The invention is an apparatus and method for lifting objects onto the bed of a pickup truck. The device includes a rack assembly, a swing arm assembly, and at least one hydraulic arm. The invention can be optimized and adapted to fit on a standard pickup truck or a flatbed truck.

The present invention relates to a support structure for a vehicle provided with a cargo crane having a crane base, said support structure comprising a support beam connectable to said crane base and a support leg, wherein a proximal end of said support leg is connected to said support beam at a pivoting point, such that, said support leg is pivotable around said pivoting point relative to said support beam. The support structure further comprises an actuating device connected to the support leg for pivoting said support leg relative to said support beam, wherein said actuating device is configured to arrange said support structure in at least a tunnel mode and a diagonal mode, by adjusting an extension of said actuating device, such that in the tunnel mode, a distal end of said support leg is positioned to abut against a supporting surface on which the vehicle stands and in the diagonal mode, a knee of the support structure or at least a part of a lateral side of said support leg is positioned to abut against the supporting surface on which the vehicle stands.

Utility Task Vehicles comprise a chassis, a truck body mounted to the chassis, a truck bed for holding material, and a hydraulic and/or electrical system. What is presented is a lifting unit for a Utility Task Vehicle that is factory built into the Utility Task Vehicle or an after-market add-on to the Utility Task Vehicle. The lifting unit comprises a cross-bracket mounted to the underside of the chassis and a side rail along one side of the truck body. A rotatable horseshoe hinge is mounted to the side rail. The horseshoe hinge is configured to pivot between a lower position and an upper position. An interchangeable attachment is configured to be installed on the horseshoe hinge. The interchangeable attachment could be, for example, a rock picker, a material lifting bucket, a log and bag loader, a deer skinning pole, or a hoist.

Disclosed herein is a vehicle for removing foreign objects (e.g. rubbish) from an area proximal to the vehicle (e.g. along a roadside). The vehicle comprises an arm that is moveable into a foreign object collecting position, a foreign object collector located at a distal end of the arm and configured for collecting foreign objects, and a conduit for conveying collected foreign objects to a storage bin.

A portable gantry crane formed of composite members includes a composite material I-beam. Two or more support members are formed of a composite material and each support member supports the I-beam when the portable gantry crane is in an upright position. Two or more end housings are included, each end housing enclosing a top end of one of the two or more support members and coupled thereto using adhesive. A plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure including a latch, and each end housing having a latch receiver, each latch in combination with a latch receiver allowing one of the latch structures to be releasably fixedly coupled with an end housing. In implementations a plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure having a latch structure enclosure and each latch structure enclosure at least partially enclosing one of the end housings.

Utility Task Vehicles comprise a chassis, a truck body mounted to the chassis, a truck bed for holding material, and a hydraulic and/or electrical system. What is presented is a lifting unit for a Utility Task Vehicle that is factory built into the Utility Task Vehicle or an after-market add-on to the Utility Task Vehicle. The lifting unit comprises a cross-bracket mounted to the underside of the chassis and a side rail along one side of the truck body. A rotatable horseshoe hinge is mounted to the side rail. The horseshoe hinge is configured to pivot between a lower position and an upper position. An interchangeable attachment is configured to be installed on the horseshoe hinge. The interchangeable attachment could be, for example, a rock picker, a material lifting bucket, a log and bag loader, a deer skinning pole, or a hoist.

A self-propelled vehicle used to lay pipe sections within trenches located on sloped terrain, and a method for using it, including: an undercarriage carrying a vehicle chassis and capable of climbing sloped terrain; a rotating platform which can be maintained level relative to the sloped terrain; and a boom with an angled boom head, capable of using two independent winch cables to lift and position individual pipe sections having differing lengths and diameters. The vehicle may be used to sequentially lift two or more pipe sections, one at a time, and to swing and position the pipe sections in a trench, end-to-end.

The present invention relates to a support structure for a vehicle provided with a cargo crane having a crane base, said support structure comprising a support beam connectable to said crane base and a support leg, wherein a proximal end of said support leg is connected to said support beam at a pivoting point, such that, said support leg is pivotable around said pivoting point relative to said support beam. The support structure further comprises an actuating device connected to the support leg for pivoting said support leg relative to said support beam, wherein said actuating device is configured to arrange said support structure in at least a tunnel mode and a diagonal mode, by adjusting an extension of said actuating device, such that in the tunnel mode, a distal end of said support leg is positioned to abut against a supporting surface on which the vehicle stands and in the diagonal mode, a knee of the support structure or at least a part of a lateral side of said support leg is positioned to abut against the supporting surface on which the vehicle stands.

The invention is a strut assembly for attaching to vehicle frames as a set to provide a secure and stable anchor or effective platform for a vehicle mounted hoist or other load bearing or load resisting accessory. A particular embodiment is directed to fitting into rectangular apertures found in pickup truck bed side panels, and these strut assemblies are attached to the frame of the vehicle.

A self-propelled vehicle used to lay pipe sections within trenches located on sloped terrain, and a method for using it, including: an undercarriage carrying a vehicle chassis and capable of climbing sloped terrain; a rotating platform which can be maintained level relative to the sloped terrain; and a boom with an angled boom head, capable of using two independent winch cables to lift and position individual pipe sections having differing lengths and diameters. The vehicle may be used to sequentially lift two or more pipe sections, one at a time, and to swing and position the pipe sections in a trench, end-to-end.