Abstract: A step apparatus for a vehicle with a rear impact guard beam includes top and bottom steps mounted on a step frame adapted to be pivotally attached to the rear impact guard beam about a step pivot axis oriented horizontally and perpendicular to an operating travel direction of the vehicle. The step frame is movable from an operating position to a stored position. A roller is mounted to a bottom rear end of the step frame about a roller rotational axis oriented parallel to the step pivot axis, and located above the step pivot axis. An upright surface moving toward the step frame contacts the roller component and the roller rolls upward along the upright surface and pivots the step frame about the step pivot axis from the operating position to the stored position.

Abstract: A winch apparatus for mounting to a load bed comprises a mounting bracket adapted to be mounted to a side edge of the load bed, and a pivot bracket pivotally mounted to the mounting bracket about a substantially vertical winch swivel axis. A winch is attached to the pivot bracket and configured such that, when the mounting bracket is mounted to the side edge of the load bed, a winch shaft of the winch is oriented substantially horizontally and a bottom of the winch is at a vertical location that is above a top surface of the load bed such that the winch can pivot over the top surface of the load bed. The winch can be configured to be conveniently driven by a conventional and commonly available ratchet wrench of a size appropriate to the particular winch.

Abstract: A pintle hitch apparatus has a pintle hook with a base portion adapted at a front end thereof for attachment to a towing vehicle, a bend portion extending rearward from the base, and a pin extending upward from a rear end of the bend portion. A recess is defined in a top surface of the bend portion, and a wear member is releasably attached in the recess such that a top surface of the wear member is above the top surface of the bend portion.

Abstract: A socket hitch apparatus comprises a socket member defining a socket. A swivel member is attached to the socket member about a horizontal swivel pivot axis located rearward of the socket, such that the swivel member can pivot from an open position to a closed position. The front ball engaging portion of the swivel member defines a ball recess between upper and lower recess ends, the recess configured such that as the hitch ball moves upward into the socket, same pushes the upper recess end upward and when the hitch ball reaches the top of the socket, the swivel member is locked in the closed position and the lower recess end is under a periphery of the hitch ball. A forward end of a lower surface of a ramp member is located below a rear edge of the socket and slopes downward and rearward from the forward end thereof.

Abstract: A socket hitch apparatus comprises a socket member defining a socket. A swivel member is attached to the socket member about a horizontal swivel pivot axis located rearward of the socket, such that the swivel member can pivot from an open position to a closed position. The front ball engaging portion of the swivel member defines a ball recess between upper and lower recess ends, the recess configured such that as the hitch ball moves upward into the socket, same pushes the upper recess end upward and when the hitch ball reaches the top of the socket, the swivel member is locked in the closed position and the lower recess end is under a periphery of the hitch ball. A forward end of a lower surface of a ramp member is located below a rear edge of the socket and slopes downward and rearward from the forward end thereof.

Abstract: A pintle hitch apparatus has a base adapted at a forward end thereof for attachment to the towing vehicle. A hook member is attached to a rear end of the base and forms a cradle between the base and an upward oriented male portion of the hook member, the cradle configured to support the hitch ring member in a ring location. A latch member is pivotally attached to the base about a horizontal pivot axis such that the latch member can pivot from a closed position, where a rear portion of the latch member extends over the cradle above the ring location, to an open position where the rear end of the latch member is forward of the cradle. The latch member is weighted such that the latch member falls to the closed position when the latch member is in the open position.

Abstract: A locking hitch ring apparatus includes a hitch ring member adapted at a rear end thereof for attachment to a towed vehicle. A drawpin hole defined by the hitch ring member is oriented such that an axis of the drawpin hole is oriented vertically when the hitch ring member is attached to the towed vehicle. A lock plate is movably attached to the hitch ring member such that the lock plate is movable from a closed position, where the lock plate blocks the drawpin hole, to an open position, where the drawpin hole is open, and a lock mechanism is operative to lock the lock plate in the closed position.

Abstract: A locking hitch ring apparatus includes a hitch ring member adapted at a rear end thereof for attachment to a towed vehicle. A drawpin hole defined by the hitch ring member is oriented such that an axis of the drawpin hole is oriented vertically when the hitch ring member is attached to the towed vehicle. A lock plate is movably attached to the hitch ring member such that the lock plate is movable from a closed position, where the lock plate blocks the drawpin hole, to an open position, where the drawpin hole is open, and a lock mechanism is operative to lock the lock plate in the closed position.

