Arch trailer for motorcycle transport and camping

A trailer for transporting a cargo vehicle such as a motorcycle in tow behind a towing vehicle includes a perimeter frame with a frame perimeter structure having a towing vehicle connection mechanism, and including trailer supporting wheels, the plane of the frame perimeter structure being oriented substantially parallel with the ground when the vehicle connection mechanism is connected to the towing vehicle; a cargo vehicle support bed positioned substantially within the perimeter frame; and a line and pulley elevation mechanism for lowering the bed substantially perpendicular to the ground to load and unload the cargo vehicle and for elevating the bed substantially perpendicular to the ground for cargo vehicle transport, so that the plane of the bed always remains substantially parallel with the plane of the perimeter frame. The line and pulley elevation mechanism includes lines connected to the bed at points substantially lateral to the center of gravity of the bed when loaded with a cargo vehicle for bed balance during bed lowering and elevation. The frame perimeter structure includes a forward cross structure and two parallel and spaced apart side rail structures integrally joined to and extending rearwardly from the forward cross structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates generally to the field of trailers drawn by 
motor vehicles. More specifically the present invention relates to a 
trailer for transporting a vehicle such as a motorcycle, the trailer 
including a perimeter frame supported by trailer wheels and a motorcycle 
support bed mounted within the perimeter frame on a line and pulley 
elevation mechanism. The line and pulley elevation mechanism lowers the 
bed to load and unload the motorcycle and elevates the bed for motorcycle 
transport, such that the plane of the bed always remains substantially 
parallel with the perimeter frame and the ground. Lines from the line and 
pulley elevation mechanism preferably connect to the bed at points 
directly lateral to the center of gravity of the bed when loaded with a 
conventional motorcycle for balance during bed lowering and elevation. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
There has long been a need to transport motorcycles by means other than 
driving them. As a result it has become a relatively common and hazardous 
practice to attempt to load motorcycles onto a conventional truck bed or 
equipment trailer. This is accomplished by pushing or riding the 
motorcycle up a ramp of some sort propped against the bed or trailer. 
Pushing a relatively large motorcycle up a ramp can be difficult or 
impossible for one person, and riding it up the ramp can be very 
dangerous. Should the motorcycle stall part way up the ramp, for example, 
there may not be adequate footholds to brace it against falling off the 
ramp and onto the rider. 
Various trailers have been designed for carrying motorcycles and other 
vehicles. One such prior trailer is that of Zenna, U.S. Pat. No. 
4,752,177, issued on Jun. 21, 1983 for a motorcycle trailer apparatus. 
Zenna includes a U-shaped outer frame with two parallel and spaced apart 
side portions and a forward cross-member interconnecting the side 
portions. Each side portion is fitted with a trailer wheel and tire and an 
upright hydraulic cylinder assembly. A motorcycle wheel receiving channel 
extends longitudinally midway between the frame side portions, and channel 
arms extend and join to a corresponding hydraulic cylinder assembly. The 
cylinder assemblies lower the wheel receiving channel within the outer 
frame to ground level to receive a motorcycle, and then raise the channel 
for trailer towing. A problem with Zenna is that the hydraulic cylinder 
assemblies make the trailer prohibitively expensive. 
Behr, U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,131, issued on Jul. 16, 1996, teaches a utility 
trailer with level cargo support when lowered to and elevated from the 
ground. Behr includes a U-shaped outer frame and a generally planar bed 
within the outer frame, and a trailer hitch shaft extending forwardly from 
the outer frame. The outer frame and bed are interconnected on each side 
of the bed by forward and rearward pivot links. One end of each pivot link 
is rotatably fastened to a side of the bed and the other end is rotatably 
fastened to the outer frame through a torsion creating mechanism. A pulley 
and cable assembly is mounted to the forward end of the outer frame and 
the cable is connected to the forward end of the bed for raising and 
lowering the bed. A problem with Behr is that the bed loaded with cargo 
initially must be dragged over the ground before the bed rises. Another 
problem is that the bed and cargo must not only be lifted the distance 
required to clear the ground, but also moved substantially forward because 
of the upright orientation of the pivoting linkages, so that additional 
energy is required to generate bed and cargo momentum in a forward 
direction. 
