Abstract: A pin box assembly with gooseneck coupler for coupling a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle is described. The pin box assembly may include a first member capable of being secured to a towed vehicle and a second member pivotally coupled to the first member about an axis of rotation relative to the first member. The pin box assembly may further include a gooseneck ball coupler coupled to the second member, and a suspension system coupled to at least one of the first and second members, the suspension system damping motion between the first and second members.

Abstract: A tie down apparatus that may be utilized for securing an item, such as a safety chain, wherein the tie down apparatus may be used with a hitch mounting system. In one embodiment, the tie down apparatus may include a receiving member, a tie down member, and a clocking member. The receiving member may include an opening located there through. The tie down member may include at least one aperture, wherein the tie down member may be capable of being located and rotated within the receiving member. The tie down member may be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise. The locking member may include at least one leg capable of being housed within the aperture. The locking member may engage the receiving member once the tie down member is rotated, thereby trapping the item within the tie down apparatus.

Abstract: Trailer coupling assembly arranged to a support structure of a vehicle or support structure of a trailer, wherein the trailer coupling assembly comprises a tow bar or a connection head/trailer hitch, wherein it comprises an intermediate connection device enabling movement of the tow bar or connection head/trailer hitch in a vertical direction and/or longitudinal direction of the vehicle or trailer, respectively. A vehicle with trailer coupling assembly movable in at least a vertical direction and/or longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle tailgate with an integrated collapsible door comprises a tailgate having an outer wall, an inner wall and a cavity there between, a door section located in an upper portion of the tailgate having an inboard wall and an outboard wall and being moveable between a closed position and an open position substantially within an envelope of the tailgate, the door section comprising means to vary the spacing between the inboard wall and the outboard wall, the means to vary the spacing between the inboard wall and the outboard wall comprising at least one rotatable cam element located within the door section, such that when the door section is in the closed position the inboard wall is flush with the inner wall and the outboard wall is flush with the outer wall and when the door section is in the open position the spacing between the inboard wall and the outboard wall is reduced to allow a portion of the door section to be received in the cavity.

Abstract: A king pin adaptor is provided for allowing a king pin, intended to connect to a fifth wheel hitch, to be attachable to a ball hitch assembly. A hitch assembly is provided having a plurality of vertical and longitudinal positions for securing a ball member to allow for greater flexibility in attaching to various towed structures. The king pin adaptor and hitch assembly may be used alone or together as components of a towing system for towing a trailer with a king pin or ball mount.

Abstract: A trailer coupler system can include one or more skid plates made from extruded aluminum, one or more support tubes attached to the skid plates, a plurality of struts having a first end attached to the one or more skid plates, a ball housing attached to a second end of at least two of the plurality of struts, a first towball positioned within the ball housing, an adapter sleeve attached to the ball housing, a support plate extending from a support tube or skid plate to the adapter sleeve, an adapter having a kingpin coupler for coupling to a kingpin of a trailer, and a towball coupler for directly coupling with the first towball.

Abstract: A lift and tow module for use with a trailer and method of towing a trailer with a truck. The module has an arm having a connection point for securing to a tow vehicle and a lift body having a connection point for securing the lift body to a trailer. The connection point comprises at least two connection mechanisms spaced apart on the main body for connection to corresponding mechanisms on the trailer. A support plate is extendable from and operably supported by the main body and the lift body is movable in reciprocal directions. Mechanical actuators are operably coupled to the body and the arm for controlling respective movement, which allows the module to jack up a trailer, connect to a trailer, and/or tow a trailer.

Abstract: A trailer hitch system for a vehicle such as a car, truck, or SUV, and trailer comprising an overcab portion substantially parallel to a roof of the truck. The overcab portion comprises a roof connector located generally equidistant from either lateral side of the roof and is aligned with a door pillar, and a hitch for connecting the trailer. The overcab portion further comprises a forward frame portion extending from the overcab portion with a forward frame connector and a rearward frame portion extending from the overcab portion with a rearward frame connector, both of which connect to the frame of the vehicle.

