A vertical support system, comprising: a first articulated leg assembly configured to carry a first load, the first articulated leg assembly comprising a first upper leg and a first lower leg configured to carry the first load and rotatably connected to the first upper leg, the first articulated leg assembly being selectively movable between a first retracted configuration and a first extended configuration; and a second articulated leg assembly configured to carry a second load substantially kinematically identical to the first articulated leg assembly, the second articulated leg assembly comprising a second upper leg and a second lower leg configured to carry the second load and rotatably connected to the second upper leg, the second articulated leg assembly being selectively movable between a second retracted configuration and a second extended configuration; wherein a lateral width ratio is equal to a value of less than about 0.6, the lateral width ratio being defined as a ratio of a maximum lateral width between the lateral extents of the first load and the second load when the first articulated leg assembly is in the first retracted configuration and the second articulated leg assembly is in the second retracted configuration to a maximum lateral width between the lateral extents of the first load and the second load when the first articulated leg assembly is in the first extended configuration and the second articulated leg assembly is in the second extended configuration; and wherein the lateral width ratio is selectively obtained by moving the first articulated leg assembly from the first extended configuration to the first retracted configuration and moving the second articulated leg assembly from the second extended configuration to the second retracted configuration, the moving of the first articulated leg assembly from the first extended configuration to the first retracted configuration and moving the second articulated leg assembly from the second extended configuration to the second retracted configuration collectively comprising rotating each of the first upper leg and the second upper leg to increase a lateral overlap between the first upper leg and the second upper leg, rotating the first lower leg relative to the first upper leg to increase a lateral overlap between the first lower leg and the first upper leg, and rotating the second lower leg relative to the second upper leg to increase a lateral overlap between the second lower leg and the second upper leg. a first articulated leg assembly configured to carry a first load, the first articulated leg assembly comprising a first upper leg and a first lower leg configured to carry the first load and rotatably connected to the first upper leg, the first articulated leg assembly being selectively movable between a first retracted configuration and a first extended configuration; and a second articulated leg assembly configured to carry a second load substantially kinematically identical to the first articulated leg assembly, the second articulated leg assembly comprising a second upper leg and a second lower leg configured to carry the second load and rotatably connected to the second upper leg, the second articulated leg assembly being selectively movable between a second retracted configuration and a second extended configuration; wherein a lateral width ratio is equal to a value of less than about 0.6, the lateral width ratio being defined as a ratio of a maximum lateral width between the lateral extents of the first load and the second load when the first articulated leg assembly is in the first retracted configuration and the second articulated leg assembly is in the second retracted configuration to a maximum lateral width between the lateral extents of the first load and the second load when the first articulated leg assembly is in the first extended configuration and the second articulated leg assembly is in the second extended configuration; and