Abstract: The present invention is directed to an adjustable hitch assembly for coupling a towed vehicle with a towing vehicle. An embodiment of the adjustable hitch assembly may include a base member, a ball support member, and a hitch ball member. The base member may include a connecting portion and a shank member, wherein the shank member may extends perpendicularly away from the connecting portion. The ball support member may include a support rod extending perpendicularly away from the shank member. The ball support member may also include an opening there though that may be attached to the shank member. The hitch ball member may be attached to the support rod, wherein the hitch ball member may have at least one accessory aperture. The connecting portion may be attached to the towing vehicle and the hitch ball member may be attached to the towed vehicle.

Abstract: An underbed hitch mounting system is described. The mounting system may be utilized for towing vehicles wherein the mounting system may selectively accommodate either a fifth wheel hitch or a gooseneck hitch. The mounting system may include at least one rail capable of being connected to a vehicle frame, wherein the rail includes at least one socket. The socket may be engaged with a receiving member, wherein the receiving member may be engaged with a leg of a fifth wheel hitch. A mid rail may be connected to the rails and may include a hitch ball socket that is capable of engagement with a hitch.

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: The present application describes a gooseneck coupler assembly that may include a gooseneck trailer pivot, an extension arm, and a pivot retention mechanism having a ball socket. The ball socket may engage with a hitch ball located on a towing vehicle. The gooseneck trailer pivot may be mounted on a towed vehicle or trailer and be capable of pivoting about a vertical axis relative to the trailer. During engagement, the ball socket and the extension arm may provide tilt capability but thereby prevent any rotational movement relative to the hitch ball. However, the gooseneck coupler assembly may still be able to tilt fore-and-aft or side-to-side relative to the hitch ball. Therefore, the only pivotal movement relative to a vertical axis would be permitted at the gooseneck trailer pivot.

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 interchangeable hitch ball assembly that may be easily interchangeable with the hitch of a towing vehicle and that may prevent a trailer socket from being connected to the hitch ball prior to securing the hitch ball to the hitch bar. The hitch ball assembly may include a ball member, a body, a passageway, at least one locking member, an elongated member located within the passageway and biased toward the at least one locking member, and a plunger capable of being moved by the elongated member between a locked position and an unlocked or release position. The plunger may be moved toward the locking member to force at least a portion of the locking member outside of the body to lock the assembly. The plunger may be moved away from the locking member to allow the locking member to retreat into the body and unlock the assembly.

Abstract: Receivers are attached to motor vehicles to tow a variety of objects such as trailers. Due to the variety of makes and models of motor vehicles, several different sized receivers are required to fit most motor vehicles. The present receiver, however, provides adjustability in at least three directions. This adjustability means that one receiver can fit many different makes and models of vehicles.

Abstract: A towing assembly is provided including a hitch ball receiver having a hitch ball mounting aperture and a recess around the aperture, a hitch ball including a base and a mounting shank where the base is sized and shaped to be received in the recess and a fastener engaging the shank and securing the hitch ball to the hitch ball receiver.

Abstract: A jaw for a fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a jaw body having a stepped bearing surface. A jaw assembly for a fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a jaw body, a control handle and a connecting link where the connecting link is pivotally connected to the control handle on the jaw body. A fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a base assembly for mounting to a towing vehicle, a head assembly carried on the base assembly and a jaw assembly carried on the head assembly. That jaw assembly includes a jaw body having a stepped bearing surface for engaging a king pin of a trailer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a fifth wheel hitch assembly for mounting on a towing vehicle and receiving a king pin of a trailer. The fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a base assembly, a head assembly carried on the base assembly and a jaw assembly carried on the head assembly. The jaw assembly includes a jaw body displaceable between an open position and a closed position and a control handle connected to the jaw body. The fifth wheel hitch assembly also includes a lock for locking the jaw body in the closed position and a king pin indicator. The king pin indicator is displaceable between a home position in which the king pin indicator prevents engagement of the lock and a king pin sensing position which the lock may be engaged to lock the jaw body in the closed position.

