Patent ID: 7927063

Claim:
A method of mounting a forklift to a vehicle, the method comprising: providing a forklift having a frame with an operator location and operator controls supported thereon, the forklift having a pair of spaced apart front wheels and at least one rear wheel, the forklift also having a pair of forks movably mounted to the forklift frame, the forks being movable in at least a vertical direction relative to the forklift frame; providing a vehicle having a rearward end with a fork support for receiving the forks of the forklift; providing a mounting system for mounting the forklift to the vehicle, the mounting system comprising: a pair of mounting brackets both fixedly connected to one of the forklift frame or the rearward end of the vehicle, the mounting brackets each having an opening defined therethrough, the opening having a closed perimeter; and a pair of receiving pins, the pins having a supporting position wherein the pins are horizontally disposed and connected to the other of the forklift frame or the rearward end of the vehicle, the pins also having a released position wherein the pins are removed from the supporting position; positioning the forklift behind the vehicle and aligning the forks of the forklift with the forklift support at the rearward end of the vehicle; moving the forklift toward the rearward end of the vehicle until the forklift reaches a predetermined position adjacent the rearward end of the vehicle and the forks are at least partially disposed in the fork support; moving the forks vertically relative to the forklift frame such that the frame of the forklift is lifted upwardly relative to the vehicle until the openings in the mounting brackets are aligned with the supporting position of the pins without substantial longitudinal movement of the frame relative to the vehicle; disposing the pins in the supporting position such that the pins are disposed through the openings in the mounting brackets; and moving the forks vertically relative to the forklift frame such that the frame is moved downwardly until the pins and mounting brackets cooperate to support the weight of the forklift.