Rotary vs Mohawk lifts

[Jbmotorsports]

I'm having trouble making a decision here between these 2 lifts for my home use. The Rotary spoa10 is new and will be $4100 installed. The Mohawk system 1 is $2500 and I have to take down, transport and install myself.

As a technician I've worked on numerous lifts over my career with one of my favorite being that same model rotary. I really like asymmetric lifts and I hate working on big trucks so I'm not worried about anything in relation to that. Most of the work will be on my 64c10 and a 95 wrangler. Most of the time they will spend on the lift will be up in the air.

The Mohawk is appealing for the low columns and no crossbar. I like the look of them but the columns are quite girthy and no central lock release. The Rotary is in new condition and I like the flip up pads and asymmetric design. The rotary looks new and the Mohawk has that nice used but not abused look to it. My garage has tile floors and I thought that might be an interesting contrast.

I don't really have a question exactly. Maybe more of a discussion on things I haven't considered. Thanks all

 

[cannuck]

We have a Rotary in best bud's shop and a Mohawk on the ground waiting for my new shop. Both are quite nice, but the quality of the Mohawk is hard to dismiss. Personally, I would have one just because of what it is...not to mention how it does the job.

 

[WNYflyer]

What are the concrete floor/foundation requirements of the two? could that make a difference in your choice(s)?

 

[tomtomgt356]

You mention two different lifts and two different vehicles, so the obvious answer is get both!

 

[Jbmotorsports]

What are the concrete floor/foundation requirements of the two? could that make a difference in your choice(s)?

The requirements appear to be the same and according to what my contractor said, there should be ~6" concrete.

You mention two different lifts and two different vehicles, so the obvious answer is get both!

Trust me, that crossed my mind. I enjoy the current state of my marriage however lol

 

[Spud McGee]

Where'd you find a spo10 for $4100 new and installed? Thats a pretty bitchin' deal. Is it like for realzies new and you'll get the extended rotary warranty and all that? Or is it second hand new?

I dont have any experience with the mohawk. But you cant go wrong with the rotary. Plus the fact that somebody else will be doing all the hard work installing it.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Where'd you find a spo10 for $4100 new and installed? Thats a pretty bitchin' deal. Is it like for realzies new and you'll get the extended rotary warranty and all that? Or is it second hand new

Well it's not new new and I haven't see it first hand yet but I called a lift company asking about any used lifts and apparently he ordered this for someone a while back, years even and says it is new "in box". I'm going to have to take his word until it arrives unless I push for pictures but I don't really have a reason to not trust them seeing as I will see it when it arrives for install

 

[bb29510]

rotary mohawk, doesnt matter, they are both well above, everybody else

 

[Spud McGee]

Well it's not new new and I haven't see it first hand yet but I called a lift company asking about any used lifts and apparently he ordered this for someone a while back, years even and says it is new "in box". I'm going to have to take his word until it arrives unless I push for pictures but I don't really have a reason to not trust them seeing as I will see it when it arrives for install

ask him about the warranty. if you get any at all, and if him installing qualifies you for the extended warranty.

Normally, when the lift is installed by one of their approved installers, it doubles the warranty automagically.

 

[tkmoseley]

Well it's not new new and I haven't see it first hand yet but I called a lift company asking about any used lifts and apparently he ordered this for someone a while back, years even and says it is new "in box". I'm going to have to take his word until it arrives unless I push for pictures but I don't really have a reason to not trust them seeing as I will see it when it arrives for install

Do you mind me asking which you ended up with and where you ran across the used Mohawk? I went down the rabbit hole on lift options for my garage and I think the Mohawk A-7 or the System 1 are my preferred options. I'd love to find a good used option though, given the pricing. Thanks.

 

[bb29510]

they are both great, no issues with either

 

[kaffine]

I'm guessing you already decided and hopefully have it installed.

I would go with the Rotary. I have a Mohawk lift and the safety release is annoying. I've had issues trying to get short wheel base cars on it with the lift arms not being able to swing past front and rear tires without careful positioning. I've had to swing the front arms under then roll the car back and swing the rear arms under a few times.

