A self-loading belt fusing apparatus is provided and includes (a) a frame; (b) a first rotatable roller having a first outer surface and a first mounted position on the frame; (c) a second rotatable roller having a second outer surface, and a second mounted position on the frame spaced from the first mounted position of the first rotatable roller, the second outer surface and the first outer surface being spaced a first dimension from each other and defining an operating gap therebetween; and (d) an endless resilient belt hoop having an inner surface, an external surface, an unloaded external diameter, and a loaded external diameter that is less than the unloaded external diameter, the endless resilient belt hoop being pinched-loaded into the operating gap by the first outer surface of the first roller and the second outer surface of the second roller, and the endless resilient belt hoop, as pinch-loaded, forming a self-loading fusing nip with at least one of the first roller and the second roller.