Vehicle mounted fork lift and method

A method of lifting a load from a loading/unloading position in which the load is at ground level, for lifting the load and transferring the load to a traveling position on a vehicle, and for unloading the load from its traveling position and for lowering the load to its loading/unloading position, the method employing a lift having a lift frame configured to be secured to said vehicle, a pair of side arms rotatably supported on said lift frame, a cross member carried by said side arms, a pair of forks carried by the cross member configured to be placed under said load when said load is in its loading/unloading position at ground level, a drive for moving load carried by said forks from said loading/unloading position and placing said load in its traveling on the vehicle, said drive being further operable for moving said load from said traveling position and placing said load in its loading/unloading position at ground level, said method comprising the steps of:

• a. With said load in its said loading/unloading position, positioning said forks under said load;
• b. Actuating said drive to move said load from said loading/unloading position to said traveling position, wherein with the load in said traveling position is horizontally displaced from said loading/unloading position and is supported on said vehicle;
• c. Maintaining said load in a substantially level position as the load is moved between its loading/unloading and traveling positions;
• d. Transferring the weight of the load from said forks to said lift frame when the load is in its traveling position;
• and
• e. Actuating said drive to move the load from said traveling position to said loading/unloading position so that the forks may be removed from beneath said load.