Like many folks, I’ve spent my fair share of time wrestling heavy, awkward items into the back of a pickup truck. Whether it was loading a deer after a successful hunt, moving appliances, or just getting heavy feed bags onboard, it was always a chore. The aches and pains afterward were a regular occurrence, and the risk of injury, either to myself or the vehicle, was always present. Finding a safe and efficient way to handle these loads alone was essential; relying on a buddy wasn’t always an option, and frankly, my back wasn’t getting any younger. That’s when I started looking for a proper loading assistant.
- Easy Lifting: Built to eliminate the aches and pains of loading game animals and other heavy objects after a hunt in your truck by providing a means to safely load by yourself
- Equipped to Assist: Features a large platform and a hand winch to raise the load slightly above tailgate level to easily load your heavy boxes and hunted bucks without assistance
- Reliable and Durable: Capable of lifting heavy and bulky objects of up to 300 pounds and is made of durable powder-coated steel to ensure long-lasting use without degradation
Before You Invest: What to Consider in a Vehicle Loader
Anyone who regularly needs to move heavy or bulky items into the back of a truck or UTV knows the struggle. This category of product is designed specifically to take the strain off your back and make solo loading a reality. An ideal customer for a vehicle loader is someone who frequently transports things like harvested game, generators, appliances, tools, feed, or anything else that’s too heavy or awkward to lift manually onto a truck bed. You might be a hunter, a farmer, a landscaper, or just someone who moves heavy stuff for work or hobbies.
Who might *not* need one? If you rarely haul anything heavy, or if the items you move are consistently under 50 pounds, you probably don’t require a dedicated lifting system. Also, if you have a built-in liftgate or a very low-profile vehicle bed, manual lifting might be sufficient.
Before buying, consider the following:
* Weight Capacity: How much weight do you realistically need to lift? Ensure the product can handle your heaviest anticipated loads.
* Vehicle Compatibility: Check if it fits your specific vehicle’s hitch receiver type (standard sizes are 2-inch) and if there are any potential clearance issues with tailgates, especially on newer truck models with thicker tailgates or cables.
* Platform Size: Is the platform large enough to hold the items you plan to load?
* Ease of Assembly & Storage: How quickly can you set it up and take it down? Does it break down for easy transport and storage?
* Lifting Mechanism: Is it a hand winch, electric winch, or hydraulic? Consider your preference and the power source availability.
* Durability: What materials is it made from? Will it hold up to outdoor use and heavy lifting?
- DURABLE BUILD - Tubular steel in black epoxy powder coating to promote high strength and a lightweight design. It is rated for 500 lbs.
- HEAVY DUTY STEEL CONSTRUCTION: 1 Piece construction with matt black powder coating finish that resists the elements, rust and scratches.
- HEAVY DUTY STEEL CONSTRUCTION: 1 Piece construction with matt black powder coating finish that resists the elements, rust and scratches.
Introducing the Viking Solutions SWIVELIFT
The Viking Solutions Loading Assistant, Deer Hoist Lifting System with Large Platform, SWIVELIFT is designed to be your solo solution for getting heavy game and other bulky objects into your truck or UTV. It promises to take the grunt work out of loading, providing a simple, mechanical advantage using your vehicle’s hitch receiver. When you purchase it, you get the main components: the hitch receiver post with the vertical tube, the platform assembly, and the hand winch.
This specific lifting system is best suited for hunters, farmers, or anyone who needs to lift items up to 300 pounds into a standard truck bed height. It’s particularly useful when you’re alone. It might not be ideal for continuous, heavy-duty commercial use, or for vehicles with significantly high beds or non-standard hitch setups without potential modifications.
Here’s a quick look at the pros and cons based on my experience and others’:
Pros:
* Significantly reduces physical strain for solo loading.
* Relatively quick to assemble and disassemble.
* Breaks down into manageable pieces for transport.
* Large platform can handle bulky items like deer.
* Decent 300-pound lifting capacity for most common heavy loads.
Cons:
* Winch quality and cable management can be frustrating.
* Potential fit/clearance issues with some specific vehicle tailgates or hitches.
* Wobbling/sloppy fit in the receiver is possible.
* Platform mesh can sag under concentrated weight without modification.
* Can be difficult to use on uneven ground due to swiveling.
Deep Dive: How the SWIVELIFT Performed
Having used the Viking Solutions SWIVELIFT for a while now, I can share my detailed experience with its various aspects. Overall, it’s been a game-changer for many loading tasks, though it’s not without its quirks.
Effortless Lifting Capability
The core function of this loading assistant is to make lifting heavy objects easier, and it absolutely delivers on this promise. By attaching to your vehicle’s hitch and using a simple hand winch system, it takes the direct strain of lifting the full weight off your back. You load the item onto the platform at a low level, and then crank the handle to raise it. This mechanical advantage is immense. Before owning this, getting a heavy generator or a large deer into my truck was a two-person job or an exercise in brute force and hoping for the best. Now, I can manage it by myself with minimal physical exertion. The hand winch operation is straightforward, requiring steady cranking rather than heavy lifting.
