U-haul would not rent me a trailer to pull home a 3600lb car with my Silverado 1500HD (8 lug).

It was on a 2500 Yukon XL. Yes, also overloaded. Reason we bought a new (to us) duramax to pull the Cig.

 

[Dan Lorenze]

I've been using an Andersen Alumistinger 4" drop for about 10 years with no troubles. It fact, it still looks new. However, if I had to tow something with some serious tongue weight I'd probably go with a steel unit.

 

[Your ad here]

From what I've seen on hitches aluminum breaks and steel bends. Something that is subject to failure I'd go with bent steel over broken aluminum. However welds do break so frequent inspects are needed.

 

[TDiamond]

I've had a couple.
The pin hole eventually elongates, and the receiver edge eventually digs a groove into it from the bouncing up and down.
Stick with steel, not as pretty, but will last.

 

[Tank]

I've had a couple.
The pin hole eventually elongates, and the receiver edge eventually digs a groove into it from the bouncing up and down.
Stick with steel, not as pretty, but will last.

If you look at the pic of the broken hitch I posted you'll see exactly what you're talking about the ball dug into the hitch like you're saying.

From what I've seen on hitches aluminum breaks and steel bends. Something that is subject to failure I'd go with bent steel over broken aluminum. However welds do break so frequent inspects are needed.

I've had an experience with broken and bent steel hitches as well. This was on our Dually. Aftermarket Class V hitch - 15k carrying 16k dist weight and 1700 tongue weight. While cleaning the boat after the Long Beach Poker Run I noticed the hitch looked like it was sagging a litte. I crawled under and found this!!
Good news was I contacted the manufacturer and they sent me a brand new updated one. Said they were having issues with the bent steel and had upgraded to gusseted hitches instead. Luckily the hitch didn't break all the way off and they sent me a new hitch for free.

 

[fishing fool]

B&W hitch....


https://www.amazon.com/TS10037B-Magnum-Receiver-Hitch-Double/dp/B000S0I1OE/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=3EELAM7OIKV52&keywords=b&w+hitch&qid=1578505578&sprefix=b&w+,aps,218&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&smid=A97MONVO9R40Q&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFNNjRCOVg5N0k3OEomZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAxNjEzNTMzS0dXWlo3V044OFg5JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA4MDc1NTkzTk1aU0NFTzVSWlhXJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

[pronstar]

If you're going for bling, yeah that Andersen is cute but if you want to be sure why not use something like this?

Totally agree.

You can also got it with the ball installed, for $50 it’s a no-brainer.
Especially since the ball needs to be torqued to 450 ft-lbs.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[ramos45]

The 15K rating is because of the ball. The mount itself is rated for 20k. I have this mount with a 18K Curt ball. made sure I was overkill for what I tow.

Totally agree.

You can also got it with the ball installed, for $50 it’s a no-brainer.
Especially since the ball needs to be torqued to 450 ft-lbs.

View attachment 832290


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Nordie]

I had the same hitch, with that being said I usually only towed my 18 foot jet boat with it, obviously I never had any problems with it. I did tow some 24 enclosed trailers with it as well, but only loaded with dirtbikes and quads. If I was towing a car or something I would use an equalizer hitch.

 

[LowRiver2]

I had 18 years on a 6” drop rapid hitch.
I have no cracks but made the change after Tank’s case and others I saw in Havasu

My toon is around 6k and my jet boats were less. Nonetheless, I like to better my odds at not failing . Steel will not for my applications

 

[riverroyal]

Aluminum tears. Aluminium will only flex so many times before it breaks, not bend.
The flex is unnoticeable by the eye i most cases

Steel will flex, then change shape so you have a warning.

Its all in the molecules.