For tradespeople, field technicians, and delivery operators, one of the most routine — and most injury-prone — parts of the job happens before the work even starts: getting heavy equipment in and out of the van. MAD Automotive, a Dutch company that has been building vehicle systems since 1976, designed the EasyLoad specifically to address that problem. It’s a compact, electrically operated loading crane that mounts inside a van, trailer, or truck and allows a single operator to lift, swing, and lower loads weighing up to 500 kg — without a second person, a forklift, or a loading dock.
Here’s a factual look at how the system works, what the product line includes, and where it makes practical sense.
Where it comes from
MAD Automotive is a Netherlands-based manufacturer that operates under the wider MAD group, which also produces suspension systems and workshop equipment. The company has been making products since 1976 and holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, as well as TÜV Nord certification covering international road traffic legislation — both of which are relevant for a product that mounts into a working vehicle and handles heavy loads.
The EasyLoad line sits within MAD’s Loading Systems division and is described on the company’s site as being born out of a straightforward operational problem: “With EasyLoad on board, you avoid having to send two employees on the road with heavy loads. That’s very efficient. And extremely safe.”
How it works
The EasyLoad is a vehicle-mounted crane consisting of a compact winch unit paired with an extendable boom. Both the winch and the lifting beam are controlled electrically, operated at the touch of a button. There’s no manual cranking or hydraulics involved — the operator hooks up the load, presses a button to lift, swings the boom out over the tailgate or side opening, and lowers the load to ground level.
The mounting frame is designed to sit as close as possible to the side walls and roof of the vehicle’s cargo area, which is one of the more practical aspects of the design. When not in use, the entire unit can be pushed sideways out of the center of the loading space, allowing the remaining floor area to be used for tools, racks, or additional cargo. According to MAD, this means the loading space is “almost completely available” even with the crane installed.
Installation is handled by a bodybuilder or vehicle converter and takes approximately four hours. The system ships as a complete kit — mounting frame included — and MAD describes it as a plug-and-play system, meaning no custom fabrication is typically required beyond the four-hour fit.
The EasyLoad is compatible with racking systems already installed in vans. After use, the unit can be parked just above a shelving rack, keeping the workspace functional on both sides of the load.
The product line
MAD offers the EasyLoad in two load capacity categories — 250 kg and 500 kg — with several variants within each, differentiated by installation length and vertical hook reach.
EasyLoad 250 (up to 250 kg capacity)
The 250 kg variants come in two installation lengths — 1,900 mm and 2,300 mm — and two cable length options per size:
- 1,900 mm installation / 5.4 m vertical hook reach
- 1,900 mm installation / 9.5 m vertical hook reach
- 2,300 mm installation / 5.0 m vertical hook reach
- 2,300 mm installation / 9.1 m vertical hook reach
The longer cable variants are suited to situations where loads need to be raised or lowered from height — a mezzanine floor, an elevated platform, or a multi-story access point.
EasyLoad 500 (up to 500 kg capacity)
The 500 kg models cover heavier machinery and equipment:
- 1,900 mm installation / 2.9 m vertical hook reach
- 2,300 mm installation / 2.7 m vertical hook reach
- EasyLoad 501: 2,300 mm installation / 17.0 m vertical hook reach
- EasyLoad 502: 2,300 mm installation / 17.0 m vertical hook reach + certified anchor point for fall arrest device
The 501 and 502 are purpose-built for applications requiring significant cable depth — sewer inspection and renovation work is one example cited by the company, where equipment or personnel need to be lowered into confined vertical spaces. The 502 adds a certified anchor point for a fall arrest device on top of the 501’s specs, making it compliant for personal safety use in addition to load handling.
EasyLoad for box vans
The 250, 500, and 501 variants are also available for box vans. MAD has developed special crossbeam sets for this application, each containing two beams, two brackets, and the necessary mounting hardware. Installers are responsible for supplying uprights and base plates to absorb the crane’s operational forces.
Accessories
MAD offers three accessories for the EasyLoad system:
Wide-area luminary — An LED work light producing 1,620 lumens with a 60-degree beam angle. It runs on 10–30 volts, draws 18 watts, uses Cree LEDs, has an IP67 weatherproof rating, and connects via a 0.4 m cable. Dimensions are 97 x 110 x 65 mm.
Spot beam luminary — Identical specs to the wide-area model (18W, 1,620 lumens, Cree LEDs, IP67, 10–30V, 0.4 m cable, 97 x 110 x 65 mm) but with a tighter 30-degree beam for directed lighting on a work area.
Wireless remote control — A handheld controller (148 x 78 x 38 mm) for operating the winch and boom without being physically at the control panel. This is particularly useful when the operator needs to be positioned near the load rather than at the vehicle.
The practical case for it
The main argument MAD makes for the EasyLoad isn’t about convenience — it’s about operational cost and worker safety. Sending two employees on every job with heavy equipment doubles the labor cost for that trip. More significantly, manual handling of heavy loads is one of the leading causes of workplace injuries in trades and field services, with back injuries accounting for a large share of unplanned downtime and workers’ compensation claims.
The company frames the EasyLoad in those terms directly: it “ensures safe working conditions and good employership,” “prevents back problems, unplanned downtime and consequential costs,” and “boosts efficiency: saving one person’s effort.”
For businesses running multiple vans, those savings compound. A single injury-related absence — particularly for a small operator — can disrupt scheduling, delay jobs, and generate costs that far exceed the price of a crane system.
The EasyLoad is also transferable. Because it’s a self-contained unit with a mounting frame, it can be moved from one vehicle to another, which matters for fleets that rotate vehicles or replace them on a regular cycle.
Who it suits
The EasyLoad is most directly relevant to businesses that regularly transport equipment or materials weighing more than one person can safely handle alone — mechanical contractors, utilities crews, inspection services, rental equipment operators, and similar trades. The 250 kg variants cover most tool and equipment scenarios. The 500 kg models are suited to heavier machinery. The 501 and 502, with their 17-meter cable reach, serve a more specialized set of applications involving deep vertical access.
It’s less suited to operations where loads are uniformly light, where loading is always done at a dock with mechanical assistance already available, or where the vehicle’s cargo space can’t accommodate the installation length (minimum 1,900 mm).
Pricing and availability
MAD Automotive is based in the Netherlands and sells and distributes internationally. Pricing for the EasyLoad line is not listed publicly on the company’s website — prospective buyers may contact MAD directly for a quote.
Source: MAD Automotive
