Tiltable hauling device
The present invention relates to a light-weight tiltable hauling device for transporting smaller, auxiliary vehicles, where such device mounts to the hitch of an automobile, truck, van, SUV, RV, or other similar motor vehicles, the device can be mounted and removed by a single individual, the auxiliary vehicle can be easily loaded and unloaded by a single individual, and the device can transport auxiliary vehicles weighing up to 700 pounds.
1. A tiltable hauling device 100 for transporting a two-wheel, auxiliary vehicle, comprising:
a carrying rack 101 with a top 102 , bottom 103 , front 104 , rear 105 , left end 106 and right end 107 ;
wherein the width of the carrying rack 101 from the front 104 to the rear 105 is sufficient to accommodate a two-wheel auxiliary vehicle;
the top 102 of said carrying rack 101 comprises a generally planar platform 109 of solid, light-weight material;
a rail 111 extending above the platform 109 and along one of the left end 106 or right end 107 of the carrying rack 101 and along the front 104 and rear 105 of the carrying rack 101 ;
wherein said rail 111 forms an opening 118 at one of the left end 106 or right end 107 of the carrying rack 101 for loading and unloading said auxiliary vehicle;
an outrigger 112 that comprises a main frame 113 and a level control arm 114 ;
wherein the main frame 113 extends below the bottom 103 of the carrying rack 101 and in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the front 104 and rear 105 of the carrying rack 101 ; and
wherein the main frame 113 is connected to the bottom 103 of the carrying rack 101 by at least one hinge 120 located near the center line between the left end 106 and right end 107 of the carrying rack 101 , allowing the carrying rack 101 to pivot at the hinge 120 so that the opening 118 will tilt downward into a loading position;
wherein the level control arm 114 extends perpendicular from the main frame 113 to the end opposite the opening 118 , and extends below the bottom 103 of the carrying rack 101 allowing the bottom 103 of the carrying rack 101 to rest upon the level control arm 114 when in a transport position;
means for locking 119 the carrying rack 101 to the level control arm 114 when the carrying rack 101 is in the transport position;
a hitch bar for mounting the hauling device 100 onto a transporting vehicle;
a loading deck 116 located below the carrying rack 101 and above the outrigger 112 ;
wherein the loading deck 116 slides into a channel 127 located along the bottom 103 of the carrying rack 101 ; and
wherein the loading deck 116 slides outward from the opening 118 to extend the platform 109 during loading and unloading of an auxiliary vehicle;
means 117 for locking the loading deck 116 in a retracted position for transporting a vehicle;
a tie-down bar 132 located at the left end 107 of the carrying rack 101 and used to tie-down the auxiliary vehicle during transport;
a wheel chock 133 attached to the carrying rack 101 between the rail 111 at the front 104 and rear 105 ;
wherein the chock 133 is attached in a manner that allows it to pivot toward or away from the opening 118 ;
means 134 for locking the chock 133 in position behind the front wheel of the auxiliary vehicle and rotated away from said opening 118 to prevent the auxiliary vehicle from rolling toward the opening 118 ;
a wheel hoop 135 located at the left end 106 of the carrying rack 101 ;
wherein said wheel hoop 135 is attached to the rail 111 in a manner that allows the wheel hoop 135 to slide along the rail 111 toward and away from the opening 118 .
2. A tiltable hauling device 100 for transporting an auxiliary vehicle as described in claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is generally made from aluminum.
3. A tiltable hauling device 100 for transporting an auxiliary vehicle as described in claim 1 , wherein platform 109 and the rail 111 are formed from a single piece of extruded aluminum.
4. A tiltable hauling device 100 for transporting an auxiliary vehicle as described in claim 1 , wherein the hauling device 100 weighs less than 75 pounds and can transport an auxiliary vehicle weighing up to 600 pounds.