Abstract: The self-loading tilt bed trailer has an elongated tiltable bed normally disposed in a substantially horizontal road traveling position that may be tilted about a transverse horizontal axis to a downwardly and rearwardly inclined position. The bed is pivotally coupled at its front end to a towing tractor for pivotal movement of the bed about a substantially vertical axis. When the bed is tilted steeply enough to raise the wheels completely off the ground so the weight of the bed is supported only by a ground-engaging pad at the rear of the bed and the tractor at the front, actuation of a hydraulic cylinder associated with the pad causes the rear of the bed to be shifted a short distance to the right or left relative to the stationary pad, pivoting about the upright hitch axis at the tractor.

Abstract: A truck in the nature of an automotive vehicle for carrying and moving heavy loads, bulky articles, freight, etc., has a wheeled front section which includes a cab and an engine compartment and a wheeled rear section which includes a cargo-receiving bed. The two sections are articulated to permit raising of the truck at the articulation or joint between the sections, causing the front section to slope downwardly and forwardly from the joint and the rear section to slope downwardly and rearwardly from the joint, resulting in the bed being positioned in a small angle of inclination relative to the plane of the surface which supports the truck such as to facilitate loading and unloading. The bed is reciprocable fore and aft of the rear section by use of hydraulic power means for placing its rear ramp against such surface, and a linkage system, also hydraulically powered, effects the tilting operation.

Abstract: A control assembly for shifting the undercarriage of a trailer to a position permitting tilting of the bed for facilitating loading of cargo has a relatively long stroke such as to appreciably decrease the slope of the bed when in its tilted position with the undercarriage disposed forwardly remote from its normal roading position. The assembly permits the loading of cargo which would otherwise require additional ramps needed also in certain instances to compensate for overhang.