Abstract: An automated trailer coupling arrangement includes a downwardly opening receiver member supported in a bottom surface of a towed vehicle at a first vertical height and including pneumatic/electrical couplers, a shuttle member including pneumatic/electrical couplers to couple to pneumatic and electrical supply sources and an arm pivotably coupled to a towing vehicle at a second vertical height that is less than the first vertical height and including a carrier member to operably couple/uncouple with the shuttle member, and an actuator coupled to the carrier member to move the carrier between a first position where the carrier member is coupled with the shuttle member and the shuttle member is spaced from the receiver member, and a second position where the pneumatic couplers and electrical couplers are respectively coupled with one another and the carrier is uncoupled and spaced from the shuttle member.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch plate arrangement includes a mounting portion configured to be coupled to a vehicle frame, a kingpin throat configured to receive a kingpin of a towed vehicle therein, and a body portion supported by the mounting portion, the body portion including an upper surface configured to abut a mating surface of the towed vehicle, a bottom surface opposite the upper surface, and a plurality of reliefs extending from the upper surface toward the bottom surface, wherein the plurality of reliefs are closed at a bottom end thereof, and wherein the plurality of reliefs are spaced about the upper surface in a repeating pattern.

Abstract: A storage arrangement for lines from a tractor truck to a trailer including at least one of an electrical line, a first pneumatic line and a second pneumatic line includes a housing member configured to be secured to the truck, a first receiver connected to the housing and configured to couple to a select one of the electrical and pneumatic lines and a control arrangement operably coupled to the first receiver such that upon coupling of the select one of the lines with the first receiver the control arrangement allows an operator to unlock a kingpin from a fifth wheel hitch plate assembly, wherein the control arrangement prevents the operator from unlocking the kingpin from the fifth wheel hitch plate assembly prior to the select one of the lines being coupled with the first receiver.

Abstract: A storage arrangement for lines from a tractor truck to a trailer including at least one of an electrical line, a first pneumatic line and a second pneumatic line includes a housing member configured to be secured to the truck, a first receiver connected to the housing and configured to couple to a select one of the electrical and pneumatic lines and a control arrangement operably coupled to the first receiver such that upon coupling of the select one of the lines with the first receiver the control arrangement allows an operator to unlock a kingpin from a fifth wheel hitch plate assembly, wherein the control arrangement prevents the operator from unlocking the kingpin from the fifth wheel hitch plate assembly prior to the select one of the lines being coupled with the first receiver.

Abstract: A storage arrangement for lines from a tractor truck to a trailer including at least one of an electrical line, a first pneumatic line and a second pneumatic line includes a housing member configured to be secured to the truck, a first receiver connected to the housing and configured to couple to a select one of the electrical and pneumatic lines and a control arrangement operably coupled to the first receiver such that upon coupling of the select one of the lines with the first receiver the control arrangement allows an operator to unlock a kingpin from a fifth wheel hitch plate assembly, wherein the control arrangement prevents the operator from unlocking the kingpin from the fifth wheel hitch plate assembly prior to the select one of the lines being coupled with the first receiver.

Abstract: A vehicle accessory mounting assembly for mounting a vehicle accessory to a vehicle fame assembly includes first and second support members adapted to couple to the frame assembly, a support assembly that includes first and second portions respectively slidably positionable along a length of the first and second support members and selectively engaging the first and second support members to lock the first and second portions at a selected position along the length of the first and second support members, a center portion having first and second portions, wherein the first and second ends of the center portion are adapted to couple with the first and second portions subsequent to the first and second portions being positioned along the length of the first and second portions, and a vehicle accessory arrangement coupled to the support assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle component actuation arrangement includes a vehicle component movable between a first configuration and a second configuration, an actuator configured to move the vehicle component between the first configuration and the second configuration, and a pneumatic valve arrangement pneumatically coupled to a vehicle air supply line, a vehicle pneumatic source and the actuator, where the valve arrangement is configured to move the vehicle component between the first and second configurations via the actuator when an air pressure is removed from within the vehicle air supply line.

Abstract: A storage arrangement for at least one line from a tractor truck to a trailer including at least one of an electrical line, a first pneumatic line and a second pneumatic line includes a housing member configured to be secured to the truck external to a cab of the truck, a first receiver connected to the housing and configured to couple to a select one of the electrical line, the first pneumatic line and the second pneumatic line, and an air pump positioned within the housing and pneumatically coupled to a pneumatically-driven assembly of the trailer.

Abstract: A storage arrangement for lines from a tractor truck includes a housing member secured external to a cab of the truck, a receiver connected to the housing and configured to couple to a select one of an electrical line and first and second pneumatic lines, and a control arrangement coupled to the receiver such that upon coupling of one of the lines with the first receiver the control arrangement activates a status indicator that provides the operator with an indication of a coupling status of the select one of the electrical line, the first pneumatic line and the second pneumatic line with the storage arrangement.

Abstract: A storage arrangement for at least one line from a tractor truck to a trailer including at least one of an electrical line, a first pneumatic line and a second pneumatic line includes a housing member configured to be secured to the truck external to a cab of the truck, a first receiver connected to the housing and configured to couple to a select one of the electrical line, the first pneumatic line and the second pneumatic line, and an air pump positioned within the housing and pneumatically coupled to a pneumatically-driven assembly of the trailer.

