Methods and apparatus for a dual reacting, single load sensing element coupled to a hitch receiver are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a hitch configured to be coupled to a vehicle, the hitch including a crossbar, a receiver tube, and a pin housing coupled to the receiver tube. The pin housing includes a first pin including a load sensor, the first pin reacting loads in a first direction and a second direction and a second pin, the second pin reacting loads in the first direction, the first pin and the second pin acting as the only load path between the receiver tube and the crossbar.

Trailer electrical connector assemblies can facilitate the automatic coupling and decoupling of a trailer. A trailer electrical connector assembly can include a vehicle portion and a trailer portion. The vehicle portion can include a hitch ring that is secured to a hitch ball and guides within which contacts are positioned. The trailer portion can include a sleeve that is positioned around a coupling mechanism of the trailer and a sleeve ring that forms receivers within which contacts are positioned. When the hitch ball is inserted into the trailer's coupling mechanism, the receivers can be automatically coupled with the guides to thereby form an electrical connection between the vehicle and the trailer.

An example apparatus is configured to couple to a trailer and a tow vehicle. The apparatus includes a frame; one or more clamps mounted to the frame and configured to couple the frame to an underplate of the trailer; and a shaft having a first end rotatably coupled to the frame and a second end configured to couple to at least one replicated element of a towed vehicle. The at least one replicated element is configured to engage the tow vehicle.

An coupling apparatus for towing is provided which in some embodiments may be a ball hitch coupler configured to accept a ball hitch which is attached to a towing vehicle. The apparatus may include one or more projections that may be flat-topped with rounded corners and separated by valleys having a tapered profile. This configuration reduces and transfers stress away from the connection point of a mounting section, such as a removable tube which is then attached the towed vehicle. The apparatus may be sized and shaped so as to accept a multitude of different styled and shaped mounting sections. The projections sit atop a flange that may be configured to reduce the compression load on the apparatus. The apparatus may utilize a clamping force style fastener to be used to attach the mounting section to the apparatus, providing for maximum versatility of said apparatus.

A chassis for a vehicle includes a frame having a first end and an opposing second end. The frame includes a first frame rail defining a first channel, a second frame rail defining a second channel and that is spaced from the first frame rail, and a cross member assembly coupled to the first end of the frame and extending between the first frame rail and the second frame rail. The cross member assembly includes a first end plate positioned within and releasably received by the first channel of the first frame rail, a second end plate positioned within and releasably received by the second channel of the second frame rail, and a cross member extending between the first end plate and the second end plate.

The present invention relates to a flexible conveyor system. The system includes a supply conveyor module and a receiver conveyor module. A hitch mechanism is provided for pivotally coupling the supply conveyor module to the receiver conveyor module about a pivot axis so that the receiver conveyor module receives conveyed material from the supply conveyor module proximal to the pivot axis. Advantageously, the receiver conveyor module receives conveyed material from the supply conveyor module proximal to the pivot axis which impedes spillage between the adjacent conveyor modules on very tight corners.

A towing apparatus includes a towing bracket configured to protrude rearward from a rear end frame which is disposed to extend in a left-right direction at a rearmost lower end of a vehicle body, and a towing pin assembly which is detachably assembled with the towing bracket and to which a towing mechanism provided in a towing vehicle is to be caught and coupled.

A skid plate for a vehicle may include a continuous unitary plate of material including: a plurality of mounting points configured for mounting the continuous unitary plate to an undercarriage of a vehicle; and a recovery opening proximate an outer edge of the continuous unitary plate and configured to receive a device for recovering a vehicle.

A vehicle includes a vehicle frame. The vehicle frame includes a frame rail elongated along a vehicle-longitudinal axis that defines a hole. The vehicle includes a trailer hitch mount supported by the frame rail. The vehicle includes a face plate supported by the trailer hitch mount that defines an opening extending through the face plate that is aligned with the hole of the frame rail. The trailer hitch mount extends through the opening and is completely surrounded by the face plate. The trailer hitch mount extends into the hole of the frame rail along the vehicle-longitudinal axis.

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for a three-point attachment trailer hitch. An example hitch includes a crossbar including a first end and a second end, the first end or the second end including at least one tab protruding from an edge of the first end or the second end, and a first endplate positioned on the first end or the second end of the crossbar using the at least one tab, the endplate including a first threaded hole and a second threaded hole, a diameter of the second threaded hole larger than a diameter of the first threaded hole.