Trailer jacking device

In combination with a trailer, an improved trailer jacking device comprising a trailer tongue frame mounted at one end of said trailer and having a female hitch member provided at one end thereof, a rigid elongated adjustable strut having a wheel which may be locked in rigid position with respect to said strut at one end disposed on the ground and the other end of said strut mounted medially of said frame so that said strut may pivot along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said trailer, and means for holding said strut in substantially vertical position with respect to said frame so that when said strut is pivoted into vertical position, said female hitch member will be raised a preselected distance above a complementary male hitch member annexed to a towing vehicle.

A method of adjusting the height of a trailer with respect to a towing vehicle, comprising the steps of providing a towing vehicle with a first hitch member and the trailer with a trailer tongue frame having a second hitch member and additionally having a strut, one end of which is pivotally mounted medially of said frame and the other end of which includes a wheel lockable with respect to the strut and which is disposed on the ground to generally allow movement of the trailer over the ground, locking the wheel to prevent such movement, and driving said towing vehicle against or pulling said frame to pivot said strut into a substantially vertical or collapsed position, thereby raising or lowering said second hitch member with respect to said first hitch member.

A method for coupling and uncoupling a trailer having a first hitch member from a towing vehicle having a complementary second hitch member and including a strut pivotable with respect to the trailer in a plane parallel to the horizontal direction and provided with a lockable wheel at one end thereof, the method comprising the steps of locking the wheel, moving the vehicle in a first, generally horizontal direction, imparting the vehicle movement to the trailer to move the trailer in the same horizontal direction, and engaging the wheel at said one end of the strut with the ground while moving the trailer in the horizontal direction to thereby pivot the strut and raise or lower the first member.

A method for coupling and uncoupling a trailer to a towing vehicle, the towing vehicle having a first hitch member adjacent to aft end, the trailer having a complementary second hitch member at its forward end mounted to a trailer tongue frame disposed above ground, and a strut pivotal in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the trailer, a lower end of the strut including a wheel engaging the ground to allow for movement of the trailer over the ground and maintaining the frame sufficiently spaced from the ground so that the second hitch member is above the first hitch member, the method comprising the steps of driving the vehicle towards the trailer in an aft direction, centering the coupling members with respect to each other, locking the wheel to prevent rotation thereof, thereafter moving the trailer with the vehicle in the aft direction to lower the frame and engage the hitch members, raising the wheel at the strut end above ground, and thereafter separating the coupled vehicle and trailer by lowering the wheel at the strut end and engaging it with the ground while the trailer remains coupled to the vehicle, and driving the vehicle in a forward direction away from the trailer to thereby pivot the strut, raise the frame with respect to the ground, and release the hitch members.

In combination with a trailer, an improved trailer jacking device comprising a trailer tongue frame mounted at one end of said trailer and having a female hitch member provided at one end thereof, a rigid housing mounted on said frame having a pair of opposing sidewalls, a rigid elongated adjustable strut having one end disposed on the ground and its other end mounted medially of said frame so that said strut may pivot along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said trailer, a shaft journaled through the sidewalls so that one end of said strut may be pivotally mounted on said shaft within such walls, one end of said strut being provided with a plurality of apertures which may alternately receive said shaft so that the height of said frame may be adjusted with respect to such ground, and means for holding said strut in substantially vertical position with respect to said frame so that when said strut is pivoted into vertical position, said female hitch member will be raised a preselected distance above a complemntary male hitch member annexed to a towing vehicle.