The Generous Platform
The SWIVELIFT features a large platform, measuring 36.5 inches long and 21.25 inches wide. This size is definitely a plus, especially when dealing with awkwardly shaped items like game animals or multiple smaller boxes. It provides a stable base to position your load before lifting. The platform is constructed with a metal frame and a diamond mesh surface. While the size is great, the mesh surface can be a minor issue with very heavy, concentrated loads, as some users (myself included) have found it can show signs of sagging over time. A simple modification, like adding a piece of sturdy plywood to the platform surface, distributes the weight more evenly and is a worthwhile enhancement for durability.
Built Tough: Durability and Capacity
Rated to lift up to 300 pounds, the Viking Solutions SwivelLift feels solid when handling loads within its specified capacity. It’s made from alloy steel with a powder-coated finish, which gives it good protection against the elements and general wear and tear. The main structural components feel robust. I’ve lifted items close to the 300lb limit without feeling like the structure itself was going to fail. The 48-pound weight of the unit itself speaks to the amount of steel used in its construction. However, durability isn’t just about material strength; it’s also about fit and finish. While the steel is strong, some user feedback points to potential manufacturing inconsistencies like welds that might need minor adjustments or a general looseness in how the components fit together, contributing to the “wobble” some experience.
Speedy Setup and Portability
One of the major benefits is how quickly you can get this unit ready to use. The claim of assembly in under 1 minute is ambitious for the *very* first time, but once you’ve done it a couple of times, it really is only a few minutes from taking the pieces out to having it ready to lift. It breaks down into three distinct parts: the hitch receiver post, the vertical lifting column/platform assembly, and the winch. This modular design is fantastic for transport and storage. It fits easily in the back of my truck or UTV without taking up excessive space, and I can store it in a corner of my garage. This portability means I can take it with me on hunts or to places where I know I’ll need help loading without needing a separate trailer or large vehicle.
The Swivel Function: A Double-Edged Sword
The “SwiveLift” name highlights its ability to pivot. Once the load is lifted just above tailgate height, you can swivel the entire platform assembly into the truck bed. This is invaluable for positioning the load correctly. However, this swiveling action can also be a challenge. If your vehicle isn’t on perfectly level ground, the weight of the load can cause the platform to want to swing on its own, potentially making it tricky to control, especially with heavier items. Strapping your load securely to the platform before lifting, as some users suggest, is a good practice, particularly on uneven terrain, to prevent it from sliding off if the platform angles.
Winch and Cable Considerations
The hand winch is functional and provides the necessary lifting power. However, this is an area where the product shows its budget-friendly nature. The included steel cable is quite long – much longer than needed for lifting to truck bed height – which can lead to it becoming tangled or forming a “bird’s nest” on the spool, especially when lowering a load quickly. Some users, myself included, have opted to either cut the excess cable or replace the steel cable entirely with synthetic winch rope, which tends to spool more cleanly and is lighter. Also, installing the winch bolt can be a bit finicky the first time, requiring some dexterity (or a magnet tool) to get the nut into place inside the tube, as mentioned by other reviewers. While the winch works, don’t expect a high-end, buttery-smooth operation.
Vehicle Fit and Clearance Nuances
The SWIVELIFT is designed to fit standard hitch receivers common on ATVs, UTVs, and pickup trucks. However, compatibility isn’t always plug-and-play across *all* models. As some users have found, the length of the receiver arm or the height of the vertical post might not be sufficient for trucks with very high beds or specific vehicles like certain Polaris Rangers, even with receiver extensions. Additionally, depending on your truck’s design, particularly the tailgate cables, the platform might make contact as it’s lifted and swiveled. This usually requires a slight maneuver to clear, but it’s something to be aware of. The fit in the hitch receiver itself can also be less than snug, leading to some overall movement and “wobble” when lifting, which is a minor annoyance but doesn’t seem to compromise the lifting function itself within the weight limit.
What Others Are Saying: Real User Experiences
I’ve checked out feedback from other people using this product online, and the sentiment is generally positive, especially regarding its core function of saving backs. Many users appreciate its ability to make solo loading of heavy items, like deer or appliances, achievable, eliminating the need for assistance. The ease of assembly and the convenience of breaking it down for storage and transport are frequently praised. However, consistent feedback mirrors some of my own points about potential downsides. Issues with the winch and its cable are commonly mentioned, with users often modifying it by replacing the cable or shortening it. Some found the initial winch bolt installation tricky. The wobble or sloppy fit in the hitch receiver is also a recurring comment, as is the potential for the platform to swivel unexpectedly on uneven ground, sometimes requiring straps to secure the load. A few users noted minor manufacturing flaws, such as welds interfering with movement or the platform mesh sagging, leading some to add a plywood base for reinforcement. Despite these criticisms, many still feel it’s a valuable tool that works as intended for its primary purpose, saving physical strain and enabling solo operation for heavy lifting tasks.
Final Thoughts: Is the SWIVELIFT Right for You?
Wrestling heavy loads into a truck bed is more than just tiring; it’s a real risk to your physical health, leading to potential back injuries that can have long-lasting consequences. A loading assistant like the Viking Solutions SWIVELIFT directly addresses this problem. Its ability to provide a mechanical advantage, coupled with its large platform and reasonable 300-pound capacity, makes it a great fit for anyone who frequently loads heavy items alone. While it has minor drawbacks, like the basic winch and potential fit nuances, its core function of saving your back is invaluable. If you’re tired of the strain and struggle, this product is definitely worth considering. To learn more or purchase one, Click here.
Last update on 2025-08-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API