Abstract: A fifth wheel trailer hitch with locking mechanism that includes a pin that extends axially from a pivotal mounting of a platform of a trailer tow bar. The pin is preferably cylindrical and is grooved circumferentially adjacent to its bottom end for fitting into an a key way forward end lip formed in a mounting plate that is attached to a truck bed for prohibiting the pin from lifting from the key way. The pin includes a plug that, by turning a cam rod journaled through the pin, will extend or retract axially from a pin center opening to fit into a plug hole formed in the mounting plate in the center of the key way forward end, preventing, when extended, the pin from sliding therefrom.

Abstract: A tie down apparatus that may be utilized for securing an item, such as a safety chain, wherein the tie down apparatus may be used with a hitch mounting system. In one embodiment, the tie down apparatus may include a receiving member, a tie down member, and a clocking member. The receiving member may include an opening located there through. The tie down member may include at least one aperture, wherein the tie down member may be capable of being located and rotated within the receiving member. The tie down member may be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise. The locking member may include at least one leg capable of being housed within the aperture. The locking member may engage the receiving member once the tie down member is rotated, thereby trapping the item within the tie down apparatus.

Abstract: A fifth wheel glider hitch is disclosed having a pair of sliding rails that support a fifth wheel assembly, the fifth wheel assembly sliding on the rails over first and second brackets that include a locking hole. The sliding rails each have apertures defining a forward position and a rear position, and the glider includes handle with a locking mechanism that traps the assembly in a forward or aft position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a displaceable fifth-wheel hitch assembly configured to be mounted in a bed of a truck. The displaceable fifth-wheel hitch assembly includes a platform track, a displaceable platform, and an adjustment assembly. The platform track defines a track space therein and is configured to be mounted in the bed of the truck. The displaceable platform is configured to be positioned in the track space and includes a fifth-wheel hitch coupled thereto. The adjustment assembly includes a means for displacing the platform and a means for locking the platform in place with respect to the platform track and truck. The means for locking the platform includes a locking pin that is spring biased into holes in the platform track. The means for displacing the platform includes an adjustment rod and bracket to displace the locking pin from its locking position.

Abstract: A tie down apparatus that may be utilized for securing an item, such as a safety chain, wherein the tie down apparatus may be used with a hitch mounting system. In one embodiment, the tie down apparatus may include a receiving member, a tie down member, and a clocking member. The receiving member may include an opening located there through. The tie down member may include at least one aperture, wherein the tie down member may be capable of being located and rotated within the receiving member. The tie down member may be rotated either clockwise or counterclockwise. The locking member may include at least one leg capable of being housed within the aperture. The locking member may engage the receiving member once the tie down member is rotated, thereby trapping the item within the tie down apparatus.

Abstract: An adaptive displaceable fifth-wheel hitch system operable with a vehicle hitch coupling system comprising a fifth-wheel hitch, a displacement mechanism operable to couple and displace the fifth-wheel hitch in a bi-directional, an adapter configured to operably relate the displacement mechanism to a vehicle hitch coupling system, the displacement mechanism and vehicle hitch coupling system otherwise being incompatible and inoperable with one another, and the adapter comprising a first interface operable to relate the adapter to the displacement mechanism; and a second interface operable to relate and removably couple the adapter to the vehicle hitch coupling system.

Abstract: An adaptive fifth-wheel hitch system operable with a vehicle hitch coupling system, the fifth-wheel hitch assembly comprising a fifth-wheel hitch assembly configured to removably couple a fifth-wheel trailer to a vehicle; an adapter configured to operably relate and to removably couple the fifth-wheel hitch assembly to the vehicle hitch coupling system, the fifth-wheel hitch assembly and the vehicle hitch coupling system otherwise being inoperable with one another, the adapter comprising a mounting component having a first interface operable to relate and secure the adapter to the fifth-wheel hitch assembly, and a coupling component having a second interface operable to relate and secure the adapter to the vehicle hitch coupling system, the coupling component corresponding to a receiving component of the vehicle hitch coupling system.

