This invention relates to a chassis system for a vehicle comprising a frame configured to support a body of the vehicle. The frame comprises a pair of outer longitudinal members defining outer lateral sides of the chassis system. One or more suspension systems are connected between each of a plurality of wheel mounts and the frame, the wheel mounts configured such that the chassis system is supported on at least one pair of wheels. The outer longitudinal members are positioned on the outside of and adjacent to the wheels when the frame is in a ride position. The suspension systems are configured to selectively vary the height of the frame between the ride position and a raised position in which the outer longitudinal members are at a height above the top of the wheels.

A vehicle lowering system having a cargo surface with an adjacent pivoting arm is connected to a vehicle at a pivot point. The pivoting arm moves between a raised and a lowered position by an actuator that is affixed to a frame and the pivoting arm. The frame has an upper portion and a lower portion that provides structure for the portion of the frame that is beyond the pivot point and actuator. The pivot arm has a spindle that holds and allows a wheel to rotate. The spindle has an axis that is always located above the cargo surface. The actuator is movable between an extended position and a retracted position. When the actuator moves between the extended and retracted position, the pivoting arm moves the vehicle between a raised and a lowered position.

Provided are a transportation device for transporting heavy plate-shaped cargoes such as thick plate products, and a transportation system using the transportation device. The transportation device may include: a device body unit; a device moving unit provided on the device body unit to move the transportation device; and a cargo loading unit provided on the device body unit for self-loading cargo. The transportation device is capable of rapidly loading and transporting plate-shaped heavy objects such as thick plate products of an iron mill without using additional lifting/unloading apparatuses and heavy pallets (cassettes) for markedly decreasing the total transportation (distribution) time necessary for lifting, transportation, and unloading of cargo, providing efficient transportation environments, improving productivity, and decreasing costs.

A vehicle lowering system is provided having a movable arm that is connected to a vehicle through an upper link and a lower link. The upper and lower links pivot with respect to the vehicle on pivot points on one end and pivot with respect to the arm on pivot points at the opposite end. The spacing of the pivot points and the length of the upper and lower arm create an instant center, about which the movable arm pivots. An actuator is connected to the vehicle on one end and the movable part of the suspension on the opposite end. The actuator is movable between an extended and a retracted position. When the actuator moves between the extended and retracted position, the movable arm moves the vehicle between a raised and a lowered position.

A low speed transport and docking system for a watercraft comprising a wheeled frame for supporting the watercraft and configured for transport over a land surface by way of at least one pair of ground engaging wheels and for docking the watercraft in and out of a body of water. The axle rotatably securing the ground engaging wheels to the frame comprises angled terminal end lengths such that the wheels are offset from the center length of the axle so that a winch system and locking mechanism together are operably connected to the axle for rotating the axle to adjust the height between the wheels and the frame such that the wheels are engaged with the ground while the frame height can be raised or lowered for transport and/or docking of the watercraft such that the watercraft can be docked in the water or on land and transported to and from water with a single system.

A system and a method for securing an attachment to work vehicle with a chassis and a suspension are described. A mounting frame with a frame attachment point disposed on a support can be attached to a work vehicle. The suspension can be caused to lower the mounting frame relative to ground by lowering the chassis of the work vehicle. The work vehicle can be maneuvered to align the frame attachment point with a corresponding attachment point on the attachment. The suspension can then be caused to raise the mounting frame relative to ground by raising the chassis of the work vehicle. The frame attachment point can thereby engage the corresponding attachment point on the attachment, as the mounting frame is raised, in order to lift the attachment, with the attachment being thereby supported by the work vehicle solely via the mounting frame.

The vehicle height control system comprises: a controller configured to control a vehicle height; a back door open/close detector configured to detect opening and closing of a back door of a vehicle; and a user detector configured to detect a user outside the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured to: receive information from the back door open/close detector and the user detector, and control the vehicle height when the back door is opened and the user is in a vicinity of the vehicle.

Methods and apparatus to facilitate loading and/or unloading a vehicle are disclosed. An example apparatus includes interface circuitry, machine readable instructions, and programmable circuitry to at least one of instantiate or execute the machine readable instructions to cause a suspension system to raise a front of a vehicle to a raised position, and cause the suspension system to lower a rear of the vehicle to a lowered position, the front in the raised position and the rear in the lowered position to slant the vehicle to facilitate loading or unloading the vehicle, and prevent the vehicle from having a driving speed or acceleration that satisfies a threshold when the rear is in the lowered position and the front is in the raised position.

Implementations extend to a height adjustable single axle trailer. The trailer can be configured for efficient loading, transportation, and unloading of vehicles, such as side-by-side vehicles. In one implementation, the trailer's T-shape frame includes a longitudinal support with a latitudinal support (axle) affixed to the longitudinal support's rear end. The trailer further includes a hydraulic pump, a battery, and a remote control to operate the raising and lowering of the trailer. The trailer also features first and second suspension arms connected to the latitudinal support, each incorporating lower and upper housings, hydraulic rams, and springs housed within the lower and upper housings, thereby enabling flexible movement of the latitudinal support of the trailer. The hydraulic rams can be controlled to transition the latitudinal support between a lower loading position and an upper transport position.