Abstract: A vehicle is structured for transporting heavy loads of unstable elongated items such as logs or heavy pipes and includes longitudinally spaced lateral members or "bunks" and vertical stakes at the ends of the bunks. Each of the bunks comprising an elongated steel beam having at least three spaced mutually perpendicular plates defining a hollow inside of the beam, preferably a box beam formed by welding together elongated plates. A number of trusses are placed in the hollow inside of the beam, at least some of which extend diagonally between spaced plates, especially the upper and lower plates. The trusses form triangular bracing structures with the plates for supporting the load on the beams at spaced points along the length of the vehicle.

Abstract: A self-propelled boom loader is arranged as a hybrid between a trailer and a self-propelled vehicle. The loader has a carriage with a pair of independently controllable drive wheels powered by hydraulic drive motors and a free turning third wheel caster spaced from the drive wheels in a tricycle configuration. A hydraulic loader such as a knuckle boom loader is carried on the carriage on a turntable mount. The loader has an on-board hydraulic pump providing operational hydraulic pressure to the boom and turntable, which pressure is controllably divertable to operate the drive motors via controls in the loader cab. The loader is adapted for maneuvering in close quarters and has stabilizing outriggers. The drive wheels have rotationally disengageable hubs for freewheeling, and the carriage has a tow hitch coupleable to a tow vehicle for trailering, the wheels and hitch being mounted on the carriage such that the third wheel is lifted from the ground during trailering, for over the road transport.