Patent ID: 7503742

Claim:
A vehicle or equipment transport vehicle comprising: (a) a plurality of spaced apart and generally coaxial rearward-most located wheels overlying a traveling surface; (b) a bed comprising an elongate deck having an outer equipment or vehicle supporting surface with at least a portion of the deck being displaceable relative to the traveling surface between (1) an equipment or vehicle transport position where equipment or vehicle loaded onto the deck is transportable with the deck spaced a first distance from the travelling surface, and (2) an equipment or vehicle loading facilitating position with the deck spaced a second distance from the travelling surface that is closer to the travelling surface than when in the transport position; (c) a first deck displacement drive that displaces the deck toward one of the transport and loading facilitating positions; wherein part of the deck overlies the rearward-most located wheels and wherein the deck displacement drive cooperates with the deck in displacing the displaceable deck portion without substantial translation between the transport position and the loading facilitating position such that deck displacement toward the transport position moves the wheel-overlying part of the deck away from the wheels, and deck displacement toward the loading facilitating position moves the wheel-overlying part of the deck toward the wheels; and wherein the deck comprises a rounded or angled section located where it prevents vehicle bottoming on the deck during vehicle loading when the deck is disposed in the loading position.