Patent ID: 8075013

Claim:
An apparatus for connecting to a fifth wheel mounted on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising: an elongated beam with a forward portion, middle portion, and rearward portion, the beam being arrangeable in parallel with a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, wherein the beam comprises a first side surface and a second side surface parallel to the first side surface; a kingpin connected to the middle portion of the beam and adapted to engage the fifth wheel; a mounting pin with a first end and a second end, the mounting pin connected to the rearward portion of the beam and being substantially perpendicular to the elongated beam; a first strut brace with a first end and a second end; a first collar connected to the first end of the first strut brace, wherein the first end of the mounting pin is positioned within the first collar allowing the first collar and the first strut brace to rotate about the mounting pin; a second strut brace with a first end and a second end; a second collar connected to the first end of the second strut brace, wherein the second end of the mounting pin is positioned within the second collar allowing the second collar and the second strut brace to rotate about the mounting pin; a first leveling assembly connected to the second end of the first strut brace; and a second leveling assembly connected to the second end of the second strut brace, wherein the first leveling assembly and the second leveling assembly are adapted to connect to a frame of the vehicle and are adapted to change the vertical position of the rearward portion of the beam.