Vehicle mounted load lifting and lowering apparatus comprises a parallel arm linkage (14,16,17) pivotally mounted at one end thereof on part (11) of a vehicle and arranged above the vehicle floor (13). A drop arm (18) is pivotally mounted on and extends below the other end of the parallel arm linkage. A platform (23) is mounted on the drop arm (18) at or adjacent the lower end thereof and is pivotable about a horizontal axis between a load carrying position and a stowed position. A ram (19) is expandable and contractable to rotate the parallel arm linkage between the first position in which the platform lies at ground level, a second position in which the platform is supported at the level of the vehicle floor and a third position in which, with the platform in the stowed position, the apparatus is stowed above the vehicle floor.