WO2021243257A1

WO2021243257A1 - Modular compound lifts for vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2021243257A1
Application number: PCT/US2021/034931
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Manone
Original assignee: Rite-Hite Holding Corporation
Priority date: 2020-05-28
Filing date: 2021-05-28
Publication date: 2021-12-02

Abstract

Modular compound lifts for vehicles are disclosed. An example vehicle lift disclosed herein includes a front platform to provide a base over which a vehicle is to travel. The front platform has a leading edge and a rear edge that are spaced apart relative to a longitudinal direction. A rear platform is pivotal about an axis to lift at least a rear portion of the vehicle relative to a ground surface. The rear platform is pivotal between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the front platform. The front platform does not lift relative to the ground surface when the rear platform lifts relative to the front platform.

Description

MODULAR COMPOUND LIFTS FOR VEHICLES

RELEATED APPLICATION

[0001] This patent claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 63/031,352, filed on May 28, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] This patent generally pertains to vehicle lifts and, more specifically, to modular compound lifts for vehicles.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Vehicle lifts and dock levelers often work in conjunction with each other to facilitate loading and/or unloading of cargo of a truck or trailer at a loading dock. A typical vehicle lift includes a drive-on deck that extends between a leading front edge that is hinged to a dock driveway and a rear edge that is adjacent to the front face of a dock platform. After a truck backs either a trailer or itself onto the deck, the deck pivots about the hinge to raise a rear portion of the vehicle and/or the cargo bed at an elevation adjacent the dock platform. A conventional dock level er can be employed to (e.g., accommodate any additional height differential and) bridge the gap between the dock platform and the cargo bed to facilitate loading and/or unloading of cargo.

[0004] A dock leveler typically includes a deck having a rear edge pivotally coupled to the dock platform. The pivotal motion about the rear edge adjusts a height (e.g., a vertical distance) of the deck’s front edge to substantially match the height of the vehicle’s cargo bed. A lip extension pivots or translates outward from the front edge of the dock leveler's deck to bridge the gap between the dock platform and the vehicle’s cargo bed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0005] FIG. 1 is a side view of an example loading dock having an example vehicle lift constructed in accordance with the teachings disclosed herein. FIG. 1 shows the example vehicle lift in an example lowered position and an example vehicle positioned adjacent the example vehicle lift.

[0006] FIG. 2 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the vehicle positioned on the example vehicle lift and the example vehicle lift in the example lowered position. [0007] FIG. 3 is a side view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the example vehicle lift in an example raised position.

[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the example trailer lift shown in FIGS. 1 - 3.

[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4 but with certain parts omitted to show other parts of the example vehicle lift more clearly.

[0010] FIG. 6 is a top view of the example vehicle lift shown in FIG. 5.

[0011] FIG. 7 is a front view of the example vehicle lift of FIG. 6.

[0012] FIG. 8 is a side view of the example vehicle lift of the FIG. 7.

[0013] FIG. 9 is a side view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the example vehicle lift in an example raised position.

[0014] FIG. 10 is a side view similar to FIG.2 but showing another example vehicle lift disclosed herein.

[0015] FIG. 11 is a side view similar to FIG. 10 but showing the example vehicle lift in an example raised position.

[0016] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of another example vehicle lift system disclosed herein.

[0017] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another example vehicle lift disclosed herein.

[0018] FIG. 14 is a side view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the example vehicle lift of FIG.

13 with an example vehicle restraint.

[0019] FIG. 15 is a side view similar to FIG. 14 but showing an example vehicle positioned on the vehicle lift and the vehicle lift positioned in an example lowered position.

