Trailer Tow Ski System Weight Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicles, especially compact SUVs, ATVs, and UTVs, struggle to tow larger and heavier fish house trailers due to suspension limitations, as they cannot support the tongue weight of the trailer hitch, leading to difficulties in traversing snowy or icy surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A trailer tow ski system comprising a ski member with a front lip, support member, tongue member, main coupler, front and rear support structures, and a hitch ball that supports the trailer hitch weight, allowing vehicles with varying suspensions to tow trailers of up to 5,000 pounds by distributing the weight and providing traction on snow or ice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a compact SUV, ATV, or UTV is used to tow a heavy fish house trailer, then the vehicle size and suspension capability are reduced, but the vehicle cannot support the tongue weight of the trailer hitch
Solution Approach 1:
The tow ski acts as an intermediary device between the trailer hitch and the ground. It transfers the tongue weight load from the vehicle suspension to the ground through the ski's contact with the surface, enabling compact vehicles to tow heavy trailers that would otherwise exceed their suspension capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a new dimension of support by using a ground-contacting ski instead of relying solely on vertical suspension support. This distributes the load across a different spatial dimension (ground contact) rather than concentrating it on the vehicle's suspension system
2Productivity
If the trailer hitch weight is supported by the vehicle suspension, then the towing capability is limited, but the suspension cannot handle the tongue weight of larger trailers
Solution Approach 1:
The tow ski serves as a mediator that intercepts the tongue weight force from the trailer hitch and redirects it to the ground. This allows the vehicle suspension to focus on handling dynamic towing forces rather than bearing the static tongue weight, significantly expanding towing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The ski provides a counterbalancing support force against the tongue weight by contacting the ground. This external support counteracts the downward force on the hitch, effectively reducing the net load on the vehicle suspension and enabling heavier towing capacity
3Strength
If a larger motorized vehicle is used to support the tongue weight, then the suspension capability is improved, but the traction on snow or ice is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tow ski acts as an intermediary traction device that provides ground contact specifically for weight support. By separating the weight-bearing function (handled by the ski) from the propulsion function (handled by the vehicle wheels), the system maintains good traction on snow and ice while supporting heavy tongue weights
Data Source
AI summary
A trailer tow ski system for assisting in supporting the tongue weight of a trailer hitch during pulling of the trailer. The trailer tow ski system generally includes a ski member having a front lip extending upwardly, a support member extending upwardly from the ski member, a tongue member extending forwardly from the support member, a main coupler attached to the tongue member for removably connected to a ball of a vehicle hitch, a front support structure attached to a front portion of the ski member and to an upper portion of the support member, a rear support structure attached to a rear portion of the ski member and to the upper portion of the support member, and a hitch ball attached to the upper end of the support member. The hitch ball is removably coupled to a coupler of the trailer hitch to support the weight thereof.