Shiels, U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,328, issued on Jun. 16, 1987, discloses a 
lift/tilt-bed trailer. Shiels includes a structure similar to that of Behr 
except that the pivot links are channel-shaped tracks and the bed has 
channel wheels which ride within the link tracks. A pulley is connected to 
a forwardly extending trailer hitch shaft and the cable extends generally 
horizontally back to the forward edge of the bed to raise the bed by 
rolling the bed wheels within the pivot link tracks. As a result of this 
construction, the bed can be raised and lowered in a level orientation, or 
the front only can be raised to tilt the bed into a ramp orientation. A 
problem with Shiels is that the bed, made heavy by loading with the cargo, 
must be initially dragged over the ground before it can rise. Another 
problem is that the bed and cargo must not only be lifted the distance 
required to clear the ground, but also moved substantially forward with 
the pivoting linkages, so that additional energy is required to generate 
forward bed and cargo momentum. 
Fowler, U.S. Pat. No. 4,154,352, issued on May 15, 1979, reveals another 
motorcycle trailer. Fowler includes a trailer frame equipped to receive a 
motorcycle and having trailer supporting wheel assemblies. The wheel 
assemblies each including a fulcrum and linkage structure to pivot the 
wheels downwardly so that the trailer can roll on them and upwardly to 
lower the trailer frame to ground level for motorcycle loading and 
unloading. Wheel pivoting is accomplished by inserting a lever arm into a 
socket in each wheel assembly and applying lateral pressure to the arm. A 
problem with Fowler is that the user must lift not only the motorcycle but 
also the entire trailer frame during trailer loading and unloading. 
Clark, U.S. Pat. No. 4,077,642, issued on Mar. 7, 1978, discloses a movable 
bed trailer. Clark includes a U-shaped frame mounted on a pair of 
oppositely disposed wheels and a bed mounted on double linkages within the 
frame. The bed is raised and lowered with a drive mechanism secured 
between the forward ends of the frame and bed. The bed remains in a 
substantially horizontal position during raising and lowering. A problem 
with Clark is that the bed loaded with cargo initially must be dragged 
over the ground before it can rise. Another problem is that the bed and 
cargo must not only be lifted the distance required to clear the ground, 
but also moved substantially forward with the pivoting linkages, so that 
additional energy is required to generate forward bed and cargo momentum. 
Other related art includes Verschage, U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,572, issued on 
Feb. 8, 1983, for a tandem axle trailer with a hydraulic lift bed. The 
inclusion of a hydraulic system makes the trailer relatively expensive. 
The art also includes Harris, U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,197, issued on Feb. 22, 
1994, for an equipment trailer; and Page, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,462, 
issued Jul. 30, 1991, for a utility vehicle chassis having a vertically 
adjustable bed. Harris and Page, et al., both teach truck beds within a 
truck body which are lowered between the rear wheels of the truck. A 
problem is that no provision is made for cargo vehicle transport with an 
already owned truck or car. 
It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a trailer for 
transporting a cargo vehicle such as a motorcycle in tow behind a towing 
vehicle. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide such a trailer 
having a bed within a perimeter frame which is lowered in a level 
orientation with a cable and pulley mechanism to ground level for loading 
and unloading the cargo vehicle and which is raised in a level orientation 
with the mechanism for towing. 
It is still another object of the present invention to provide such a 
trailer in which the bed is raised without significant sliding of the bed 
over the ground. 
It is finally an object of the present invention to provide such a trailer 
which requires no hydraulic bed elevation mechanisms and is otherwise 
highly economical to manufacture. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention accomplishes the above-stated objectives, as well as 
others, as may be determined by a fair reading and interpretation of the 
entire specification. 
A trailer is provided for transporting a cargo vehicle in tow behind a 
towing vehicle, the trailer including a perimeter frame with a frame 
perimeter structure having a towing vehicle connection mechanism, and 
including trailer supporting wheels, the plane of the frame perimeter 
structure being oriented substantially parallel with the ground when the 
vehicle connection mechanism is connected to the towing vehicle; a cargo 
vehicle support bed positioned substantially within the perimeter frame; 
and a line and pulley elevation mechanism for lowering the bed 
substantially perpendicular to the ground to load and unload the cargo 
vehicle and for elevating the bed substantially perpendicular to the 
ground for cargo vehicle transport, so that the plane of the bed always 
remains substantially parallel with the plane of the perimeter frame. 
