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JAN 07, 2026

Understanding Safety on Anthony MTU-GLR and MTU-GLR-WR TuckUnder Liftgates

The Anthony MTU-GLR series is engineered with a layered safety ecosystem built around mechanical protections, operational rules, electrical safeguards, and clearly defined safety decals.

This article outlines the safety-related systems using only the official MTU-GLR brochures, Installation Manual, and Operation Manual.

Together, these protections support safe use of this tuckunder liftgate in day-to-day loading and unloading.

• Documentation Resources from Anthony
• Built-In Safety Features
• Operational Safety Rules
• Electrical / Battery Safety Notes (High Level)
• Required Safety Decals
• User Responsibility for Safety
• Conclusion

Documentation Resources from Anthony

Information in this article is sourced from Anthony MTU-GLR manuals and brochures, as well as the LiftGateMe team expertise. Always refer to your specific liftgate’s manuals for complete procedures and serial number, model, and year-specific details.

Reference PDFs used:

• Anthony MTU-GLR Installation Manual
• Anthony MTU-GLR Operation Manual
• Anthony MTU-GLR Brochure (2014)
• Anthony AST Installation Manual

Built-In Safety Features

The Anthony MTU-GLR liftgate incorporates several mechanical safety features that function as part of the liftgate hardware. These devices help control movement, secure the liftgate in transit, and support consistent behavior over time.

Mechanical Safety Latch / Latch Pin

The MTU-GLR uses a mechanical latch pin to secure the platform when it is stored under the truck.

• The brochure describes an “HD Mechanical Safety Latch” that provides “redundant-system stowage in addition to hydraulic lock.”
• The Operation Manual explains that if the latch pin does not slide easily, the operator should slightly raise the liftgate to relieve pressure and “do not force the pin to open,” because the liftgate can settle against the pin and cause binding.
• The Installation Manual notes that the latch pin is used after installation for in-transit locking of the liftgate.

These details show that the latch pin is a dedicated mechanical safety device for securing the stored liftgate and preventing unintended opening.

Ground-Contact Rollers and Safety Implications

The MTU-GLR uses ground contact rollers at the outer end of the floor extension:

• The brochure states that the rollers “prevent scraping damage to liftgate and concrete or asphalt.”

By reducing scraping as the platform contacts the ground, these rollers help protect both the liftgate and the work surface during use on a tuck-away liftgate.

Pressure-Compensated Flow Valve

Hydraulic motion is controlled by a pressure-compensated flow valve, described in the brochures as:

• Providing “constant, controlled speeds at all times” and helping “prevent ‘free-fall’ under certain hydraulic failures.”

This valve is a key safety system that limits platform speed and helps prevent uncontrolled downward movement.

Platform Restraining Devices (Cart Stops, Retention Ramps)

The manuals explain that some MTU-GLR platforms are equipped with restraining systems:

• A platform restraining system “may be designed into your particular liftgate to keep certain types of cargo from rolling off of the liftgate platform,” including “a cart stop, retention ramp, fencing, straps, etc.”
• The Installation Manual further notes that these devices “help retain certain types of cargo on the platform” and should be working properly to prevent severe personal injury or death due to cargo shifting or falling from the platform.

These devices form an important layer of cargo control on the platform.

Service-Free Bushings

Both brochures highlight service-free bushings at critical pivot points:

• The MTU-GLR brochure lists “Lifetime Warrantied Service Free Bushings…used at all critical pivot points to reduce wear without the need for routine lubrication.”
• The MTU-GLR-WR brochure repeats the same feature with “Lifetime-Warranty Service Free Bushings.”

These bushings contribute to predictable mechanical behavior by reducing wear at pivot points without requiring routine lubrication.

Taken together, the latch pin, ground-contact rollers, pressure-compensated flow valve, restraining devices, and service-free bushings form a core set of built-in safety systems on the Anthony MTU-GLR.

Operational Safety Rules

The Operation Manual dedicates a full section to operator behavior and safe use. These rules are essential to preventing injuries from load movement, pinch points, or improper use of the platform.

Anthony specifies that users must read, understand, and follow all instructions and warnings in the manuals and on the decals before using the liftgate.

Crush Hazard Warnings

The manuals include several Crush Hazard warnings:

• Unsecured loads can “shift or fall,” so unstable loads must be securely fastened or restrained.
• Operators must not stand beneath a raised liftgate because accidental lowering could cause serious crushing injuries.

These warnings are prominently displayed in the Operation Manual’s general safety section.

Pinch-Point Warnings

Operators are instructed to keep clear of pinch points:

• The Operation Manual states: “Do not place hands or feet in pinch points, between the platform and the platform extension, or under the edge of the liftgate.”

Avoiding these areas reduces the risk of hand or foot injuries as the platform folds and moves.

Load Placement Requirements

Correct load placement is essential to safe lifting:

• The manual instructs operators to “always place the load as close to the center of the platform as possible and as close to the truck as possible.”

This guidance applies to all rated capacities of the MTU-GLR tuck under liftgate family.

Standing Position (Curbside Requirement)

To keep operators out of traffic and clear of moving components:

• The Operation Manual repeatedly instructs operators to stand on the curbside of the truck when unfolding the platform, lowering it, or using the control switch.

This position keeps the operator in a safer zone while the liftgate moves.

Prohibition on Riding the Liftgate

Anthony’s recommendation is clear:

• “Anthony Liftgates recommends not riding the liftgate; however, if the operation requires it, make sure your footing is stable…Always stand away from the edge.”

Riding is discouraged, and if it must occur, it must follow the specific precautions described in the manual.

