The use of a tail lift can obviate the needs to use machinery such as a forklift truck in order to load heavy items on to a vehicle, or can be used to bridge the difference in height between a loading dock and the vehicle load bed. The tail lift can be installed easily and fast. The com- plete hydraulic and electrical system is integrated into this lift. The screws are all that is needed to mount the lift to the truck. Hook up the battery cables and the lift is ready to go.