[0020] FIG. 16 is a side view similar to FIG. 15 but showing the vehicle lift in an example raised position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Some vehicles (e.g., trucks and trailer beds) are relatively close to the ground (e.g., less than 48 inches), However, some dock heights remain at a fairly standard height of about 48 inches. Thus, it can be difficult loading and/or unloading cargo from vehicles at loading docks when a vehicle’s cargo bed is too low for conventional dock levelers. To accommodate lower cargo beds, lifts are often employed. However, conventional lifts cannot accommodate the various height differentials of vehicles and/or vehicle fleets. In some instances, a vehicle’s cargo bed is so low that a height differential between a cargo bed and a dock platform is beyond a travel limit of a dock leveler. To accommodate such a differential in height, a conventional dock leveler must descend to create a ramp so steep that a forklift can no longer make the grade to get forklift off the trailer and back onto the dock platform. [0022] Example vehicle lifts for elevating at least a rear portion of a vehicle at a loading dock are disclosed herein. An example vehicle lift disclosed herein includes a lift platform that pivots about a pivot axis that is in a far-forward position in front of the lift platform. The far- forward position of the pivot axis provides a long arc radius to reduce (e.g., minimize) an angular tilt of a lift platform as the lift platform moves relative to the dock platform (e.g., in up and down direction, a vertical direction, etc.). Example vehicle lifts disclosed herein can pivot between raised and lowered positions. Example vehicle lifts disclosed herein are modular vehicle lifts. Example vehicle lifts disclosed herein include a common support platform (e.g., a rear platform) and a front platform. Specifically, the common support platform pivots relative to the front platform and/or a ground when the vehicle lift moves between the raised position and the lowered position relative. Specifically, the front platform does not lift relative to a ground surface when the rear platform lifts relative to the front platform. In other words, the front platform remains fixed to a ground surface when the rear platform pivots relative to the front platform. In some examples, example vehicle lifts include different front platforms that are interchangeable with the common support platform to provide different vehicle lifts for accommodating different sized vehicles.

[0023] Example vehicle lift 10 (e.g., a trailer lift 10a and a truck lift 10b), as shown in FIGS.

1 - 16, is a platform to lift at least a rear portion 12 (e.g., rear portion 12a and 12b) of a vehicle 14 (e.g., vehicle 14a and 14b). Lifting rear portion 12 elevates a cargo bed 16 (e.g., trailer bed 16a and truck bed 16b) of a vehicle 14 to within a distance (e.g., within reach) of a dock leveler 18 (e.g., to enable loading/unloading operation).

[0024] The term, “vehicle” refers to any wheeled apparatus for transporting cargo. Examples of vehicle 14 include a truck, an open flatbed truck, an enclosed parcel truck (vehicle 14b), a trailer, a flatbed trailer, a lowboy trailer, an enclosed trailer, a van, a transmit van, a cargo van, and combinations thereof (e.g., vehicle 14a). While in transit, cargo is carried on the vehicle’s cargo bed 16. When the vehicle parks at an example loading dock 20, vehicle lift 10 and dock leveler 18 facilitate the transferring (e.g., loading/unloading) of the cargo between cargo bed 16 and a platform 22 of dock 20.

[0025] Vehicle lift 10 includes a rear platform 24 that is pivotal between a lowered position (FIGS. 1, 2, 4 - 8, 10, 13 - 16, and 15) and a raised position (FIGS. 3, 9, 11, and 16). FIGS. 1 - 3 illustrate an example sequence of operation. FIG. 1 shows vehicle 14 adjacent the vehicle lift 10 at the dock 20 (e.g., moving or backing into the dock 20). When the vehicle 14 moves in a rearward direction toward platform 22 (e.g., approaches platform 22), vehicle 14 moves onto vehicle lift 10 while the vehicle lift’s rear platform 24 is in a lowered position. [0026] FIG. 2 shows vehicle 14 positioned (e.g., having backed up) adjacent to platform 22. In this position, rear wheels 26 of vehicle 14 are positioned on top of vehicle lift 10 while rear platform 24 is in the lowered position.

