When evaluating a16,000-20,000 lb. vehicle lift, it’s easy to focus on lifting capacity. A 16K lift is a 16K Lift. A 20K lift is a 20K lift—at least on paper.

Experienced fleet managers know that capacity is only part of how a lift performs in the field. Two lifts with the same capacity rating can vary significantly in stability, durability, and long-term performance. The difference isn’t just specs – it’s the engineering design, materials and how the lift is built to perform over time.

Not All Lifts Are Built the Same

A lift’s rating tells you what it can lift—but not how it is built. While capacity is often the first specification buyers look at, it only scratches the surface of overall performance.

The quality of the steel, the structural design, and the reliability of key components ultimately determine how a lift performs over years of daily use.

Most competitive lifts in the 16,000 to 20,000 lb. range may share capacity ratings, but the engineering behind them can be much different. The following comparison highlights some of the design distinctions commonly found between Mohawk and many competing models in this class.

To learn more and see the Mohawk difference take a look at our Dare to Compare 16,000-20,000 lb. capacity lifts.

Column Construction

One of the biggest differences between vehicle lifts is the type of steel used in their construction. While many lifts rely on formed sheet metal components, Mohawk builds its lifting systems using heavy ¾-inch forklift mast steel engineered for demanding industrial applications.

Many lifts rely on bent sheet metal columns and lighter structural components to reduce manufacturing costs. While these designs may achieve the required lifting capacity, they often provide less rigidity under load and can experience greater wear over years of continuous operation.

The Mohawk Approach – Mohawk’s structural and column components are manufactured from heavy ¾-inch forklift mast steel, the same material engineered to withstand demanding industrial applications. Combined with a wide 30-inch base, this construction creates a more stable lifting structure designed to minimize flex and maintain stability throughout the lifting cycle.

Synchronization

Traditional two-post lift designs often rely on wire ropes and pulleys to maintain synchronization between lifting carriages. Mohawk takes a fundamentally different approach with a patented hydraulic synchronization system that removes many of these wear-prone components from the equation.

Wire rope systems require proper tension and periodic inspection to maintain optimal performance over time. As these components accumulate wear through years of lifting cycles, adjustment or replacement may eventually be required as part of normal maintenance. In high-cycle fleet environments, these maintenance requirements can contribute to increased downtime and ownership costs.

The Mohawk Approach — Mohawk’s patented hydraulic synchronization system is engineered to deliver smooth, consistent lifting performance while helping minimize maintenance requirements throughout the life of the equipment. By replacing traditional wire rope and pulley systems with hydraulic synchronization technology, Mohawk eliminates many of the wear-prone components commonly found in conventional lift designs.

Safety Locks

Mohawk incorporates all-position mechanical locks that engage every three inches beginning just four inches off the ground. This provides technicians with more available lock positions throughout the lifting range, allowing vehicles to be secured at a wide variety of working heights.

Many lift designs utilize locking systems with fewer lock positions that are only available after the vehicle has been raised significantly – generally 19”+. While these systems meet industry requirements, they limit technician safety and flexibility when work needs to be performed closer to the floor.

The Mohawk Approach — By providing an all-position mechanical lock engagement every 3” in both columns starting only 4” off the ground and continue to full lifting height, Mohawk gives technicians greater flexibility to position vehicles at the most efficient working height while maintaining the security of a mechanically locked lift. Combined with multiple redundant hydraulic safety systems and robust structural construction, these features help create a safer and more versatile service environment.

Built to Deliver Long-Term Value

Mohawk’s engineering philosophy centers on long-term durability rather than short-term cost reduction. From ¾-inch forklift mast steel and sealed steel rollers to patented hydraulic synchronization technology, each component is carefully selected to withstand the demands of daily fleet service.

Vehicle lifts operating in fleet environments are often expected to perform thousands of lifting cycles over many years. In these applications, maintenance requirements, component replacement, downtime, and service life can have a greater impact on total ownership cost than initial purchase price alone.

The Mohawk Approach — By focusing on structural strength, heavy-duty components, and simplified maintenance requirements, Mohawk designs lifts for decades of reliable operation. That commitment is reflected in an industry-leading 25-year structural warranty and 10-year mechanical warranty, providing fleet managers with confidence that their investment is built to deliver value long after installation.

Built for the Realities of Fleet Service

For fleet operations that run lifts day after day, those differences matter.

For fleet maintenance facilities, municipal garages, utility operations, and commercial service shops, that distinction matters. These environments don’t lift vehicles occasionally—they lift them repeatedly, day after day, year after year. For the shop owner and technicians, structural integrity is just as critical as lifting capacity.

That’s where Mohawk stands apart. Instead of engineering to meet a price point, Mohawk engineers for long-term use—using heavy structural steel, proven lift architecture, and manufacturing standards designed specifically for demanding fleet maintenance environments. The result is a lift built not just to meet capacity ratings, but to consistently perform under them for years of service.

The Mohawk Difference

For more than four decades, Mohawk has earned its reputation by building lifts for some of the most demanding service environments in North America. Every lift is manufactured in the USA using American steel, including models such as the TP-16, TP-18, and ML-220XL, which are engineered to deliver the strength, stability, and durability required for years of commercial use.

Backed by an industry-leading 25-year structural warranty, Mohawk lifts provide fleet operators with the confidence that comes from investing in equipment built to perform long after many competing lifts have been replaced. When productivity, technician safety, and long-term reliability are critical, Mohawk continues to set the standard by which heavy-duty vehicle lifts are measured.

