A weight distributing hitch for towing a trailer includes a pair of deflection bars extending rearward from a ball mount head. A distal end of each deflection bar is supported by a deflection bar support connected to the frame by a height adjustable bracket assembly. A first resistance feature on the deflection bar support engages a second resistance feature associated with the deflection bar to restrain the deflection bar from sliding relative to the deflection bar support and thereby preventing swaying of the trailer relative to the towing vehicle. A longitudinal position of the second resistance feature relative to the deflection bar or a longitudinal position of the first resistance feature relative to said deflection bar supported by said deflection bar support is adjustable to position the second resistance feature in engagement with the first resistance feature when the deflection bar is supported on the deflection bar support.

A weight distributing hitch system for towing a trailer behind a vehicle includes a trailer having a trailer frame and a coupler mounted on the front end of the trailer frame, a hitch ball mount, a spring arm assembly, and a linear actuator assembly. The spring arm assembly includes first and second spring arms, each having a first end connected to a first engaging structure configured to engage with the hitch ball mount, and a second end connected to a second engaging structure configured to serve as an actuator mount. The first engaging structure is configured to slidably engage with the hitch ball mount. The linear actuator assembly comprises a linear actuator having a first end connected to the actuator mount of the spring arm assembly and a second end connected to the trailer frame, wherein the linear actuator applies a load to the spring arm assembly.

A load levelling device for adjusting the pitch of a first towing vehicle relative to a ground surface when the first towed vehicle is coupled to a second towed vehicle includes: a towing pillar having a longitudinal axis; a towing tongue adapted for attachment to the first towing vehicle and mounted on the towing pillar for sliding engagement therewith; a clutch housing radially supported on the towing pillar beneath the towing tongue for sliding engagement with the towing pillar, the clutch housing including a blade recess in a lateral portion thereof, the blade recess extending orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the towing pillar; a tensioning blade having a leading end and a trailing end, the leading end adapted for being removably securable in the blade recess of the clutch housing and the trailing end being adapted for attachment to the second towed vehicle; and a user operational force application device for selectively applying a vertical force to the trailing edge of the tensioning blade. An upwardly applied force on the trailing edge of the tensioning blade imparts a counter-clockwise moment to the tensioning blade, which counter-clockwise moment is transmitted through the clutch housing, the towing pillar and the towing tongue, so as to level the pitch of a first towing vehicle to which the load levelling device is attached, relative to the ground surface.

The present application generally relates to a method and apparatus for trailer load assist in a motor vehicle. In particular, the system is operative to determine a trailer connection, determine an initial tongue weight and compare the initial tongue weight with a current tongue weight. A audible and/or visual cue is generated when the current tongue weight exceeds the initial tongue weight in a ratio indicative of an optimally loaded trailer.

A weight distribution hitch system comprising a vehicle attachment member comprising a forward end configured to rigidly attach to a vehicle, and a rearward end extending rearwardly toward a trailer, the rearward end comprising an upper portion comprising a trailer attachment member configured to pivotally attach to a coupler of the trailer, and a lower portion configured to receive a moment bar; a moment bar having a modulus of elasticity, the moment bar comprising a moment bar forward end attached to the lower portion of the rearward end of the vehicle attachment member so as to prevent rotation about a horizontal axis, and a moment bar rearward end; a tension member comprising a top end configured to be supported by a frame member of the trailer, and a bottom end configured to support the rearward end of the moment bar; wherein, when the tension member is in tension, it imposes an upward force on the moment bar rearward end, which, in turn, imposes a forward moment on the vehicle; and wherein the modulus of elasticity is low enough that an adjustment range for the moment bar is greater than 0.5 inches is disclosed.

A method operable in a towing vehicle for determining a state of a trailer being towed by said towing vehicle is disclosed. The vehicle comprises a front facing and a rear facing image capturing device and the method comprises determining respective distances of the rear facing image capturing device and the front facing image capturing device from a surface on which the vehicle lies. Responsive to one or both of: the distance of the rear image capturing device being outside a first threshold, and the distance of the front image capturing device being outside a second threshold, a value indicative the state of the towed trailer is output.

A trailer hitch system for equalizing trailer loads and reducing trailer sway. The trailer hitch system may include spring bars that may be attached to a hitch head using a trunnion style connection. The spring bars may be attached to the trailer using rigid brackets that reduce swinging of the spring bars. The rigid brackets having a plurality of contact points may include an upward extending portion for attaching to the trailer tongue, and a lateral extending portion for receiving the spring bars thereupon. The rigid brackets may include a spacing member and an attachment member.

A weight distribution hitch system comprising a vehicle attachment member comprising a forward end configured to rigidly attach to a vehicle, and a rearward end extending rearwardly toward a trailer, the rearward end comprising an upper portion comprising a trailer attachment member configured to pivotally attach to a coupler of the trailer, and a lower portion configured to receive a moment bar, a moment bar forward end attached to the lower portion of the rearward end of the vehicle attachment member so as to prevent rotation about a horizontal axis, and a moment bar rearward end; a tension member comprising a top end configured to be supported by a frame member of the trailer, and a bottom end configured to support the rearward end of the moment bar, and wherein, when the tension member is in tension, it imposes an upward force on the moment bar rearward end, which, in turn, imposes a forward moment on the vehicle; and wherein the length of the moment bar is less than 28 inches is disclosed.

A weight distributing trailer hitch and associated method are described. The weight distributing trailer hitch can include a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle. The weight distributing trailer hitch can also include a ball portion to facilitate coupling with a tongue of a trailer. In one embodiment, the weight distributing trailer hitch can further include a spring bar vertically pivotal relative to the hitch portion, and an adjustment mechanism actuatable to selectively adjust a tilt angle of the spring bar relative to the hitch portion to vary preload on the spring bar and adjustably distribute weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle. In another embodiment, the weight distributing trailer hitch can further include a spring bar for distributing weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle, and a load measurement device to determine a magnitude of a downward force on the hitch ball.

Indicator apparatus and related methods for use with vehicles are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a controller configured to determine a load imparted on a hitch via a sensor. The hitch is to be coupled between a vehicle and a trailer. The controller is also configured to compare the load to a threshold load. The threshold load is based on a weight of the trailer. The controller is also configured to control an exterior light of the vehicle based on the comparison to visually indicate a load status of the trailer.