Patent ID: 7980809

Claim:
A method by steps comprising: collapsing a rear air suspension of a first vehicle; lashing a rear axle of the first vehicle to a frame of the first vehicle; coupling a first kingpin of a vehicle transport apparatus to a fifth wheel of the first vehicle; restraining the first vehicle adjacent frame members of the vehicle transport apparatus; loading a return vehicle onto the frame members of the vehicle transport apparatus; coupling a second kingpin of the vehicle transport apparatus to a fifth wheel of a second vehicle, wherein said vehicle transport apparatus, in addition to said first and second kingpins and said frame members, further includes at least: a beam supporting said first and second kingpins on respective proximal and distal ends of said beam; a single and only axle in vertical and horizontal sliding support of said beam, in which said beam is unsupported by said axle during at least one operating mode of said beam; a guide post attached to said axle; a vertical slide member attached to said beam and in sliding contact with said guide post; and a vertical position control apparatus interposed between the vertical slide member and said axle, the vertical position control apparatus controlling the vertical position of said beam relative to said axle.