Chain Binders for Anderson hitch hookup

[Yukon]

Has anyone tested this system of alignment of the hitch plate to the truck using the chain binder modification?   Thanks Yukon

[Trainman]

Wow, this is a new one for me, what is actually being talked about here.

trainman

[Frank C]

I think he’s referring to this post on the Oliver Facebook page. 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/OllieOwners/permalink/1200624053676047/

[Geronimo John]

OMG.  Way too many point for failure on a chain binder vs. the Anderson chain and super bolt/nut.  Sorry, but a Mechanical Engineer I would not recommend.

GJ

[John E Davies]

I’m using a pair of turnbuckles with self locking stainless nuts, rather than chain binders. On my trailer they fully replace the front extension chain sections. They work MOST excellently! They are lighter but do have more failure points, OMG…..!

 

Andersen did not approve of ANY mod, but the tech said that a 2600 lb WLL would be OK, as long as you don’t actually adjust tension  with them. Just remove slack!

If I bust one, I will replace them both and continue on. They greatly improve the rather poor Andersen Experience. IMHO.

The reason you can’t find that thread here is that the original poster did not bother to put the subject in the title, which screws up Search.

https://olivertraveltrailers.com/forums/topic/6707-andersen-hitch-hookup-mod/#comment-72082

John Davies

Spokane WA

[Rivernerd]

2 hours ago, John E Davies said:

I’m using a pair of turnbuckles with self locking stainless nuts, rather than chain binders. On my trailer they fully replace the front chain extensions.

I adopted John Davies' turnbuckle approach with our new Elite II picked up on November 10, 2022.  After camping 12 nights at various places in 7 states, and towing more than 2000 miles, I am pleased with the setup.  At one back-in campsite, the whale tail ended up angled relative to the hitch ball.  When reattaching the whale tail, I further loosened the turnbuckle on the "long" side, which enabled me to get the whale tail onto the bottom of the ball mount.  Then I snugged up both turnbuckles, completing the process with Robogrips.  IMHO, this is an additional benefit of the turnbuckle system.

But, the turnbuckles don't fully replace the front chain extensions on our 2022 Elite II.  They replace 10 of the necessary 23 additional links, so before leaving for Hohenwald, I bought two 15-link lengths of 3/8" chain to serve as chain extensions, to ensure that I had enough chain.  And, yep, I now get to cut two links off of each chain, as they turned out to be surplus.

Thanks, John, for the idea! 

[John and Debbie]

1 hour ago, Rivernerd said:

I adopted John Davies' turnbuckle approach with our new Elite II picked up on November 10, 2022.  After camping 12 nights at various places in 7 states, and towing more than 2000 miles, I am pleased with the setup.  At one back-in campsite, the whale tail ended up angled relative to the hitch ball.  When reattaching the whale tail, I further loosened the turnbuckle on the "long" side, which enabled me to get the whale tail onto the bottom of the ball mount.  Then I snugged up both turnbuckles, completing the process with Robogrips.  IMHO, this is an additional benefit of the turnbuckle system.

But, the turnbuckles don't fully replace the front chain extensions on our 2022 Elite II.  They replace 10 of the necessary 23 additional links, so before leaving for Hohenwald, I bought two 15-link lengths of 3/8" chain to serve as chain extensions, to ensure that I had enough chain.  And, yep, I now get to cut two links off of each chain, as they turned out to be surplus.

Thanks, John, for the idea! 

After one experience of having the whale tail not in line and having  a hard time hooking up, because you need to be at the same angle, now I just unhook when straight and hook up when straight again.  I take the rubber shock cords used to secure the top of the the storage basket bin and hold up the chains.  I only need to drive without the whale tail for a very short distance until I am in line with both truck and trailer.  It works for me.

John

 

[John E Davies]

12 minutes ago, John Welte said:

After one experience of having the whale tail not in line and having  a hard time hooking up, because you need to be at the same angle, now I just unhook when straight and hook up when straight again.  I take the rubber shock cords used to secure the top of the the storage basket bin and hold up the chains.  I only need to drive without the whale tail for a very short distance until I am in line with both truck and trailer.  It works for me.

This is the method Andersen recommends. It is fine IF you have room to pull forward. Some really short sites don’t have that room. And if you want to hitch up the night before departure, while the truck is at an angle,  it isn’t very practical.

John Davies

Spokane WA