I've just seen a "Chinese lift" at Greg Smith in Indianapolis. It really looks like a nice unit. It's $1,500.00. I got a quote for a Mohawk A-7. I'm sure it's better but it's $4,100.00 (on sale). Is it that much better???? Capacity is close...
Mohawk A-7 vs Chinese
- Thread starter AbitNutz
- Start date
***** doesn't it....I think American manufactures of some product have given up on competing for the normal guys money (understandably so to some extent) and are now charging well above a products real value to stay afloat knowing that a certain percentage of the market (professional industry in the US) will come to them regardless of cost. I'm glad I can buy craftsman tools and don't have to chose between snap-on and China, because I can't afford snap-on. But sorry, I just bought a Chinese engine lift because I only have one job lined up for it and at $1000+ for an American made one I would have just paid the dealership to do it, and I don't have much sympathy for dealerships charging $75+ and hour and paying their mechanics $15.
But then again, it's the dealerships paying the big bucks for the rotary lift....vicious cycle.
But then again, it's the dealerships paying the big bucks for the rotary lift....vicious cycle.
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I'm sure a Mohawk is better....but $1,500 compared to $4,100? The "Greg Smith"
http://www.gregsmithequipment.com/HR8000-Base-Plate-Two-Post-Lift-p/tphr-8000.htm
I saw it in person and they looks pretty darn good. They're an 8,000 lb lift They've been selling them for 4 years. They said they have had no problems with them.
The Mohawk is a 7,000 lb ( 7,000 or 8,000 doesn't matter. I'll never lift anything close to either) lift and while I've not seen one in person I think they're likely incredible. However, we're talking over two and half times as much money!! I'm just a backyard, home guy with a wrench. I'm sure the Mohawk is superior in every aspect but if I buy it...That's $2,500 less I'll have for my project car...
Well, I myself will never be able to afford a Mohawk. If money were no option, that's the one I'd choose, though. I am willing to bet that a Mohawk IS quite a bit better, qualitatively, than the Chinese piece you are looking at.
I think the best thing for you will be to find some people online who have that exact same Greg Smith piece and see what they think about it.
I think the best thing for you will be to find some people online who have that exact same Greg Smith piece and see what they think about it.
Go to this page & look at the comparison pics they have, it is quite interesting. There is a lot more steel in a Mohawk than anything else which may or may not be important to you depending on how close to the rated capacity you plan on getting. If you work on small cars the light duty lift would work for you but if you work on SUV's or full size pickups I would pick the Mohawk.
http://mohawklifts.com/pr/a7.php
http://mohawklifts.com/pr/a7.php
Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I got my uncle's 9000lb Mohawk for $900 and a second one for a buddy for $750. You can find a decent lift used if you look around. Ask at a tire shop, or check you local Craigslist.
I'll give you $1,100 for it ....and your buddy an even grand.
Jbullfrog
ALLIANCE MEMBER
The Iowa Mohawk dealer even installed it for $50 and pointed out they have a lifetime warranty while he was out to install the Chinesse lift that my cousin had ordered for his shop the week before I found the Mohawk on an auction.
Plenty of old lifts for sale cheap, some in shops switching from 6k lb to 10k lb, shops closing and even more sitting in some former shop owners storage waiting for a "fair" price.
Figure out the type of lift you need, and that works with your space, and either buy used carefully or go with a respected vendor.
Figure out the type of lift you need, and that works with your space, and either buy used carefully or go with a respected vendor.
fatfillup
Well-known member
I'd buy used before I'd buy Chinese. The thought of standing under a car on a Chinese lift scares me. For around $1000. you can get a nice used lift.
Defender Chassis
Well-known member
Think of it this way, if you dont buy any lift you will have all the money for your project.
If we as Americans fall for the belief that just because we have the money for the chinese product/copy then we should have it then we will sell out our country before we know it. Why not buy a quality american made jack and stands then put the rest toward your project?
I also bought a used lift for $500. Took a while to find one in good shape for that kind of cash but the bottom line is my cash stayed in the USA.
My $0.02
Don't bring politics in to this and make this a "buy American" argument. That line just doesn't hold water. You can't by a piece of consumer electronic equipment that isn't Chinese. The sad fact is if you refuse to Chinese products you can't buy American cars because a very large percentage of those have components made in China. Don't even think of going in to Wall-Mart...
No that fight is way about my pay grade. The money that's in my pocket has to be spent wisely. If I can buy a Mohawk A7 lift for $500 I will absolutely buy it but so far I've no been able to. It's a matter of value...is a used Mohawk A7 lift worth as much to me as a new Chinese lift...absolutely, if it's it decent shape. Is it worth 2 to 3 times the price...I can't see it.
SpiderGearsMan
Banned
If you only use it lightly , the chinese one may be a good deal , but it only has to fail once
in search of bargains , why not just buy a good jack , creeper and jack stands ?
in search of bargains , why not just buy a good jack , creeper and jack stands ?
I can't believe I'd be safer under jack stands...I want to be able to stand under it. There are 10's of thousands of lifts out there....not all are Mohawk. I doubt even a small percentage are Mohawk. I am actively looking for a used one but if the Chinese lifts were patently dangerous...we wouldn't see so many.
