Equalizer bar pad construction

In a vehicle (10) having a frame (11) and an equalizer bar (12) movably mounted to the frame for carrying the ground-engaging tractive means of the vehicle, said equalizer bar defining a top and a bottom, a pair of preloaded energy-absorbing pad assemblies, each comprising:

• a baseplate (118) having a top portion (22,122) at the top of the equalizer bar and a securing portion (23) depending from said top portion (22) at least approximately one-half the height of the equalizer bar (12);
• securing means (26) securing said securing portion (23) to the equalizer bar at a midportion thereof approximately midway between the top and bottom of the equalizer bar;
• a resiliently compressible pad (19,119) carried on said baseplate;
• a cover plate (20,120) overlying said pad to engage said frame and having a connecting portion (28,128);
• and
• a removable clamp (21,121) having a first portion (31,131) removably secured to said connecting portion of the cover plate, and a second portion (32,132) releasably locked to said equalizer bar as an incident of a clamping force being developed in said clamp to compressively preload said pad between said cover plate and baseplate top portion (22), release of said clamp permitting said pad to urge said cover plate forcibly against said frame or provide a preselected resistance to movement of said equalizer bar toward said frame during operation of the vehicle.