Patent ID: 7185907

Claim:
A remotely operable trailer hitch assembly for towing various types of boats between remote locations such that the boats can be loaded and unloaded from a water ramp without requiring a rear end of a towing vehicle to dip down into the water, said trailer hitch assembly comprising: a controller mounted within a vehicle cab and electrically coupled to an internal power supply source of the vehicle; a trailer hitch tongue section provided with an elongated chamber formed therein and operably connected to a rear portion of the vehicle, said tongue section having axially opposed end portions defining a ball-shaped socket and an opening respectively; an adaptable ram including a plurality of linearly displaceable support arms concentrically engaged within said chamber, said support arms being aligned along a horizontal path upwardly spaced from a ground surface; a trailer sized and shaped for receiving and supporting a boat thereon, said trailer being provided with a plurality of wheels and a front end portion attached to said ram such that said trailer can be towed between remote locations; an auxiliary anchor beam oriented along a vertical path traversing one said support arms wherein said anchor beam is provided with axially aligned end portions situated above and below said one support arm for assisting to maintain said ram at a substantially stable position during loading and unloading conditions; and means for telescopically adapting said support arms between extended and retracted positions such that a spatial distance between the vehicle and the boat can be selectively biased as desired by the operator; wherein said telescopic means comprises a combined hydraulic sump and pump electrically mated to said controller such that an operator can remotely operate said hydraulic sump and pump while seated within the vehicle cab, said hydraulic sump and pump housing and discharging a predetermined volume of fluid respectively, said hydraulic sump and pump including a flexible conduit having opposed end portions in fluid communication with said chamber and said sump wherein said plurality of arms are caused to extend linearly away from said trailer hitch tongue section when a selected volume of the fluid is introduced into said chamber; wherein said hydraulic sump and pump are mounted on top of said anchor beam and are readily accessible by the operator during loading and unloading procedures such that the operator can manually deactivate said hydraulic sump and pump as needed.