Adjustable and sliding ladder rack apparatus

1. A vehicle equipment rack, comprising:

a first cross member;

a second cross member;

a first roller coupled with an outboard end of said first cross member;

a second roller coupled with an outboard end of said second cross member;

a first arm in rolling engagement with said first roller;

a second arm in rolling engagement with said second roller;

a drive tube rotatably coupled with said first and second cross members;

a first pivot arm coupled with said drive tube, said first pivot arm rotatably coupled with said first arm;

a second pivot arm coupled with said drive tube, said second pivot arm rotatably coupled with said second arm;

said first arm comprising:

a base member in rolling engagement with said first roller;

said base member having an aperture disposed through a surface thereof;

a first linear actuator disposed in said base member, wherein a portion of said first linear actuator is disposed through said base member aperture;

a first bracket disposed on a surface of said base member;

said first bracket coupled with said first linear actuator;

a sliding member slideably coupled with said base member;

a second bracket coupled with said sliding member;

said second arm comprising:

a third bracket disposed on a surface of said second arm; and

a fourth bracket coupled with said second arm.

2. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 1 , said second arm further comprising:

an aperture disposed through a surface thereof;

a second linear actuator disposed in said second arm, wherein a portion of said second linear actuator is disposed through said second arm aperture; and

said third bracket coupled with said second linear actuator.

3. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 1 , said first linear actuator further comprising:

a lead screw at least partially disposed in said base member;

a nut portion coupled with said lead screw; wherein said nut portion comprises a flange disposed through said base member aperture.

4. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 3 , said first linear actuator further comprising:

a first knob coupled with said lead screw; wherein rotation of said knob rotates said lead screw.

5. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 1 , said first bracket further comprising:

a support portion coupled with said first linear actuator, wherein said support portion includes an aperture therethrough; and

a first ladder grip coupled with said support portion via fasteners disposed through said aperture, wherein a vertical position of said first ladder grip is adjustable relative to said base member.

6. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 1 , said first arm further comprising:

a portion coupled with said sliding arm, wherein said portion projects at least partially into an interior portion of said sliding member; and

a stop coupled with said base member.

7. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 1 , wherein:

said first pivot arm comprises a flange projecting at least partially transverse a plane defined by said first pivot arm; and

a stop is disposed on a surface of said first cross member, wherein said surface faces said second cross member.

8. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 1 , wherein:

said second pivot arm comprises a flange projecting at least partially transverse a plane defined by said second pivot arm; and

a stop is disposed on a surface of said second cross member, wherein said surface faces said first cross member.

9. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 1 , wherein:

said first bracket selectively engages a first surface of a first ladder rail;

said second bracket selectively engages a second surface of said first ladder rail;

said third bracket selectively engages said first surface of said first ladder rail; and

said fourth bracket selectively engages a first surface of a second ladder rail.

10. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 1 , said first arm comprising:

a latch assembly including:

a first handle coupled with said sliding member;

a second handle disposed adjacent said first handle;

a latch member coupled with said second handle, wherein at least a portion of said member is disposed within said sliding member;

said latch member comprising a portion selectively engaged with an aperture defined by said base member;

wherein said latch member is disposed on a pivot shaft coupled with said sliding member; and

a biasing member disposed between said latch member and a surface of said sliding member.

11. A vehicle equipment rack, comprising:

a first cross member;

a second cross member;

a first ladder support coupled with an end of said first cross member;

a second ladder support coupled with an end of said second cross member;

a first bracket coupled with said first cross member, wherein said first bracket is disposed inboard of said first ladder support;

a support shaft coupled with said first ladder support and said second ladder support;

a handle assembly rotatably coupled with said support shaft and said second cross member; and

a second bracket coupled with said handle. assembly , wherein rotation of said handle assembly rotates said second bracket.

12. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 11 , said first ladder support further comprising:

a first mounting portion coupled with said first cross member via fasteners disposed therethrough;

a second mounting portion coupled with said support shaft; and

a bracket portion having an angled portion extending in an outboard direction.

13. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 11 , said handle assembly further comprising:

a first shaft coupled with a rotating shaft via a joint;

said rotating shaft disposed through a guard coupled with said support shaft;

said rotating shaft further disposed through a support bracket coupled with said second cross member;

said second bracket coupled with said rotating shaft for rotation therewith.

14. The vehicle equipment rack according to claim 11 , further comprising:

a latch mechanism coupled with said support shaft, wherein said handle assembly is selectively secured by said latch mechanism.