Abstract: A tailgate hitch sensor system is installed by mounting a housing around the end of a receiver tube on the back of a hitch, and then plugging the system into both the OEM passenger side tailgate locking mechanism and the OEM driver side tailgate locking mechanism. A magnetically operated reed switch is positioned at the top of the housing, and a cover supporting a magnet is pivotally hinged to the housing so the cover has a normally closed position covering the receiver tube. When the cover is closed, the tailgate operates normally. When the cover is open, the electrical circuit for at least one stage of lowering the tailgate is de-activated.

Abstract: A brake controller has a control dial with a series of full color LEDs arranged around the dial. The dial with its LEDs is in a module mounted on the dash of the towing vehicle and connected by a cable to a main module mounted out of sight. The dial is a rotary encoder pushbutton mounted on the same circuit board as the LED chips. Status information is output using the LEDs primarily based on color. Substantially all setting input is provided solely by user manipulation of the dial, pushing the dial in to change setting input mode, with the value of the input reflected in the number of LEDs being lit in a color corresponding to the brake controller setting being changed, as the user rotates the dial either clockwise or counterclockwise to change setting values.

Abstract: A brake controller has a control dial with a series of full color LEDs arranged around the dial. The dial with its LEDs is in a module mounted on the dash of the towing vehicle and connected by a cable to a main module mounted out of sight. The dial is a rotary encoder pushbutton mounted on the same circuit board as the LED chips. Status information is output using the LEDs primarily based on color. Substantially all setting input is provided solely by user manipulation of the dial, pushing the dial in to change setting input mode, with the value of the input reflected in the number of LEDs being lit in a color corresponding to the brake controller setting being changed, as the user rotates the dial either clockwise or counterclockwise to change setting values.

Abstract: A tailgate hitch sensor system is installed by mounting a housing around the end of a receiver tube on the back of a hitch, and then plugging the system into both the OEM passenger side tailgate locking mechanism and the OEM driver side tailgate locking mechanism. A magnetically operated reed switch is positioned at the top of the housing, and a cover supporting a magnet is pivotally hinged to the housing so the cover has a normally closed position covering the receiver tube. When the cover is closed, the tailgate operates normally. When the cover is open, the electrical circuit for at least one stage of lowering the tailgate is de-activated.