The cargo vehicle is preferably a motorcycle. The line and pulley elevation 
mechanism preferably includes lines connected to the bed at points 
substantially lateral to the center of gravity of the bed when loaded with 
a cargo vehicle for bed balance during bed lowering and elevation. The 
frame perimeter structure preferably includes a forward cross structure 
and two parallel and spaced apart side rail structures integrally joined 
to and extending rearwardly from the forward cross structure. Each side 
rail structure preferably includes substantially mutually parallel inner 
and outer rail members spaced laterally apart from each other and 
interconnected by at least one cross-strut. The cross structure preferably 
includes a cross-beam fastened substantially perpendicularly to the 
forward ends of both sets of the inner and outer rail members. The trailer 
optionally additionally includes an A-shaped nose frame connected to and 
extending forwardly from the cross-beam, and including an A cross-link 
having a vertical opening and a conventional trailer jack extending 
through the vertical opening and fastened to the A cross-link; and the 
towing vehicle connection mechanism preferably includes a conventional 
trailer hitch cup structure fastened to the forward-most portion of the 
A-shaped nose frame. The towing vehicle preferably includes towing vehicle 
tail and brake light circuitry, the trailer additionally including trailer 
tail and brake lights secured to the rear of the trailer, and trailer tail 
and brake light wiring extending forwardly from the trailer tail and brake 
lights and having an automobile wiring connection plug for connection to 
the towing vehicle tail and brake light circuitry. Each side rail 
structure preferably includes a trailer supporting wheel mounting 
structure. 
Each trailer supporting wheel mounting structure preferably includes a 
wheel mount pivot bolt fitted through bolt ports in and fastened between 
corresponding inner and outer rail members; two spaced apart wheel mount 
arms having arm pivot ends which pivotally engage the pivot bolt and 
extend downwardly and rearwardly to wheel mount ends; a wheel axle 
extending between and through the arm wheel mount ends onto which at least 
one trailer supporting wheel is mounted; and a spring extending between 
the wheel axle and the frame perimeter structure for both dissipating and 
transmitting trailer supporting wheel ground impact energy to the frame 
perimeter structure. The trailer preferably additionally includes a wheel 
fender fitted and fastened between the inner and outer rail members of 
each side rail structure. Each trailer supporting wheel includes a 
conventional trailer wheel rotatably mounted on the wheel axle and an 
inflated tire fitted around the trailer wheel. The spring is preferably a 
leaf spring having a leaf spring arch with a leaf spring middle portion 
and having leaf spring ends, the leaf spring being oriented so that the 
leaf spring arch opens upwardly from the ground and the spring middle 
portion is connected to the wheel axle and the leaf spring ends are 
pivotally joined to spring mounting structures connected to the frame 
perimeter structure. 
The trailer preferably additionally includes an inverted substantially 
U-shaped brace member structurally joined to the rearmost ends of the side 
rail structures for structurally interconnecting and holding the side rail 
structures substantially fixed relative to each other, the brace member 
being sized to readily pass the cargo vehicle when the bed is lowered 
during cargo vehicle loading and unloading. The lowermost ends of the 
U-shaped brace member are optionally connected to the rearmost ends of 
each outer rail member. 
The bed preferably includes a substantially rectangular bed outer frame 
portion; a series of substantially parallel and laterally extending bed 
cross-members fastened within the outer frame portion. The trailer 
preferably additionally includes a pivoting interconnection slat extending 
between and rotatably fastened at one slat end to a corresponding the 
inner rail member and at the other slat end to the outer frame portion; so 
that the interconnection slat pivots downwardly when the bed is lowered 
and is sized to angle sharply relative to the bed outer frame portion when 
the bed is in a fully lowered position, and so that the bed makes only a 
slight longitudinal swing during bed lowering and elevating. The trailer 
preferably additionally includes a motorcycle wheel guide channel 
including an upwardly opening U-shaped channel member laterally centered 
on top of the bed cross-members, extending from the front to the rear of 
the bed across the bed cross-members, and fastened to the bed. 