Abstract: A hitch assembly comprises housing that includes a generally cylindrical socket with an inner diameter and a slot along an outer periphery of the socket. A hitch ball includes a base that is selectively received within the socket. The base includes a radial groove that generally aligns with the slot. A sliding member selectively engages the slot and the radial groove to retain the hitch ball within the socket.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a displaceable fifth-wheel hitch assembly configured to be mounted in a bed of a truck. The displaceable fifth-wheel hitch assembly includes a platform track, a displaceable platform, and an adjustment assembly. The platform track defines a track space therein and is configured to be mounted in the bed of the truck. The displaceable platform is configured to be positioned in the track space and includes a fifth-wheel hitch coupled thereto. The adjustment assembly includes a means for displacing the platform and a means for locking the platform in place with respect to the platform track and truck. The means for locking the platform includes a locking pin that is spring biased into holes in the platform track. The means for displacing the platform includes an adjustment rod and bracket to displace the locking pin from its locking position.

Abstract: Fifth wheel hitch assemblies and fifth wheel hitch adaptors for dampening differential motion between a fifth wheel trailer and a tow vehicle. An upper assembly is formed as a box with an open bottom, and a lower assembly has front, rear, and side plates that extend into the open bottom of the upper assembly. Slide plates are disposed on the front and sides of the upper assembly facing at the front and side plates of the lower assembly. An additional slide plate is disposed on the rear plate of the lower assembly and faces the rear of the upper assembly. The lower assembly and upper assembly are attached to one another by an airspring and at least two diagonally opposed shock absorbers mounted therebetween. A locking mechanism may be included to prevent overextension between the upper assembly and lower assembly when not in use.

Abstract: A skid steer attachment system for efficiently increasing the functionality of a skid steer loader. The skid steer attachment system generally includes an attachment assembly to mechanically attach to a skid steer loader, a support frame mechanically attached to the attachment assembly, wherein the support frame is comprised of a U-shaped structure and at least one wheel rotatably attached to the support frame opposite the attachment assembly and wherein the wheel is positionable upon an opposing side of the skid steer loader as the attachment assembly.

Abstract: An articulated tracked vehicle that has a main section, which includes a main frame, and a forward section. The main frame has two sides and a front end, and includes a pair of parallel main tracks. Each main track includes a flexible continuous belt coupled to a corresponding side of the main frame. The forward section includes an elongated arm. One end of the arm is pivotally coupled to the main frame near the forward end of the main frame about a transverse axis that is generally perpendicular to the sides of the main frame. The arm has a length sufficiently long to allow the forward section to extend below the main section in at least some degrees of rotation of the arm, and a length shorter than the length of the main section. The center of mass of the main section is located forward of the rearmost point reached by the end of the arm in its pivoting about the transverse axis.

Abstract: A hitch for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle includes a first coupling means for coupling with the trailer at a pivot point and a second coupling means for coupling with the trailer at a towing point. A displacing means is responsive to pivoting of the trailer with respect to the towing vehicle to move the hitch and the pivot point on the towing vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle when turning is effected and to move the hitch and the pivot point on the towing vehicle just forward of the vehicle's rear axle during normal longitudinal movement of the towing vehicle and trailer. The second coupling means is capable of transferring at least the majority of the towing force between the towing vehicle and the trailer.

Abstract: An invertible gooseneck trailer hitch mechanism is provided. A frame supports a housing having an opening therein for receiving a hitch member in an upright use position or in inverted storage position. A base portion of the hitch member has a circumscribing groove therein to permit cooperation with a pin of a retaining assembly. A user may selectively extend or retract the pin from receipt in the groove by rotating a spaced apart handle when the ball is in either the use or storage positions to retain the hitch member in the opening.