Abstract: A hitch apparatus has a base with rearward extending upper and lower jaws. A pin extends upward from a rear end of the lower jaw. A lock plate is pivotally attached to a rear portion of the upper jaw limit can pivot through a pivot range from a closed position through a balanced position to an open position. When the lock plate is between the closed and balanced positions, gravity biases same toward the closed position where a locking portion of the lock plate extends downward into the gap and the closed stop prevents rearward movement thereof. The locking portion moves forward and upward as the lock plate pivots from the closed position to the open position, and when the lock plate is between the balanced and open positions, gravity biases same toward the open position where the locking portion extends upward.

Abstract: An implement hitch tongue apparatus has a nodular cast iron tongue member defining a vertical drawpin hole. A bottom recess is defined in a bottom surface of the tongue member forward of the drawpin hole, and a pin hole recess is defined in a front portion of the drawpin hole. The recesses are filled with hard surfacing welding electrode material by welding with a hard surfacing welding electrode. A grease conduit can provide grease to the bottom surface of the tongue member. A solid one-piece ball insert member can be removably installed in the drawpin hole instead of hard surfacing. The ball insert can provide different drawpin hole sizes, and can extend down below the tongue to support the tongue weight on the ball insert with the ball insert rotating with respect to the tongue during turns.

Abstract: A hitch apparatus has a tongue member with drawpin hole. Upper and lower clevis straps are pivotally attached to a corresponding top and bottom sides of the tongue member about vertical pivot axes, such that the clevis straps can pivot from an operating position, where the upper clevis strap is above the drawpin hole and the lower clevis strap is below the drawpin hole, to an idle position where the clevis straps extend laterally from the tongue member. When the clevis straps are in the operating position, upper and lower clevis holes in the corresponding clevis straps are vertically aligned with the drawpin hole in the tongue member, and a recess is formed between one of the upper and lower clevis straps and the tongue member. A drawpin retainer prevents upward movement of a drawpin out of engagement with the clevis and drawpin holes.

Abstract: A hitch apparatus has a tongue member with a weight bearing surface and an opposite free surface, and defining a bushing hole extending substantially vertically. A bushing has a cylindrical portion defining a drawpin hole with an outside diameter equal to an inside diameter of the bushing hole and a flange extending outward from one end of the cylindrical portion. The flange has a tongue surface adjacent to the cylindrical portion of the bushing, and an opposite wearing surface. The cylindrical portion of the bushing extends into the bushing hole such that the tongue surface of the flange bears against the weight bearing surface of the tongue member, and the bushing has a Rockwell Scale hardness greater than a Rockwell Scale hardness of the tongue member. Different bushings may define a variety of drawpin hole diameters to suit different drawpins.

Abstract: An implement hitch tongue apparatus has a nodular cast iron tongue member defining a vertical drawpin hole. A bottom recess is defined in a bottom surface of the tongue member forward of the drawpin hole, and a pin hole recess is defined in a front portion of the drawpin hole. The recesses are filled with hard surfacing welding electrode material by welding with a hard surfacing welding electrode. A grease conduit can provide grease to the bottom surface of the tongue member. A solid one-piece ball insert member can be removably installed in the drawpin hole instead of hard surfacing. The ball insert can provide different drawpin hole sizes, and can extend down below the tongue to support the tongue weight on the ball insert with the ball insert rotating with respect to the tongue during turns.

Abstract: A hitch apparatus includes a hitch member defining a substantially vertical drawpin hole. A spacer member is movably mounted to the hitch member such that the spacer member is movable laterally from a working position, where the spacer extends forward to block a rear portion of the drawpin hole, to an idle position where the spacer is removed from the drawpin hole and the front end of the spacer is located lateral to the drawpin. A lock mechanism is operative to selectively maintain the spacer member in the working position and the idle position.

Abstract: A hitch apparatus includes a hitch member defining a substantially vertical drawpin hole. A spacer member is movably mounted to the hitch member such that the spacer member is movable laterally from a working position, where the spacer extends forward to block a rear portion of the drawpin hole, to an idle position where the spacer is removed from the drawpin hole and the front end of the spacer is located lateral to the drawpin. A lock mechanism is operative to selectively maintain the spacer member in the working position and the idle position.

Abstract: A transport drawbar for an agricultural tractor has an elongate forward drawbar section of substantially uniform rectangular cross section that mounts on the tractor in the conventional way. An elongate second drawbar section extends to the rear from the forward section. The second drawbar section has the same vertical thickness as the forward drawbar section and a substantially greater width. A trailing drawbar section extends to the rear from the second drawbar section, the trailing drawbar section having the same vertical thickness as the forward and second sections and a width substantially the same as the width of the forward section. Two tapering transition sections are provided between the second drawbar section and the forward and trailing drawbar sections respectively. Two angular offsets are formed in the second drawbar section such that the trailing drawbar section is parallel to and offset downwardly from the second drawbar section.