Pivoting hitch-type vehicle-mounted equipment carrier with equipment weight compensation feature

An equipment carrier for mounting to a rear area of a vehicle, comprising:

• a mounting arrangement for securing the equipment carrier to the vehicle;
• a mast including a front mast member and a rear mast member, each of which defines an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower ends of the mast members are pivotably interconnected with the mounting arrangement;
• an upper bracket member, wherein the upper ends of the front and rear mast members are pivotably interconnected with the upper bracket member at spaced apart locations;
• an equipment support arrangement located above the mounting arrangement, wherein the equipment support arrangement defines an inner end an outer end and includes a transverse support member at the inner end, wherein the equipment support arrangement extends rearwardly at an angle relative to the mast, and wherein the transverse support member of the equipment support arrangement is pivotably mounted to the upper bracket member;
• wherein the front and rear mast members are pivotable relative to the mounting arrangement for movement between an upright, operative position for use during transport of the equipment by the vehicle and a lowered position in which the upper ends of the mast members are moved rearwardly and downwardly relative to the vehicle, wherein the front and rear mast members, the upper bracket member, and the transverse support member of the equipment mounting arrangement are configured and arranged such that movement of the front and rear mast members from the upright, operative position toward the lowered position causes downward movement of the inner end of the equipment support arrangement relative to the outer end of the equipment support arrangement, and movement of the front and rear mast members from the lowered position toward the upright, operative position causes upward movement of the inner end of the equipment support arrangement relative to the outer end of the equipment support arrangement.

A method of operating an equipment carrier that is mounted to a rear area of a vehicle, wherein the equipment carrier includes a mast defining an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the mast is pivotably interconnected with a mounting member secured to the vehicle, and wherein the equipment carrier further includes an equipment support arrangement mounted to the upper end of the mast, wherein the equipment support arrangement defines an inner end secured to the upper end of the mast and an outer end spaced rearwardly from the inner end, comprising the acts of:

• selectively pivoting the mast relative to the mounting member between an upright, operative position for use during transport of the equipment by the vehicle and a lowered position in which the upper end of the mast is moved rearwardly relative to the vehicle;
• wherein during downward movement of the mast from the upright, operative position toward the lowered position, the inner end of the equipment support arrangement is moved downwardly relative to the outer end of the equipment support arrangement while the outer end of the equipment support arrangement is moved upwardly relative to the inner end of the equipment support arrangement, and during upward movement of the mast from the lowered position toward the upright, operative position, the inner end of the equipment support arrangement is moved upwardly relative to the outer end of the equipment support arrangement while the outer end of the equipment support arrangement is moved downwardly relative to the inner end of the equipment support arrangement.