A method for driving a tractor on a flatbed trailer. The method includes locating a starting position of the tractor, determining a final position for the tractor, and searching for a ramp attached to the flatbed trailer. A driving path is calculated to drive the tractor from the starting position, along the ramp, and to the final position. The tractor is autonomously operated to drive along the driving path. The method may periodically detect an intermediate position of the tractor and determining if the intermediate position is located on the driving path. The driving path may be updated with a course correction to drive the tractor from the intermediate position to the final position. The tractor is stopped after arriving at the final position.

A roofing material bundle transport trailer includes a steering assembly and a pair of transport wheels movably supporting a frame upon a support surface. An inner end of a brake pedal grips one of a plurality of frame rollers rotatably mounted to the frame spaced from each other along a longitudinal axis. The brake pedal can be moved by pivoting a handle relative to the frame for sliding a locking pin extending through the brake pedal. A ramp is pivotably mounted to the frame between an unloading position extending to the support surface and an upright position extending away from the support surface and being removably held by a pair of locking plates pivotably mounted to the frame. Rollers are rotatably mounted to the ramp and aligned with the frame rollers.

An embodiment vehicle door opening structure includes a first door unit positioned at a side of a vehicle and including a first door, a second door unit including a second door positioned adjacent to the first door, a locking device configured to selectively lock the first door unit and the second door unit together, and a controller configured to fix the locking device so that the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened together or to release the locking device so that the first door unit and the second door unit are configured to be opened independently.

Methods and systems for stowing and extending a stowable access ramp mounted to a wheelchair accessible vehicle are disclosed. One such system includes a stowable ramp extendable between a stacked position and an extended position. The ramp includes an upper panel for forming an upper part of the ramp, a mid panel for forming a middle part of the ramp, and a lower panel for forming a lower portion of the ramp. The mid panel is hingedly coupled to the upper panel for pivoting the mid panel into ramp alignment with the upper panel during extension of the ramp and the lower ramp is hingedly coupled to the mid panel for pivoting the lower panel into ramp alignment with the mid panel during extension of the ramp. The upper panel, mid panel, and lower panel stack atop each other for stowing in the stacked position.

A loading ramp for a tailgate is stored and transported on the inside wall of the tailgate. The loading ramp includes a base section pivotally connected to an inner wall of the tailgate. A ramp section is connected to the base section by a hinge and is movable between a loading position extending from a distal edge of the tailgate to a ground surface and a transport position folded against the base section in a transverse/vertical plane. An alternative loading ramp includes a top section, a top hinge connecting the top section to a distal edge of the tailgate, a bottom section, and an intermediate hinge connecting the bottom section to the top section. The top section and the bottom section are stored with the top section and bottom section parallel to each other and to the tailgate.

An aerodynamic trailer including first and second side panels, the side panels each having a trapezoidal channel running along a substantial length thereof; an arcuate front panel extending substantially between front edges of the side panels; a top positioned above the front panel and the side panels, the top having a rearwardly sloping front section and two oppositely positioned outer fins running along outward portions thereof and a center fin running along a center thereof; a door positioned at rear edges of the side panels and the top; and at least one axle supporting at least two wheels. Other features of the trailer create aerodynamic benefits.

A motor vehicle for independent use by an individual in a wheelchair, comprising an open air vehicle body including a floor further comprising a front, a rear, and lateral sides, said floor sized and shaped to receive and retain a wheelchair; a motor; at least one front and at least one rear wheel supporting said vehicle body and floor, each of said front and rear wheels attached rotatably near an underside of a corner of the vehicle body; at least one actuator attaching said floor to said at least one rear wheel, wherein said floor can be lowered to a ground surface and raised to a level floor position; wherein a rear portion of said floor is structured to fold upward to form said rear side and fold downward to be in line with said floor; and a steering control assembly coupled to said at least one front wheel.

A method is disclosed for deploying a ramp assembly. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The ramp assembly further includes a panel rotatable about a first end, wherein the ramp portion supportingly engages a second end of the panel to elevate the second end of the panel as the ramp portion moves toward the deployed position. The method includes the step of rotating the ramp portion until the ramp portion contacts an alighting surface. The method further includes the step of rotating the ramp portion until one of a first condition and second condition occurs. The first condition is that the ramp portion has reached a maximum slope. The second condition is that the second end of the panel has reached a predetermined elevation.

A height adjustable loading ramp installed at a tail of a car, for loading or unloading goods, includes: a slope plane and a supporter. The two ends of the slope plane are respectively supported on the ground and the supporter. The supporter includes: two supporting legs adjustable in length, a beam horizontally provided between lower portions of the two supporting legs, wheels for making the loading ramp move conveniently, and a scissor jack for adjusting the height. The scissor jack includes: four scissor jack arms equal in length, and an adjusting-locking device for adjusting and locking the height of the height adjustable loading ramp. In addition, the supporting leg comprises an auxiliary fixing unit for fixing the relative position between the upper and the lower supporting legs and providing an extra security protection, in such a manner that the height of the height adjustable loading ramp is locked.

A ramp assembly comprises a support defining each of a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, a ramp being coupled to the support and being configured to support an passenger thereon. An optional actuator mechanism may be coupled to at least one of the support, the ramp, a power source and a controller, the actuator mechanism configured, in a response to a control signal from the controller or in a response to a manual force, to rotate the ramp about the vertical axis between a stowed position and a deployed position or rotate the ramp about the horizontal axis between the deployed position and a ground engaging position. The actuator may comprise a motor with a gearbox and two gears to rotate the ramp about the vertical axis. The actuator may comprise a linear actuator to rotate the ramp about the horizontal axis.