The line and pulley elevation mechanism preferably includes a rail double 
pulley rotatably mounted to the interior side of each inner rail member; a 
bed double pulley rotatably mounted to the bed below each the rail double 
pulley; flexible line interconnecting the rail and bed double pulleys on 
each side of the bed; a forward pulley axle having pulley axle ends and a 
line gathering pulley at each pulley axle end and extending over and being 
rotatably mounted in pulley axle brackets connected to and protruding 
upwardly from the forward cross structure, the forward pulley axle having 
axle rotation mechanism; so that each line extends between each pair of 
rail and bed double pulleys and then forwardly from each rail double 
pulley where it is gathered around a corresponding line gathering pulley, 
and so that rotating the pulley axle with the axle rotation mechanism in 
one rotational direction simultaneously gathers both of the lines around 
the two corresponding line gathering pulleys and thereby raises the bed, 
and rotating the pulley axle in the other rotational direction 
simultaneously unwinds both of the lines from around the two line 
gathering pulleys and thereby lowers the bed. 
The trailer preferably additionally includes a bed latching mechanism for 
removably locking the bed in an elevated position. The bed latching 
mechanism preferably includes a hook member fastened to a hook rod 
rotatably mounted within brackets extending from each of the side rail 
structure, to swing underneath the bed outer frame portion, so that the 
bed can be lowered to rest upon the hooks and the weight of the bed holds 
the hook members and hook rod against rotation. 
The trailer preferably additionally includes a series of inverted U-shaped 
ribs of spanning and extending upwardly from the side rail structures; a 
sheet metal outer shell fastened to the ribs; and a door opening at the 
rearward portion of the shell fitted with at least one hinged door for 
passing the cargo vehicle during loading and unloading. 
The trailer preferably additionally includes a tie-down bar extending along 
and secured to each of the side rail structures within the trailer for 
tying mounting straps which lash the cargo vehicle in place during towing. 
The trailer preferably still additionally includes a gate pivotally 
connected to each vertical side of the inverted U-shaped brace member, for 
pivoting downwardly into a substantially level position behind a loaded 
the cargo vehicle for keeping the cargo vehicle from rolling out of the 
trailer during towing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed 
herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are 
merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. 
Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are 
not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims 
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to 
variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately 
detailed structure. 
Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like characteristics and 
features of the present invention shown in the various Figures are 
designated by the same reference numerals. 
First Preferred Embodiment 
Referring to FIGS. 1-10, a trailer 10 for transporting a vehicle such as a 
motorcycle is disclosed. Trailer 10 includes a perimeter frame 20 
supported by trailer wheels 22 and substantially parallel with the ground, 
and a motorcycle support bed 100 mounted within perimeter frame 20 on a 
line and pulley elevation mechanism 120. See FIGS. 2 and 3. Line and 
pulley elevation mechanism 120 lowers the bed 100 to rest on the ground 
for loading and unloading the motorcycle and elevates the bed 100 for 
transporting the motorcycle, such that the plane of the bed 100 always 
remains substantially parallel with perimeter frame 20 and the ground. 
Flexible lines 130 extending from line and pulley mechanism 120 preferably 
connect to the bed 100 at points directly lateral to the center of gravity 
of the bed 100 when loaded with a conventional motorcycle for balance 
during bed 100 lowering and elevation. 
Perimeter frame 20 includes a forward cross structure 24 and two parallel 
and spaced apart side rail structures 26 integrally joined to and 
extending rearwardly from forward cross structure 26. Each side rail 
structure 26 preferably includes longitudinal inner and outer rail members 
32 and 34, respectively, spaced laterally apart and interconnected by 
welded cross-struts 36. See FIG. 3. 
Cross structure 24 preferably includes a heavy cross-beam 42 welded 
perpendicularly to the forward ends of both sets of inner and outer rail 
members 32 and 34. An A-shaped nose frame 40 is welded to and extends 
forwardly from cross-beam 42, and includes two A cross-links 44 and 46. 
The forward-most A-cross link 42 includes a vertical opening 48 and a 
conventional trailer jack 52 extends through opening 48. Trailer jack 52 
has a radial flange 54 which is anchored to cross-link 46 with fasteners 
56. See FIGS. 1 and 4. A conventional trailer hitch cup structure 62 is 
fastened to the forward-most point of the A-shaped nose frame 40, and 
towing vehicle connection chains 64 are provided. The trailer 10 is 
equipped with conventional tail and brake lights 66 and brake light wiring 
68 extending forwardly to an automobile wiring connection plug 72, for 
full compliance with highway safety laws. 