[0027] FIG. 3 shows the vehicle lift’s rear platform 24 having pivoted up to a raised position. The vehicle lift 10 raises or lifts rear wheels 26 of the vehicle 10 to raise the vehicle’s cargo bed 16 closer to the height of platform 22. A vehicle restraint 28 can be used to secure vehicle 14 at the loading dock 20. In some examples, vehicle restraint 28 secures vehicle 14 prior to vehicle lift 10 lifting rear wheels 26. When vehicle 14 is secured by the vehicle restraint 28, dock leveler 18 can be deployed to create a bridge (e.g., over which cargo can be transferred) to facilitate the transfer of cargo between platform 22 and vehicle bed 16.

[0028] FIGS. 1-11 illustrate the vehicle lift 10 disclosed herein configured as a trailer lift 10a as shown in FIGS. 1-9 and truck lift 10b as shown in FIGS. 10-11. . Trailer lift 10a (FIGS. 1 - 9) includes a front platform 30a and a rear platform 24. Truck lift 10b (FIGS. 10 and 11) includes a front platform 30b and the rear platform 24. The front platform 30a is different than the front platform 30b. For example, the front platform 30a accommodates a first type of vehicle and the second platform 30b accommodates a second type of vehicle different than the first vehicle. For example, the front platform 30a of trailer lift 10a includes a relatively short and stationary trailer lift front platform 30a that is structured to be anchored to a driveway 32 of dock 20. The front platform 30b of truck lift 10b (FIGS. 10 and 11) includes a longer and stationary truck lift front platform 30b that is structured to be anchored to driveway 32. For example, rear platform 24 of trailer lift 10a and truck lift 10b is a modular structure or platform that can accommodate (e.g., be coupled with) the front platform 30a of trailer lift 10a or front platform 30b of truck lift 10b. In other words, rear platform 24 is substantially similar (e.g., identical) in trailer lift 10a and truck lift 10b. Trailer lift front platform 30a and truck lift front platform 30b are two examples of a front platform 30. In other examples, the front platform 30 can include different configurations and/or structures. [0029] Referring to FIGS. 1-9, rear platform 24 pivotally connects to trailer lift front platform 30a to form trailer lift 10a. Alternatively, referring to FIGS. 1-11, rear platform 24 pivotally connects to truck lift front platform 30b to form truck lift 10b. Overall, trailer lift 10a is shorter in length in the longitudinal direction 42 than truck lift 10b.

[0030] Although trailer lift 10a has a shorter length, trailer lift 10a can be used to accommodate longer length examples of vehicle 14, such as vehicle 14a (e.g., a tractor trailer). Conversely, although truck lift 10b has longer length, trailer lift 10b can be used to accommodate shorter length examples of vehicle 14, such as vehicle 14b e.g., a transit vehicle). In this manner, because truck lift 10b has a longer length, truck lift 10b can be used to lift front wheels and rear wheels of vehicle 14b (e.g., an entire vehicle) when vehicle 14b is relatively short, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. In other words, a length of the vehicle 14b is less than a length of trailer lift 10b in the longitudinal direction 42. Either vehicle lift 10a or 10b, however, can be used for vehicles of any length. Trailer lift 10a, for example, can lift at least the rear wheels of vehicle 14b. Likewise, truck lift 10b can lift at least rear wheels 26 of vehicle 14a.

[0031] A limitation, however, of using trailer lift 10a for vehicle 14b is that trailer lift 10a might have a length in the longitudinal direction 42 that is too short to support both the front and rear wheels of vehicle 14b. Lifting only the rear wheels of a relatively short vehicle, such as vehicle 14b, can cause truck bed 16 to be (e.g., tilt) at an incline that can be too steep for a forklift to traverse during loading and/or unloading of cargo. Also, vehicle 14b at a steep incline (e.g., greater than an angle or incline threshold) might tend to roll forward away from dock platform 22. Although truck lift 10b can be used for relatively long examples of vehicle 14, such as vehicle 14a, truck lift 10b in such applications would be longer than necessary.

[0032] FIG. 4 shows trailer lift 10a with guard plates 34 to block possible pinch points.

FIGS. 1 - 3 and 5 - 9 show trailer lift 10a with guard plates 34 omitted to show other structural details of trailer more clearly lift 10a.

