Ladle carrier with laterally shiftable cradle

A carrier for lifting and transporting a heavy ladle or the like having lateral trunnions, comprising in combination, a self-propelled tractor and a wheeled trailer having a longitudinal center line and a generally U-shaped frame with rearwardly projecting side members, and a forwardly projecting integral gooseneck pivotally connected to the tractor to permit turning thereof at substantially right angles, a generally rearwardly opening cradle connected by pivot means adjacent the rear ends of the trailer side members and adapted to embrace the ladle, hook means suspended from the cradle for engaging the ladle trunnions and lifting the ladle, a hydraulic lift actuator interconnected by pivot means to the forward portion of the cradle and the forward portion of the trailer frame for pivotally raising and lowering the cradle with respect to the trailer side members, said cradle including a generally U-shaped forward portion with rearwardly extending legs and a pair of rear extension members respectively connected by hinge means adjacent the ends of the legs, and actuator means interconnecting the legs and extension members for selectively swinging the legs and extension members about the hinge means so as to shift the cradle and hooks laterally with respect to the trailer center line.