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: 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: 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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a base rail kit for a motor vehicle. The base rail kit includes a base rail including first and second mounting flanges, a first bracket including a first base rail support platform and a first mounting lug, a second bracket including a second base rail support platform and a second mounting lug, first and second spacers and first and second fasteners.

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 hitch assembly is mounted beneath a bed of a truck. The hitch assembly includes a frame, a platform displaceable relative to the frame, a hitch ball carried on the platform and an expandable body carried on the frame between a portion of the frame and the platform. By expanding the expandable body the platform and hitch ball are raised into a towing position. By contracting the expandable body, the platform and hitch ball are lowered into a storage position.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting an accessory to a trailer hitch receiver assembly includes a bar-like body and a mounting plate, bracket or flange and a fastener which cooperates with the mounting plate, bracket or flange to effectively secure the body to the trailer hitch receiver. The bar-like body may include a locking aperture and/or a locking notch.

Abstract: A multiple accessory port assembly (10) for mounting an accessory to the frame of a vehicle includes a frame member (12), a pair of mounting brackets (14, 14) for securing the assembly to the vehicle frame, and a pair of accessory ports (22, 22) carried on the frame. Each of the ports projects from the frame member and includes an opening (24, 24) for receiving the mounting port of an accessory such as a cargo carrier (C).

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting an accessory to a trailer hitch receiver assembly (R) includes a body (12) with an accessory mounting port (14) and a mounting plate (16,20), bracket plate (36) or flange (52) and a fastener (28, 48, 64 or 80) which cooperates with the mounting plate (42), bracket (58) or flange (M) to effectively secure the body to the hitch receiver assembly.

Abstract: An improved ball mount head is intended for use in a weight distributing hitch assembly for towing a trailer behind a vehicle. In one embodiment, the ball mount head includes at least one pair of substantially aligned sockets for receiving a mounting trunnion associated with a spring bar. At least one of the sockets in the aligned pair is substantially C-shaped to permit easy, tilt-in mounting of the corresponding spring bar. Additionally, the ball mount head may be positioned at a selected tilt angle to aid in distributing the tongue weight of the trailer between the front and rear wheels of the vehicle. To fix the tilt angle, an interlocking relationship is formed between a serrated portion of the ball mount head and a washer having a matching side face associated with a connector for connecting the ball mount head to the hitch bar.

Abstract: A trailer hitch assembly includes a frame member and hitch receiver box, a pair of mounting brackets and a pair of accessory ports carried on the frame member inboard of the mounting brackets. The accessory ports each project rearwardly from the frame member a distance D and include a circular opening for receiving a recreational and/or utilitarian accessory. The receiver box has a first longitudinal axis extending in a first plane A. The accessory ports are parallel and have a second longitudinal axis extending in a second plane B where the planes A and B define an included angle of approximately 10-30°.

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 trailer hitch assembly (10) includes a frame member and a hitch receiver box (14). At least one mounting bracket (28) is carried on the frame member for securing the frame member to a vehicle. A utility light (40) is also carried on the hitch assembly (10) for lighting an area including the hitch receiving box (14).