Ready to compare heavy-duty lift options for your fleet? Explore Mohawk’s full line of 16,000-20,000 lb. two-post lifts or contact our team to discuss the right solution for your operation.

Amsterdam, NY (September 14, 2016) – Mohawk  Lifts announces the release of a new accessory to service cars, trucks, zero turn mowers, turf equipment and four wheelers. The turf kit with dual trough has a 6,000 lb. capacity and can be used on Mohawk 10,000 through 18,000 pound two post lifts, including those lift models with optional three stage arms. The dual trough gives versatility to shops and facilities that need to service cars, pick-up trucks, as well as turf equipment without having to dedicate a service bay and lift to just one type of equipment. For additional information, contact Mohawk at 800-833-2006.

You’d never drive a vehicle that hadn’t had the brakes inspected in years. You would never use a jack without also using a jack stand. These basic and common sense principles apply to vehicle lifts in your maintenance facility and daily inspections are part of your job. The vehicle lifts that are supporting the buses being repaired in your garage can represent one of the most productive tools in your shop, or one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment for your techs if not used and maintained properly.

Whether you’re using two-post lifts for cars and light trucks, parallelograms, mobile column lifts, drive-on lifts or in-ground lifts for servicing vehicles, you should follow these basic safety rules.

1. Buy Certified Lifts

There’s only one nationally recognized safety standard for vehicle lifts: ANSI-ALI/ALCTV, administered by the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI/ETL). ETL testing labs verify that a manufacturer’s lifts meet the national safety standard for vehicles lift.

The Automotive Lift Institute working through ETL testing procedures involves rigorous third-party testing verifying lift manufacturers comply with current ANSI requirements for lifts as defined by the International Building Code, which mandates that lifts be third party tested to meet these safety requirements. To verify equipment status, look for the gold ALI/ETL verification tag next to the lift’s controls.

2. Buy Certified Lift Options

A commonly overlooked mistake is using an uncertified option or accessory on a certified lift. Doing so will void the lift’s certification. It’s simple: If the optional accessory isn’t certified then the lift isn’t certified.

ALI/ETL standards (&ANSI standards & building code standards), require all accessories, such as drive-on lifts, rolling jacks and truck adaptors, to be certified. Although certification is good for the life of the lift, older models may not meet the most current standards.

Complying with American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) requirements is the key to keeping vehicle lifts at the highest possible safety level, sending your technicians home safely after each shift, and avoiding write-ups or hefty noncompliance fines.

3. No locks are liability

You’ve heard the phrase “never use a jack without a jack stand.” The same is true for vehicle lifts. Always raise the vehicle and then lower it onto the lift’s mechanical locks as required by ANSI. Refer to ALI safety manual Lifting it Right or the manufacturer’s operating instructions for detailed information.

When you’re walking through the shop, make sure techs are using the proper procedure. An easy way to visually verify the locks are being used is to include a weight gauge (a pressure gauge calibrated to the lift’s lifting capacity) on your lift. A weight gauge can also be a great diagnostic tool.

If using an old in-ground lift that doesn’t have locks, it’s time for a new lift. While some in-ground lifts can be retrofitted with an aftermarket lock, it’s not the most cost-effective option, and your lift will still not be ALI/ETL certified to be compliant with ANSI rules and building code laws.

4. It’s easy to overload

Manufacturers of the most common two-post side by side lifts mandate that none of the four swing arms be overloaded. For example: Some may think that a 15,000 pound rated lift that’s loaded with a 14,200 pound ambulance isn’t near capacity. They’re wrong!

This ambulance has a front axle weight of 4,000 pounds and the back axle weighs 9,200 pounds. The per-arm capacity of 15,000 pound-rated lifts is 3,750 pounds. If the heavier rear end of a vehicle weighs 9,200 pounds, each swing arm needs a minimum arm capacity of 4,600 pounds for safe lifting. Multiply this example by four swing arms and the minimum capacity of your lift for this vehicle should be 18,400 pounds.

It’s easy to see why two-post side-by-side lifts are often overloaded, even though the total lift capacity hasn’t been exceeded.

5. Inspect Equipment Annually

ANSI/Automotive Lift Institute ALCTV Standard for Automotive Lifts-“Safety Requirements for Construction, Testing, and Validation” requires technicians to perform a daily operational safety check. The code also requires an annual inspection by a qualified individual. Failing to do so exposes your shop to liabilities that could be associated with an injury if an accident were to happen.

6. Training and Testing

Like any product, lifts vary in style, type, capability, longevity and warranty. ANSI requires technicians to be trained annually in proper lift use. Contact the Automotive Lift Institute, your lift supplier, or a local lift inspection company for a copy of the 20-minute Lifting it Right video hosted by legendary NASCAR driver Richard “The King” Petty and his son, Kyle. Require your technicians to watch the video and pass a written test on lift operation and safety.

The mobile websites provides customers with the same information as the regular Mohawk Lifts site and has been optimized for browsing without a mouse and keyboard.

“Analytics show that traffic coming from mobile devices is increasing”, says Steve Perlstein, Sales Manager at Mohawk Lifts. “Creating the mobile site will allow access to Mohawk’s products at night and on weekends, when people may not be in front of a computer.”

The mobile site will automatically display when mohawklifts.com is accessed from a mobile device.

Steve Perlstein, President of Mohawk Resources, Inc., has been nominated by the National Small Business Administration as a finalist for the 2013 Small Business Person of the Year Award.

Mohawk was selected based upon growth in number of employees, increase in sales, positive financial performance, and economic importance to community involvement.