Abstract: A trailer hitch having an assembly housing that is mounted to the bed of a vehicle, the assembly housing receiving a ball hitch that extends out of the top of the assembly housing, and a torsion bar disposed within the assembly housing to dampen the vibration of the trailer from transferring to the vehicle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a displaceable ball hitch assembly configured to be mounted in a bed of a truck. The displaceable ball hitch assembly includes a platform track, a displaceable platform, a gate member and a driving mechanism. The platform track defines a track space therein and is configured to be mounted in the bed of the truck. The displaceable platform is configured to be positioned in the track space and includes a ball hitch coupled thereto. The gate member is configured to be coupled to the platform track and includes a gate portion extendable into the track space. The driving mechanism is configured to be operatively coupled to the gate member and is configured to automatically displace the gate portion from the track space to facilitate displacement of the displaceable platform upon manual activation from a cab of the truck.

Abstract: A kingpin adaptor system which enables a fifth wheel trailer to be connected to a towing vehicle having an upside down kingpin. The kingpin adaptor system includes an inverted fifth wheel head assembly and a kingpin adaptor. The kingpin of the fifth wheel trailer is secured in one end of the kingpin adaptor and the fifth wheel head assembly is mounted at the other end of the kingpin adaptor. The kingpin adaptor system enables a towing vehicle with a kingpin in an upside down position to tow a fifth wheel trailer without greatly increasing the leverage on the pin box of the trailer.

Abstract: A hitch structure for connection between a pair of elongated, laterally spaced hydroformed frame members of a vehicle chassis having preformed apertures formed therein. The hitch structure comprises a hitch base adapted to receive a hitch ball member, a pair of side plates connected respectively to opposite ends of said hitch base, a pin sized, positioned, and oriented on each of the side plates to enable reception of the pin member in the preformed aperture of an associated hydroformed frame member, and a pair of clamp members on each side plate to clamp the side plate with an associated frame member at such a location as to position the pin member in alignment with the associated preformed aperture to thereby secure said hitch base in transverse relation between the frame members.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a base rail kit for a motor vehicle. The base rail kit includes a base rail including first and second mounting flanges, a first bracket including a first base rail support platform and a first mounting lug, a second bracket including a second base rail support platform and a second mounting lug, first and second spacers and first and second fasteners.

Abstract: An adjustable hitch assembly for mounting in the bed of a truck. The hitch assembly includes a mounting assembly for removably securing the hitch assembly in the bed of the truck. The mounting assembly has end rails and side rails with a mounting sleeve mounted between the side rails. The telescoping tower includes an inner tower and a top plate and is slidably inserted into the interior of the mounting sleeve. The inner tower of the telescoping tower has holes which can be aligned with holes in the mounting sleeve. Pins are inserted into the holes in the mounting sleeve and holes in the inner tower to secure the inner tower at a set height in the mounting sleeve.

Abstract: A fifth wheel helper is adapted to be inserted underneath a fifth wheel hitch plate to hold it in a horizontal position so that the truck can be pulled forward after the king pin of the trailer has been trapped behind the fifth wheel. The fifth wheel helper comprises a solid piece of material having a tapered first end and a flat second end and an indentation on an underside thereof for engaging a truck frame rail to hold the fifth wheel helper underneath the hitch plate. A safety bolt is provided for locking the fifth wheel helper on the truck frame rail.

Abstract: Bodies for hook lift shuttles and other roll-off loaders are fitted with trailer towing hitches, such as fifth wheels and hitch balls, so that when one of these bodies is loaded onto a shuttle or loader, the shuttle or loader can be used temporarily as a tractor for a trailer. Means are provided for connecting truck utilities such as brake air and electricity to the invention and thence to a trailer.