Abstract: A storage arrangement for lines from a tractor truck includes a housing member secured external to a cab of the truck, a receiver connected to the housing and configured to couple to a select one of an electrical line and first and second pneumatic lines, and a control arrangement coupled to the receiver such that upon coupling of one of the lines with the first receiver the control arrangement allows an operator to at least one of release brakes of the truck, release brakes of a trailer, and unlock a kingpin from a fifth wheel hitch plate assembly, wherein the control arrangement prevents the operator from the at least one releasing the brakes of the truck, releasing the brakes of the trailer, and unlocking the kingpin from the fifth wheel hitch plate assembly prior to one of the lines being coupled with the receiver.

Abstract: A storage arrangement for lines from a tractor truck includes a housing member secured external to a cab of the truck, a receiver connected to the housing and configured to couple to a select one of an electrical line and first and second pneumatic lines, and a control arrangement coupled to the receiver such that upon coupling of one of the lines with the first receiver the control arrangement activates a status indicator that provides the operator with an indication of a coupling status of the select one of the electrical line, the first pneumatic line and the second pneumatic line with the storage arrangement.

Abstract: A vehicle component actuation arrangement includes a vehicle component movable between a first configuration and a second configuration, an actuator configured to move the vehicle component between the first configuration and the second configuration, and a pneumatic valve arrangement pneumatically coupled to a vehicle air supply line, a vehicle pneumatic source and the actuator, where the valve arrangement is configured to move the vehicle component between the first and second configurations via the actuator when an air pressure is removed from within the vehicle air supply line.

Abstract: A vehicle accessory mounting assembly for mounting a vehicle accessory to a vehicle fame assembly includes first and second support members adapted to couple to the frame assembly, a support assembly that includes first and second portions respectively slidably positionable along a length of the first and second support members and selectively engaging the first and second support members to lock the first and second portions at a selected position along the length of the first and second support members, a center portion having first and second portions, wherein the first and second ends of the center portion are adapted to couple with the first and second portions subsequent to the first and second portions being positioned along the length of the first and second portions, and a vehicle accessory arrangement coupled to the support assembly.

Abstract: A fifth wheel mounting assembly comprises first and second support members adapted to couple to frame members and support assembly that comprises first and second portions slidably engaging the first and second support members and adjustable along a length thereof, the first and second portions including an upwardly-opening recess, first and second mounting members coupled to the first and second portions and configured to pivotably support the fifth wheel hitch plate, and a center portion having a first and second end received within the recesses of the first and second portions, wherein the recesses of the first and second portions are configured to receive the ends of the center portion subsequent to the first mounting member being coupled to the first mounting portion and the second mounting member being coupled to the second mounting portion.

Abstract: A storage arrangement for lines from a tractor truck includes a housing member secured external to a cab of the truck, a receiver connected to the housing and configured to couple to a select one of an electrical line and first and second pneumatic lines, and a control arrangement coupled to the receiver such that upon coupling of one of the lines with the first receiver the control arrangement allows an operator to at least one of release brakes of the truck, release brakes of a trailer, and unlock a kingpin from a fifth wheel hitch plate assembly, wherein the control arrangement prevents the operator from the at least one releasing the brakes of the truck, releasing the brakes of the trailer, and unlocking the kingpin from the fifth wheel hitch plate assembly prior to one of the lines being coupled with the receiver.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch includes a locking member that engages surfaces of a pair of jaws to retain the jaws in a closed position. A release handle is operably connected to the locking member whereby movement of the release handle shifts the locking member out of engagement with the jaws to permit movement of the jaws to an open position. A ratchet type mechanism retains the locking member in an engaged position relative to the jaws and compensates for wear of the components and/or differences in size between kingpins.

Abstract: A fifth wheel mounting assembly comprises first and second support members adapted to couple to frame members and support assembly that comprises first and second portions slidably engaging the first and second support members and adjustable along a length thereof, the first and second portions including an upwardly-opening recess, first and second mounting members coupled to the first and second portions and configured to pivotably support the fifth wheel hitch plate, and a center portion having a first and second end received within the recesses of the first and second portions, wherein the recesses of the first and second portions are configured to receive the ends of the center portion subsequent to the first mounting member being coupled to the first mounting portion and the second mounting member being coupled to the second mounting portion.

Abstract: The latch assembly of a fifth wheel hitch plate comprises a latch member movable between lock and unlocked positions, a plunger member movable between engaged and unengaged positions, an actuator movable between coupled and uncoupled positions, a locking member movable between first and second positions, and a biasing member that biases the locking member from the disengaged position to the engaged position, wherein the latch member abuts the locking member as the latch member is moved from the unlocked position to the locked position, thereby moving the locking member from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A fifth wheel hitch mounting assembly for mounting a fifth wheel hitch plate to a vehicle frame assembly includes a first and second frame members each having substantially vertically extending mounting portions each having an inwardly facing surface, comprises a first support member adapted to couple to the inwardly facing surface of the mounting portion of the first frame member, a second support member adapted to couple to the inwardly facing surface of the mounting portion of the second frame member, a cross member extending between and coupled to the first support member and the second support member, a first mounting member coupled with a first support member and including an inwardly exposed aperture adapted to receive a mounting pin therein for pivotally coupling a fifth wheel hitch plate to the first mounting bracket, and a second mounting member coupled to the second support member and including an inwardly exposed aperture adapted to receive a mounting pin therein for pivotally coupling the fifth w