[0033] In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 - 9, trailer lift front platform 30a includes a fixed ramp 36 between side rails 38. Trailer lift front platform 30a provides trailer lift 10a with a stationary inclined base 40 over which vehicle 14 can travel in a longitudinal direction 42 to reach rear platform 24. Trailer lift front platform 30a extends in the longitudinal direction 42 between a leading edge 44 and a rear edge 46 of ramp 36 such that rear edge 46 is at a higher elevation (e.g., relative to a driveway or ground) than an elevation of leading edge 44. Each of side rails 38 of trailer lift front platform 30a includes a pivot point 48 defining a pivot axis 50 about which rear platform 24 can pivot between the raised and lowered positions relative to trailer lift front platform 30a and/or a ground surface (e.g., a driveway on which the trailer lift 10a is positioned). When the trailer lift 10a pivots between the raised and lowered positions, the front platform 30a remains stationary relative to the rear platform 24. Specifically, the front platform 30a does not lift relative to a ground surface when the rear platform 24 lifts relative to the front platform 30a and/or the ground. In other words, the front platform 30a remains fixed to a ground surface when the rear platform 24 pivots relative to the front platform 30a. [0034] The rear platform 24 includes a pivotal lift platform 52 having a front platform 54 and a rear platform 56. Rear edge 46 of ramp 36 of the front platform 30 is positioned closer to the front platform 54 than rear platform 56. A pair of side arms 58 extends generally in longitudinal direction 42 from lift platform 52 to a distal end 60 of each arm 58’. Front platform 30 is interposed between arms 58’ with respect to a lateral direction 62 that is perpendicular to longitudinal direction 42.

[0035] A pivot structure 64 (e.g., pivot joint or hinge) at distal end 60 pivotally connects each arm 58’ to front platform 30 at pivot point 48. Pivot structure 64 is schematically illustrated to represent any structure or element for providing a pivotal connection between front platform 30 and rear platform 24. Some examples of pivot structure 64 include a hinge pin, a hole, a tube, a screw, a bolt, a shaft, a rod, a trunnion, a fastener, a fulcrum, a hinge, a bracket, a bushing, and/or combinations thereof, etc. In some examples, pivot structure 64 can be a pin extending through coaxially aligned holes formed in respective ones of side piece 38 and arm 58’.

[0036] Side arms 58’ locate pivot axis 50 in front of the lift platform’s front end 54. Such location of pivot axis 50 provides rear platform 24 with a desirable long arc radius to reduce (e.g., minimize) a change in tilt for a given rise of lift platform 52.

[0037] To raise lift platform 52 from the lowered position to the raised position, vehicle lift 10 includes an actuator 66 at rear platform 56. Actuator 66 represents any apparatus capable of at least assisting in lifting platform 52 (e.g., in a vertical direction away from the ground or driveway). Some examples of actuator 66 include, but are not limited to, a hydraulic cylinder, a linear motor, a pneumatic cylinder, a bellows, a spring, and various combinations thereof, etc. When the vehicle lift 10 pivots between the raised and lowered positions, the front platform 30 remains substantially stationary relative to the rear platform 24.

Specifically, the front platform 30 does not lift relative to a ground surface when the rear platform 24 lifts relative to the front platform 30 and/or the ground to raise at least the rear portion of the vehicle 14. In other words, the front platform 30 remains fixed to a ground surface when the rear platform 24 pivots relative to the front platform 30 to lift at least rear portion of vehicle 14.

[0038] When lift platform 52 is in the raised position, the vehicle’s tendency to roll forward, away from dock platform 22, is reduced (e.g., prevented or minimized) by a relative angular orientation of a first drive-on surface 68 of the front platform 54 and a second drive-on surface 70 of the rear platform 56. In some examples, when lift platform 52 is in the lowered position, second drive-on surface 70 on rear platform 56 is substantially level while first drive-on surface 68 on front platform 54 lies at an incline in a direction from rear platform 56 toward rear edge 46 of front platform 30a. Such orientation provides an obtuse angle 72 between drive-on surfaces 68 and 70. When lift platform 52 rises to the raised position, first drive-on surface 68 becomes substantially horizontal. The horizontal orientation of first drive-on surface 68 reduces (e.g., minimizes) tendency of vehicle 14 to roll forward in a direction away from the dock 20.

