Patent ID: 7100956

Claim:
A utility carrier apparatus for mounting a module upon a storage bed of a vehicle, the bed including first and second side walls and a rear end, the first and second side walls each including tailgate mounting points whereat a standard tailgate may be attached, the apparatus comprising: a) a vertical post being connectable to at least one of the tailgate mounting points of the first side wall adjacent the rear end; b) a latch member being connectable to at least one of the tailgate mounting points of the second side wall adjacent the rear end; and c) a gate defining first and second ends and a receptacle interposed therebetween, the first end being pivotally connectable to the vertical post, the second end being removably connectable to the latch member, the receptacle being sized and configured to accommodate the module with the module being mountable thereon; wherein the storage bed defines a horizontal plane and the receptacle defines a receptacle plane, the receptacle plane being oriented at approximately a 35 degree angle with respect to the horizontal plane.