System and method for monitoring a connection between a fifth wheel and a towed vehicle

1. A method of monitoring an attachment between a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle comprising:

determining that a first attachment element on the towed vehicle is not coupled to a second attachment element on the towing vehicle by evaluating, in an image processor, an image of the first and second attachment elements captured by a camera;

receiving an indication that the towing vehicle is moving; and

activating at least one of a towing vehicle brake system, a visual alert system, and an audible alert system.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining if a tailgate of the towing vehicle is in a closed position.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising opening the tailgate in response to a user input.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising overriding the towing vehicle brake system in response to a user input.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein evaluating the image of the first and second attachment elements includes detecting a presence of a gap between the first attachment element and the second attachment element.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein evaluating the image includes evaluating a digital image of the second attachment element.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein evaluating the image includes evaluating a digital image of a connection sensor coupled to one of the first and second attachment elements.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether there is sufficient light to evaluate the image; and

activating a bed light in the towing vehicle if there is insufficient light to evaluate the image.

9. A system for monitoring attachment of a towed vehicle to a towing vehicle, the system including a processor, and a non-volatile memory having stored thereon a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the system to:

determine that a first attachment element on the towed vehicle is not coupled to a second attachment element on the towing vehicle by evaluating, in an image processor, an image of the first and second attachment elements captured by a camera;

receive an indication that the towing vehicle is moving; and

activate at least one of a towing vehicle brake system, a visual alert system, and an audible alert system.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the system to determine if a tailgate of the towing vehicle is in a closed position.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the system to open the tailgate in response to a user input.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the system to override the towing vehicle brake system in response to a user input.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the system to detect a presence of a gap between the first attachment element and the second attachment element when evaluating the image of the first and second attachment elements.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the system to evaluate a digital image of the second attachment element when evaluating the image.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the system to evaluate a digital image of a connection sensor arranged at the second attachment element when evaluating the image.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions, when executed by the processor, causes the system to:

determine whether there is sufficient light to evaluate the image; and

activate a bed light in the towing vehicle if there is insufficient light to evaluate the image.