Patent ID: 7374193

Claim:
A method of converting a metal shipping crate into a rolling transporting apparatus for a vehicle, comprising steps of: providing said metal shipping crate having: a rectangular top portion; a rectangular bottom portion having a generally planar orientation including front rails, rear rails, longitudinally extending side rails, a pair of longitudinally extending laterally inner intermediate rails spaced laterally inward from said side rails, a pair of front wheel wells and a pair of rear wheel wells secured to said side and intermediate rails; an intermediate portion connecting said top portion and said bottom portion to form a containment volume therebetween, said containment volume defining generally a rectangular parallelepiped; removing said top portion; attaching to said bottom portion an outrigger with a first end and a second end, said first end capable of being attached to a vehicle, and said second end including a hinge means such that said bottom portion is tiltable between a generally horizontal transport position wherein said front side abuts said outrigger and forms a planar orientation with said rear side such that said bottom portion is parallel to a level ground surface, and a position wherein said front side is tilted upwardly above said outrigger and said rear side is tilted downward towards said level ground surface; attaching to said bottom portion a locking means wherein said bottom portion is capable of being fixably attached to said outrigger such that said bottom portion remains in said transport position; attaching front and rear spring mounts to said front and rear wheel wells, respectively, placing a pair of laterally spaced leaf springs in said sprint mounts, attaching a rolling means to said springs, and attaching a pair of laterally spaced arch plates between said front and rear wheel wheels.