Mounting assembly for supporting a hopper and a spreading mechanism on a vehicle

摘要

The subject invention provides a mounting assembly ( 10 ) for supporting a hopper ( 16 ) and a spreading mechanism ( 12 ) on a vehicle ( 14 ) for carrying and spreading a material. A spreader frame ( 18 ) supports the hopper ( 16 ) and a bumper bracket ( 60 ) is mounted to a bumper of the vehicle ( 14 ) for attaching the spreader frame ( 18 ) to a bumper. The mounting assembly ( 10 ) further includes a hitch support ( 70 ) for supporting the spreader frame ( 18 ) on a hitch receiver ( 72 ) of the vehicle ( 14 ). A plate ( 76 ) interconnects the hitch support ( 70 ) to the spreader frame ( 18 ) for adjusting a height of the hitch support ( 70 ) relative to the spreader frame ( 18 ). A pair of vertical supports ( 62 ) extend vertically from the spreader frame ( 18 ) for attachment to the bed of the vehicle ( 14 ) at an upper end ( 86 ) thereof. A coupler ( 90 ) interconnects the vertical supports ( 62 ) and the bumper brackets ( 60 ) for allowing removal of the vertical supports ( 62 ) and spreader frame ( 18 ), while the bumper brackets ( 60 ) remain mounted to the vehicle ( 14 ).