A trailer hitch system for improving the speed and safety of attaching the trailer to a tow vehicle. The hitch may include a shank that may be attached to the trailer through a ball hitch. A receiver may be provided on the tow vehicle such that attachment of the trailer to the tow vehicle may be accomplished by introducing the shank into the receiver when the tow vehicle is backed to the trailer. A funnel shaped guide member may be provided to facilitate aligning the shank with the receiver. Also, friction reducing rollers may be used with the shank or the receiver. Moreover, a height adjustment and visual guidance system may be included to facilitate connecting the trailer to the tow vehicle.

A hitch assembly for attaching a following trailer to a leading trailer and preventing lateral pivoting of the hitch assembly with respect to the leading trailer includes a dolly which laterally pivotally attaches to a hitch of the leading trailer. The dolly trails the leading trailer and has a fifth wheel hitch for attaching to a following trailer. A stabilizer on the dolly is deployable near a rear end of the leading trailer such that lateral pivoting of the dolly with respect to the leading trailer is limited or entirely obstructed. The inhibiting action of the stabilizer facilitates accurate alignment of the fifth wheel hitch with the following trailer.

An apparatus for reducing sway between a towing vehicle and a trailer is disclosed. The apparatus may comprise a bracket assembly that attaches to a tongue of a trailer. The bracket assembly may include a surface for supporting a spring arm extending from a weight distribution hitch installed on a tow vehicle. The bracket assembly may include a clamp that is able to apply a frictional force to thereby oppose movement of the spring arm. The clamping force applied by the clamp may be variable to ensure proper operation.

A weight distributing trailer hitch and associated method are described. The weight distributing trailer hitch can include a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle. The weight distributing trailer hitch can also include a ball portion to facilitate coupling with a tongue of a trailer. In one embodiment, the weight distributing trailer hitch can further include a spring bar vertically pivotal relative to the hitch portion, and an adjustment mechanism actuatable to selectively adjust a tilt angle of the spring bar relative to the hitch portion to vary preload on the spring bar and adjustably distribute weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle. In another embodiment, the weight distributing trailer hitch can further include a spring bar for distributing weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle, and a load measurement device to determine a magnitude of a downward force on the hitch ball

A stabilizer for an attachment device of a vehicle comprises a first adjusting element and a second adjusting element which are guided adjustably relative to one another along a longitudinal axis in order to vary the length of the stabilizer, a first connecting element on the first adjusting element for supporting the stabilizer against the vehicle, and a second connecting element on the second adjusting element for supporting the stabilizer against an element of the attachment device, the second connecting element being connected to the second adjusting element such that it can be rotated about the longitudinal axis via a screw connection for adjusting the length of the second adjusting element. The stabilizer further has a locking device, which is connected to the second adjusting element and the second connecting element, the second adjusting element and the second connecting element being connected to one another in a rotationally fixed manner in a locking position of the locking device.

A trailer hitch system for equalizing trailer loads and reducing trailer sway. The trailer hitch system may include spring bars that may extend from a hitch head. The spring bars may be attached to the trailer using rigid brackets that reduce swinging of the spring bars. The rigid brackets may include an upward extending portion for attaching to the trailer tongue, and a lateral extending portion for receiving the spring bars thereupon. Pins may be utilized to secure the spring bars on the lateral extending portion of the brackets. The pins may each include a spring loaded clip that is rotatably between an unlocked position and a locked position.

A trailer hitch system for equalizing trailer loads and reducing trailer sway. The trailer hitch system may include spring bars that may extend from a hitch head. The spring bars may be attached to the trailer using rigid brackets that reduce swinging of the spring bars. The rigid brackets may include an upward extending portion for attaching to the trailer tongue, and a lateral extending portion for receiving the spring bars thereupon. Pins may be utilized to secure the spring bars on the lateral extending portion of the brackets. The pins may each include a spring loaded clip that is rotatably between an unlocked position and a locked position.

A pivot mechanism for use in connection with a carried (e.g., towed or pushed) vehicle includes a base portion, a pivot portion, and a restoration mechanism. The pivot portion is attached to the base portion in a pivotable manner. The restoration mechanism is configured to generate a restoring force in accordance with a pivot angle of the pivot portion to restore the pivot portion to a neutral state when the pivot angle of the pivot portion falls within a first angular range.

A pivot mechanism for use in connection with a carried (e.g., towed or pushed) vehicle includes a base portion, a pivot portion, and a restoration mechanism. The pivot portion is attached to the base portion in a pivotable manner. The restoration mechanism is configured to generate a restoring force in accordance with a pivot angle of the pivot portion to restore the pivot portion to a neutral state when the pivot angle of the pivot portion falls within a first angular range.

A weight distributing trailer hitch and associated method are described. The weight distributing trailer hitch can include a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle. The weight distributing trailer hitch can also include a ball portion to facilitate coupling with a tongue of a trailer. In one embodiment, the weight distributing trailer hitch can further include a spring bar vertically pivotal relative to the hitch portion, and an adjustment mechanism actuatable to selectively adjust a tilt angle of the spring bar relative to the hitch portion to vary preload on the spring bar and adjustably distribute weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle. In another embodiment, the weight distributing trailer hitch can further include a spring bar for distributing weight of the trailer relative to the vehicle, and a load measurement device to determine a magnitude of a downward force on the hitch ball.