Patent ID: 7658157

Claim:
A transporter for transporting a live boxed tree having a root ball, comprising: a bed having a bed support surface raised from the ground level; a powered slide mechanism pivotally attached to the bed and movable from an inclined boxed tree engaging position wherein a lower end of the powered slide mechanism is below the bed support surface to engage the boxed tree to a substantially horizontal transport position wherein the powered slide mechanism is substantially parallel to the bed support surface, the powered slide mechanism including a substantially planar surface for supporting the boxed tree as it slides along the substantially planar surface when in the inclined boxed tree engaging position; a powered loading mechanism for engaging the boxed tree and moving the boxed tree along the substantially planar surface of the powered slide mechanism; and a powered tilting mechanism attached to the bed for tilting the boxed tree while the powered slide mechanism is in the relatively horizontal transport position from a substantially upright position to an inclined transport position.