A guide surrounding a trailer hitch ball protects the bumper and the rear end of the vehicle from damage by the trailer hitch member during connection thereof, and comprises a plate secured under the trailer hitch ball and having vertically extending wall portions which join at the rear of the trailer hitch ball in an obtuse dihedral angle. The guide functions to guide the trailer hitch member into cooperating engagement with the trailer hitch ball carried on the vehicle without allowing the same to engage the bumper or rear end portion of the vehicle. The side walls of the guide are sufficiently high to protect the trailer hitch ball from engaging and locking with the bumper of a vehicle used to push the vehicle having the trailer hitch ball installed.
A guide, for guiding the towing tongue on a trailer onto the standard ball type hitch, which consists of vertical oriented plates attached to a horizontal plate which has an aperture that will receive the standard ball type hitch. The horizontal plate has an steel tube extension on it which will fit into the standard box receivers secured to a towing vehicle.
A self-aligning ball and socket type hitch including an elevated ramp member pivotally attached to an extension member which in turn is slidably engaged with the base of the hitch so that the ramp member and extension may be readily removed once the ball and socket are engaged. The ramp member includes a pair of converging sidewalls defining an adjustable width end opening therebetween and the rearward edge of the ramp member includes a slot for passage of the ball when the ramp member pivots out of position below the ball; and a support leg pivotally supported on the base member including a catch for supporting the rear edge of the ramp member in a canted position above the ball whereby engagement of the support leg with the trailer tongue and rotation of the support leg releases the ramp member for rotation about its pivoted connection with the extension member allowing it to drop to a horizontal position as the socket on the tongue engages the ball.
A slidably positionable trailer hitch guide apparatus is set forth wherein a trailer hitch guide is formed with a plurality of vertically oriented flanges formed with a connecting plate overlying a slot formed in each vertical flange wherein the slots are aligned with one another and the plate is formed with a "U" shaped recess for accepting a securement ball for use in cooperation with a connecting trailer socket. The vertical flanges each have secured thereto a directing flange formed at an obtuse angle relative to said vertical flange with an underlying connecting flange at an obtuse angle to said plate. A plurality of stabilizing webs are orthogonally and outwardly projectingly secured to each vertical flange for stabilizing the guide apparatus relative to an automotive type bumper having secured thereto the securement ball.
A trailer hitch for attachment to a vehicle bumper for providing releasable coupling with a trailer coupling member. The hitch includes a coupling ball partially surrounded by an enclosure extending above the top of the coupling ball. A safety bar is received in slots formed in the surrounding wall. The safety bar, when installed, overlies the coupled arrangement of a ball joint and trailer coupling member so as to prevent their unintended separation. Further, the walls surrounding the coupling ball are pivotally mounted to the vehicle bumper and include a spring which contacts either the vehicle or its bumper to orient the enclosing walls in a preferred direction.
A trailer swivel hitch guide for attachment on a bumper of a vehicle and received around a trailer hitch ball secured to the bumper. The guide used for guiding the tongue of a trailer so the tongue is centered over the top of the ball when securing the trailer to the vehicle. The guide can then be released so it swivels on the bumper when the trailer is pulled behind the vehicle.
