If your trucks load and unload cargo every day, the liftgate you choose affects more than convenience — it affects speed, safety, and how much wear your crew puts on their bodies. But “liftgate” isn’t one product. Hydraulic, railgate, and tuckaway styles all solve the same basic problem in different ways.
Here’s a plain-language breakdown of how each one works and which fits your fleet best.
Hydraulic (Cantilever) Liftgates
Best for: general-purpose fleets that need a simple, reliable gate without a lot of extra features.
This is the liftgate most people picture first. A hydraulic cantilever gate swings out from the back of the truck and lowers straight down to the ground, with the platform doing all the work. Tommy Gate, often called the original hydraulic lift, built its name on this style, and it’s still one of the most common setups on service trucks, flatbeds, and vans across the Midwest.
What to know about hydraulic liftgates:
- Straightforward operation with few moving parts to maintain
- Works well across a wide range of vehicle and body types
- Platform folds up against the truck when not in use, staying out of the way
- Takes up some rear clearance, which can affect departure angle on certain bodies
- Available in galvanized finishes for better performance in harsh weather
If you want a gate that just works, day in and day out, without a steep learning curve, hydraulic is usually the right call.
Railgate Liftgates
Best for: fleets moving heavy, palletized freight that needs a flush, stable platform.
A railgate rides up and down a track mounted to the truck’s frame, tucking completely under the bed when stowed. That design gives you a full-height platform with no cantilever arm in the way, which matters if you’re rolling pallet jacks or heavy equipment on and off the truck. Maxon offers a dedicated railift series built for exactly this kind of work, and Palfinger makes rail liftgates as part of its broader lineup for fleets that need higher load capacities.
What to know about railgates:
- Handles heavier loads and larger platforms than most cantilever gates
- Tucks fully under the truck bed, keeping departure angle and ground clearance clear
- Provides a stable, flush surface for wheeled equipment
- More complex mounting and moving parts mean more to maintain
- Typically a bigger upfront investment than a standard hydraulic gate
For fleets hauling serious weight on a regular basis, a railgate is often worth the added cost.
Tuckaway Liftgates
Best for: fleets that need the bed and rear doors fully clear when the gate isn’t in use.
Tuckaway (or tuck-under) gates fold and stow underneath the truck bed itself, rather than hanging off the back. That keeps the rear of the truck completely open, so backup doors swing freely and departure angle isn’t compromised. Anthony Liftgates, headquartered right here in Illinois, built its reputation on this style, and Maxon also offers a tuck-a-way series alongside its other liftgate lines.
What to know about tuckaway liftgates:
- Stows completely under the bed, leaving the rear of the truck unobstructed
- Popular for grease-free, low-maintenance operation on models like Anthony’s lineup
- Well-suited to delivery vans, box trucks, and service bodies with limited rear clearance
- Platform size can be more limited than a full railgate
- Installation is more involved than a simple hydraulic cantilever gate
If keeping the back of the truck clear is a priority — for loading docks, tight alleys, or frequent door use — tuckaway is usually the better fit.
Not Sure Which Liftgate Is Right for Your Fleet?
We work with all the leading liftgate manufacturers — Tommy Gate, Anthony, Palfinger, and Maxon — so we can match the right gate to your body style, load weight, and how your trucks actually get used.
Give us a call at 217-753-3871 or contact us here to talk through your next upfit project.
