Andersen Hitch

Submitted: Thursday, Dec 31, 2015 at 11:36

ThreadID: 131246 Views:3932 Replies:2 FollowUps:10

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Towing Techniques

Many people either tow trailers, campers, boats or caravans when they travel. When it comes to towing a trailer or camper on the trip, the traveller will now have much more storage space.

Witi Repartee

Hi, there's been no comment on these for quite a while. I like the possible benefit of having an anti sway factor built into the weight distribution hitch. They originated in America and there is plenty of info such as Youtube videos and testimonials etc relating to the American experience, plus there is as Australian agent. Has anyone had experience with these good or bad or able to provide any comments?

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Reply By: The Bantam - Thursday, Dec 31, 2015 at 20:46

Thursday, Dec 31, 2015 at 20:46

The first question to ask is ...... Is it ADR and Australian Standard compliant ........ if it isn't .... and I'd want to see the paperwork ... game over.

I have watche a couple of the videos & I have a couple of concerns.

1, the hitch relies on friction ...... both for the anti-sway function and for the mounting of the connections on the trailer ..... I can see issues with both.

2. I note that the shackle goes all the way thru the chain, this tell me that the chain is not "rated" chain, yeh I have issues with that.

3. this hitch put all the weight distribution force on the ball and the coupling, All the weight distribution hithes I see offered in Australia completly bypass the coupling and the ball and bear down directly on the towbar tongue.

I can see that this hitch looks cleaner and may be more attractive than the bar systems we see....... but If I needed a WD hitch .....I'd go with the bars.

And remember all WD hitches are an after thaught and do not exist in heavy transport, they are a patch up, work around that attempts to stabilise a fundamentally unstable trailer format.

cheers

AnswerID: 594376

Follow Up By: Witi Repartee - Thursday, Dec 31, 2015 at 21:06

Thursday, Dec 31, 2015 at 21:06

Thanks Bantam. I had assumed it was ADR compliant and met relevant Australia and NZ Standards.
I have emailed Titan requesting this information.
I do not understand your comment on rated chains.Why can't a shackle go all the way thru rated chain....?
The Andersen hitch does look cleaner and seems to have advantages when backing etc which appeal to me along with the anti sway factor.
Cheers

FollowupID: 862754

Follow Up By: The Bantam - Friday, Jan 01, 2016 at 00:53

Friday, Jan 01, 2016 at 00:53

All rated chain (lifting cian and transport chain) is short link chain, in the body of the chain there is minimum clearance between adjacent links on the end link there is only sufficient space for the pin of a matching shackle to pass.
If the loops of the shackle pass thru the end loop the shackle is either way weaker than the chain or the chain is long link chain and thus not rated, high tensile chain.

As for the anti sway factor ........ a bit of friction on the pin will have a pretty low influence on sway.

cheers

FollowupID: 862761

Follow Up By: Slow one - Friday, Jan 01, 2016 at 07:34

Friday, Jan 01, 2016 at 07:34

Long link trailer safety chain is sold and fitted to many boat trailers, trailers and caravans in Australia. It is rated for towing and being long link, a shackle will go all the way through the chain.

FollowupID: 862762

Follow Up By: TomH - Friday, Jan 01, 2016 at 09:29

Friday, Jan 01, 2016 at 09:29

There is absolutely NOTHING in legislation that says you must use RATED SHACKLES.

The Legislation says you must use ADEQUATE. A shackle that is stamped with the relevant numbers (4177) etc and has a 10mm dimeter pin is heavy enough.

The rumour that you MUST use RATED SHACKLES is just that a RUMOUR

http://mypolice.qld.gov.au/townsville/2014/08/08/myth-changes-requirements-shackles-used-towing-trailer/

Chains here

https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/vsb1/vsb_01_b.aspx

FollowupID: 862765

Follow Up By: Slow one - Friday, Jan 01, 2016 at 10:56

Friday, Jan 01, 2016 at 10:56

Tom, we are talking about chain here and not shackles.

FollowupID: 862771

Follow Up By: Witi Repartee - Saturday, Jan 02, 2016 at 14:18

Saturday, Jan 02, 2016 at 14:18

Any more Hitch users on this forum? Would love input from a user.
I will post the replies about ADR etc from titan when I receive them. Cheers Witi

FollowupID: 862772

Follow Up By: The Bantam - Saturday, Jan 02, 2016 at 14:33

Saturday, Jan 02, 2016 at 14:33

Long link chain is not "rated" for towing.
Mild steel long link chain is permitted for use in safety chains in light trailers (as long as used as specified in the standards).

But in safety chains it is not under permanent tension.

BTW... I use rated chain for my safety chains.

As for this whole shackle argument ....... tell me...If you have a shackle that is not marked and rated ..... how do you prove that it is fit for purpose...... and thus how do you discharge your obligations under the standards and ADRs.

AND .... you would have rocks in your head to use anything other than a rated shackle on your safety chain's ...... Rated shackles are easy to obtain and cheap as chips ...... IN FACT I have seen them in the same store selling for the same or a lower price than same size non rated unbranded rubbish.

I can certainly buy rated shackles for less from my local bolt shop than I would pay for the same size unrated rubbish from the local hardware.

cheers

FollowupID: 862773

Follow Up By: Slow one - Saturday, Jan 02, 2016 at 17:26

Saturday, Jan 02, 2016 at 17:26

Witi,
I am just trying to dispel the Aussie legal side of the hitch. I am sure it will comply.

Bantam read page 12 of the link. Long link chains are legal as long as they comply to the ADR. They are a safety chain, not a lifting or drag chain.

Safety Chain Link

FollowupID: 862784

Follow Up By: The Bantam - Saturday, Jan 02, 2016 at 18:01

Saturday, Jan 02, 2016 at 18:01

Slow One ... did you read my last post . or are you a bit slow.

Believe me I know VSB01 backwards ... both the current and the previous version

FollowupID: 862785

Follow Up By: Slow one - Sunday, Jan 03, 2016 at 05:55

Sunday, Jan 03, 2016 at 05:55

Yep I am a bit slow and this is from your early post. If you are so sharp why are you bataming on about short link chain. Your quote "Long link chain is not "rated" for towing."

There I typed that slowly for you.

This chain is rated as per the internet link and it is LONG LINK rated as a trailer safety chain, plus a shackle will pass right through the chain.

Being slow I have a bit of trouble working out which one of your posts is the right one.

FollowupID: 862802