Stabilizer assembly

A stabilizer assembly for a vehicle having a frame, comprising:

• bracket means secured to and extending laterally outward from said frame;
• a stabilizer arm having a fixed end nested within and pivoted to said bracket means about a stabilizer pivot and having a moving end extending therefrom for movement between a ground engaging support position and a generally upright transport position, the horizontal axis passing through said stabilizer pivot defining a stabilizer pivot axis;
• fluid ram means, connected to said bracket means and said moving end of said stabilizer arm, for moving said stabilizer arm between said support and said transport positions with a ram centerline extending through said connection of said fluid ram means to said moving end;
• and
• connecting means, nested within said bracket means, for eccentrically connecting said fluid ram means to said bracket means, said connecting means being rigidly attached to said fluid ram means and pivotally joined to said bracket means about a ram pivot axis spaced from said stabilizer pivot axis,
• said connecting means including a pair of spaced circular journals rotatably supported by said bracket means for rotation about said ram pivot axis, and a ram support portion connected with and extending between said journals and radially offset from said ram pivot axis, said ram support portion being rigidly attached to said fluid ram means for supporting said fluid ram means for eccentric pivoting about said ram pivot axis, said journals and said ram support portion forming a generally U-shaped member,
• whereby the moving end of said stabilizer arm is drawn closer to said frame and maintained more upright when it is in the transport position and the moment arm produced by said fluid ram means in rotating said stabilizer arm to the support position is greater relative to a stabilizer assembly whose ram pivot axis is not offset from the ram centerline, and said stabilizer arm and portions of said journals are in overlapping relation when said stabilizer arm is in said transport position.