A hitch system comprising a hitch shaft with a forward end configured to rigidly attach to a tow vehicle and a rearward end extending rearwardly toward a trailer frame; a head unit pivotally attached to the rearward end of the hitch shaft at a first pivot point having an upper portion and a lower portion, comprising a hitch ball on the upper portion of the head unit positioned out of vertical alignment with the first pivot point creating a second pivot point between the hitch ball and a trailer attached thereto; and a slot on the lower portion of the head unit, the slot having portions in vertical alignment with the first pivot point and the second pivot point; a first moment arm with a distal end configured for slidable attachment to a first bracket on the trailer frame and a forked proximal end comprising a first tine pivotally connected to the lower portion of the head unit; and a second tine having a knob in a sliding connection with the slot; and a second moment arm with a distal end configured for slidable attachment to a second bracket on the trailer frame and a proximal end pivotally attached to the head unit; wherein the first moment arm is at a first angle relative to the member of trailer and the second moment arm is at a second angle relative to the trailer; wherein the first angle is greater than the second angle; and whereby the effective pivot point of the system is moved forward to reduce sway is disclosed.

A ball mount apparatus, for hitching a trailer to a vehicle, which can include up to three or more hitch balls of different size connected to a ball block which can be locked, unlocked, and rotated manually, without the use of tools, for positioning a selected ball for use. The ball block can also be rotated by hand between a rearwardly extending towing position and a forwardly extending stowed position.

A trailer hitch ball mount locking apparatus that includes a locking rod assembly having a main body with a slidable rod extending from each end of the main body, a trailer hitch coupler having a hitch ball socket for receiving a hitch ball therein and a pair of rail slots for receiving and supporting a free end of the corresponding slidable rod of the locking rod assembly therein, and a shifting fork pivotably connected to the trailer hitch coupler with the shifting fork having a hand gripping end and a slotted end with a surface for engaging a portion of the main body of the locking rod assembly to guide the locking rod assembly between an open gate condition and a closed gate condition.

A coupler for connecting a trailer to a ball hitch. The coupler has a body that provides a cavity for a downwardly facing ball hitch receiver. Spaced apart first and second sidewalls have therein first, second, and third apertures, and the first, second and third apertures in the first sidewall are aligned with the first, second, and third apertures in the second sidewall. A latch handle having a base with ear portions having downwardly facing surfaces is pivotally connected to the body using a pivot shaft pin. The body includes a latch slot, in which a spring biased ball latch, sized and shaped for engagement with a ball hitch is connected to the latch handle by a latch bar. A safety pin is provided, which can be inserted through the third apertures in each of the first and second sidewalls. When inserted, the latch handle is secured in an uplock condition, so that downward closing motion of the latch handle is arrested by the downward facing surfaces at the ear portions of the latch handle. Alternately, the safety pin can be used to secure the latch handle in a downlock, closed condition.

A method of determining a tow hitch position. The method includes obtaining a two-dimensional image of a tow hitch in a three-dimensional scene. A model tow hitch is obtained in three dimensions. A three-dimensional rendering of a scene is generated that includes the model tow hitch. The model tow hitch in the three-dimensional rendering is positioned in an orientation corresponding with an orientation of the tow hitch in the three-dimensional scene.

Provided are embodiments of a hitch lift system including an elongated receiver member configured to engage a complementary opening of a receiver hitch of a vehicle, and a lift system that includes a lifting shaft adapted that extends and retracts vertically, and a lifting system to regulate the vertical extension and retraction of the lifting shaft.

A trailer device for an agricultural vehicle includes a frame part and a guide part longitudinally, displaceably mounted in the frame part. The guide part includes a coupling element provided on an end face. The frame part is pivoted by a lifting apparatus for raising and lowering the coupling element relative to a base frame for attaching to a load-bearing vehicle structure. The device includes at least one spring element arranged between the base frame and the frame part such that the spring element exerts a pretensioning force on the frame part for assisting the raising of the coupling element.

An improved hitch ball mount includes a draw bar shank having vibration-isolating member disposed over a portion of an outer surface of a draw bar rod. The vibration-isolating member comprises a vibration-absorbing material, and the draw bar shank is sized to fit closely within a receiver tube of a receiver hitch assembly so that the vibration-isolating member contacts the interior of the receiver tube when the draw bar is positioned within the receiver tube. The vibration-absorbing material can comprise a layer of composite or rubberized material. The vibration-isolating member can be a removable sleeve that can be slidingly positioned over the draw bar rod or it can be a layer of vibration-absorbing material molded over a portion of the draw bar rod. In some embodiments, one or more protrusions can be disposed on the outer surface of the draw bar rod.

A trailer hitch apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a tubular receiving member, a base, an arm extending from the base, a first tow ball having a threaded shaft, and a second tow ball having a threaded opening configured to selectively couple to the threaded shaft of the first tow ball. The tubular receiving member is configured to be removably attached to a vehicle. A retainer assembly is configured to be selectively engage the first tow ball.

A system is disclosed herein including a tow vehicle including and a trailer. The tow vehicle includes a bed having a first surface and an opposing second surface and a receiver assembly coupled to the bed, the receiver assembly extending through the first surface and the second surface. The receiver assembly includes a hollow cylinder having a first end and a second end, the first end of the hollow cylinder coupled to the bed of the tow vehicle and a ball receiver having a semi-spherical shape, the ball receiver coupled to the second end of the hollow cylinder. The trailer includes a deck, a neck coupled to the deck and a trailer coupler coupled to the neck. The trailer coupler includes a trailer ball configured to engage the receiver assembly of the tow vehicle.