An oscillation brake system and method is disclosed for a vehicle having front and rear vehicle sections coupled with an oscillation joint that allows rotation about an oscillation axis. The system includes front and rear brake sections rigidly coupled to the front and rear vehicle sections, respectively. The rear vehicle section has multiple degrees of freedom of movement relative to front vehicle section. When the oscillation brake is activated the front brake section engages the rear brake section to increase resistance against or prevent rotation about the oscillation axis. The system can also include sensors, and a controller that activates the system based on the sensor readings. The sensors can include accelerometers, pressure, position, speed or other sensors. The oscillation brake can include a hub splined to separator plates and a housing splined to friction plates, where the oscillation brake is activated to force the separator and friction plates together.

The present disclosure is directed toward sway control systems for adjustably controlling sway between a trailer and towing vehicle through use of frictional forces that include a tow bar assembly, a connector assembly, a tensioner spanning the width of the housing of the tow bar assembly, and a crank assembly. Within the tow bar assembly, a slide bar is frictionally engaged with the housing, and the relative friction may be controlled by increasing or decreasing compression of the at least one brake pad through adjustment of the compression plate toward or away from the interconnecting web. The present disclosure attempts to improve ease of use by utilizing a single adjustment point.

A stabilization system for an off-road trailer may include a hitch ball assembly, a tower assembly, and a stabilizer arm assembly. The tower assembly may include a pivot mechanism that allows the stabilizer arm assembly to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the hitch ball assembly. The stabilizer arm assembly may include one or more arms extending between the pivot axis and the off-road trailer and one or more piston damping assemblies extending between the arms and the off-road trailer. The piston damping assemblies may be configured to exert forces on the off-road trailer in response to the off-road trailer moving with respect to a towing vehicle to reduce further motion of the off-road trailer with respect to the towing vehicle.

A stabilization system for an off-road trailer may include a hitch ball assembly, a tower assembly, and a stabilizer arm assembly. The tower assembly may include a pivot mechanism that allows the stabilizer arm assembly to pivot about a pivot axis relative to the hitch ball assembly. The stabilizer arm assembly may include one or more arms extending between the pivot axis and the off-road trailer and one or more piston damping assemblies extending between the arms and the off-road trailer. The piston damping assemblies may be configured to exert forces on the off-road trailer in response to the off-road trailer moving with respect to a towing vehicle to reduce further motion of the off-road trailer with respect to the towing vehicle.

An improved articulated heavy haul trailer combination comprises a trailing accessory vehicle such as a booster coupled to a main trailer by a coupling. The coupling includes a horizontal hinge, a vertical hinge that allows the trailing accessory vehicle to yaw in a horizontal plane, a spreader extending between the hinges and a hydraulic piston and cylinder. A turn sensor mounted on said combination detects yawing, and a controller reduces the piston and cylinder's downward biasing force on the coupling.

A sway bar connectable between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle includes a telescoping framework with an outer body and a slide bar. The outer body and slide bar include one each of a trailer connector and a tow connector. The outer body has a plurality of air vents. An air inlet opening in the telescoping framework is connected to an airflow path extending along the outer body and through the air vents. A spring clamp compresses friction pads between the outer body and the slide bar. An adjustment bolt in connection with the spring clamp is used to adjust the friction coefficient. The design allows for ventilation of the towing bar during use, which reduces the buildup of heat within the system.

A system for estimating a hitch angle includes a control module with memory for storing programmatic control logic, a processor for executing the control logic, and one or more input/output (I/O) ports. Wheel speed sensors on a trailer communicate with the processor via the I/O ports. A trailering application defines a portion of the control logic and has at least first, and second control logics. The first control logic estimates the hitch angle from a first term, a second term and physical parameters of the vehicle and trailer. The second control logic provides the estimated hitch angle to one or more of a driver and to on-board control systems of the vehicle and trailer.

A system for estimating a hitch angle includes a control module with memory for storing programmatic control logic, a processor for executing the control logic, and one or more input/output (I/O) ports. Wheel speed sensors on a trailer communicate with the processor via the I/O ports. A trailering application defines a portion of the control logic and has at least first, and second control logics. The first control logic estimates the hitch angle from a first term, a second term and physical parameters of the vehicle and trailer. The second control logic provides the estimated hitch angle to one or more of a driver and to on-board control systems of the vehicle and trailer.

An offset hitch bale accumulator hitch for connecting a hay baler to a bale accumulator including a pitch axle based pitch movement assembly, a roll movement assembly using a long channel twisting joint, a yaw limiting movement assembly use double arm connections and an offset movement assembly including a beam in tube linear joint controlled by an extension actuator perpendicular the forward and backward towing forces.

A noise dampener that includes a dampener body; a hinged lever connected to the body and moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position; a plunger cooperatively engaged with the lever, the plunger having a dedicated hitch engagement surface; and a fastening means configured to fasten the lever and plunger to an exterior surface of the hitch. The lever is operable to move the plunger in a vertical up and down movement so that the hitch engagement surface presses against an exterior surface of attachment arm inserted into the hitch.