Hook Lift System and Skip Loaders

The unbeatable Houtris range of hookloaders gives flexibility, strength and proven reliability. Experience over 35 years, our equipment is suitable for every application. Constructed from high yield steels, the hookloader design offers height and weight advantages to maximise stability and payload. The extensive range starts from 4 tonnes up to 40 tonnes capacity to satisfy any requirement.

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Hook Lift System and Skip Loaders

Hydraulic hook lift System and Skip Loaders are mounted on heavy duty trucks to enable hauliers to change out flatbeds, dumpster bodies, and similar containers. Primarily used in conjunction with tilt frame bodies and specialized containers, generally designed for the transportation of materials in the waste, recycling, scrap and demolition industries.

Various options are available including draw bar applications, hook/demountable skip or hook/crane combinations.

In addition longer length machines are available for high capacity containers and semi trailers to provide the operator with the equipment to suit their particular application.

Automatic Sheeting System

  • The Autosheet System is designed to provide a simple solution to covering all sizes of container.
  • Hydraulic power is taken from the hookloader circuit avoiding complicated interlocks and electrics.
  • It’s quick and simple to operate, keeping loading times to a minimum.


Spyros Houtris & Sons Ltd  “ Design, Production, Modification, Trade, Installation and Maintenance of Steel Structures, Machinery Systems and Machines / Mechanisms “
…innovative equipment for transport and waste management!


Spyros Houtris & Sons Ltd  “ Design, Production, Modification, Trade, Installation and Maintenance of Steel Structures, Machinery Systems and Machines / Mechanisms “
…innovative equipment for transport and waste management!

System Components

Hydraulic system
The hydraulic operating pressure of all hook lift hoists are preset at the factory to achieve the intended lifting capacity for the design application. The original approach used by early European models, still widely used today, was a high pressure / low volume system. This setup suits chassis with space restraints, allowing for use of a smaller piston pump and a smaller hydraulic reservoir.

Jib system

There are two common types of jib system, each controlled by a single hydraulic cylinder. Both systems can be used with either a single or dual rear pivot section.

  • The articulating jib, also referred to as a tilting jib, is a simple a-frame. When extending the cylinder, the container/body is pushed up and back, exiting the rear locks. When retracting the cylinder, the container/body is pulled forward and down, engaging the rear locks.
  • The sliding jib consists of a single arm, composed of a tube inside a tube. When extending the cylinder, this design pulls the container/body forward, engaging the rear locks. When retracting the cylinder, this design pushes the container/body rearward, exiting the rear locks.

Rear pivot section

  • The single rear pivot system is the simpler of the two rear pivot designs. Every function operates relative to a pivot point, typically located in front of the rear axle. This design does not allow traditional tip-dumping capabilities.
  • The dual rear pivot system is more complex, offering the added benefit of a traditional tip-dumping capability. This is achieved by pivoting at the rear of the hoist, typically behind the rear axle.

Lift/dump cylinder(s)

Two configurations are typical, both suitable for either single or dual pivot designs.

  • The single lift/dump cylinder design reduces unit cost, retains true hook lift capabilities, but can be unstable while dumping on uneven ground.
  • The dual lift/dump cylinder design, whilst increasing unit cost, improves load handling stability when dumping on uneven ground.


Spyros Houtris & Sons Ltd  “ Design, Production, Modification, Trade, Installation and Maintenance of Steel Structures, Machinery Systems and Machines / Mechanisms “
…innovative equipment for transport and waste management!