Apparatus and methods for aligning trailer hitch components

Apparatus for aligning a trailer hitch component on a towing vehicle having a length, with a hitch component of a trailer, said apparatus comprising:

• a mast having a bottom end and a top end, and a mast mounting portion having a socket coupled to said bottom end;
• a mast mount comprising an angularly adjustable post portion for engagement with said mast mounting portion, said angularly adjustable post portion pivotally adjustable in a first adjustment plane and a second adjustment plane, said first adjustment plane substantially orthonormal to said first adjustment plane;
• a visual guide coupled to said mast top end;
• and
• a target for aiming said mast visual guide, said target comprising a generally planar transparent surface hingedly coupled to a magnetic base member, said planar transparent surface pivotally adjustable along the first adjustment plane.

A method for aligning a trailer hitch component on a towing vehicle with a complementary trailer hitch component on a trailer, said method comprising the steps of:

• mounting an angularly adjustable mast mount for mounting a mast on one of the towing vehicle and the trailer, wherein the angularly adjustable mast mount includes a threaded post portion that is pivotally adjustable in a first, substantially vertical adjustment plane and a second substantially vertical adjustment plane, the first adjustment plane substantially orthonormal to the second adjustment plane;
• mounting an angularly adjustable target on the other of the towing vehicle and the trailer so that the target is visible to a driver of the towing vehicle, wherein the angularly adjustable target is pivotally adjustable in one of the first adjustment plane and the second adjustment plane;
• and
• pre-adjusting the threaded post portion of the mast mount in the first adjustment plane and the second adjustment plane, and the target in one of the first adjustment plane and the second adjustment plane, so that a visual guide on a mast coupled to the mast mount post portion contacts the target when the hitch component of the trailer and the hitch component of the towing vehicle are aligned.