Why, who is keeping track of this and protecting us?
Watching the news over the last year or so, it is clear that literally millions of items from China made it to market here, despite being unsafe for children or adults. So, that argument doesn't work so well.
Like I said, your best bet is to find people who have purchased the exact same lift as what you are looking at and get their reviews. The fact of the matter is that, just like with tools, Chinese versions do not come close to matching the quality standards of other industrialized nations.
Me, I went the good jack stands route. Building my barn ate my lift budget. Good stands, with redundant safety setups, are plenty safe.
The base plate on the one you linked to is going to be an obstacle on the floor for as long as you own the lift where the Mohawk won't cause you to trip or hang up a ****** jack or oil drain. As for the money end, I would figure on owning this for over 30 yrs so 2500 would be 83.33 per year or 1.60 per week, just over the cost of a 20 oz pop out of the vending machine at work. I am also a back yard home guy but I have saved around 1500 since Jun 08 on my own vehicles in labor so if you do much work it wouldn't be hard to make the difference up in the first year.
Defender Chassis
Well-known member
You have your "ics" mixed up. Its not about politICS, its about economICS. But who gives a ****. The Chinese already hold markers on a large portion of the american dream. Go ahead and send another $1500 there way. Its not like you dont have another option.
TangoFoxTrot
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 23, 2009
- Messages
- 1,961
There are other brands, like Bend-Pak, that are American made, quality units that are less than half the price of Mohawk.
My "amateur" opinion is that for a hobbyist, a new Mohawk lift is a bit of overkill, unless you've got money to burn. I would go for a cheaper lift and use the savings on other tools or projects.
As far as safety with "imported" lifts, I would think the odds of a properly installed lift collapsing on you are probably the same as getting struck by lightning. Every lift I've seen has enough backups that it would take a pretty catastrophic event for it to collapse, but obviously you should do your own research.
My "amateur" opinion is that for a hobbyist, a new Mohawk lift is a bit of overkill, unless you've got money to burn. I would go for a cheaper lift and use the savings on other tools or projects.
As far as safety with "imported" lifts, I would think the odds of a properly installed lift collapsing on you are probably the same as getting struck by lightning. Every lift I've seen has enough backups that it would take a pretty catastrophic event for it to collapse, but obviously you should do your own research.
krooser
Well-known member
With THOUSANDS of GM dealers set to leave the market now is the best time to find a quality used lift.
My 15 + year old 9K two post Weaver is equivalant to a Mohawk. .. big, strong and heavy. No cables... leaf chains. It will be running long after I've assumed room temerature. Mohawk is a quality lift... I'd take a loan to buy a Rotary or Mohawk rather than buy some cheap import lift. A Mohawk will last decades, will have good resale value and will be safe.
I'll never understand why some guys have a $50,000 car, a $500,000 McMansion, a shop that looks like a fancy restaurant and then brag about buying a $1500.00 lift. I'd sooner have my Weaver or a Mohawk and a '62 Rambler than some cheap POS lift and a fancy car...
My Dad always said "you'll never be sorry you bought the best"....
Now we return to our regular programming....
My 15 + year old 9K two post Weaver is equivalant to a Mohawk. .. big, strong and heavy. No cables... leaf chains. It will be running long after I've assumed room temerature. Mohawk is a quality lift... I'd take a loan to buy a Rotary or Mohawk rather than buy some cheap import lift. A Mohawk will last decades, will have good resale value and will be safe.
I'll never understand why some guys have a $50,000 car, a $500,000 McMansion, a shop that looks like a fancy restaurant and then brag about buying a $1500.00 lift. I'd sooner have my Weaver or a Mohawk and a '62 Rambler than some cheap POS lift and a fancy car...
My Dad always said "you'll never be sorry you bought the best"....
Now we return to our regular programming....
One of the vehicles that gets put up on my lift is a 3500 dually with a cummins diesel like this one. This is where 'overkill' is a good thing.
http://www.truckworldusa.com/vehicle/791/
Imagine a large SUV or dually PU on one.
My thoughts exactly, kind of like the guys on bobistheoilguy forum buying a new vehicle then wanting to run the cheapest oil made in it.
CarCrafter
Well-known member
I bought a BendPak a few months ago, (HD-9) and it has a"Made in China" sticker. On other threads last year there were complaints about BendPak trying to hide (ie: stickers under the legs, less visible) the country of origin, but now they "proudly" place the stickers at eye level.
Defender Chassis
Well-known member
I would never trust a chinese lift to hold a vehicle over my head, would you want a chinese pacemaker if it was half the price?
Yes, Mohawk is overpriced, most things worth having are these days. Just my 2 cents.
norry
Well-known member
Defender Chassis
Well-known member
The link is a reference to the FTC. It states the following:
I am not sure what this has to do with "Made in Germany." Maybe Germany has similar rules in their country but the FTC rules only reference "Made in USA."
I am not sure what this has to do with "Made in Germany." Maybe Germany has similar rules in their country but the FTC rules only reference "Made in USA."