Abstract: A pneumatic cylinder assembly and a method for lifting a hand truck frame generally vertically away from a ground surface exploits a cylinder housing including a longitudinal axis and first and second ends. The cylinder housing defines a cylinder cavity at the first end and a port generally at the second end in operative communication with the cylinder cavity and has at least one frame attachment point for attachment of the housing to the hand truck frame. A piston in the cylinder cavity is moveable in a first direction. A fluid space is defined between the actuation surface within the cylinder housing. An inlet valve is configured to admit a working fluid into the fluid space through the port at a pressure greater than an ambient pressure, thereby urging the piston in the first direction thereby to cause the movement of the piston in the first direction lifting the truck.