A system and method of raising and lowering a ball hitch for coupling to a gooseneck trailer coupler are provided. A combination of hydraulic pump and hydraulic piston are employed to raise and lower the ball hitch. Both custom and off the shelf parts combine to create a user friendly system to couple and uncouple a gooseneck trailer to the truck. The system described herein replaces the need to raise and lower a gooseneck trailer by hand crank and gear box. A non-rotating free end hydraulic piston device extends and retracts to raise and lower the ball hitch in both coupling and uncoupling of the trailer.

A system and method of raising and lowering a ball hitch for coupling to a gooseneck trailer coupler are provided. A combination of hydraulic pump and hydraulic piston are employed to raise and lower the ball hitch. Both custom and off the shelf parts combine to create a user friendly system to couple and uncouple a gooseneck trailer to the truck. The system described herein replaces the need to raise and lower a gooseneck trailer by hand crank and gear box. A non-rotating free end hydraulic piston device extends and retracts to raise and lower the ball hitch in both coupling and uncoupling of the trailer.

A cab chassis vehicle and a method of assembling a cab-chassis vehicle are provided. A chassis is sub-assembled by connecting a mounting bracket for a truck body to a frame rail via a fastener, installing a chassis-side vehicle harness, and installing a chassis-side body wiring harness. A cab is sub-assembled by installing a connector plate to cover an aperture on an outer panel of the cab, installing a cab-side body wiring harness, connecting the cab-side body wiring harness to the connector plate, and installing a cab-side vehicle harness. The cab is assembled to the chassis to provide a cab-chassis vehicle by connecting the chassis-side body wiring harness to the connector plate, connecting the chassis-side vehicle harness to the cab-side vehicle harness.

A cab chassis vehicle and a method of assembling a cab-chassis vehicle are provided. A chassis is sub-assembled by connecting a mounting bracket for a truck body to a frame rail via a fastener, installing a chassis-side vehicle harness, and installing a chassis-side body wiring harness. A cab is sub-assembled by installing a connector plate to cover an aperture on an outer panel of the cab, installing a cab-side body wiring harness, connecting the cab-side body wiring harness to the connector plate, and installing a cab-side vehicle harness. The cab is assembled to the chassis to provide a cab-chassis vehicle by connecting the chassis-side body wiring harness to the connector plate, connecting the chassis-side vehicle harness to the cab-side vehicle harness.

A system for assisting in aligning a vehicle for hitching with a trailer includes a first camera and a second camera and outputting image data to the rear of the vehicle and a controller identifying at least one of the trailer or a coupling feature of the trailer within the image data and assigning a trailer type to the trailer identified within the image data, the trailer type including a first trailer type and a second trailer type. The controller further causes a portion of the image data to be presented on a display within the vehicle, the portion of the image data corresponding with the first camera in response to the trailer being assigned the first trailer type and corresponding with the second camera in response to the trailer being assigned the second trailer type.

The vehicle system can include: a set of vehicle couplings (e.g., a tractor interface, a trailer interface, etc.); a chassis, a battery pack, an electric powertrain, a sensor suite, and a controller. The modular vehicle system can optionally include landing gear, a suspension, and any other suitable set of components. The vehicle system functions to structurally support and/or tow a trailer—such as a Class 8 semi-trailer—and/or to augment/supplement a tractor propulsive capability (e.g., via a diesel/combustion engine) with a supplementary electric drive axle(s).

An apparatus and system for: combining independent driving vehicles into a single assembly for condensed, efficient, variable capacity transportation on common routes; and for separating into independent vehicles for flexibility on diverse routes. Connection logistics are exchanged locally via line of sight optical channel. Retractable coupling and mated coupling on opposing ends of the vehicles provide multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) to accommodate misalignment during initial dynamic engagement, and lock as rigidly coupled assembly with zero DOF. Mating vehicles' doors open during transit, permitting inter-vehicle movement and consolidation of passengers en route to urban locales, and release of empty vehicles. On return, independent vehicles combine to dense passenger vehicles from urban locales for redistribution of passengers in individual vehicles that later separate for diverse destinations. Slaved vehicle systems allow one vehicle to control coupled vehicles' systems of retractable suspension, coordinated steering, power sharing. Utility vehicles couple to assembly for service.

An apparatus and system for: combining independent driving vehicles into a single assembly for condensed, efficient, variable capacity transportation on common routes; and for separating into independent vehicles for flexibility on diverse routes. Connection logistics are exchanged locally via line of sight optical channel. Retractable coupling and mated coupling on opposing ends of the vehicles provide multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) to accommodate misalignment during initial dynamic engagement, and lock as rigidly coupled assembly with zero DOF. Mating vehicles' doors open during transit, permitting inter-vehicle movement and consolidation of passengers en route to urban locales, and release of empty vehicles. On return, independent vehicles combine to dense passenger vehicles from urban locales for redistribution of passengers in individual vehicles that later separate for diverse destinations. Slaved vehicle systems allow one vehicle to control coupled vehicles' systems of retractable suspension, coordinated steering, power sharing. Utility vehicles couple to assembly for service.

An adaptor for connecting an LED lighting unit to a vehicle CAN-bus. The adaptor has a connector connectable to a corresponding connector on a vehicle, to receive a lighting current from the CAN-bus of the vehicle. A wireless power transmitter of the adaptor wirelessly transmits power to the LED lighting unit at a first level, typically suited to LED operation. The adaptor further includes one or more resistors connected between the connector and transmitter and arranged to draw power from the connector at a second power level higher than the first power level, which second power level is suitably equivalent to that for halogen or filament lighting.

An adaptor for connecting an LED lighting unit to a vehicle CAN-bus. The adaptor has a connector connectable to a corresponding connector on a vehicle, to receive a lighting current from the CAN-bus of the vehicle. A wireless power transmitter of the adaptor wirelessly transmits power to the LED lighting unit at a first level, typically suited to LED operation. The adaptor further includes one or more resistors connected between the connector and transmitter and arranged to draw power from the connector at a second power level higher than the first power level, which second power level is suitably equivalent to that for halogen or filament lighting.