Abstract: A glider fifth wheel attachment assembly includes a support frame including a pair of spaced guide rails and a pair of upright assemblies attached to the guide rails. Each upright assembly includes a lower sleeve portion for receiving a respective guide rail, an intermediate housing portion vertically above the sleeve portion, and an upper mounting portion vertically above the housing portion. A head assembly may be adjustably mounted between respective housing portions of the upright assemblies. At least one roller is positioned within each housing portion of the upright assemblies such that the at least one roller contacts an upper surface of an upper guide rail. In addition, the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly includes a latching assembly for releasably locking the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A retractable hitch is adapted to be mounted to a vehicle, such as in the bed of a pickup truck. The hitch includes a ball piece for releasable engagement with a coupling mechanism secured to a trailer as known in the art. The hitch has a frame secured to the vehicle, and the frame provides a substantially flat upper surface with a sleeve opening extending below the upper surface. The ball piece moves in the sleeve between an operative position, wherein it extends above the upper surface, and a retracted position wherein the ball piece is positioned below the upper surface. A raising/lowering control moves the ball piece within the sleeve. The raising/lowering control is mechanically coupled to the ball piece with a raising/lowering control linkage, which accesses the ball piece through a bottom and a vertically extending slot in the sleeve. The raising/lowering control linkage contacts a bottom bearing surface of the ball piece to raise the ball piece upward.

Abstract: An under-bed mounting system installed beneath a cargo bed floor of a vehicle includes both a male pin and a female receptacle. A releasable locking mechanism is defined between the pin and the receptacle to permit installation and removal of desired components such as a fifth wheel hitch. The pin including opposing first and second ends and an intermediate portion, a groove being disposed within said intermediate portion and including a stem and a base portion. A portion of the receptacle is received within said groove, selectively contacting said stem during installation and contacting at least the base portion after said installation. In one embodiment, the groove of the pin is generally L-shaped, the receptacle including a rod that is selectively received in the groove. In a second embodiment the pin is a scissor clamp with opposing jaws pivotable about a common hinge. The jaws engage the inner periphery of the receptacle.

Abstract: A combination hitch for allowing a towed vehicle to be fastened to a tow vehicle. The combination hitch includes a base for being attached to the bed of the tow vehicle, the base including a ball hitch member located substantially over the centerline of the rear axle of the tow vehicle. The combination hitch also includes a superstructure movable between a first position attached to the base and second position attached to the base. The superstructure has a pin box hitch member located substantially directly over the ball hitch member and the centerline of the rear axle of the tow vehicle when the superstructure is in the first position and not located substantially directly over the ball hitch member and the centerline of the rear axle of the tow vehicle when the superstructure is in the second position.

Abstract: A coupling device (10) for allowing a user to connect a trailer (104) having a gooseneck assembly to a hitch ball (102) of a towing vehicle (106). The coupling device includes a housing (12), jaws (24 and 26) and a locking mechanism (32). The jaws are pivotably mounted in the housing and are biased into the open position by springs (30). The locking mechanism includes a locking slide bar (38) which moves across the front of the jaws when the jaws are in the closed position. When the jaws are in the open position and the locking slide bar is unlocked, the jaws prevent the locking slide bar from moving to the closed position. When the hitch ball is moved between the jaws, the jaws move to the closed position and, the unlocked, locking slide bar automatically moves to the closed position.

Abstract: An under-bed mounting system installed beneath a cargo bed floor of a vehicle includes both a male pin and a female receptacle. A releasable locking mechanism is defined between the pin and the receptacle to permit installation and removal of desired components such as a fifth wheel hitch. The pin including opposing first and second ends and an intermediate portion, a groove being disposed within said intermediate portion and including a stem and a base portion. A portion of the receptacle is received within said groove, selectively contacting said stem during installation and contacting at least the base portion after said installation. In one embodiment, the groove of the pin is generally L-shaped, the receptacle including a rod that is selectively received in the groove. In a second embodiment the pin is a scissor clamp with opposing jaws pivotable about a common hinge. The jaws engage the inner periphery of the receptacle.

Abstract: Bodies for hook lift shuttles and other roll-off loaders are fitted with trailer towing hitches, such as fifth wheels and hitch balls, so that when one of these bodies is loaded onto a shuttle or loader, the shuttle or loader can be used temporarily as a tractor for a trailer.

