Front tow extended saddle
View Patent ↗A front tow extended saddle is disclosed. The saddle allows a first towing truck to mount a second truck, facing forward, behind the first truck, in order to tow the second truck to a distant location. The saddle allows the towed truck to face forward during transport, thus allowing for the normal loads and stresses of movement on the towed truck. This configuration is preferable to movement with the towed truck facing-rearward, in which the typical aerodynamic surfaces of a large truck act as a drag during transport, imposing high wind loads and unusual stresses. The front tow extended saddle is also designed to minimize the required vertical rise on the towed truck, which also avoids additional stresses during loading and unloading onto the towing truck.
1. A front tow extended saddle system, comprising:
A first towing truck having a saddle mount or fifth wheel; and
a front tow extended saddle mounted to said first towing truck and to a second towed truck, said saddle comprising:
a front portion for interfacing with said saddle mount or fifth wheel, the front portion comprising two first rails spaced apart an outer first distance between the two first rails;
a middle portion for adapting an elevation of said towed truck, the middle portion comprising two second rails spaced apart an inner second distance and an outer third distance between the two second rails; and
a rear portion adjustably mountable to an axle and a frame of the towed truck and supporting said towed truck, the rear portion comprising two third rails spaced apart a fourth inner distance between the two third rails,
wherein the front portion is joined at a first angle to the middle portion and the middle portion is joined to the rear portion at a second angle, the front portion is configured for mounting to a towing truck and the rear portion is configured for horizontally adjustable, rigid mounting to the towed truck, the front portion mounting configuration allowing for rotation of the front tow extended saddle with respect to the towing truck.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the front and rear portions are collapsibly joined to the middle portion.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the front and rear portions are collapsibly joined to the middle portion with a collar and locking pins.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the outer third distance of the middle portion is less than the fourth inner distance of the rear portion and the inner second distance of the middle portion is greater than the outer first distance of the front portion.
5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lower security assembly on each of the third rails of the rear portion, said lower security assemblies configured for rigid attachment to the towed truck with bolts.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lower security assembly on each of the third rails of the rear portion, and further comprising a lower frame clamp on at least one of the third rails of the rear portion, said lower frame clamp configured for offset mounting on a structural portion of the towed truck.
7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a lower security assembly on each of the third rails of the rear portion, and further comprising a lower frame clamp and a top frame clamp on one of the third rails of the rear portion, the lower frame clamp and the top frame clamp configured for rigid attachment to a frame of the towed vehicle.
8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one axle security assembly on each of the third rails of the rear portion, the axle security assemblies configured for rigid attachment to an axle of the towed truck.
9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an axle security assembly on one of the third rails of the rear portion, and further comprising an offset axle security assembly on the other of the third rails of the rear portion, the axle security assembly and the offset axle security assembly configured for horizontally adjustable, rigid attachment to an axle of the towed truck.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first distance is less than the second distance, the second distance is less than the third distance, and the third distance is less than the fourth distance.
11. A front tow extended saddle system, comprising:
A first towing truck having a saddle mount or fifth wheel; and
a front tow extended saddle mounted to said first towing truck and to a second towed truck, said saddle comprising:
a front portion for interfacing with said saddle mount or fifth wheel, the front portion comprising a first set of two joined rails spaced apart an outer first distance;
a middle portion for adapting an elevation of said towed truck, the middle portion comprising a second set of two joined rails spaced apart an inner second distance and an outer third distance; and
a rear portion comprising a third set of two joined rails spaced apart an inner fourth distance adjustably mountable to an axle and a frame of the towed truck and supporting said towed truck,
wherein the front portion is rotatably joined at a first angle to the middle portion and the middle portion is rotatably joined to the rear portion at a second angle, wherein the front portion is configured for mounting to said towing truck and the rear portion is configured for adjustable, rigid mounting to the towed truck, the front portion mounting allowing for rotation of the front tow extended saddle with respect to the towing truck, and wherein the first angle and the second angle may be the same or may be different.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the front and rear portions are collapsibly joined to the middle portion with a collar and at least one locking pin.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the third outer distance is less than the fourth inner distance or the second inner distance is less than the outer first distance of the front portion; or wherein the outer third distance of the middle portion is less than the inner fourth distance and the inner second distance is less than the first outer distance.
14. The system of claim 11 , further comprising at least one cross-member joining at least one of the front portion and the middle portion.
15. The system of claim 11 , further comprising fixed joining members connected to the first, second, and third sets of rails.
16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the front portion comprises a lower flange of an I-beam for interfacing with a saddle mount, or comprises a king pin for interfacing with a fifth-wheel assembly.
17. A method of preparing to tow a forward-facing towed truck with a towing truck, the method comprising:
furnishing a front tow extended saddle, the front tow extended saddle comprising a front portion of a first set of spaced apart rails for interfacing with a saddle mount or fifth wheel on the towing truck, a middle portion of a second set of spaced apart rails for adapting an elevation of the forward-facing towed truck, and a rear portion of a third set of spaced apart rails for adjustably mounting to an axle and a frame of the towed truck, wherein the front portion is joined at a first angle to the middle portion and the middle portion is joined to the rear portion at a second angle, and wherein the front portion is configured to allow rotation of the front tow extended saddle with respect to the towing truck and wherein the rear portion is configured for adjustable, rigid mounting to the forward-facing towed truck;
mounting the front portion to the towing truck with a mounting pin or with J-claws and a saddle clamp;
adjusting a horizontal position of at least two axle security assemblies;
fixedly mounting the rear portion to an axle of the towed truck using the at least two axle security assemblies;
adjusting a horizontal position of at least two lower security assemblies; and
fixedly mounting the rear portion to a body of the towed truck using the at least two lower security assemblies, wherein front wheels of the towed truck are optionally raised from a ground surface and wherein said rear portion supports said body.
18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising a step of towing the forward-facing towed truck using the front tow extended saddle.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the front wheels of the towed truck are raised about 8-12 inches above the ground surface.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of fixedly mounting the rear portion to an axle of the towed truck is accomplished with at least one offset axle clamp.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of fixedly mounting the rear portion to a body of the towed truck is accomplished with a lower frame clamp.
22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of fixedly mounting the rear portion to a body of the towed truck is accomplished with a top frame clamp, a lower frame clamp, and a lower security assembly.