Ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer

1. A ball mount for measuring tongue weight of a trailer, comprising:

a ball portion for interfacing with a ball configured to couple with a tongue of a trailer;

a hitch portion for interfacing with a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle; and

a load measurement device associated with the hitch portion,

wherein the hitch portion is configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about a fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion, wherein the fulcrum is defined by an interface between a bottom side of the hitch portion and the hitch receiver and

wherein the load measurement device is configured to determine a magnitude of the downward force on the ball based on the load on the hitch portion.

2. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the load measurement device comprises:

a reservoir having a fluid and a piston disposed therein, wherein the piston is configured to interface with the hitch receiver and affect a pressure of the fluid as a result of the downward force on the ball; and

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the reservoir.

3. The ball mount of claim 1 , further comprising a display configured to indicate the magnitude of the downward force.

4. The ball mount of claim 3 , wherein the display is associated with the ball portion.

5. The ball mount of claim 1 , further comprising a transmitter to communicate the magnitude of the downward force on the ball to a remote display.

6. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the load measurement device comprises a load cell.

7. The ball mount of claim 6 , wherein the load cell comprises a strain gage load cell, a mechanical load cell, a hydraulic load cell, a pneumatic load cell, or combinations thereof.

8. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the load measurement device comprises a strain gage disposed on an outer surface of the hitch portion.

9. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the load measurement device comprises an interface portion configured to interface with the hitch receiver.

10. The ball mount of claim 9 , wherein the interface portion is located at a top side of the hitch portion.

11. The ball mount of claim 9 , wherein the interface portion is located at a bottom side of the hitch portion.

12. The ball mount of claim 11 , wherein the interface portion is located at a proximal end of the hitch portion.

13. The ball mount of claim 1 , wherein the hitch portion comprises a fulcrum feature on the bottom side of the hitch portion configured to form the fulcrum.

14. A trailer hitch system for measuring tongue weight of a trailer, comprising:

a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle;

a trailer having a tongue for coupling the trailer to the vehicle; and

a ball mount having

a ball portion supporting a ball configured to couple with the tongue of the trailer,

a hitch portion for interfacing with the hitch receiver, said hitch portion comprising a fulcrum feature on a bottom side of the hitch portion configured to form a fulcrum by interfacing with the hitch receiver, and

a load measurement device associated with the hitch portion,

wherein the hitch portion is configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about the fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion, and

wherein the load measurement device is configured to determine a magnitude of the downward force on the ball based on the load on the hitch portion.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the load measurement device comprises:

a reservoir having a fluid and a piston disposed therein, wherein the piston is configured to interface with the hitch receiver and affect a pressure of the fluid as a result of the downward force on the ball; and

a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the reservoir.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the load measurement device comprises a strain gage load cell, a mechanical load cell, a hydraulic load cell, a pneumatic load cell, or combinations thereof.

17. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a display configured to indicate the magnitude of the downward force.

18. A method of measuring tongue weight of a trailer, comprising:

obtaining a hitch receiver associated with a vehicle;

obtaining a trailer having a tongue for coupling the trailer to the vehicle;

obtaining a ball mount having

a ball portion supporting a ball configured to couple with the tongue of the trailer,

a hitch portion for interfacing with the hitch receiver, said hitch portion comprising a fulcrum feature on a bottom side of the hitch portion configured to form a fulcrum by interfacing with the hitch receiver, and

a load measurement device associated with the hitch portion,

wherein the hitch portion is configured to pivot relative to the hitch receiver about the fulcrum in response to a downward force on the ball, the hitch receiver resisting rotation of the hitch portion about the fulcrum thereby inducing a load on the hitch portion, and

wherein the load measurement device is configured to determine a magnitude of the downward force on the ball based on the load on the hitch portion;

engaging the tongue of the trailer with the ball; and

observing the magnitude of the downward force on a display.