A vehicle comprising a base, a grille and a bumper. The grille is supported by the base, and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The bumper is supported by the base below the grille. In the retracted position a front terminal portion of the grille is offset from a front terminal portion of the bumper, and in the extended position the front terminal portion of the grille is generally aligned with the front terminal portion of the bumper.

Removable devices and systems for operating the four wheel drive (4WD) system of a tow vehicle having an electronically controllable part time 4WD system including a selectable 4WD low range mode are described. The removable device may comprise a first interface for coupling the removable device to a selector, the selector providing an indication of a desired operating mode for the 4WD system; a second interface for coupling the removable device to a controller-area network bus of the tow vehicle; a memory storing vehicle control codes; and at least one controller communicatively coupled to both the first interface and the second interface. The removable device, and system, may allow a vehicle operator to operate the tow vehicle in two-wheel drive low range mode.

An expandable habitation unit which includes a main frame and a main floor with an exposed habitation area. A rear module with a floor is located over a rear portion of the main floor. The rear module floor is connected to the main frame to allow limited movement over the rear portion of the main floor. A side module with a floor is located over a first side portion of the main floor. The first side module floor is connected to the main frame to allow limited movement over the first side portion of the main floor. Another side module has a floor located over a second side portion of the main floor. The second side module floor is connected to the main frame to allow limited movement over the second side portion of the main floor. The modules are moveable along their limited paths of travel to vary the size of the exposed habitation area.

An active hood vent system for a motor vehicle includes a hood vent, having a closure displaceable between a closed position and an opened position, and a control module. That control module is configured to adjust the aero balance of the motor vehicle by opening and closing the closure. Further, the control module may be configured to close the closure and thereby minimize engine compartment air from entering an HVAC inlet of the motor vehicle when the current operating temperature of the motor vehicle is below a predetermined temperature requiring engine cooling, and a current motor vehicle speed is below a predetermined speed where airflow over the hood limits ingestion of engine compartment air by the HVAC inlet.

Coupling device (1) for a differential (2) of a motor vehicle, has a drive gear (3) and an inner differential carrier (4) which at least partially surrounds at least one bevel differential side gear (5) and at least one bevel differential pinion (6). An actuating device (7) is configured to move a coupling element (8), into a coupling state by the actuating device (7), particularly by means of an actuating element (9), to couple the inner differential carrier (4) with the drive gear (3) and move the coupling element (8) into a decoupling state by the actuating device (7) to decouple the inner differential carrier (4) from the drive gear (3).

A tarp distributing apparatus includes a tarp guide device held in an immobile condition adjacent to and extending upright to above a rear location on a truck load bed so as to establish the height to which a tarp can be moved to above and over the rear of a cargo on the truck load bed, a tarp draught device mounted in a mobile condition adjacent to and extending upright to above the truck load bed forwardly of the tarp guide device so as to undergo movement relative thereto and along the truck load bed for engaging and pulling the tarp relative to the tarp guide device forwardly over the cargo, and an actuation mechanism configured to manipulate and move the tarp draught device relative to the tarp guide device and the cargo so as to accomplish distributing the tarp over at least a portion of the cargo.

An active tire spoiler system includes a first tire spoiler, a second tire spoiler and a control module. That control module includes a controller configured to displace the first tire spoiler and the second tire spoiler between a stowed position and a deployed position. A related method is also disclosed.

A suspension automobile comprising an automobile body, wheels and a flow disturbing plate, the wheels connect the flow disturbing plate through connecting devices, and a fluid channel communicating with the outside is formed between the upper surface of the flow disturbing plate and a bottom shell of the automobile body; a power device used for driving the automobile is contained in the body and is suspended along with lift force generated by the body. The invention changes the common sense that the wheels bear all weight generated by the self-weight, loads, and gravitational acceleration of the automobiles when traveling; the body which exceeds 90% by weight of the automobile generates lift force to suspend, the wheels eliminate lift force; meanwhile, a novel propelling force source is found from fluid resistance; the suspension automobile can be driven by various energy including engines and clean energy, thus effectively reduce energy loss.

A vehicle comprising a base, a grille and a bumper. The grille is supported by the base, and is movable between a retracted position and an extended position. The bumper is supported by the base below the grille. In the retracted position a front terminal portion of the grille is offset from a front terminal portion of the bumper, and in the extended position the front terminal portion of the grille is generally aligned with the front terminal portion of the bumper.

A gearbox assembly for a vehicle axle which extends along a rotation axis is disclosed herein and includes: a planetary gear system positioned along the vehicle axle and receiving power from a motor, the planetary gear system comprising a ring gear, a sun gear, a planet, and a planet carrier including an output member; a differential including a shaft which includes an output gear positioned concentrically to the rotation axis along the shaft; a freewheeling gear located concentrically to the output member; a plurality of countershaft assemblies each including: a countershaft rotating about an axis parallel to the rotation axis; and two countershaft gears; and a clutch configured to be operated between a first position where it couples the output member with the freewheeling gear and a second position where it couples the output member with the differential.