National Fleet Articles Unveils 12-Volt Electric Hoist for Commercial Vehicles

The new Mad EasyLoad Hoist from National Fleet Articles features double-axis positioning, a 45.5-inch boom and lifts up to 1,100 pounds.

The company says the Mad EasyLoad Hoist is the intelligent alternative to post-mounted cranes. The EasyLoad Hoist remains inside the vehicle, away from the elements, and can be stowed above shelving on either side of the vehicle or in the center of the cargo hold until needed. Its boom is easily positioned for the task at hand because it can move on two axes, sliding laterally up to 8 feet, depending on the vehicle, and extending up to 45.5 inches in length.

“The dual-axis Mad EasyLoad Hoist makes it easy for operators to lift and lower cargo with pinpoint accuracy because they don’t have to worry about positioning the vehicle in exact relationship to a target,” says Steven Peterson, president of National Fleet Articles. “The EasyLoad allows operators to navigate cargo through manholes and to position the winch for optimal load securement, even when the host vehicle isn’t perfectly oriented.”

A 12-volt, 100-amp electric motor drives the boom and winch action, lifting maximum loads at up to 2 inches per second, at lengths of up to 65 feet. Handheld controls are easy to understand and operate even with one hand, and an 8-foot cable enables operators to position themselves safely in relationship to cargo as the EasyLoad moves.

Unlike most winches, the EasyLoad operates quietly, allowing verbal communication to continue even during its operation, according to the company.

The Mad EasyLoad Hoist is simple to install, and only takes about four hours to do so. A low-profile tubular steel structure is easily configured to fit virtually any commercial van, service vehicle or box truck. The design transfers the load to the floor, and the four-legged configuration maintains structural integrity by attaching to the rear doorframe and interior structural members with just four brackets. Cast iron mounting feet secure the framework to the deck. The system is easy to wire, and a simple door switch prevents the hoist from operating when the vehicle is closed.

“The Mad EasyLoad Hoist is a smart new solution to an old problem,” Peterson says. “It’s truly a game changer in comparison to post-mounted cranes and other traditional lifting technology.”

Unlike post-mounted cranes that can lose lifting capacity when fully extended, the Mad EasyLoad Hoist provides full-length boom travel with no loss of capacity. With its 45.5-inch boom extension combined with a 1,100-pound lifting capability, it also outperforms the majority of vehicle-based post-mounted cranes.

The EasyLoad not only offers better lifting characteristics, but it has superior loading capabilities as well. Unlike swiveling cranes that do well to simply position a load at the threshold of a cargo hold, the EasyLoad can take the load well into the cargo space, forward of the vehicle’s rear axle, depositing it with its unique dual-axis precision.

The 1,100-pound capacity, heavy-duty EasyLoad Hoist weighs 330 pounds, minus its steel framework, which varies according to the vehicle it serves. Its boom is 90 inches in length when fully retracted, and its winch uses a three-sixteenth-inch steel cable. The light-duty EasyLoad Hoist can lift up to 550 pounds and weighs only 220 pounds, minus its steel framework. Its boom is just 75 inches in length when fully retracted, and it uses a .19-inch steel cable. Both systems are easy to maintain, requiring just one annual service interval and periodic cable inspections.

The EasyLoad Hoist is in stock now and available in the United States and Canada through the company’s distribution network of convenient distribution locations.

Based in Buffalo, Minn., National Fleet Articles is a North American supplier of cargo lifting equipment, loading ramps and other aftermarket accessories for commercial vehicles. National Fleet Articles is a part of FlameFighter Corp.