Lifting and lowering mechanism, especially for a vehicle carrier

An improved lifting and lowering device, in particular for car transporters and car transport trailers, has among other features the following characteristics: only a lifting device in the form of a lifting cylinder arrangement (23), consisting of at least one lifting cylinder and preferably of two lifting cylinders (23) arranged parallel to one another, is provided, by means of the lifting cylinder arrangement (23) both the adjustment of the upper platform (3) from its lowered position into the intermediate position and from the intermediate position into the raised position can be carried out.