Abstract: An extension coupling for releasably interconnecting a trailer to a fifth wheel tow hitch. This extension coupling includes a mount that is secured to the trailer, and an elongated arm that is pivotally secured to the mount and one end. A universal joint with lateral pins is attached to the other end of the arm to mate with the tow hitch. This allows the trailer to be displaced rearwardly of the tow hitch a distance equal to the length of the elongated arm while at the same time maintaining the loading point on a tractor vehicle forward of the rear axle. The assembly allows the trailer to pivot normally, without hitting the cab of short-bed pickup trucks. It also ensures that the weight of the trailer is carried forward of the rear axle for stability.

Abstract: A glider fifth wheel attachment assembly includes a support frame including a pair of spaced guide rails and a pair of upright assemblies attached to the guide rails. Each upright assembly includes a lower sleeve portion for receiving a respective guide rail, an intermediate housing portion vertically above the sleeve portion, and an upper mounting portion vertically above the housing portion. A head assembly may be adjustably mounted between respective housing portions of the upright assemblies. At least one roller is positioned within each housing portion of the upright assemblies such that the at least one roller contacts an upper surface of an upper guide rail. In addition, the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly includes a latching assembly for releasably locking the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A glider fifth wheel automatic adjustment assembly includes a support frame including a pair of spaced guide rails and a pair of upright assemblies attached to the guide rails. Each upright assembly includes a lower sleeve portion for receiving a respective guide rail, an intermediate housing portion vertically above the sleeve portion, and an upper mounting portion vertically above the housing portion. A head assembly may be adjustably mounted between respective housing portions of the upright assemblies. At least one roller is positioned within each housing portion of the upright assemblies such that the at least one roller contacts an upper surface of an upper guide rail. In addition, the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly includes a latching assembly for releasably locking the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A hitch for coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle includes a first hitch member on the trailer and a second hitch member on the towing vehicle. The hitch member on the towing vehicle is mounted on a sliding mount extending across the rear axle of the vehicle. A linkage is responsive to pivoting between the trailer and towing vehicle to move the hitch on the towing vehicle toward the rear of the vehicle when turning is effected and to move the hitch on the towing vehicle just forward of the rear axle during normal longitudinal movement of the truck and trailer.

Abstract: A glider fifth wheel attachment assembly includes a support frame including a pair of spaced guide rails and a pair of upright assemblies attached to the guide rails. Each upright assembly includes a lower sleeve portion for receiving a respective guide rail, an intermediate housing portion vertically above the sleeve portion, and an upper mounting portion vertically above the housing portion. A head assembly may be adjustably mounted between respective housing portions of the upright assemblies. At least one roller is positioned within each housing portion of the upright assemblies such that the at least one roller contacts an upper surface of an upper guide rail. In addition, the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly includes a latching assembly for releasably locking the glider fifth wheel attachment assembly between a first and a second position.

Abstract: A removable underlift T-bar support accessory for tow trucks with underlift T-bars for lifting and towing a fifth wheel trailer or a goose neck trailer. The underlift T-bar comprises a boom connected to a crossbar having two legs. The accessory mounts on the underlift T-bar and provides a fifth wheel hitch assembly or a hitch ball at an appropriate working elevation thereby enabling the lifting and towing of a fifth wheel trailer or a goose neck trailer by a tow truck equipped with an underlift T-bar.

Abstract: A hitch system is described for a towing vehicle (e.g. a pickup truck) to enable the vehicle to tow a gooseneck trailer. The hitch system includes a mounting bracket to be attached to the frame of the vehicle, a sleeve secured to the mounting bracket and including a vertical slot in the wall and a second slot communicating with the vertical slot, a ball hitch which slides into the sleeve and including a pin which projects outwardly to be received in the vertical slot (after which the pin moves into the second slot when the ball is rotated), and a lock for preventing rotation of the ball when the pin is in the second slot. After the ball has been inserted into the sleeve and rotated, it is locked in position and will not come out during normal use of the hitch system.

