Integrated support structure for either a fifth wheel hitch or a gooseneck trailer hitch
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorSean Withers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An integrated support structure apparatus is provided for attaching either a fifth wheel trailer hitch or a gooseneck trailer hitch to a truck bed. The integrated support structure comprises an H-shaped body that is attached to at least one truck frame rail below the truck bed. A gooseneck ball receiver is attached to a central portion of the body and aligned with a gooseneck opening in the truck bed. A plurality of mounting pads are formed integrally as part of a plurality of end inserts that are assembled to the body.
Claims15
An apparatus for attaching either a fifth wheel trailer hitch or a gooseneck trailer hitch to a truck bed comprising:
- a body having a central portion and a plurality of tubular end portions;
- a plurality of end inserts that are each received in one of the tubular end portions and are attached to at least one truck frame rail below the truck bed;
- a gooseneck ball receiver attached to a central portion of the body and aligned with a gooseneck opening in the truck bed, wherein a gooseneck ball is selectively attached to the gooseneck ball receiver;
- a plurality of mounting pads integrally formed as part of the end inserts that are aligned with a corresponding plurality of pedestal access openings in the truck bed;
- a fifth wheel receiver pedestal that is assembled to the mounting pads;
- and
- wherein one of the trailer hitches may be selectively attached to the truck bed, either the gooseneck trailer hitch may be attached to the gooseneck ball or the fifth wheel trailer hitch may be attached to the fifth wheel receiver pedestal.
An integrated support structure for hitching a trailer to a truck bed comprising:
- a body disposed below the truck bed;
- a plurality of end inserts that are attached to the body, wherein each end insert has a mounting pad integrally formed as part of the end insert;
- a fifth wheel trailer pedestal that is selectively secured to the mounting pads;
- a gooseneck trailer hitch that is selectively secured to a gooseneck ball receiver that is attached to the body;
- and
- wherein the trailer is hitched to either the gooseneck trailer hitch or the fifth wheel trailer pedestal.
A method of making an integrated support structure for alternatively attaching a fifth wheel trailer hitch or a gooseneck trailer hitch to a truck bed of a truck, the method comprising:
- providing a body having a plurality of open tubular ends;
- casting a plurality of end inserts that include integrally cast mounting pads;
- assembling the end inserts into the open tubular ends of the body;
- assembling a gooseneck ball receiver to the body;
- and
- assembling the body including the end inserts and the gooseneck ball receiver to a frame of the truck below the truck bed and aligning a gooseneck access opening with the gooseneck ball receiver and aligning mounting pad access openings with the mounting pads;
- and
- selectively attaching a fifth wheel pedestal to the truck bed by securing the fifth wheel pedestal to the mounting pads or attaching a gooseneck ball to the truck bed by securing the gooseneck ball to the gooseneck ball receiver.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.