An upper coupler for a semi-trailer has a generally planar bottom plate. A kingpin attaches thereto to couple with a fifth wheel of a tractor. A reinforcement member extends across a width of the bottom plate to reduce bending of the bottom plate as it rests on the fifth wheel of the tractor. Along the reinforcement member's length, the reinforcement member has varying second moments of area taken in cross sections perpendicular to the reinforcement member's length.

A reinforcement panel for the floor of a pick-up truck bed. The reinforcement panel is assembled between the floor of the pick-up truck and a fifth wheel cross member. The reinforcement panel includes transversely extending reinforcing or stiffening ribs. The stiffening ribs resist deflection in the area of the gooseneck ball receptacle.

A method for making a crush can for a vehicle which has an internal moulded structure can include providing a crush can with a hole, filling the hole in the crush can with a fibre-reinforced material and compression moulding the fibre-reinforced material using the internal shape of the crush can as an outer shell of a split mould.

A cover plate assembly for a vehicle, characterized in that it includes: a cover plate provided with a flat plate-like main body of the cover plate; anda counter-part provided with a plate-like main body of the counter-part, the counter-part main body having a through-hole matching with the shape of the cover plate main body, and two guide plates projecting in the through-hole area and supporting the cover plate main body thereunder; wherein the cover plate assembly is in drawer structure, the cover plate being configured to be assembled to the counter-part by sliding along the guide plates. The cover plate assembly in drawer structure is simply structured, low in cost and easy to operate.

A towing hook attachment structure includes: a towing hook; a bumper reinforcement having: a first wall extending in a vehicle width direction, a wall surface of the first wall facing the vehicle cabin; and an second wall and a third wall respectively extending to the vehicle cabin side from an upper end and a lower end of the first wall; and a nut member fastening the towing hook to the bumper reinforcement. The first, second and third walls are respectively provided with a first, second and third holes. The nut member is fixed to the bumper reinforcement while extending in a vehicle height direction and being inserted in the second hole and the third hole. A tip of the towing hook is inserted in the bumper reinforcement through the through hole and is fastened to the nut member.

A tailgate deactivation system. A switch includes two terminals configured to be electrically coupled to a tailgate power circuit that supplies power to at least a portion of a tailgate of a vehicle, and an actuator configured to electrically couple the two terminals in an on state to allow power to flow in the tailgate power circuit, and to electrically decouple the two terminals in an off state to inhibit power from flowing in the tailgate power circuit.

An arrangement is proposed of a receptacle consisting of multiple components for a towing means, especially a towing lug, on a support piece (1) attachable to the body of a motor vehicle, wherein the support piece is insertable into a receptacle on a cross member of the vehicle, and the support piece is to be joined with the cross member via friction-stir welds.

A tailgate deactivation system. A switch includes two terminals configured to be electrically coupled to a tailgate power circuit that supplies power to at least a portion of a tailgate of a vehicle, and an actuator configured to electrically couple the two terminals in an on state to allow power to flow in the tailgate power circuit, and to electrically decouple the two terminals in an off state to inhibit power from flowing in the tailgate power circuit.

A reinforcement panel for the floor of a pick-up truck bed. The reinforcement panel is assembled between the floor of the pick-up truck and a fifth wheel cross member. The reinforcement panel includes transversely extending reinforcing or stiffening ribs. The stiffening ribs resist deflection in the area of the gooseneck ball receptacle.

A reinforcement panel for the floor of a pick-up truck bed. The reinforcement panel is assembled between the floor of the pick-up truck and a fifth wheel cross member. The reinforcement panel includes transversely extending reinforcing or stiffening ribs. The stiffening ribs resist deflection in the area of the gooseneck ball receptacle.