If you are working on 1 ton trucks or box trucks then the Mohawk with the lines ran under would be great. The safety locks would still be annoying.

In reality either will be great.

 

[Jbmotorsports]

Do you mind me asking which you ended up with and where you ran across the used Mohawk? I went down the rabbit hole on lift options for my garage and I think the Mohawk A-7 or the System 1 are my preferred options. I'd love to find a good used option though, given the pricing. Thanks.

Sure. Wall of text incoming. So I went with the Rotary. Probably only because all the lift companies wouldn't get back to me about moving the Mohawk, which is an absolute unit and I wasn't about to attempt it. It also had a leaking cylinder that I wasn't TOO worried about but none the less I went with the Rotary.

I actually misunderstood the guy who sold it to me and the price was installed so I got it delivered and installed for 3500 so I was pretty satisfied with that. While "new" it is cosmetically very not new but I didn't mind much.

Here's my impressions so far with some quick history of my lift use experience and a small concern. Worked for about 10 years on some old ben Pearson and Benwill lifts and a few others, all typical lifts from that Era, both asymmetric and symmetrical. Then I worked at Ford for 3 years on spoa10 rotary lifts, which I remember loving. Now, for the last 6 years, I use modern style 2 post in-ground lifts and I've been spoiled because going to back to above ground is just not the same. I don't know if it's my lift, the vehicles I'm lifting (95 jeep and 64 c10), the fact I'm in there alone or some other factor but it feels very unstable. It just feels shaky compared to my lifts at work, obviously in ground helps but it feels a little unsettling.

I think the Mohawk would've been nice as it allows varied width and even though I have the height the lower height of the Mohawk is nice. But the columns are MUCH bigger on the Mohawk, like 3 rotary columns long but thinner so pros and cons to each. Having access to a number of local rotary dealers is another plus

 

[Jbmotorsports]

I should report on my misplaced paranoia lol. It just so happened this evening i did some work on my neighbors camry, brakes and struts and with a normal wheelbase vehicle the lift feels as sturdy as it ought to.

 

[tkmoseley]

I'm guessing you already decided and hopefully have it installed.

I would go with the Rotary. I have a Mohawk lift and the safety release is annoying. I've had issues trying to get short wheel base cars on it with the lift arms not being able to swing past front and rear tires without careful positioning. I've had to swing the front arms under then roll the car back and swing the rear arms under a few times.

If you are working on 1 ton trucks or box trucks then the Mohawk with the lines ran under would be great. The safety locks would still be annoying.

In reality either will be great.

Which Mohawk model do you have? I’m primarily working on short wheel based vehicles too (68 bronco and 68 Camaro), so I was thinking the A-7 model would be a good option. Surprising to hear that it may be more difficult with short wheel base vehicles.

 

[tkmoseley]

I should report on my misplaced paranoia lol. It just so happened this evening i did some work on my neighbors camry, brakes and struts and with a normal wheelbase vehicle the lift feels as sturdy as it ought to.

Haha, thanks for the follow up. If my space and budget allowed (neither do), an in ground two post lift would be so amazing. Unfortunately that’s not in the cards for this garage. A full sized clear floor lift would be my next choice, but with my 10’ ceiling, I’m pretty much limited to base plate lifts. The Mohawk seems like best of both worlds since I can keep the floor clear and mount the hydraulic lines overhead in the ceiling. Plus the HUGE over built columns give me a lot of peace of mind, especially since I have young kids that will be growing up under this thing. Anyway, I appreciate your insight. I have limited experience with lifts as I’ve only ever used the one base-plate lift my dad installed so long ago. Not even sure if that thing had safety stops, lol.

 

[kaffine]

Which Mohawk model do you have? I’m primarily working on short wheel based vehicles too (68 bronco and 68 Camaro), so I was thinking the A-7 model would be a good option. Surprising to hear that it may be more difficult with short wheel base vehicles.

I have the System 1 10k pound lift. It is a symmetric lift vs asymmetric. From the looks of it the A7 is asymmetric so it should be much better for shorter wheel base.

