The present invention concerns systems, a kit and methods for monitoring coupling of a vehicle and a trailer or a trailer and another trailer. The system includes two sensors associated with a turntable of a towing vehicle, said sensors consisting of: a contact sensor configured to detect when a skid plate of a vehicle to be towed is in contact with the turntable; and a locking sensor configured to detect when the locking mechanism is in a locked configuration. The system further including a controller operatively connected to the two sensors and configured to receive output signals from the contact sensor and the locking sensor and to determine whether safe coupling has been achieved based on the output signals.

Techniques are described for measuring angle and/or orientation of a rear drivable section (e.g., a trailer unit of a semi-trailer truck) relative to a front drivable section (e.g., a tractor unit of the semi-trailer truck) using an example rotary encoder assembly. The example rotary encoder assembly comprises a base surface; a housing that includes a second end that is connected to the base surface and a first end that is at least partially open and is coupled to a housing cap; and a rotary encoder that is located in the housing in between the base surface and the housing cap, where the rotary encoder includes a rotatable shaft that protrudes from a first hole located in the housing cap, and where a top of the rotatable shaft located away from the rotary encoder is coupled to magnet(s).

A kingpin assembly includes a housing having a recess located therein, a kingpin having at least a portion located within the recess of the housing, wherein the kingpin is secured within the recess of the housing, and wherein the kingpin includes an axis extending along a length of the kingpin, and a sensor arrangement configured to sense a force exerted on the kingpin in a first direction that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction.

A system and method for steering a trailer include the trailer being coupled to a fifth wheel of a motor vehicle. A trailer steering system for the motor vehicle includes a sliding rail mounted on a vehicle frame of the motor vehicle and extending along a lateral direction of the motor vehicle, a slider slidingly arranged on the sliding rail and carrying the fifth wheel for coupling the trailer to the motor vehicle, and a control device configured to control movement of the slider along the sliding rail depending on a current steering angle of the motor vehicle.

A front tow extended saddle configured for mounting a vehicle to a towing vehicle and a method of towing a vehicle using the front tow extended saddle are provided. The front tow extended saddle includes front, middle, and rear portions, with the front and rear portions extending along different planes. A protective cover extends along the front tow extended saddle and is supported above the wheels of the towing vehicle.

A connection system for a fifth wheel hitch assembly or other vehicle accessory includes a plurality of interlocking flanges are received in corresponding ports. Additionally, a plurality of fasteners are used in combination with friction bushings. This overall combination creates a synergistic effect that enables the connection of high load components along a single shear facing.

A connection system for a fifth wheel hitch assembly or other vehicle accessory includes a plurality of interlocking flanges are received in corresponding ports. Additionally, a plurality of fasteners are used in combination with friction bushings. This overall combination creates a synergistic effect that enables the connection of high load components along a single shear facing.

A coupling system for a fifth wheel coupling includes a first plug unit having a plurality of first plug connectors, and a second plug unit having a plurality of second plug connectors to engage and transmit power and/or fluid with the first plug connectors, and an adjuster unit having a guide section configured to be brought into engagement with a retaining element on one of the plug units to transmit a force from the adjuster unit to the plug unit, which displaces the plug unit along a plug-in axis, wherein the adjuster unit can be displaced transversely and laterally to the plug-in axis or can be rotated about the plug-in axis.

A load-bearing trailer dolly which connects a tongue-type boat, utility or other trailer to a towing tandem trailer and bears weight from the trailer during towing. In a preferred embodiment, the trailer dolly is characterized by an axle mounted on a pair of wheels. A dolly frame height-adjustable trailer hitch centered coaxial above the axle axis and midway point framed dolly plate mount by operation of an adjustable sleeve reducer fastened by pinning and lock. Includes dual connecting adjustable height tongues for attachment to rear end trailer hitches on the tandem towing trailer at which a pair of hitch fasteners for engaging the trailer dolly tongues are attached to the rear of the tandem trailer. The adjustable tongue hitches on trailer dolly will give ability to horizontal level tandem dolly. A shock-absorbing spring is fitted between the axle mount and the dolly frame for cushioning the dolly frame on the axle mount as the trailer is towed behind the towing tandem trailer. In the industry of dollies, the car dolly has no shock-absorbing function, just square axle with hubs for wheels, axle is attached to car dolly frame. There is an option with shock-absorbing mechanism or s non shock-absorbing option.

A trailer coupler system can include one or more skid plates made from extruded aluminum, one or more support tubes attached to the skid plates, a plurality of struts having a first end attached to the one or more skid plates, a ball housing attached to a second end of at least two of the plurality of struts, a first towball positioned within the ball housing, an adapter sleeve attached to the ball housing, a support plate extending from a support tube or skid plate to the adapter sleeve, an adapter having a kingpin coupler for coupling to a kingpin of a trailer, and a towball coupler for directly coupling with the first towball.