A retractable strap load tie-down device includes a housing containing a tubular spool with a flat helical spring in its interior and a flexible tie-down strap wrapped on its exterior. The housing also includes a frame journaling a tensioning shaft for rotation where the tensioning shaft includes a slot through which the strap passes. Keyed to the end portions of the shaft are ratchet wheels and associate with the ratchet wheels are pawls that engage and disengage from the teeth of the ratchet wheels by action of a handle mounted, squeezable release bar that selectively displaces slide rods leading to the pawls. The handle will selectively rotate the tensioning shaft depending on the engagement of the pawls with the ratchet wheels. Swinging of the handle through an arc will tension the strap when the free end of the strap is anchored.

An apparatus for protecting a tailgate portion of a truck have a truck bed is disclosed. This apparatus comprises a protection bar, at least two support tubes and at least two mounting tubes. The protection bar has a first protection bar end and a second protection bar end. Each of the support tubes have having a straight insertion portion, a protection bar receiving portion and a curved portion therebetween. The protection bar receiving portions are configured to receive one end of the protection bar. Each curved portion is configured to curve above and over the tailgate. Each of the mounting tubes have an open mounting tube first end, an open mounting tube second end, and four mounting tube side walls. The mounting tubes are configured to slidably receive the insertion portion of a support tube. Further, each mounting tube is configured to be secured to an interior side wall of a truck bed.

The present technology relates to beams having a cross section defining a plurality of channels and assemblies comprising the beams. The beams can be used to form a beam assembly that is installed inside the truck bed of a pick-up truck. A ladder loader is pivotably secured to the beam assembly along either the driver side wall or the passenger side wall of the truck bed, with the ladder loader being pivoted between a stow position where the ladder loader is above the beam assembly, and a deployed position where the ladder loader is positioned outside either the driver side wall or the passenger side wall.

Systems are provided for storing and retrieving objects such as ladders. The systems can include a carriage, and a trolley mounted on the carriage for holding the object and moving the object linearly in relation to the carriage, so that the object can be stowed in locations such as on the roof of a fire engine or other emergency vehicle, or the roof of a stationary structure. The systems can further include a handle assembly that permits a user to move the trolley while the user is standing on the ground. The handle system is configured to secure the trolley in a stowed position, and allows the user to release the carriage from its stowed position.

A ladder rack assembly for use on a motor vehicle. The ladder rack assembly has a sliding member that is linearly slidable relative to a base member and a ladder mounting member that is axially and radially movable relative to the base member. A first end portion of one or more first drive members are drivingly connected to at least a portion of one or more first shafts and a second end portion is pivotably connected to a first end portion of a first side portion of the ladder mounting member. One or more first linkage members drivingly connect the one or more first drive members to the sliding member. A first end portion of the one or more first linkage members are pivotably connected top the one or more first drive members and a second end portion are pivotably connected to a first end portion of the sliding member.

Disclosed is a drop-down utility rack that has a rotating bar for controlling the position of the utility rack between a transport position and an access position. The rotating bar rotates through an arc of rotation which moves the rack between the transport and access positions. A lever is connected to the rotating bar for rotating the rotating bar. The lever is adapted to move through an arc of travel. A clutch is mounted between the lever and the rotating bar. The clutch engages and disengages the lever and the rotating bar such that the lever rotates through the arc of travel to rotate the rotating bar over a portion of the arc of rotation. The clutch automatically disengages the lever from the rotating bar as the rotating bar completes its arc of rotation. In this way, the arc of travel is less than the arc of rotation.

A ladder latching device for a rear deploy, tilting type ladder lack that automatically extends and retracts a latch pin as ladders are loaded onto and removed from the roof of a work vehicle. The latching device has an L-shaped lever with a spring biased first leg supporting a latch pin and a second leg with a roller for cooperating with a rail of the rack's stationary bed. The latch pin is made to extend through apertures in a stop post and over a rung of the ladder to trap it only when the roller remains in contact with the stationary rail. During tilting of the load support member, the latch pin retracts.

A ladder rack system for accommodating at least two stacked ladders thereon is disclosed. The system may have a stationary forward roof rail and a stationary rear roof rail. Pivotable ladder rack rear and pivotable ladder rack forward rails may also be provided. The ladder rack rear and forward rails may be selectively moved with respect to the stationary forward and rear roof rails via links that are connected to a connector bar and lever arm.

A ladder rack assembly for a work vehicle has a stationary bed for attachment to the roof thereof. A pair of parallel, spaced apart rails has guides thereon that extend from the rails' first ends toward, but short their second ends. Rollers on side edges of a load support member ride on the bed rails. When the rollers are constrained by the guides, only translation of the load support member takes place. Upon exit of the rollers from the rear ends of the guides, both translation and rotation of the load support member can occur. A control arm is pivotally joined at one end to the stationary bed. Its free end has cam actuated latch pin assemblies attached to it that co-act with cams on the stationary bed during rearward displacement of the load support member to latch the load support member to the control arm whereby further rearward movement of the load support member causes it to tilt to a somewhat vertical position.

A rooftop cargo carrier having a rack that can be mounted on the roof of an automotive vehicle and on which a linear rail is disposed, along which linear rail a support structure for an object to be transported can be moved between a transport position, in which the support structure is disposed above the linear rail, and an intermediate position, in which the support structure is disposed on the side as an extension of the linear rail. The configuration comprising the linear rail and the support structure can be pivoted between the intermediate position and a loading position, in which the linear rail and the support structure are disposed at a blunt angle relative to the rack. The rooftop cargo carrier also includes a retainer that allows joint pivoting movement of the linear rail and the support structure relative to the rack only after the intermediate position has been reached.