Inventing with a hitch

J.T. Cox and Matt Bier met in seventh grade at Clark Intermediate School, became best buddies and graduated from Clovis High School in 1995. And they continued to nurture a dream.

There was to be a hitch in their friendship.

A real hitch.

An invention.

"We knew we wanted to start a shop, do metal fabrication, invent stuff," said Cox, who went on to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration from San Diego State University.

Cox, who now has a pool service business, paired his business savvy with Bier's technical expertise gained through experience in his current job as director of research and development at KW Automotive in Fresno. He also was an applications engineer knowledgeable about mechanical engineering software at CAD Graphics West Inc. and did metal fabrication with Harris Manufacturing.

The two invented and have a patent pending on what they call the Quiet Hitch. The idea was spawned in their growing-up days when they went on fishing and camping trips and became aware of the noise that can result from a hitch that is not tightly mounted.

"Some people can just turn the stereo up," Cox said.

That's not the solution Cox and Bier developed. Their hitch, priced at $89.95, can be easily adjusted one time with an Allen wrench.

"It takes all the slop and the noise out," Cox said.

Jeff Huth, general manager for Valley Rod and Gun, one of the first Quiet Hitch customers, called the device a great idea.

"If you get a rock-solid connection between your truck, the frame and trailer, the brake works better, you don't get the jarring and it's safer," Huth said. "There's not the additional wear."

The hitch may also find a market among those who haul horses or other animals in trailers and want to cut down stress on the animals.

The partners acknowledged the enterprise proved more challenging than they expected.

Though it tested their friendship, they said the experience didn't compromise it. Cox will be Bier's best man when he marries next month.

"When we started, we thought it was going to take $5,000 and six months to be in business," Cox said. "Four years and $70,000 later, we realize how naive we were."

It took time for engineering and refining the product, incorporating, writing a patent with help from the book "Patent It Yourself" through Nolo publishing, doing market research and manufacturing.

Fifteen of the hitches have been sold.

Others have been assembled by family and friends over burritos and pizza.

The partners are still looking for a distributor for their product and have been in touch with Noble Truck Accessories and Performance Products. Bier & Cox Inc. has a Web site: quiethitch.com.