The System 1 when you drive into the lift one arm is sticking backwards the other is sticking forward. I can't remember what car I was putting on my lift the lift arms where too long to get under the car without putting 1 arm under and then repositioning the car to get the other one as I was hitting the tires with the arms. My VW Jetta will clear the arms but I have to be fairly accurate on position of the car. They do make pads that will go on the first stage arm which makes it a bit easier to position the arms under the lift point on unibody cars however it does require a bit more ground clearance. I'm a bit surprised they haven't offered a 3 stage arm setup on the System 1.

There are some interesting features I like the weight gauge on them. The ability to lift just 1 side has come in handy a few times for lifting items other than cars. I had planned on getting the wheel adapters then after seeing the price never did. Also not sure I would want to deal with the weight of the adapters switching back and forth all the time.

Not having a central safety release really makes you realize how much you adjust a car up and down on a lift while working on it. Having to walk around to release the far side lock every time I need to lower it some while working on it.

It is a well built lift.

 

[kaffine]

Haha, thanks for the follow up. If my space and budget allowed (neither do), an in ground two post lift would be so amazing. Unfortunately that’s not in the cards for this garage. A full sized clear floor lift would be my next choice, but with my 10’ ceiling, I’m pretty much limited to base plate lifts. The Mohawk seems like best of both worlds since I can keep the floor clear and mount the hydraulic lines overhead in the ceiling. Plus the HUGE over built columns give me a lot of peace of mind, especially since I have young kids that will be growing up under this thing. Anyway, I appreciate your insight. I have limited experience with lifts as I’ve only ever used the one base-plate lift my dad installed so long ago. Not even sure if that thing had safety stops, lol.

You might want to check with Rotary or other lifts I think some of the clear floor lifts the top cross bar height can be adjusted for lower ceilings.

Also the Mohawk lifts don't come with a safety to stop for over height like is normal on other lifts with the top cross bar. This could be an issue with low ceilings. I keep a step ladder near when I need to lift walk under mine due to the low ceiling and needing to see just how close I am to the ceiling.

 

[tkmoseley]

I have the System 1 10k pound lift. It is a symmetric lift vs asymmetric. From the looks of it the A7 is asymmetric so it should be much better for shorter wheel base.

The System 1 when you drive into the lift one arm is sticking backwards the other is sticking forward. I can't remember what car I was putting on my lift the lift arms where too long to get under the car without putting 1 arm under and then repositioning the car to get the other one as I was hitting the tires with the arms. My VW Jetta will clear the arms but I have to be fairly accurate on position of the car. They do make pads that will go on the first stage arm which makes it a bit easier to position the arms under the lift point on unibody cars however it does require a bit more ground clearance. I'm a bit surprised they haven't offered a 3 stage arm setup on the System 1.

There are some interesting features I like the weight gauge on them. The ability to lift just 1 side has come in handy a few times for lifting items other than cars. I had planned on getting the wheel adapters then after seeing the price never did. Also not sure I would want to deal with the weight of the adapters switching back and forth all the time.

Not having a central safety release really makes you realize how much you adjust a car up and down on a lift while working on it. Having to walk around to release the far side lock every time I need to lower it some while working on it.

It is a well built lift.

Looks like they discontinued the A-7, so a used one would be only option there. The lack of three stage arms and a single safety release on the System 1 does seem like an issue though.

 

[tkmoseley]

You might want to check with Rotary or other lifts I think some of the clear floor lifts the top cross bar height can be adjusted for lower ceilings.

Also the Mohawk lifts don't come with a safety to stop for over height like is normal on other lifts with the top cross bar. This could be an issue with low ceilings. I keep a step ladder near when I need to lift walk under mine due to the low ceiling and needing to see just how close I am to the ceiling.

Interesting, I didn’t know the height could be adjusted on those. I’ll definitely look into that. Regarding the safety to stop it before the car touches the ceiling, I’m on the fence on whether or not I’m concerned. Since it’s a hobby garage, I feel like I could just be careful with it. I’m a short dude, but I’d still like to get the bottom of the vehicle as high as I can. To take advantage of all the space I have, those safety stops eat up several inches.