Each side rail structure 26 includes a wheel mounting structure having a 
wheel fender 82 fitted between and welded to the inner and outer rail 
members 32 and 34. See FIG. 5. A wheel mount pivot bolt 84 is fitted 
through bolt ports in and fastened to, the inner and outer rail members 32 
and 34. One wheel mount arm 86, and optionally two spaced apart wheel 
mount arms 86, have arm pivot ends 86a which pivotally engage the pivot 
bolt 84 through a bearing structure 86c and extend downwardly and 
rearwardly to wheel mount ends 86b. Bearing structure 86c is connected to 
arms with bolts (not shown) passing through a plate P welded to the pivot 
ends 86a having wide plate openings so that arms can be oriented in a 
range of positions to permit wheel 22 alignment. See FIGS. 6 and 6a, 
respectively. Where only one wheel mount arm 86 is provided, a supporting 
box structure is provided including arm cross-struts 88. See FIG. 6. The 
one arm 86 construction is preferred because it permits rapid and direct 
access to the wheel 22 for rapid changing of a flat. A wheel axle 90 
extends between and through the arm wheel mount end 86b or ends 86b, and a 
conventional trailer wheel 22 and inflated tire 94 are rotatably mounted 
on axle 90. A leaf spring 96 is provided and is oriented so that its arch 
opens upwardly, the spring 96 middle portion is connected to wheel axle 90 
and the spring 96 ends are pivotally joined to spring mounting struts 
extending between the inner and outer rail members 32 and 34. 
The rearmost ends of rail structures 26 are structurally interconnected and 
held substantially fixed relative to each other by an inverted U-shaped 
brace member 98. See FIG. 7. Each lowermost end of U-shaped brace member 
98 is connected to the rearmost end of each outer rail member 34. U-shaped 
brace member 98 is sized so that a motorcycle can pass easily through it 
during loading and unloading. A second U-shaped brace member 98 preferably 
interconnects the forward end of rail structures 26. The two brace members 
98 are preferably interconnected by a central overhead beam 116 which can 
be used as a hoist for heavy items such as engines, upon removal of the 
bed 100. Bed 100 is preferably made up of a rectangular bed outer frame 
portion 102, a series of parallel and laterally extending bed 
cross-members 104 welded to outer frame portion 102. Bed 100 is preferably 
removable by disconnecting line and pulley elevation mechanism 120 and 
interconnection slats 112, which are described in the pages which follow. 
A motorcycle wheel guide channel 110 in the form of an upwardly opening 
U-shaped channel member is laterally centered and extends from front to 
rear across the bed cross-members 104, and is welded to cross-members 104. 
See FIG. 3. The side walls 106 at the rearward end of the wheel guide 
channel 110 are preferably outwardly flared to receive motorcycle wheels 
at a number of loading angles relative to channel 110. Angled front wheel 
retaining rods 108 are preferably provided at the forward end of guide 
channel 110. A pivoting interconnection slat 112 preferably extends 
between and is rotatably bolted at one end to the inner rail member 32 and 
at the other end to bed outer frame portion 102. Each interconnection slat 
112 pivots downwardly when bed 100 is lowered and is of sufficient length 
relative to the full lowering distance of the bed that it angles sharply 
relative to the bed outer frame portion 102 when even bed 100 is fully 
lowered. Slat 112 swings to no more than a thirty-five degree angle with 
bed outer frame 102 when bed 100 is fully lowered to the ground, and 
preferably makes less than a fifteen degree angle with outer frame 102. As 
a result bed 100 makes only a negligible longitudinal swing during 
lowering and elevating, and therefore has negligible drag over the ground 
during bed 100 elevation, greatly minimizing friction resistance. Two 
pivoting slats 112 may be provided on each side of bed 100. 
An alternative bed 100 guide structure is contemplated, in which bed 
upright members are fastened to bed outer frame 102 and slide within 
vertical guide tracks or tubes secured to perimeter frame 20. The most 
important and a key inventive feature here, once again, is that the 
elevation movement guide structure 114 for bed 100 permit elevation of bed 
100 substantially perpendicular to the ground with minimal or zero bed 100 
drag on the ground. 
