Patent ID: 7811045

Claim:
A tilt rack that is adapted to couple with a hitch of a vehicle, the vehicle positioned on the ground, the tilt rack comprises: an elongate beam adapted to couple with a hitch of a vehicle; a frame that includes opposed support members that define a perimeter and connect to a bottom; the frame approximately defines a plane, a receptacle connected to a first portion of one of the support members of the frame; a winch assembly that includes a post and a winch mechanism, the post has a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the winch mechanism connected in proximity to the second end portion of the post, the winch has an operational position and a stowed position, the operational position of the winch includes the first end portion of the post connected to the receptacle and the post extending approximately perpendicular to and above the bottom, the winch mechanism positioned for providing a pulling force approximately perpendicular to the beam and the winch mechanism positioned for providing an approximately vertical hoisting force, the winch selectively removable from the frame, the winch removable from the receptacle, the winch secured in the stowed position in a second receptacle and a channel, the second receptacle and channel positioned under the frame; a hinge that is approximately aligned with the beam that directly connects the beam and the frame for the rotation of the frame relative to the beam; a first position wherein the frame is approximately aligned with the ground; a second position wherein the frame is tilted from the first position about the hinge and relative to the beam such that the portion of the frame opposite the first portion of the frame is in proximity to the ground; a locking mechanism that includes a first proximal flange connected to the beam and a second proximal flange connected to the frame, the first proximal flange has a first aperture and the second proximal flange has at least two apertures, a rod positionable through the aperture of the first proximal flange and into one of the apertures of the second proximal flange to fix the position of the frame relative to the beam.