Commercial Lift Gates

May 23, 2023

When you need some extra muscle, lift gates are your answer. Powered by hydraulics, pneumatics, or electricity and operated via wired remote control, lift gates are secured to the back, rear bumper, or sides of a box truck or cargo van and utilize a large, flat platform to safely lift heavy goods into the vehicle. Cargo is loaded onto this platform and lifted straight up, perpendicular to the ground, to be wheeled or pushed off when level with the truck bed.

Lift gates are an essential upfit for drivers who regularly need to lift up to 5,000 pounds of cargo at a time into their commercial vehicles. Not only do they take the burden of loading cargo off the driver, but lift gates also increase efficiency on the job while preventing goods from being damaged. When not in use, lift gates can retract and be safely stowed against the vehicle.

Commercial Lift Gate Options & Offerings

Best Vans & Trucks for Lift Gates

Which Industries Use Lift Gates?

The Merchants Commercial Upfitting Process

Your Connection to Truck Upfitting Services

White box truck with commercial lift gate — Image by zinkevych on Freepik

Commercial Lift Gate Options & Offerings

The type of lift gate you need depends on your industry, the cargo you’ll be moving, and your vehicle. Concerning weight capacity, keep in mind that your cargo likely won’t be the only thing your lift gate will need to accommodate; factor in the weight of pallets, handlers, jacks, and any other equipment or personnel that may need to rest on the lift gate temporarily.

Cantilever Lift Gate: Cantilever lift gates are stored flat against the back of a box truck when not in use and descend outward like a drawbridge when engaged. Once on the ground, cantilever lift gate platforms sit at a slight downward-sloping angle, forming a ramp ideal for dollies and wheeled carts. This is called a “standard ride” platform.These lift gates are best for large cargo and for trucks that don’t need to receive cargo straight from loading docks. Some cantilever lift gates are made specially for cargo vans; when stowed against the back doors, the platform folds in half vertically so the doors can still open.
Tuck-Under Lift Gate: Tuck-under lift gates have a hinged platform that folds up and tucks under the rear bumper, hence the name. Like cantilever lift gates, a fully unfolded tuck-under lift gate has a standard ride platform, sitting at a slight angle to the ground and forming a ramp for easy cargo placement.The advantage of a tuck-under lift gate is that, when folded up and stowed, it allows a box truck to back directly up to a loading dock without obstructing the truck bed. These lift gates are not ideal for vans, however, since their rear bumpers sit too low to the ground.
Rail-Lift Gate: Like cantilever lift gates, rail-lift gates lie flat against the back of a box truck when not in use. Once engaged, the lift gate will slide down parallel to the back of the truck until it reaches the ground, then fold out into a flat platform.Unlike cantilever and tuck-under lift gates, rail-lift gates are “level ride” platforms, meaning they lie completely flat on the ground when in place. This prevents cargo from accidentally rolling off before the platform lifts off the ground. A downside of rail-lift gates is that they block part of the cargo door when folded up (as do cantilever lift gates).

Best Trucks & Vans for Lift Gates

Lift gates are most often added to box trucks and occasionally to cargo vans. Pickup trucks are usually not appropriate candidates for lift gates.

Box Trucks:

Cargo Vans:

Which Industries Use Lift Gates?

Any industry that calls for lifting heavy cargo into a vehicle could utilize a lift gate. Common use cases include:

The Merchants Commercial Upfitting Process

We can connect you to commercial truck and van upfitting services at any time following your purchase from Merchants.

First, we’ll spec the best aftermarket equipment for your needs. Then we’ll choose the most qualified upfit vendors for the job and act as a single point of contact between you, your fleet drivers, the OEM, and vendors.

Choose from one of our standard or customized upfit packages, and we’ll make all the necessary calls. If you aren’t sure exactly what you’re looking for, or if you have questions about certain upfits, our dedicated team can help steer you in the right direction.

Contact Merchants

Your Connection to Vehicle Upfitting Services

Whether you’re looking to add simple touches or completely renovate your vehicle’s interior, we’ll ensure any type of upfitting is done efficiently and exactly to your specifications.