The technology relates to autonomous vehicles having hitched or towed trailers for transporting cargo and other items between locations. Aspects of the technology provide a smart hitch connection between the fifth-wheel of a tractor unit and the kingpin of a trailer. This avoids requiring a person to make physical pneumatic and electrical connections between the fifth-wheel and kingpin using external hoses and cables. Instead, the necessary connections are made internally, autonomously. For instance, the fifth-wheel may provide air pressure via one or more slots arranged on a connection surface, and the trailer is configured to receive the air pressure through one or more openings on a contact surface of the kingpin. An electrical connection section of the fifth-wheel may also provide electrical signals and/or power to an electrical contact interface of the kingpin. Rotational information about relative alignment of the trailer to the tractor unit may also be provided.

A fifth wheel hitch assembly for mounting to a towing vehicle and receiving a kingpin of a trailer incorporating a comfort assembly is provided. The fifth wheel hitch assembly may comprise a kingpin receiving assembly attached to a mounting rail via a comfort assembly. The comfort assembly may include one or more pivot bushing assemblies, as well as vertically adjustable, anti-rattle attachment systems. These attachment systems may include a cam assembly and/or a T-pin assembly.

A fifth wheel coupling with a camera, including a coupling plate and a bearing element, with which the coupling plate can be secured to a towing vehicle, wherein the coupling plate has a centrally arranged locking region for receiving a king pin, as well as an insertion opening running along a longitudinal axis (x) and bordered on both sides by two insertion flanges. The camera is mounted in a position in the region of the fifth wheel coupling with the lowest possible risk of soiling and damage, with the camera being secured to the bearing element.

A fifth wheel hitch may include at least one support frame capable of engaging with a towing vehicle. The fifth wheel hitch may further include a cross-member attached to the support frame and an isolation system operatively coupled with the cross-member. The isolation system may include a beam engaged with the cross-member about a first axis, where rotation of the beam about the first axis is dampened via a cross-member isolator. The isolation system may also include a skid plate engaged with the beam about a second axis, where rotation of the skid plate about the second axis is dampened via a wing isolator.

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 vehicle suspension position adjustment arrangement including a frame member having a plurality of apertures, and a trailing arm having a first end pivotally coupled to a slide member and a second end biased away from the frame member. A locking pin movable between an unlocked position where the locking pin is withdrawn from one of the apertures and the slide member is free to slide along the frame member, and a locked position where the locking pin engages one of the apertures preventing the slide member from sliding along the frame member, and a plurality of sensors spaced along the frame member, wherein a single sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to sense both the locking condition of the locking pin and the location of the locking pin along the frame member.

A fifth wheel coupling including a coupling plate and a camera, wherein the coupling plate is supported on a towing vehicle by bearing elements, a centrally arranged locking region for receiving a king pin, a support surface at least partially laterally surrounding the locking region for supporting a trailer, as well as an insertion opening running radially from the locking region, which is bordered in a conically widened section on both sides by insertion flanges. The camera is mounted in a position in the region of the fifth wheel coupling with the lowest possible risk of soiling and damage, with the camera being arranged on one of the insertion flanges.

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 coupling system for a towing vehicle that includes at least one sensor, and a fifth wheel arrangement that includes a fifth wheel plate and at least one bearing block, wherein the fifth wheel plate has a trailer surface and an entry opening, wherein the trailer surface has an outwardly pointing normal, wherein the entry opening extends in an entry direction, wherein the fifth wheel plate is pivotably beard about a transverse axis relative to the bearing block, wherein the bearing block has a contact surface, wherein the contact surface lies in a contact plane, wherein the sensor indirectly and/or directly detects a pitch angle about the transverse axis contactlessly, and wherein the sensor is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the fifth wheel plate.