A portable towing system for a motorcycle or similar vehicle, such as a trike, the frame of which can be lowered to ground level to facilitate loading of the motorcycle or similar vehicle by pushing or riding the vehicle onto the frame without risk of the vehicle falling off the sides of a steeply inclined ramp. The towing system may be assembled, raised, lowered, and disassembled by a single person, if desired. The towing system also comprises a cargo box to store the frame when disassembled. The raising and lowering of the frame is effected by a lifting and lowering mechanism connected with the wheel assemblies, and at least three heights of the frame are achieved by rotation of the lifting and lowering mechanism of the wheel assemblies. The cargo box and the frame can use the wheel assemblies interchangeably.

A portable towing system for a motorcycle or similar vehicle, such as a trike, the frame of which can be lowered to ground level to facilitate loading of the motorcycle or similar vehicle by pushing or riding the vehicle onto the frame without risk of the vehicle falling off the sides of a steeply inclined ramp. The towing system may be assembled, raised, lowered, and disassembled by a single person, if desired. The towing system also comprises a cargo box to store the frame when disassembled. The raising and lowering of the frame is effected by a lifting and lowering mechanism connected with the wheel assemblies, and at least three heights of the frame are achieved by rotation of the lifting and lowering mechanism of the wheel assemblies. The cargo box and the frame can use the wheel assemblies interchangeably.

A truck bed extender and ramp assembly mounts to the hitch receiver of a pickup truck to allow four-wheeled vehicles to be driven into and out of the truck bed, with the rear wheels of the vehicle being supported by a crossbar spaced rearwardly from the open tailgate of the truck. The assembly includes ramps pivotally mounted to the crossbar for movement between a lowered use position for loading and unloading the vehicle and a raised transport position. The ramps automatically pivot on the crossbar when the rear wheels of the vehicle pass over the crossbar. The ramps include telescoping sections to adjust the length of the ramps.

A truck bed extender and ramp assembly mounts to the hitch receiver of a pickup truck to allow four-wheeled vehicles to be driven into and out of the truck bed, with the rear wheels of the vehicle being supported by a crossbar spaced rearwardly from the open tailgate of the truck. The assembly includes ramps pivotally mounted to the crossbar for movement between a lowered use position for loading and unloading the vehicle and a raised transport position. The ramps automatically pivot on the crossbar when the rear wheels of the vehicle pass over the crossbar. The ramps include telescoping sections to adjust the length of the ramps.

The present invention concerns a method for loading and/or unloading a loading space delimited by structural elements of at least one road or rail vehicle using a manipulator to move the loads from outside the loading space to a position onto the structural elements in the loading space and vice versa. The method includes: inputting or importing primary data relative to the loads into a logic controller, automatically calculating the optimum loading position for each load, determining the automated movements of the manipulator, automatically picking up a pallet in a storage position inside the loading space with the manipulator and positioning the pallet in a loading position located at the rear of the vehicle, placing a load on the pallet, and automatically moving the pallet supporting the load into the optimum loading position, and locking the pallet to the structural elements.

The present invention concerns a method for loading and/or unloading a loading space delimited by structural elements of at least one road or rail vehicle using a manipulator to move the loads from outside the loading space to a position onto the structural elements in the loading space and vice versa. The method includes: inputting or importing primary data relative to the loads into a logic controller, automatically calculating the optimum loading position for each load, determining the automated movements of the manipulator, automatically picking up a pallet in a storage position inside the loading space with the manipulator and positioning the pallet in a loading position located at the rear of the vehicle, placing a load on the pallet, and automatically moving the pallet supporting the load into the optimum loading position, and locking the pallet to the structural elements.

A vehicle conveyor includes a slide member that is provided on each of opposite side faces of a carriage portion, and slides along a longitudinal direction of the carriage portion, independently of the carriage portion. A first arm set and first arm actuators are joined to the slide members, and are configured to slide along the longitudinal direction of the carriage portion, integrally with the slide members, independently of the carriage portion.

A load-bearing palette includes two side frames; crosspieces; two end support areas for supporting car wheels; and a free central space. The first area includes a wheel support acting as an abutment for the first set of wheels; a transverse element connecting both side frames and having two oblique arms joined at a central portion directed towards an end of the palette; a recess between the wheel support and the transverse element having a width continually decreasing from the side frames to the central portion, into which a first set of wheels sinks down, regardless of the wheelbase type and the track width of the car. The second area includes decking, the dimensions of which are sufficient to support a second set of wheels, regardless of the wheelbase type and the track width of the car.

A load-bearing palette includes two side frames; crosspieces; two end support areas for supporting car wheels; and a free central space. The first area includes a wheel support acting as an abutment for the first set of wheels; a transverse element connecting both side frames and having two oblique arms joined at a central portion directed towards an end of the palette; a recess between the wheel support and the transverse element having a width continually decreasing from the side frames to the central portion, into which a first set of wheels sinks down, regardless of the wheelbase type and the track width of the car. The second area includes decking, the dimensions of which are sufficient to support a second set of wheels, regardless of the wheelbase type and the track width of the car.

A trailer for towing vehicles and related methods is presented. The disclosed trailer can be configured for towing certain three-wheeled vehicles and include a ramp, a front wheel retaining member, and rear wheel plates. The trailer may be configured to receive a three-wheeled vehicle, and upon receipt of the front wheel at the front wheel retaining member and the rear wheels at the rear wheel plates, transition from a first position with the ramp in a lowered configuration to a second position with the ramp in a raised and locked configuration, wherein the weight of the vehicle being towed may be used to both raise the ramp and maintain the ramp in a secured, raised configuration.