[0039] When rear platform 24 rises to the raised position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 9, the front platform 54 rises above rear edge 46 of front platform 30a, thereby exposing a guard plate 74 of front platform 54. Guard plate 74 generally faces in longitudinal direction 42 toward front platform 30 (e.g., and between side arms 58). Guard plate 74 is substantially below (e.g., entirely below) rear edge 46 when rear platform 24 is in the lowered position (e.g., such that guard plate 74 is substantially hidden from view (e.g., not exposed or visible)). In some examples, guard plate 74 blocks off an otherwise possibly exposed pinch point between rear edge 46 of front platform 30 and front end 54 of rear platform 24.

[0040] The vehicle lift 10 of the illustrated example includes a flexible seal 76 between the rear edge 46 and the front platform 54. Seal 76 prevents debris from falling between and/or underneath rear platform 24 and front platform 30 . Some examples of seal 76 include a brush, a wiper, a scraper, etc. Seal 76 can be mounted on front platform 30, rear platform 24, below first drive-on surface 68, below a ramp drive-on surface 78 on ramp 36, and/or at any other suitable location(s).

[0041] In some examples, guard plate 74 includes a display 80 (FIG. 12) that becomes (e.g., more) visible when rear platform 24 is at the raised position than when rear platform 24 is in the lowered position. Alerting display 80 can provide a warning signal (e.g., a visible signal) to personnel adjacent vehicle lift 10 (e.g., or surrounding area ) that vehicle lift 10 is in the raised position. Alerting display 80 includes, but is not limited to, a visible marking, a sign, a color, or a surface finish that is distinctly different than surfaces immediately adjacent to guard plate 74, etc. Some examples of alerting display 80 include a text sign, an image, a symbol, bright paint, a reflective coating, an otherwise noticeable coating, a lamp, and various combinations thereof, etc.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 4, some examples of vehicle lift 10 include additional features. Examples of such features include, various guarding 82 to protect actuator 66 from impact, a mechanism 84 for guiding the vertical movement of rear platform 24, a guard 86 to protect wheels 16 from abrasion, beveled anchor members 88 to protect wheels 16 and vehicle lift 10 from damage, channel ribs 90 (FIG. 9) to add rigidity to lift platform 52, a cutout 92 to provide clearance between rear platform 24 and certain examples of vehicle restraint 28, and lifting lugs 94 to handle (e.g., lock) vehicle lift 10 during installation and/or maintenance. [0043] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, truck lift lObAs noted above, trailer lift 10b includes front platform 30b to accommodate relatively shorter length examples of vehicle 16, which can support both front and rear wheels of shorter vehicles, such as enclosed parcel truck 16b. Although truck lift 10b has the same rear platform 24 as trailer lift 10a, truck lift front platform 30b of truck lift 10b is configured different.

[0044] FIG. 12 illustrates rear platform 24 relative to the front platform 30a and front platform 30b. Truck lift front platform 30b includes a fixed ramp 96, a fixed bridge 98, and pivot points 48 that define pivot axis 50. Rear platform 24 pivotally connects to pivot points 48 of truck lift front platform 30b substantially similar to the way that rear platform 24 connects to pivot points 48 of trailer lift front platform 30a, as shown in FIG. 12. Truck lift front platform 30b extends in longitudinal direction 42 from leading edge 44 on ramp 96 to rear edge 46 on bridge 98. Ramp 96 has a ramp drive-on surface 104, and bridge 98 has a bridge drive-on surface 106. Drive-on surfaces 104 and 106 are angularly displaced out of coplanar alignment with each other to create an apex 108 therebetween.

