known techniques e g by using plates or other fixtures welded to the platform 20 and the truck body 12 in the exemplary embodiment the pistons 26 a 26 b are mounted at opposite sides of the platform 20 although the pistons 26 a 26 b are shown mounted generally at a midpoint of the platform 20 the pistons 26 a 26 b can be mounted in other locations on the platform 20 in the exemplary embodiment the cylinders 28 a 28 b are mounted to the bed 14 of the truck body 12 the cylinders 28 a 28 b can also be mounted to other locations such as to the walls 16 see fig1 of the truck body 12 in a further embodiment not shown the cylinders 28 a 28 b can be located within the walls 16 of the truck body 12 thereby hiding the cylinders 28 a 28 b and avoiding interference with the cargo a hydraulic control system 30 described in greater detail below controls the supply of fluid to the hydraulic cylinder piston mechanisms 24 a 24 b and thus controls the movement of the platform 20 the hydraulic control system 30 is preferably actuated from both inside and outside the truck body 12 for example an outside up down switch 32 is located outside of the truck body 12 to allow the user to raise and or lower the platform 20 from outside of the truck body 12 the outside switch 32 is preferably in a location that keeps the user away from the platform 20 when it is being lowered an inside up down switch 34 is located inside the truck body.