Abstract: An improved fifth-wheel extension adapter is described whose design provides the adaptability necessary for mating of the extension adapter with all known trailer king pin designs, which further provides improved contact with the trailer king pin and which provides structure for visually observing the relative position of the extension adapter and the hitch assembly located in the bed of the towing vehicle. The fifth-wheel extension adapter comprises a vertical column, a bottom portion designed to releasably connect to the hitch assembly and a top portion designed to adjustably mate to a wide range of trailer king pin designs. The fifth-wheel extension adapter is further designed to be easily attachable and easily removable permitting the operator maximum flexible use of the towing vehicle as well as the ability, with only one extension adapter to tow the widest variety of fifth-wheel trailers.

Abstract: A gooseneck hitch assembly includes a hitch ball assembly having a hitch ball and a housing and a mounting assembly for securing the hitch ball assembly to the frame of a vehicle. The hitch ball is pivotally connected to the housing and includes a conveniently located grease fitting, a pivotally mounted security door with a torsion spring to hold the door in fully open and closed positions and a latch for securing the door in a closed position and the hitch ball in a towing position. A method of mounting the gooseneck hitch assembly to the towing vehicle is also disclosed.

Abstract: A removable pickup truck bed cover for use with pickup trucks having a fifth wheel attachment mounted on the bed which comprises a tapered wheel valley located within a ramp and a recess which houses a fifth wheel when the bed cover is fitted onto the truck bed. The wheel valley and ramp have an open end located adjacent the opening at the rear of the bed. The wheel valley extends forward and terminates at the recess and facilitates engagement of a king pin or the like on a trailer by receiving the king pin or the like at the open end and slidably guiding the mechanism forward, using the sides of the wheel valley as boundaries, to the recess for engagement with the fifth wheel. The ramp is inclined upward from the opening to the recess which further aids with the engagement of the fifth wheel. The bed cover incorporates a number of storage compartments with lids, a lockable rear door for access to the truck bed and a removable sliding tray located under the ramp.

Abstract: An apparatus for acting as a shock absorber for a truck towing a vehicle mated with a fifth-wheel, or a gooseneck, hitch. A fifth-wheel, or gooseneck, trailer has members extending away from the trailer bed and converging. A cylindrical housing, having a longitudinal axis aligned substantially perpendicular to the bed of the trailer, is attached to the members at the end where they converge. A kingpin, having a fifth-wheel, or gooseneck, connector, is coaxially mounted in the housing. A lever, having a fee end, extends from the kingpin over the rear of the truck. A resilient means, extending between the free end and the rear of the truck, bias the rear of the truck toward the free end. With this structure as the distance between the free end and the rear of the truck increases, additional bias is place on the rear of the truck tending to raise the rear of the truck. The resilient means thus acts as a shock absorber.

Abstract: An improved tailgate for allowing easy hook-up to 5th wheel trailers; recreational or horse-utility types by way of a drop down top center door incorporated into the tailgate. This allows a line of sight from the tow vehicle to the 5th wheel trailer through the hitching access path with which the hitch pin travels to engage the receiver hitch mounted in the pick-up truck box.

Abstract: A hitch assembly is provided with a hitch mount and a safety chain connector, both of which adjust to provide a hitch assembly which conforms substantially to the contour of the towing vehicle body when the hitch assembly is not in use. The hitch mount is configured for retractable extension from a hitch base plate, providing a seat for a matching trailer mount. The safety chain connector is configured to selectively provide a seat for a trailer-connected safety chain. The hitch base plate attaches to the towing vehicle body, defining a support surface which is contoured substantially similar to the body contour of the towing vehicle. The hitch mount and safety chain connector are adjustable such that the hitch assembly may be conformed generally to the body contour of the towing vehicle, thus minimizing any interference with the vehicle's use.