Line and pulley elevation mechanism 120 preferably includes a rail double 
pulley 122 rotatably mounted with a horizontal rail pulley bolt 124 to the 
interior side of each inner rail member 32 adjacent the combined bed 100 
and motorcycle center of gravity. See FIG. 2. A bed double pulley 126 is 
rotatably mounted on a horizontal bed pulley bolt 128 directly below each 
rail pulley bolt 124. Corresponding rail and bed double pulleys 122 and 
126, respectively, are interconnected with a flexible line 130, preferably 
a steel cable, to function and operate equivalently to a block and tackle 
device. A forward pulley axle 140 having a line gathering pulley 142 at 
each end extends over and parallel to the frame forward cross structure 
24, and is rotatably mounted in pulley axle brackets 144 extending 
upwardly from the forward cross-beam 42. See FIG. 8. Pulley 140 axle has a 
crank receiving axle end 152 with a rectangular cross-section and a crank 
handle 154 having a socket with a correspondingly sized rectangular 
cross-section which removably fits over the crank receiving axle end 152. 
Line 130 extends forwardly from each rail double pulley 122 where it is 
gathered around the line gathering pulley 142 located on the same side of 
the trailer 10. Rotating pulley axle 140 with axle crank handle 154 in one 
rotational direction simultaneously gathers the lines 130 on both sides of 
bed 100 around the two corresponding gathering pulleys 142 and thereby 
raises bed 100. Rotating pulley axle 140 in the other rotational direction 
simultaneously unwinds the lines 130 from around the two gathering pulleys 
142 and thereby lowers bed 100. 
Once bed 100 is raised to perimeter frame 20 level, it is locked at this 
level with any of various latching means. See FIGS. 9 and 9a. A series of 
hooks 160, which are preferably angled plates, are welded to and pivot 
with a rotating hook rod 162 mounted within brackets 164 anchored to each 
inner rail member 32, parallel to each side edge of bed 100, to swing 
underneath bed outer frame portion 102. Bed 100 is then lowered slightly 
to rest upon hooks 160. The weight of the bed 100 and motorcycle hold 
hooks 160 and hook rod 162 against rotation during towing. 
Trailer 10 is preferably enclosed, so that from the outside it may somewhat 
resemble a horse trailer or U-Haul. A series of inverted U-shaped ribs 172 
of the same general shape as brace member 98 but of greater width and 
height extend upwardly from the outer rail members 34 along the rail 
structures 26, and are welded to members 34. Ribs 172 are also fastened to 
beam 116. A sheet metal outer shell 170 is fastened in sections to the rib 
172 outer surfaces, and across the forward-most and rearward-most ribs 
172. See FIGS. 1 and 3. Outer shell 170 bends around ribs 172 to define 
forward, rearward, side and top shell 170 walls. A door opening 174 fitted 
with two hinged doors (not shown) is preferably provided in the rearward 
shell 170 wall. A plywood cover (not shown) is preferably provided over 
side structures 26 and over bed 100, which is in turn covered by an 
attractive material such as carpet. 
Optional and preferred features include storage compartments 182 up front 
and having doors 180 opening out of the forward shell 170 wall of the 
shell 170. See FIG. 10. The forward shell 170 wall is arched forwardly to 
define additional trailer 10 interior space for compartments 182. A bunk 
(not shown) is preferably provided which is pivotally mounted to ribs 172 
and pivots down from a shell 170 side wall so that the user can camp with 
trailer 10 in a remote location and perhaps take a dirt bike motorcycle 
out during the day. Tie-down bars 186 preferably extend along and are 
secured to each inner rail member 32 within trailer 10 for tying mounting 
straps (not shown) which lash a motorcycle in place during towing. A gate 
190 is preferably pivotally connected to each vertical side leg of the 
inverted U-shaped brace member 98. See FIG. 7. The two gates 190 are 
pivoted downwardly into a horizontal position toward each other behind a 
loaded motorcycle as an added safety feature to keep the motorcycle from 
rolling out of trailer 10 during transport. A pulley axle crank retaining 
tube 192 is preferably welded in a vertical orientation onto the 
cross-beam 42 to receive and removably retain the crank handle 154 when 
not in use. An electric lighting system is preferably provided including a 
power source hook-up plug 194 or battery, lighting circuit wiring and 
lighting fixtures. A toilet (not shown) and an air conditioner (not shown) 
may also be added. 
While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in 
various terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed 
in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should 
it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or 
embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly 
reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the 
claims here appended.