These operational rules cover crush hazards, pinch points, load placement, operator position, and riding restrictions. They form the behavioral side of the MTU-GLR safety system and apply to Anthony MTU-GLR and Anthony MTU-GLR-WR models.

Electrical / Battery Safety Notes (High Level)

Anthony’s instructions emphasize preventing electrical arcs, battery gas explosions, and ignition of nearby fuel or brake components.

Sparks and Fuel Tank Considerations

The Installation Manual’s safety section describes battery and fuel tank risks:

• To prevent severe bodily injury, installers must keep sparks, lighted matches, and open flames away from the battery because battery gas can explode.
• It also warns to avoid sparks contacting the truck’s fuel tank, brake lines, or other flammable components because sparks can cause an explosion of combustible materials.

These warnings apply generally to work around the electrical and hydraulic power system.

Battery Gas Hazard

The same section explains that battery gas can explode if ignited, reinforcing that all manufacturer safety recommendations must be followed when working near the truck battery.

Disconnect Guidelines and Fuse Replacement

The Operation Manual describes fuse replacement procedures:

• When replacing the 200-amp fuse, the operator must disconnect the power cable from the vehicle battery or batteries before opening the fuse holder to avoid an electric arc that could cause personal injury or damage.
• A separate decal and text describe the 10-amp control circuit fuse and instruct the user to replace the fuse and contact a qualified mechanic if it continues to blow.

These instructions focus on preventing electrical arcs and ensuring that repeated fuse failures are handled by qualified service personnel. Electrical safety on the MTU-GLR centers on keeping ignition sources away from the battery and fuel components, and on disconnecting power before working on fuse and power wiring components.

Required Safety Decals

Safety decals are an integral part of the MTU-GLR safety system. Anthony provides a complete decal list and placement diagrams in the Installation and Operation Manuals.

The manuals emphasize that decals must be attached and legible at all times, and they tie decal condition directly to warranty coverage.

Decal Categories and What They Communicate

Personal Injury Hazard Decal (A-131115)

• Warns about standing on the platform, avoiding unstable loads, not allowing loads to extend over the edge, keeping body parts away from moving components, maintaining stable footing, and not exceeding capacity.

Operating Instructions Decal (ATU-423 / A-131045)

• Provides step-by-step instructions for unlatching the liftgate, lowering the platform, unfolding the main and flip sections, and returning the liftgate to the stored position.

Electrical Overload Protection Decal (A-150238)

• Indicates that the liftgate is protected by an electrical overload circuit protection device (circuit breaker or fuse) located near the power supply.

After Using Liftgate Decal (ATU-141)

• Instructs operators to secure the latch and, if equipped, turn off the power cut-off switch after using the liftgate to prevent unauthorized use.

Maximum Capacity Decals

• Show the rated lifting capacity (2500–6000 lb) and must correspond to the installed model. The manual cautions not to apply a higher-rated decal to a lower-capacity liftgate.

Latch-Related Decals (A-131034, A-131017, ATU-143)

• “Secure latch while in transit,” “Disengage latch before attempting to use liftgate,” and “Secure latch while in transit” (Spanish) provide clear latch-handling instructions around use and transport.

Fuse Procedure Decals (A-131036, A-131001)

• Explain 200-amp power fuse and 10-amp control fuse replacement procedures, including the requirement to replace blown fuses correctly and consult a qualified mechanic if fuses continue to blow.

Weld & Hydraulic Fluid Labels (A-131028, A-131125, A-131133)

• Warn of hazards from welding galvanized or stainless components and identify Kendall Glacial Blu hydraulic fluid as the specified fluid for the reservoir.

Placement Rules (When Shown)

The Installation Manual includes a decal placement illustration and requires:

• Specific decals be attached to the truck body and factory-installed decals be present on lift arms, platform, power unit, and adapter frame tube.

Decals communicate critical safety, capacity, and operating information at the point of use. Maintaining their placement and legibility is both a safety requirement and a condition of warranty.

User Responsibility for Safety

Anthony’s documentation emphasizes that safety is a shared responsibility between the manufacturer and the user.

While the MTU-GLR includes built-in protections, the manuals clearly state that it is the user’s responsibility to understand and properly use the liftgate.

Need for Trained Operators

The manuals specify that:

• Users must read and understand all operation instructions and safety decals before using the liftgate.

Training and familiarity with the tuck under liftgate parts and controls are therefore essential.

Importance of Maintaining Decal Legibility

Both Installation and Operation Manuals connect decal condition to safety and warranty:

• All decals must be attached and legible, or warranties are void.

Visual Inspection Before Each Use

Before operation, the manuals instruct users to:

• Visually inspect the liftgate to make sure all parts are in good working condition and operate freely, and to replace any damaged parts immediately.

This inspection step helps identify issues before cargo or personnel are placed on the platform.

In practice, the operator is responsible for understanding the manuals, maintaining decals, and inspecting the liftgate before use. These responsibilities are central to safe operation with OEM liftgate parts and components.

Conclusion

The Anthony MTU-GLR safety ecosystem combines:

• Mechanical protections such as the safety latch, ground contact rollers, pressure-compensated flow valve, platform restraining devices, and service-free bushings.
• Operational rules covering crush hazards, pinch points, load placement, operator position, and riding precautions.
• Electrical and battery safety guidance to prevent arcs, fires, and explosions.
• A complete set of safety decals that communicate critical warnings and instructions.

Together, these systems ensure that the tuck under liftgate functions as a coordinated safety package when used according to the manuals. For questions about safe operation, replacement decals, or tuck under liftgate parts, contact the LiftGateMe team or refer directly to Anthony’s documentation.