Trailer caried weight distribution hitch

A separable hitch connection for use between a towing vehicle shank and a hitch ball for a towed vehicle tongue, comprising:

• a horn which can be fixed relative to the towing vehicle shank so as to provide a seat with a rest recess accessible from above;
• a head which can be fixed relative to the hitch ball, the head comprising a downwardly projecting hook portion sized to mate into the rest recess so as to support at least part of weight of the head as well at least part of tongue weight of the towed vehicle tongue from the seat, the head defining a head hitch pin opening spaced from the hook portion, the mating interaction between the hook portion and the rest recess allowing the horn hitch pin opening to be aligned relative to the head hitch pin opening to allow insertion of a hitch pin into the aligned horn hitch pin opening and head hitch pin opening;
• and
• a hitch pin sized for mating insertion into the aligned horn hitch pin opening and head hitch pin opening during lowering of the tongue.

A separable hitch connection for use between a towing vehicle shank and a hitch ball for a towed vehicle tongue, comprising:

• a horn which can be fixed relative to the towing vehicle shank so as to provide a seat with a rest recess accessible from above;
• a head which can be fixed relative to the hitch ball, the head comprising a downwardly projecting hook portion sized to mate into the rest recess so as to support at least part of weight of the head as well at least part of tongue weight of the towed vehicle tongue from the seat, the head defining a head hitch pin opening spaced from the hook portion, the mating interaction between the hook portion and the rest recess allowing the horn hitch pin opening to be aligned relative to the head hitch pin opening to allow insertion of a hitch pin into the aligned horn hitch pin opening and head hitch pin opening, wherein the head further comprises openings to receive and support weight distribution spring bars;
• a hitch pin sized for mating insertion into the aligned horn hitch pin opening and head hitch pin opening during lowering of the tongue;
• weight distribution spring bars each having a proximal end in a pivoting connection with the head, and
• attachment structure securable to the towed vehicle tongue, the attachment structure having a loosened configuration and a tightened configuration, the attachment structure in the tightened configuration being able to vertically bias distal ends of the weight distribution spring bars such that the weight distribution spring bars transfer a weight distribution load and moment between the towing vehicle tongue and the towed vehicle shank about the hitch ball.

A method of hitching a towed vehicle having a trailer coupler on a tongue behind a towing vehicle using a separable weight distribution hitch, the method comprising:

• inserting a shank into a receiver tube of a towing vehicle so as to support a horn, the horn having a seat defining a rest recess accessible from above, the horn defining a horn hitch pin opening spaced from the rest recess;
• coupling a trailer coupler to a hitch ball on a head, the head comprising a downwardly projecting hook portion sized to mate into the rest recess, the head defining a head hitch pin opening spaced from the hook portion, the head having pivotally connected weight distribution spring bars transmitting a weight distribution force to a tongue behind the hitch ball;
• aligning the towing vehicle and the towed vehicle such that the downwardly projecting hook portion is over the rest recess;
• lowering the tongue of the towed vehicle so the downwardly projecting hook portion mates into the rest recess and so the horn hitch pin opening is aligned relative to the head hitch pin opening;
• and
• inserting a hitch pin into the aligned horn hitch pin opening and head hitch pin opening.