 

[jetlag]

I have a Mohawk System IA (10K) in my shop, and it gets used regularly, generally every week. I have 14' to the underside of the crossbeams in the shop, and over 6" of reinforced concrete in the floor, so there aren't many lifts that I could not have used. I installed it myself, with some help from one of my brothers. The most difficult thing for most guys will be standing up the 600+ pound main columns.

I spaced the columns at the recommended 120", The biggest vehicle I lift is my Ram 3/4 ton diesel four-door pickup, the smallest is my neighbors Mini, and the lowest was my sons slammed Audi A4. No problems with any of those, with the shortest/lowest import cars, I've used a hockey puck sitting on the main arm (not the extension part).

I don't have an issue with the non-central lock release. In fact, I consider it a safety feature. By walking over to the off-side post, I'm reminded to double check underneath the vehicle, make sure I've removed my tool cart and trash can.

If I were height restricted, and couldn't afford the Mohawk, I'd probably get a baseplate-style lift. The crossbar and safety stop on clear-floor lifts reduce your lifting capacity by several inches, and the difference between standing up, or crouching over could be a matter of inches.

 

[OldCarGuy]

I own five Stinger four-post lifts. Used to store my antique cars. I would recommend a four-post lift if I was to own one. They don't need to be bolted down, having the wheel set. The whole lift and car can be maneuvered around. The best aspect of a four-post is that you simply drive it on. Never having to bend down to set the arms. A more difficult task for older folks. And for suspension work get a hydraulic scissor bridge that runs between the ramps. Two would be a luxury though... As you can lift the whole vehicle off the ramps.


One BendPak XPR-10ACX two-post asymmetrical lift. The biggest advantage of BendPak is they cost half the price of a Mohawk. And the asymmetric arms allow placing the car farther forward. Making easier to open front doors... You'll need several tripod stands to steady the rear end of the car when you pull an engine out.



One Mohawk System One 10,000 Lb symmetrical two-post lift.


The Mohawk has some unique design features that made it well worth it for my particular application. The columns are only 8 ½’ tall and doesn’t limit placement under my bridge crane runway beams. Along with not having an overhead cables or a floor plate. Rather two 3/8” diameter seamless stainless steel hydraulic lines that can be routed in the cement floor or overhead. I chose running the lines overhead and the back before crossing over. Not restricting my bridge crane travel. The distance between the column can be 120”. That somewhat negates the advantage of an asymmetrical lift. The weight of the Mohawk is 2,500 Lbs, half again more than a normal two-post lift. It has far bigger cylinder diameters, using link chain rather than cables between the two carriages. And eight ball bearing roller rather than normal plastic guide. Indeed you need to walk around the far side to release the locks when lowering. I look at that as safety feature, as the walk around gives you the chance make sure nothing left under before lowering. The Mohawk is definitely an overkill in design, particularly for home use. No other can match the functionality of a Mohawk.

 

[zkdiesel]

Worst part of the Mohawk is the arm design. It’s cumbersome and very outdated for todays modern vehicles, the rotary has far better styles

 

[myfinishingtouch]

As I'm making a decision on lifts I'm curious what is the issue with Mohawk arm design? I'm trying to decide between the Mohawk LC12 and Nussbaum HF3S12000 with Otto arms.

 

[zkdiesel]

As I'm making a decision on lifts I'm curious what is the issue with Mohawk arm design? I'm trying to decide between the Mohawk LC12 and Nussbaum HF3S12000 with Otto arms.

It’s bulky, very bulky

Have rotary and Mohawks.
Best universal light truck fit that can do anything is an spo12 rotary. Huge length triple arms front and rear that extend super far bar or in, so short wheel base no an issues. Collumns that are robust but don’t take up excess space.
I’d own 10 of those, they are amazing

 

[gizardlizard]

Wish my Rotary 2 post had three stage rear arms. It has three stage on the front but only two stage on the rear. The three stage arms give you so much more flexibility and the ability to rack more vehicles quickly.