Abstract: The invention relates to a lifting apparatus for use in a transport vehicle to lift a load at a height of a loading space of the vehicle, wherein the lifting apparatus comprises: a guide member provided with rails, wherein a movable displacement unit is mounted, a rack of a rack-and-pinion arrangement provided within the guide section and wherein the rack-and-pinion arrangement engages with the displacement unit, a carrier section that extends along a main axis and wherein said carrier section is connected at its first end to the displacement unit, a positioning surface connected to an opposite end of the carrier section to position a load for lifting a force compensator which exerts a force on the carrier section, essentially in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof in order to bear at least a portion of the weight load.