Abstract: Stabilizer members for bicycle carriers often utilize a spool or hourglass shape that cannot accommodate different cross-sectional sizes of seat tube. This can often result in difficulties in adequately securing the bicycle to the bicycle carrier, and, therefore may result in damage to the bicycle, bicycle carrier, or even the vehicle. Accordingly, the bicycle carrier disclosed herein comprises a support member, a bracket attached to the support member, and a stabilizer member rotatably attached to the bracket, the stabilizer member including first and second faces, the first and second faces each including a channel having a radius of curvature wherein the radius of curvature of the first face is different than the radius of curvature of the second face.

Abstract: A multipositionable apparatus for mounting on a receiver assembly carried by a vehicle includes a support frame, a platform carried on the support frame and a linkage for displaceably mounting the platform relative to the frame and positively holding the platform in at least two different positions.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch assembly includes a mounting assembly, an arched base assembly, a head assembly and a jaw assembly carried by the head assembly. The jaw assembly includes a stepped jaw body. The head assembly includes a single piece, weldless and seamless skid plate. The base assembly is modular and includes a pair of legs and a central housing. The base assembly includes feet that are received in cooperating sockets carried by the mounting assembly. The feet may be locked in those sockets.

Abstract: Typical fifth wheel hitch assemblies require the operator to leave the cab of the vehicle to put the fifth wheel hitch assembly into position to receive a king pin of a trailer. The present invention is a fifth wheel hitch assembly that comprises a base assembly, a head assembly pivotally connected to the base assembly about a generally horizontal axis, the head assembly being pivotable between a raised position and a lowered position, and at least one biasing member urging the head assembly into the raised position.

Abstract: Vehicle accessory mounting systems are limited in the accessories mountable thereto and interfere with the use of the bed. The present invention, however, is a vehicle accessory mounting system that comprises a frame assembly having an opening and a locking cavity being in communication with the opening, and at least one accessory mounting member capable of being removably mounted within the opening to removably mount an accessory to a vehicle. The accessory mounting member comprises a body, a locking element aperture within the body, and a locking element held within the aperture, the locking element being moveable between a retracted, unlocked position wherein the locking element does not engage the locking cavity and an extended, unlocked position wherein the locking element engages the locking cavity to prevent removal of the mounting member from within the opening.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a trailer hitch receiver including a cross member, a first mounting flange carried on the cross member between the midpoint and a first end thereof and a second mounting flange carried on the cross member between the midpoint and a second end thereof. The trailer hitch receiver also includes a pair of opposed mounting brackets. Each of the opposed mounting brackets includes a first mounting arrangement or series of apertures that secures the mounting brackets to the cross member in a first position and a second mounting arrangement or second set of mounting apertures for securing the mounting brackets to the main frame member in a second position.

Abstract: A bracket, apparatus and method are provided for adapting a simple draw bar and hitch ball arrangement to allow connection to a sway control device. The bracket includes an aperture for receiving the threaded stem of the hitch ball, a notch for receiving and engaging the draw bar and a second aperture for receiving a sway control device connector such as a sway control ball. The bracket allows connection to any number of sway control devices available in the industry so that a simple draw bar and hitch ball may be converted for sway control capability.

Abstract: A hitch ball assembly includes a towing ball having a mounting aperture and an annular race in communication with the mounting aperture. A post includes a base, an axial bore and a plurality of openings in communication with the axial bore. A ball bearing is received in each of these openings. A plunger is axially displaceable in the post between a first position allowing the towing ball to be removed from or attached to the post and a second position for securing the towing ball to the post while allowing the towing ball to turn on the post. A spring, received in the axial bore, engages an end of the plunger and biases the plunger to the first position.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch includes a head assembly having a skid plate with an opening for receiving a king pin of a trailer and a locking jaw assembly for securing the king pin in proper position with the trailer over the skid plate. Additionally, the fifth wheel hitch includes a rocking platform having an arcuate rocking surface and upstanding wings at each end thereof. A pair of pivot pins are provided for mounting the head assembly to the wings of the rocking platform while allowing pivotal/tilting movement of the head assembly in a fore-and-aft direction relative to the rocking platform. A base is provided including a cradle for receiving the rocking platform. The cradle allows side-to-side rocking movement of the rocking platform and the head assembly relative to the base. The base includes first and second pairs of opposed mounting lugs. A pair of mounting pins are received in the first and second pairs of mounting lugs and serve to capture the rocking platform on the cradle of the base.