Ford designs pivoting trailer hitch

Ford engineers have designed a trailer hitch that pivots out of the way when not in use.

Described in a patent application published July 26 by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and filed by Ford in 2021, the hitch receiver can move to be parallel to the rear bumper of the vehicle. It can accommodate a variety of accessories such as a ball hitch or bike rack, and is otherwise a standard receiver.

With the hitch pivoted out of the way, it no longer sticks out where it can become an obstruction to a person's feet when walking around the rear of the vehicle or rub on the ground if the vehicle is driven down a particularly steep incline, Ford notes in the application. It also eliminates the need to remove the ball hitch, making it a little more convenient for frequent towers.

The tubular receiver is attached to the vehicle frame via a lever arm that locks the receiver in place when stowed or deployed and a pin that allows it to rotate. This assembly could be driven by an electric motor mounted behind the rear bumper, Ford suggests in its application. This could be controlled from inside the vehicle, Ford noted.

However, given the importance of pickup trucks and SUVs to Ford's bottom line, this idea may have a better chance of making it into a production vehicle.

Meanwhile, Toyota is trying to patent a retractable and movable tow hook. Toyota seems to be focusing more on safety than convenience with this idea, noting in the patent document that a protruding, rigid-mounted tow hook could transfer impact forces to other parts of the vehicle in the event of a crash.