A trailer for transporting an elongated crop harvesting header after it has been separated from a transport vehicle, comprising:
- an elongated and generally horizontally disposed frame means, having a forward end and a rearward end;
- said elongated and generally horizontally disposed frame means having a length sufficient to have the elongated crop harvesting header positioned thereon;
- a front wheel assembly positioned at said forward end of said frame means;
- said front wheel assembly including:
- (a) a housing having a first side, a second side, a forward end, a rearward end, and an upper end;
- (b) a horizontally disposed first axle rotatably extending from said first side of said housing;
- (c) a horizontally disposed second axle rotatably extending from said second side of said housing;
- (d) an elongated tongue having a forward end and a rearward end;
- (e) said rearward end of said elongated tongue being pivotally secured to said housing about a horizontal axis;
- (f) a first wheel mounted on said first axle;
- (g) a second wheel mounted on said second axle;
- (h) a hitch ball secured to said housing which extends upwardly from said upper end of said housing;
- a gooseneck hitch structure including:
- (a) an upstanding post having an upper end and a lower end;
- (b) a ball king pin receiving assembly secured to said lower end of said upstanding post;
- (c) said ball king receiving assembly configured to have said hitch ball of said front wheel assembly movably received therein;
- (d) an elongated first frame member having a forward end and a rearward end;
- (e) said forward end of said elongated first frame member of said gooseneck hitch structure being secured to said upper end of said upstanding post of said gooseneck hitch structure so as to extend rearwardly therefrom;
- (f) an elongated and inclined second frame member having an upper forward end and a lower rearward end;
- (g) said upper forward end of said second frame member of said gooseneck hitch structure being secured to said rearward end of said first frame member of said gooseneck hitch structure so as to extend downwardly and rearwardly from said first frame member of said gooseneck hitch structure;
- (h) an elongated and transversely extending and horizontally disposed beam, having first and second ends, secured to said lower rearward end of said second frame member of said gooseneck hitch structure;
- said forward end of said elongated and generally horizontally disposed frame means being selectively hingedly secured, about a horizontal axis, to said first and second ends of said elongated and transversely extending and horizontally disposed beam between a lower loading position and an upper transport position;
- a first locking means for selectively locking said forward end of said elongated and generally horizontally disposed frame means in said transport position;
- the connection of said ball king pin receiving assembly at said lower end of said post of said gooseneck hitch structure with said hitch ball extending upwardly from said housing of front wheel assembly permitting said gooseneck hitch structure to pivotally move rearwardly and downwardly as said elongated and generally horizontally disposed frame means is moved from said transport position to said loading position and vice versa without pivotally moving said housing and said tongue;
- a first hydraulic cylinder extending between said gooseneck hitch structure and said forward end of said elongated and generally horizontally disposed frame member for selectively hingedly moving said forward end of said elongated and generally horizontally disposed frame means from said loading position to said transport position;
- a rear wheel assembly positioned at said rearward end of said elongated and generally horizontally disposed frame means;
- said rearward end of said elongated and generally horizontally disposed frame means being selectively movable between loading and transport positions with respect to said rear wheel assembly;
- and
- a second locking means for selectively locking said rearward end of said elongated and generally horizontally disposed frame means in said transport position.