[0045] In the lowered position (FIG. 10), at least one of the first drive-on surface 68 and second drive-on surface 70 extends at a lower elevation than an elevation of bridge drive-on surface 106to enable vehicle 14b to readily drive between truck lift front platform 30b and rear platform 24. In the raised position (FIG. 11), rear platform 24 supports rear wheels 26, and bridge 98 of truck lift front platform 30b supports front wheels 110. The operation of vehicle lifts 10a and 10b are otherwise substantially the same.

[0046] Trailer lift front platform 30a and truck lift front platform 30b being interchangeably connectable to rear platform 24 provides a modular vehicle lift system 112 that can be configured to form either vehicle lift 10a or truck lift 10b, as shown in FIG. 12. Such a system can reduce manufacturing costs and inventory.

[0047] In some examples, as shown in FIGS. 13 - 16, vehicle lift 10 is used in conjunction with an example vehicle restraint 28’ that eliminates the need for cutout 92. Elimination of cutout 92 strengthens vehicle lift 10 and/or reduces manufacturing costs.

[0048] In some examples, vehicle restraint 28’ is a DOK-LOK SHR-5000 vehicle restraint provided by Rite-Hite of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Vehicle restraint 28’ includes a fixed track 116, a frame 118 that travels vertically along track 116, a pivotal nose piece 124 extending from frame 118, a hook 120 for capturing a rear impact guard 122 of vehicle 14, and a wear plate 114 instead of cutout 92. Frame 118 is spring biased along track 116 to an elevated position (FIG. 14).

[0049] As vehicle 14 backs into dock 20 from the position shown in FIG. 14 to that of FIG. 15, the vehicle’s rear impact guard 122 slides along nose piece 124 and then along an angled surface 126 of frame 118. The rear impact guard’s sliding motion pushes frame 118 down and underneath rear impact guard 122, as shown in FIG. 15. Hook 120 is then raised in front of rear impact guard 122 to secure vehicle 14 (e.g., to prevent inadvertent movement or departure of the vehicle relative to the dock 20).

[0050] When vehicle lift 10 rises to lift the vehicle’s rear portion 12, as shown in FIG. 16, wear plate 114 pushes nose piece 124 upward, thereby pivoting nose piece 124 up from a position of FIG. 15 to that of FIG. 16. The nose piece’s ability to pivot eliminates the need for cutout 92.

[0051] Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture have been disclosed herein, the scope of coverage of this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle lift to raise at least a rear portion of a vehicle, the vehicle lift comprising: a front platform to provide a base over which the vehicle is to travel, the front platform having a leading edge and a rear edge that are spaced apart relative to a longitudinal direction; and a rear platform being pivotal about an axis to lift at least the rear portion of the vehicle relative to a ground surface, the rear platform being pivotal between a lowered position and a raised position relative to the front platform, wherein the front platform does not lift relative to the ground surface when the rear platform lifts relative to the front platform.

2. The vehicle lift of claim 1, wherein rear platform includes a lift platform to support at least the rear portion of the vehicle, the lift platform having a front end and a back end, the rear edge of the front platform being closer to the front end of the lift platform than to the back end of the lift platform.

3. The vehicle lift of claim 2, wherein the rear platform includes an arm to extend from the lift platform to a distal end of the arm in the longitudinal direction, the axis positioned closer to the distal end of the arm than to the front end of the lift platform.

4. The vehicle lift of claim 3, further comprising a pair of arms that includes the arm, the front platform being interposed between the pair of arms with respect to a lateral direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

5. The vehicle lift of claim 1, wherein the front platform includes a ramp and a bridge that are fixed relative to each other, the ramp having a ramp drive-on surface, the bridge having a bridge drive-on surface, the leading edge being on the ramp, the rear edge being on the bridge, the ramp drive-on surface and the bridge drive-on surface being angularly displaced out of coplanar alignment with each other to create an apex therebetween.

