The present disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for providing stability to a vehicle using one or more auxiliary support members on the vehicle, such as lateral sides of the vehicle. The auxiliary support members may extend away from the vehicle body to approach and/or touch a support surface and provide stability and in some cases additional centripetal force to facilitate steering of the vehicle. The auxiliary support members may also retract towards the vehicle.

A lift axle suspension for a tandem trailer has first and second suspension air bags for first and second axles. There is a lift air bag that, when pressurized, applies a lifting force to lift the second axle relative to the first axle. A first pneumatic circuit supplies compressed air to the first suspension air bag and a diverter valve and is controlled by a height selector valve that is opened and closed based on the ride height of the trailer. The diverter valve selectively supplies compressed air to the second suspension air bag and a pressure regulator that limits air pressure to a predetermined pressure. A second pneumatic supplies compressed air to the lift air bag and is controlled by a pilot valve.

A dual trailing axle suspension system is disclosed wherein a pair of trailing axles are suspended from an auxiliary chassis with axle suspensions that provide spring action for isolating road-induced axle movement from the auxiliary chassis. And the auxiliary chassis is suspended from a chassis of a motor vehicle by an auxiliary chassis suspension adapted to deploy the auxiliary chassis from a stowed location on the motor vehicle to a deployed location at a substantial distance behind the motor vehicle chassis. And the auxiliary chassis suspension is adapted to cause the auxiliary chassis to help support the motor vehicle chassis to a variable degree by acting on the auxiliary chassis at a location between the two axles and in a manner determined by whether the spring action provided by the axle suspensions is set or variable.

An agricultural harvester has a chassis, a non-steerable driving front axle and a rear steering axle with a steering mechanism attached to the chassis. A steerable weight transfer axle has a rear steering axle to weight transfer axle linkage assembly linking the steerable weight transfer axle to the steering mechanism of the rear steering axle. The linkage assembly operates to steer the steerable weight transfer axle in coordination with the rear steering axle. The rear steering axle to weight transfer axle linkage assembly has a rear steer axle pivot arm pivotally connected to the rear steering axle and linked to the steering mechanism of the rear steering axle. The rear steering axle to weight transfer axle linkage assembly also has a reversing pivot linked to the rear steer axle pivot arm and to the steerable weight transfer axle.

A vehicle suspension assembly includes providing an axle assembly having a first end including a first mounting structure and a second end, providing a first bearing block and a second bearing block, forming a first aperture in the first bearing block and a second aperture in the second bearing block, attaching the first and second bearing blocks to the first mounting structure subsequent to forming the first and second apertures; and providing a first spindle assembly coupled to the first mounting structure by a first spherical bearing located within the first aperture and a second spherical bearing located within the second aperture, wherein a first kingpin assembly extends through the first and second spherical bearings, thereby coupling the first spindle with the first mounting structure.

A non-driven axle for a vehicle or a trailer is provided. The non-driven axle includes a first arm portion, a second arm portion, and a central portion. The first arm portion is for rotatably mounting a first wheel hub. The second arm portion is for rotatably mounting a second wheel hub. The second arm portion is on an axial end of the central portion opposite the first arm portion. The central portion is between the first arm portion and the second arm portion and may be substantially arch-shaped or substantially ring-shaped. The substantially arch-shaped central portion includes a main portion and a radially inner portion. The substantially ring-shaped central portion includes a main portion and an inner portion. The non-driven axle reduces a weight of a vehicle or trailer while capable of being lifted without interfering with an operation of a drive axle.

An agricultural harvester has a chassis, a non-steerable driving front axle and a rear steering axle with a steering mechanism attached to the chassis. A steerable weight transfer axle has a rear steering axle to weight transfer axle linkage assembly linking the steerable weight transfer axle to the steering mechanism of the rear steering axle. The linkage assembly operates to steer the steerable weight transfer axle in coordination with the rear steering axle. The rear steering axle to weight transfer axle linkage assembly has a rear steer axle pivot arm pivotally connected to the rear steering axle and linked to the steering mechanism of the rear steering axle. The rear steering axle to weight transfer axle linkage assembly also has a reversing pivot linked to the rear steer axle pivot arm and to the steerable weight transfer axle.

An axle lift assembly includes a vehicle configured to support a load. A slide assembly has a member that is movable along a longitudinal extent of the vehicle. The slide assembly is operable to secure the member relative to the vehicle at a select position along the longitudinal extent of the vehicle. A swing arm has a first end pivotally coupled with the member and an opposing second end biased away from the vehicle. The swing arm is configured to support a wheel assembly with a tire for contacting a ground surface. An actuator is operably interconnecting the member and the swing arm for raising the wheel assembly toward the vehicle to lift the tire away from the ground surface. The slide assembly and the actuator are configured to respectively adjust longitudinal and vertical positions of the wheel assembly relative to the vehicle for accommodating a condition of the load.

An automatic auxiliary axle control system is disclosed for a load-transporting motor vehicle having two or more primary axles and one or more auxiliary axles wherein the control system detects a noncompliant axle carrying weight condition when the weight of the vehicle acting on any one of the primary axles exceeds a prescribed maximum allowable axle carrying weight assigned to that axle and also when the weight acting on any group of the axles arranged consecutively exceeds a prescribed maximum allowable axle group carrying weight assigned to that axle group. And the control system on such detection effects auxiliary axle usage that results in no maximum allowable axle carrying weight and maximum allowable axle group carrying weight being exceeded provided the current gross vehicle weight does not exceed a prescribed maximum allowable gross vehicle weight determined by all of the axles and the current center of gravity of the vehicle is located within a certain compliance-manageable range. And with the control system also capable of effecting auxiliary axle usage outside this range suited to the existing condition, providing control over auxiliary axle usage by an operator of the vehicle, and producing useful information.

A spread axle assembly for a trailer has the ability to pivot about itself to achieve a storage configuration that advantageously shortens the overall length of the trailer and reduces tire wear. It also has the ability to extend between a close position in which the rear axle of the trail is proximate to its axle and one or more spread or extended positions for better distribution of a load carried by the trailer.