Question for Anderson Hitch Users

[montedtrotter1]

I have used the Anderson Hitch since day one and very pleased with the performance and WD on my 21BHS and Chevy Colorado. The issue I have now is a creaking noise I cannot seem to locate or resolve. I have lubricated the ball, chains, anything that rubs together but I have not solved the problem. It is somewhat annoying when pulling  at low speeds through a campsite or taking the trailer to our home and making turns/curves and hearing the popping creaking noise. Is anyone else having this problem and if so any ideas  on what may be causing the noise? I realize I need to call Anderson but have not found  the time during the day to do so just yet.

[pjcd]

 According to their web sit, the Anderson WD hitch is a grease-less system. That being said, I would re-torque everything and see if that helps.

[tinkeringtechie]

What kind of motion causes the creak? Bumps? Turns? If you jump up and down on the hitch does it creak? Is the brake sleeve around the ball in good condition? (not squeezing out or bulging)

[montedtrotter1]

Simple turns and curves cause the creaking. The brake sleeve seems to be in good condition, in the beginning, I thought this was the problem and it still may be but nothing is obvious. Again I then thought it may be the chains as they are pulled tight but no improvement when spraying with lubricant. There is a slight improvement when I lubricate the ball but the ball does not turn, the brake sleeve turns as I understand the Anderson system.

[montedtrotter1]

Simple turns and curves cause the creaking. The brake sleeve seems to be in good condition, in the beginning, I thought this was the problem and it still may be but nothing is obvious. Again I then thought it may be the chains as they are pulled tight but no improvement when spraying with lubricant. There is a slight improvement when I lubricate the ball but the ball does not turn, the brake sleeve turns as I understand the Anderson system.

[montedtrotter1]

I will check all the bolts for being tight but at this point, I have not been able to budge any of them they are so tight. The dealer, SIRV in Rock Island IL installed the Anderson for me.

[daplumbr]

I think it will be the brake sleeve. Replace it and I'll bet the noise goes away. Don't grease the ball because you want that to "sit-stay". 

[dontaknow]

I installed a new Andersen WDH only two weeks ago and also noticed creaking at slow moderate curves after previously driving 5 hours at 55-60 mph.   At the campground entrance I drove over a cattle guard a little too fast and the creaking immediately went away.  When I hooked up the trailer for the trip home, I loosened the tension of the chain by one thread.  I can't exactly pinpoint the causes or remedies of the creaking, but I did not hear it again on the return trip using a different curvier and bumpier route home.  

Have you noticed the creaking noise when you tow using the Andersen ball mount without tension on the chains or even better removing the chains?  That experiment could give you an indication of if the creaking is coming from the chains or the ball mount and sleeve.  If you still hear the noise without chain tension, then your focus should on the ball mount and sleeve.  Of course without tension on the chains,  the vehicle-hitch-trailer geometry will be different.... 

Checking the torque is a good idea and is something I need to do after driving some post instillation. 

[montedtrotter1]

Thanks for all the comments!

I did review several Anderson videos this morning and saw where the AWD Hitch was guaranteed for life. I decided to call them to discuss. Very quickly Demetrius (factory rep) pointed out they had a bad run of the cone material that would absorb moisture over time that then created the popping noise. He is sending me a new updated cone at no charge. I purchased my Anderson Hitch about 14 months ago. Demetrius basically guaranteed me this would solve my problem so evidently they have received enough calls about noise to research and solve the problem. I will post an update after I get the new cone installed. Thanks again for all the responses!

[tinkeringtechie]

Thanks for all the comments!

I did review several Anderson videos this morning and saw where the AWD Hitch was guaranteed for life. I decided to call them to discuss. Very quickly Demetrius (factory rep) pointed out they had a bad run of the cone material that would absorb moisture over time that then created the popping noise. He is sending me a new updated cone at no charge. I purchased my Anderson Hitch about 14 months ago. Demetrius basically guaranteed me this would solve my problem so evidently they have received enough calls about noise to research and solve the problem. I will post an update after I get the new cone installed. Thanks again for all the responses!

They definitely have some of the best customer service out there. Now I'll watch mine extra carefully and if it starts popping I'll know who to call. Let us know once you get the new sleeve and whether it fixes it.

[pjcd]

I bought mine about the same time, I'll have to keep an eye on it. Thanks for the update.

[scbillandjane]

We also purchased our 21 BHS and the Andersen hitch at SIRV and they installed it. Since the time we left the dealership last November, we have NEVER liked it. I have never understood the rave reviews online and on this forum about the Andersen hitch. We have had sway issues from day one, especially when it is windy, but we've even had some "wobbling" when the weather is clear, dry, and windless. On occasion, we have had groaning and popping noises, too, when making slow turns. We're just hoping at the July rally in Oregon that someone will help diagnose our difficulties and find something that we're doing wrong and that it will be an easy fix.  Otherwise, we're ready to make it into a very expensive paperweight and switch to another system entirely. It is NOT easy to hitch up when you're practically standing on your head or squatting down to the ground on bad knees to line up the holes and slide the pin through. On the positive side, it is somewhat lightweight. That's about the only good thing we have been able to say about it.  Otherwise, it's been a royal pain. We DO love our Camplite, however!

[daplumbr]

[quote source="/post/22467/thread" timestamp="1466716876" author="@scbillandjane"]We also purchased our 21 BHS and the Andersen hitch at SIRV and they installed it. Since the time we left the dealership last November, we have NEVER liked it. I have never understood the rave reviews online and on this forum about the Andersen hitch. We have had sway issues from day one, especially when it is windy, but we've even had some "wobbling" when the weather is clear, dry, and windless. On occasion, we have had groaning and popping noises, too, when making slow turns. We're just hoping at the July rally in Oregon that someone will help diagnose our difficulties and find something that we're doing wrong and that it will be an easy fix.  Otherwise, we're ready to make it into a very expensive paperweight and switch to another system entirely. It is NOT easy to hitch up when you're practically standing on your head or squatting down to the ground on bad knees to line up the holes and slide the pin through. On the positive side, it is somewhat lightweight. That's about the only good thing we have been able to say about it.  Otherwise, it's been a royal pain. We DO love our Camplite, however! [/quote]Wow, bummer. If you've got adequate tongue weight and have a correct installation with everything level and adjusted, you should not be getting any "wobble" on windless, nice days. However, the attachment system can't be "adjusted" to make attaching it better for you. So, if you are having problems with the attachment when hitching up, it might be good to sell it (They don't have to be a paper weight!) and get something easier for you?

[tinkeringtechie]

we've even had some "wobbling" when the weather is clear, dry, and windless

This means you've got some other underlying issue. Even the worst WD hitch out there won't MAKE your trailer wobble on its own. My guess is a weight distribution problem. Also, what are you towing with?

[scbillandjane]

We tow with a 2007 Toyota Tundra 4X4 TRD with towing package.  On our previous camper (TrailManor 3124 KS) we used the same truck and a Reese WD hitch that came with the camper (used) and never had any sway  in 20,000 + miles of towing over an eight year period. Of course, the TrailManor did not have the frontal area and wind resistance of the Camplite.  We have adjusted the chains (tighter and looser) a number of times and have it where we think it is safe when we pull the camper, but still not an optimal situation.  Also, maybe the cheapo Chinese tires (defective and cracked, by the way) that came with the camper have been replaced with Maxxis radials, and we have not towed since putting on the new tires. We will be leaving on our long trip westward in a few days, so this should be a good test of our set up. Can't wait to see some new sights and meet up with all you folks trekking out to Oregon in July.  It should be a lot of fun!