Abstract: A hitch receiver has a clamp-on funnel shaped open mouth for receiving and guiding a hitch shank entry. Attached in the funnel mouth of the hitch receiver, a shank neutral position indicator includes a generally horizontal spring mounted with one end of the spring held at one side of the open mouth and an opposing end of the spring loosely held and movable within a vertical elongate slot on the other side of the open mouth. The spring is positioned such that with a hitch shank centered within the hitch receiver, the hitch shank moves the spring to a center position of the elongate slot thereby indicating that receiver and shank are mutually free for disengagement. A hitch shank engagement limiter within the hitch receiver, has an adjustable length which is selected for stopping hitch shank entry travel into the hitch receiver when receiver and shank hitch pin holes are aligned.

Abstract: A hitch receiver has a clamp-on funnel shaped open mouth for receiving and guiding a hitch shank entry. Attached in the funnel mouth of the hitch receiver, a shank neutral position indicator includes a generally horizontal spring mounted with one end of the spring held at one side of the open mouth and an opposing end of the spring loosely held and movable within a vertical elongate slot on the other side of the open mouth. The spring is positioned such that with a hitch shank centered within the hitch receiver, the hitch shank moves the spring to a center position of the elongate slot thereby indicating that receiver and shank are mutually free for disengagement. A hitch shank engagement limiter within the hitch receiver, has an adjustable length which is selected for stopping hitch shank entry travel into the hitch receiver when receiver and shank hitch pin holes are aligned.