Abstract: A lifting device designed to be mounted on the chassis of a vehicle for loading and unloading the vehicle having a first arm designed to be articulated at least indirectly to the chassis of the vehicle and, attached to the first arm, a second arm normally perpendicular to the first arm ending with a hook for grasping an upper part of the load. The second arm is retractable and is formed by a first section attached to the first arm and a second section carrying the hook, movable relative to the first section between a retracted configuration and a working configuration, at least one pair of complementary locking members being provided for locking the second section in its working configuration.