A motorized vehicle having a chassis, a front portion disposed at a first end of the chassis, and a rear portion disposed at a second end of the chassis. The front portion is configured to be selectively moved relative to at least one of the rear portion and the chassis between a front closed position and a front opened position, and the rear portion is configured to be selectively moved relative to at least one of the front portion and the chassis between a rear closed position and a rear opened position.

A motorized vehicle having a chassis, a front portion disposed at a first end of the chassis, and a rear portion disposed at a second end of the chassis. The front portion is configured to be selectively moved relative to at least one of the rear portion and the chassis between a front closed position and a front opened position, and the rear portion is configured to be selectively moved relative to at least one of the front portion and the chassis between a rear closed position and a rear opened position.

An extendable trailer including a nose end for selectively securing the extendable trailer to a vehicle wherein the nose end includes an extendable frame portion. The extendable trailer also includes a tail end having a primary frame to support objects to be transported on the extendable trailer and a central tube member supported by the primary frame. The central tube member includes an inside portion. The extendable trailer further includes a telescopic tube member of the nose end that slidably engages the central tube member. The extendable trailer also includes a centralizer disposed on an insertion end of the telescopic tube member that engages with the inside portion of the central tube member to help centrally position the telescopic tube member in the central tube member when the telescopic tube member is extended into and out of the central tube member. A method of transporting objects using the extendable trailer. The method includes determining a desired length of the extendable trailer and positioning the telescopic tube member relative to the central tube member to achieve the desired length. The method also includes transporting objects on the extendable trailer.

An extendable trailer including a nose end for selectively securing the extendable trailer to a vehicle wherein the nose end includes an extendable frame portion. The extendable trailer also includes a tail end having a primary frame to support objects to be transported on the extendable trailer and a central tube member supported by the primary frame. The central tube member includes an inside portion. The extendable trailer further includes a telescopic tube member of the nose end that slidably engages the central tube member. The extendable trailer also includes a centralizer disposed on an insertion end of the telescopic tube member that engages with the inside portion of the central tube member to help centrally position the telescopic tube member in the central tube member when the telescopic tube member is extended into and out of the central tube member. A method of transporting objects using the extendable trailer. The method includes determining a desired length of the extendable trailer and positioning the telescopic tube member relative to the central tube member to achieve the desired length. The method also includes transporting objects on the extendable trailer.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for scalable vehicle platforms. An example vehicle chassis disclosed herein includes a right front chassis portion including a first longitudinal member, and a first crossmember attachment locator disposed on the first longitudinal member. The example vehicle chassis includes a left front chassis portion including a second longitudinal member and a second crossmember attachment locator disposed on the second longitudinal member, wherein the vehicle chassis has a first width when a first crossmember is coupled to the first and second crossmember attachment locators and wherein the vehicle chassis has a second width greater than the first width when a second crossmember is coupled to the first and second crossmember attachment locators, the second crossmember longer than the first crossmember.

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for scalable vehicle platforms. An example vehicle chassis disclosed herein includes a right front chassis portion including a first longitudinal member, and a first crossmember attachment locator disposed on the first longitudinal member. The example vehicle chassis includes a left front chassis portion including a second longitudinal member and a second crossmember attachment locator disposed on the second longitudinal member, wherein the vehicle chassis has a first width when a first crossmember is coupled to the first and second crossmember attachment locators and wherein the vehicle chassis has a second width greater than the first width when a second crossmember is coupled to the first and second crossmember attachment locators, the second crossmember longer than the first crossmember.

A self-powered dolly vehicle unit with an adaptable wheelbase, the dolly vehicle unit comprising a front axle arranged to support a pair of steerable front wheels, a rear axle arranged to support a pair of rear wheels, a fifth wheel connection for towing a trailer vehicle, a draw-bar attachment mechanism , arranged to hold a draw-bar, and a frame structure arranged to support the front axle and the rear axle at a variable wheelbase distance from each other, wherein the frame structure is arranged to be locked at a first wheelbase distance position and at a second wheelbase distance position.

A self-powered dolly vehicle unit with an adaptable wheelbase, the dolly vehicle unit comprising a front axle arranged to support a pair of steerable front wheels, a rear axle arranged to support a pair of rear wheels, a fifth wheel connection for towing a trailer vehicle, a draw-bar attachment mechanism , arranged to hold a draw-bar, and a frame structure arranged to support the front axle and the rear axle at a variable wheelbase distance from each other, wherein the frame structure is arranged to be locked at a first wheelbase distance position and at a second wheelbase distance position.

A link mechanism is provided between a first member and a second member to effect a bending/stretching motion in operative association with a telescopic expanding/contracting motion of the first member and the second member. A supporting mechanism is provided to support, to the link mechanism, a wire having flexibility and connected between a first device on the side of the first member and a second device on the side of the second member. The supporting mechanism fixes the wire to each link member of the link mechanism in position so that the wire is deformed while maintaining its state following a shape of the link mechanism in operative association with the bending/stretching motion of the link mechanism.

A link mechanism is provided between a first member and a second member to effect a bending/stretching motion in operative association with a telescopic expanding/contracting motion of the first member and the second member. A supporting mechanism is provided to support, to the link mechanism, a wire having flexibility and connected between a first device on the side of the first member and a second device on the side of the second member. The supporting mechanism fixes the wire to each link member of the link mechanism in position so that the wire is deformed while maintaining its state following a shape of the link mechanism in operative association with the bending/stretching motion of the link mechanism.