National Fleet Products’ ArtLift hoists load, flips to store inside rear, side doors

National Fleet Products, a supplier of cargo lifting equipment, loading ramps and other aftermarket accessories for commercial vehicles, has introduced ArtLift, a compact and powerful cargo-lifting solution. The ArtLift is lightweight, but has a 440-lb. lifting capacity that accommodates more than 98 percent of common freight, according to the company.

When not in use, its 33 in. by 29.52-in. lift platform flips vertically to slide inside the vehicle, away from weather and road debris. At 11.81 in., the ArtLift stores flat against sidewalls and bulkheads or behind front seats, and occupies about the same amount of space as a hand truck.

A 12-volt electric motor provides the torque to rotate a worm gear that lifts appliances, furniture, industrial equipment and a variety of other cargo items to a height of up to 3.28 ft. The system’s compact design fits delivery vehicles of all types and is particularly well-suited to vans and small box trucks, the company says.

“The ArtLift is very versatile and will serve the typical cargo loading and unloading needs of the vast majority of delivery vehicles,” says Steven Peterson, president of National Fleet Products. “It also enables awkward, difficult-to-manage freight and carted items to be handled without tipping or navigating truck-mounted ramps.”

The ArtLift weighs less than 200 lb., and is easy to install, the company says. The ArtLift’s large diamond-plate platform provides traction for loading and unloading cargo in inclement weather. The platform’s beveled edges make it easy to roll on loads using dollies, pallet trucks, carts and any equipment with rollers. The vehicle-side platform edge folds vertically 90 degrees to form a backstop that prevents payloads from traveling during the lifting process. The ArtLift is designed to fit almost any commercial vehicle with a deck height of 39.37 in. or less.

The company says the up and down buttons control the lift action, and little training is needed compared to hydraulic and pneumatic liftgates that mount on the exterior of vehicles, are exposed to the environment and are notorious for maintenance problems and high repair costs. The ArtLift is easy to maintain, requiring just one simple annual service procedure.

“When you consider its low cost of entry, its ease of operation, its simple maintenance requirements, its powerful lifting capabilities and the broad range of cargo it can manage, there’s nothing else that compares to the ArtLift’s ROI,” Peterson says.