6. The vehicle lift of claim 5, wherein the lift platform has a first drive-on surface that extends lower than the bridge drive-on surface when the rear platform is in the lowered position.

7. The vehicle lift of claim 1, wherein rear platform includes a lift platform to support at least the rear portion of the vehicle, the lift platform having a front end and a back end, wherein the front end of the lift platform has a first drive-on surface, the back end of the lift platform has a second drive-on surface, and the first drive-on surface and the second drive-on surface define an obtuse angle therebetween.

8. The vehicle lift of claim 1, wherein rear platform includes a lift platform to support at least the rear portion of the vehicle, the lift platform having a front end and a back end, wherein the rear edge of the front platform is at a higher elevation than the leading edge of the front platform, and the front end of the lift platform is at a higher elevation than the back end of the lift platform when the rear platform is in the lowered position.

9. The vehicle lift of claim 1, wherein rear platform includes a lift platform to support at least the rear portion of the vehicle, the lift platform having a front end and a back end, wherein the front end of the lift platform is at a higher elevation than the rear edge of the front platform when the rear platform is in the raised position.

10. The vehicle lift of claim 1, wherein rear platform includes a lift platform to support at least the rear portion of the vehicle, the lift platform having a front end and a back end, and further including a seal between the rear edge of the front platform and the front end of the lift platform.

11. The vehicle lift of claim 1 , wherein rear platform includes a lift platform to support at least the rear portion of the vehicle, the lift platform having a front end and a back end, and further including a guard plate at the front end of the lift platform, the guard plate generally facing in the longitudinal direction toward the front platform, the guard plate being above the rear edge of the front platform when the rear platform is in the raised position, the guard plate being mostly below the rear edge of the front platform when the rear platform is in the lowered position.

12. The vehicle lift of claim 11, further including an alerting display on the guard plate, the alerting display being more visible when the rear platform is in the raised position than when the rear platform is in the lowered position.

13. The vehicle lift of claim 1, wherein rear platform includes a lift platform to support at least the rear portion of the vehicle, the lift platform having a front end and a back end, and further including an actuator at the back end of the lift platform.

14. A vehicle lift comprising: a front platform to provide a substantially stationary base, the front platform having a leading edge and a rear edge that are spaced apart relative to a longitudinal direction; and a rear platform being movable relative to the front platform by virtue of the rear platform being pivotal about an axis, the rear platform including a lift platform and an arm, the lift platform having a front end and a back end, the rear edge of the front platform being closer to the front end of the lift platform than to the back end of the lift platform, the arm being elongate in the longitudinal direction to extend from the lift platform to a distal end of the arm, the axis being closer to the distal end of the arm than to the front end of the lift platform.

15. A vehicle lift system to raise at least a rear portion of a vehicle, the vehicle lift system comprising: a plurality of front platforms including a trailer lift front platform and a truck lift front platform, each of the plurality of front platforms providing a stationary base over which the vehicle can travel, each of the plurality of front platforms includes a leading edge and a rear edge that are spaced apart relative to a longitudinal direction; a rear platform being pivotal about an axis, the rear platform being pivotal from a lowered position to a raised position to lift at least the rear portion of the vehicle, the rear platform being connectable selectively to one of the plurality of front platforms, the rear platform when connected to the trailer lift front platform provides a trailer lift, the rear platform when connected to the truck lift front platform provides a truck lift, the trailer lift being shorter than the truck lift; a lift platform being part of the rear platform to support at least the rear portion of the vehicle, the lift platform having a front end and a back end, the rear edge of the trailer lift front platform 30a being closer to the front end of the lift platform than to the back end of the lift platform when the rear platform is connected to the trailer lift front platform, the rear edge of the truck lift front platform being closer to the front end of the lift platform than to the back end of the lift platform when the rear platform is connected to the truck lift front platform; and an arm being part of the rear platform, the arm being elongate in the longitudinal direction to extend from the lift platform to a distal end of the arm, the axis being closer to the distal end of the arm than to the front end of the lift platform.