System and method for loading one or more vehicles onto the cargo bed of a transporting vehicle

Abstract

A system and method for loading one or more vehicles onto the cargo bed of a transporting vehicle such as a pickup truck or trailer is presented. The system includes a supporting located at the front of the cargo bed above the plane of the cargo bed and one or more ramps. The ramps and the supporting are adapted to connect to and remove from each other such that the ramps are secured inside the cargo bed at an angle above the plane of the cargo bed of the transporting vehicle. This system provides additional clearance and storage space in the cargo bed. In a preferred embodiment where the transporting vehicle is a pickup truck, the supporting also functions as a headache rack or a ladder rack. A method of using this system to load one or more vehicles is also presented.

1 . A method of loading one or more vehicles onto a transporting vehicle, the transporting vehicle having a cargo bed, comprising the steps of:
 providing a supporting located above the cargo bed and one or more ramps wherein the one or more ramps and the supporting means are adapted to connect to and release from each other such that, when connected to the supporting means, an end of each ramp that is not connected to the supporting means rests on the cargo bed such that an angle is formed between the cargo bed and each of the one or more ramps;   connecting one end of the ramp to the supporting means;   moving the one or more vehicles onto the one or more ramps;   securing the one or more vehicles onto the one or more ramps, whereby additional space is available on the cargo bed underneath the one or more ramps.   
   
   
       2 . A method for loading one or more one vehicles onto the cargo bed of a transporting vehicle as claimed in claim  14  further comprising the step of:
 providing an additional ramp leading from the ground to the plane of the cargo bed; wherein the the one or more vehicles are moved onto the one or more ramps by moving one of the one or more vehicles from the ground up the additional ramp to the plane of the cargo bed and then up one of the one or more ramps.   
   
   
       3 . A method for loading one or more one vehicles onto the cargo bed of a transporting vehicle as claimed in claim  15  wherein the one or more vehicles are moved up the additional ramp to the plane of the cargo bed and then up the one or more ramps by means of driving the one or more vehicles. 
   
   
       4 . A method for loading one or more one vehicles onto the cargo bed of a transporting vehicle as claimed in claim  16 , the transporting vehicle comprising a pickup truck, wherein the supporting means comprises a headache rack. 
   
   
       5 . A method for loading one or more one vehicles onto the cargo bed of a transporting vehicle as claimed in claim  14  wherein the transporting vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a pickup truck and a trailer. 
   
   
       6 . A method for loading one or more one vehicles onto the cargo bed of a transporting vehicle as claimed in claim  14  wherein the one or more vehicles are selected from the group consisting of ATV's, kayaks, motor boats, sail boats, bicycles, tricycles, motorcycles, go-carts, golf carts, windsurfers, snowblowers, lawnmowers, personal watercrafts, and snowmobiles. 
   
   
       7 . A method for loading one or more one vehicles onto the cargo bed of a transporting vehicle as claimed in claim  14 , wherein the transporting vehicle comprises a pickup truck having a tailgate, further comprising the step of closing the tailgate.