Reusable Cradle System and Method for a Material Handling Vehicle

A method for rotating a material handling vehicle having a cradle system between an upright position and a horizontal position, the method comprising:

• with the material handling vehicle in the upright position, attaching at least one sleigh of the cradle system to a base of the material handling vehicle, wherein an outer surface of the at least one sleigh comprises a first portion, a second portion perpendicular to the first portion, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion, the third portion defining a curved shape;
• rotating the material handling vehicle toward the horizontal position along the outer surface of the at least one sleigh;
• and
• attaching at least one leg of the cradle system to a mast of the material handling vehicle, such that the at least one leg contacts a ground surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizontal position.

A method for positioning a material handling vehicle in a horizontal position using a cradle system, the method comprising:

• attaching a first sleigh of the cradle system to a first side of a base of the material handling vehicle and attaching a second sleigh of the cradle system to a second side of the base opposite the first side;
• inserting a crossmember of the cradle system into an opening in each of the first sleigh and the second sleigh;
• rotating the material handling vehicle toward the horizontal position along outer surfaces of the first sleigh and the second sleigh;
• and
• attaching a first leg of the cradle system to a first side of a mast of the material handling vehicle and attaching a second leg of the cradle system to a second side of the mast opposite the first side, such that the first leg and the second leg contact a ground surface when the material handling vehicle is in the horizontal position.