Abstract: A cargo carrier mountable onto a trailer hitch of a vehicle has a two-piece tubular housing having an internal chamber for accommodating link members and rigid bars used to retain the housing in an expanded open position. A hitch bar secured to the housing is adapted to be coupled to the trailer hitch on the vehicle.

Abstract: A shelf assembly for a step ladder has two upright telescoping arms. Each arm has a lower tube and an upper tube telescoped into the lower tube to allow for a change in the length of the arm. This allows the shelf assembly to be vertically extended to raise a generally horizontal platform mounted on the upper ends of the arms to a desired height relative to the top of the step ladder. A folding bracket holds the shelf in a generally horizontal position. A ball joint mounted on a channel iron connects the lower end of each arm to a leg of the ladder. A linkage connects the middle of each arm to the ladder above the ball joint. A sleeve slides on each arm to provide adjustment of the linkage relative to the leg. The linkage has two connected links that allow the arms to be folded up against the ladder legs.