B60P1/5466

SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION SYSTEM

A solar panel installation system includes a solar panel unloading machine, a solar panel carrier machine, and a solar panel installation machine. The solar panel unloading machine is configured to autonomously interact with a shipping device carrying a plurality of solar panels to unload the plurality of solar panels from the shipping device and autonomously transfer the plurality of solar panels to the solar panel carrier machine. The solar panel carrier machine is configured autonomously transport the plurality of solar panels to a location proximate where the plurality of solar panels are to be installed. The solar panel installation machine is configured to autonomously pick up a respective solar panel of the plurality of solar panels from the solar panel carrier machine and autonomously provide the respective solar panel to an installation location where the respective solar panel can be secured to a solar panel support.

Drag winch assembly for a tow vehicle including a slidable boom assembly and method of operating the same

A drag winch assembly for a tow vehicle, such as a wrecker, that includes a slidable boom assembly. The drag winch assembly comprises a slidable support connected to the slidable boom assembly in slidable engagement with the main frame of the wrecker and a drag winch mounted on the slidable support. With this configuration, the slidable support is slidable between a first position corresponding to the frontmost position of the slidable boom assembly and a second position corresponding to the rearmost position of the slidable boom assembly, providing advantages existing winch assembly configurations.

Vehicle assembly having cross-bar mounted lift assist device and operating method

A vehicle assembly according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a cargo bed of a vehicle and a crossbar spanning the cargo bed. The crossbar is slidable relative to the cargo bed. A lift assist device is mounted to the crossbar. The assembly can include a passenger side rail mounted to a passenger side wall assembly of the cargo bed, and a driver side rail mounted to a driver side wall assembly of the cargo bed. The crossbar can be slidably coupled to both the driver side rail and the passenger side rail.