LIFTGATES

Liftgates are one of the best inventions for safer work, and more productivity. Though liftgates come in a number of different designs, they are all designed for vertical movement to lift cargo to the bed of the truck and back down again. This allows more work to be done by fewer people and even allows the carrying of cargo that is heavier than people can safely deal with normally. With the use of a liftgate and a dolly to move the cargo, one person can easily and safely do the work of two or more.

Types of liftgates. There are several types of liftgates such as a Tuck-Away, Railgate, Slider Gate, Conventional, Side Loader, and what we might call a pickup truck liftgate. The pickup truck style liftgate was invented in 1965 by Delbert "Bus" Brown and he called it the Tommy Gate after his son. The Tommy Gate has evolved to the point that they make liftgates for pickups, service bodies, flatbeds, van bodies and many others in the same style as well as being a premier railgate manufacturer. Thieman is our other main liftgate source and they excel in conventional, what Thieman calls the stowaway that tucks up underneath the body, HD commercial railgates, and side loading liftgates. Their history also began in the early 1960s. By stocking and selling these two well known and high quality brands, we are able to satisfy virtually any liftgate application need. 

Here is a Tommy Gate liftgate with folding platform mounted on a Knapheide Service Body shown in open, raised position. The folding section allows the height of the liftgate when in the closed position to be about the same height as the service body lids and makes rear visibility excellent. This liftgate commonly lifts 1,000 to 1,300 lbs and is available in a cable or hydraulic arm version called the G2. This platform is also available in lighter weight aluminum to decrease after axle weight. Notice the custom rack assembly.

This Tommy Gate liftgate on Knapheide Service Body on Dual Rear Wheel Chassis shown in the almost fully down position. Notice that the platform is hinged as in the photo above this one since this is essentially the same liftgate. Notice also that the liftgate platform is away from the truck body and when it goes up and down, it does so in an arc while the platform remains level going up and down to and from the truck bed.

Here is a Tommy Gate Railgate with a smaller steel platform mounted on a van body. Railgates are very common on van bodies that don't normally back up to loading docks because the gate can be in the way. There are special models that can be ordered to be able to back up to a loading dock. Call us for details.

Here is Tommy Gate Aluminum Railgate on stakebed titl-cab truck. This is the largest platform available and could even handle a grand piano it is so large, yet it is lightweight aluminum so it doesn't overload the rear of the truck. This platform is in rails that are attached to the back of the truck body and so it goes straight up and straight down and stays level throughout. This liftgate will handle up to 2,000 lbs and is much more popular on van bodies. Notice also that the bottom of the liftgate platform makes a wonderful billboard and in the case of mounting it on a van body also acts as a security device to keep people away from the rear door latch.

This photo shows a Thieman Stowaway liftgate on stakebed truck. The platform on this liftgate is hinged and when folded up against the larger section allows the liftgate to tuck up underneath the body at an angle so that it is out of the way. This allows the truck to back up to a loading dock without obstruction, hand load or load the body with a forklift and have a clean look. This liftgate operates with an electric motor and hydraulic pump with hydraulic pistons and articulated arms. Notice also the side step assemblies that can be helpful.

This is another example of a Tommy Gate liftgate, but this time on a stakebed. In this case it is on a single rear wheel extended cab chassis. Because the bed area is somewhat wider than the service body, this liftgate covers the entire width of the rear and has a very large platform. When closed, this platform is approximately as tall as the stakeside gates. This liftgate can handle up to 1,600 lbs typically.

Above is a Tommy Gate liftgate on dually HD chassis. This one has a standard size platform that does not have a folding section and this kind of platform blocks the rear visibility from the rear view mirror, but not the external mirrors. There is some convenience in not having a folding section for some truck owners.

Here is Tommy Gate liftgate on Knapheide Service Body in closed position. This unit has a folding platform and also has L.E.D. lighting assemblies along with a reeceiver hitch.