346ci
Banned
I'm getting a 10K 2 post lift soon. Trying to justify the costs of a Mohawk which are a little over double the costs of a Bendpak. I've also considered a Nussbaum at $4500.
Who has a Mohawk or Nussbaum 2 post?
- Thread starter 346ci
- Start date
jhrodd
Well-known member
I have a Mohawk System 1, picked it up from a dealer when I was trucking through Oregon about 15-18 ? years ago. So, no freight and no sales tax. Installed it myself. It's been trouble free and it's very robustly built. I just sold my compound here (3 houses, 2 garages, and a shop) and I debated taking the lift with me but the new owner is enthusiastic about it so I'm leaving it behind. I'll probably put a flush mount scissor lift in the new (yet to be built) shop.
Dzlpete
Well-known member
I have a new Mohawk 16k since Feb. Good lift, but for a few reasons, if I had known of Nussbaum, I would have had one of them instead.
I don’t think anything is in the same build league as those 2 companies though.
I don’t think anything is in the same build league as those 2 companies though.
Could you please elaborate on this?
sweetk30
Well-known member
have you dug around mohawks web site and looks at all the pics / info / options ?
i use to me in the repair biss of cars . used a few name brands over the years of lifts . when i am ready to get a new one for my shop at home it will most likly be a mohawk unit if i have my say .
like the fact no cross chains in floor area / no top tie beam for posts for low ceiling height of shop . and equalizer pipe can be run in floor or up top or around any way you basically want .
and they hardly ever come up used . and dealer or repair shops have them working for YEARS and YEARS .
i use to me in the repair biss of cars . used a few name brands over the years of lifts . when i am ready to get a new one for my shop at home it will most likly be a mohawk unit if i have my say .
like the fact no cross chains in floor area / no top tie beam for posts for low ceiling height of shop . and equalizer pipe can be run in floor or up top or around any way you basically want .
and they hardly ever come up used . and dealer or repair shops have them working for YEARS and YEARS .
Last edited:
I worked in a GM and Nissan dealer, the GM had the old one post in grounds that leaked and needed to be replaced, the Nissan shop was new and had Rotarys IIRC(will confirm). We used both of them pretty hard, I felt much safer with the new 2 post's at Nissan.
I've looked at the Mohawk site and talking to a rep now, at $7400 plus $850 for the install, it has me considering other options. I had planned on installing it myself but not sure if I get the 25 year warranty.
The Nussbaum plant is 3 hours away but they don't have a showroom where I can check them out. They are finding me a rep now. With such little feedback here in the US on those lifts, it has me hesitant as well. I really need to put hands/eyes on one.
sweetk30
Well-known member
well the old inground is NOT what you asked about . and i have never used one of them my self .
never heard of or see your second brand listed .
i am in the same boat . the mohawk plant is 4hr's away from me .
they also list were every part comes from in the usa made mohawks right on there site .
installing the lift is real easy . if you can fix a vehicle you can install a lift .
never heard of or see your second brand listed .
i am in the same boat . the mohawk plant is 4hr's away from me .
they also list were every part comes from in the usa made mohawks right on there site .
installing the lift is real easy . if you can fix a vehicle you can install a lift .
Aahz
Well-known member
Mohawks are good lifts for specific applications. In reality, why would you pay for 4000 lbs of steel when 2000 lbs will do the job just as well? The "25 year warranty" is a bit of an issue for customers that I know have bought them. If the cylinder leaks, (which is pretty much what the warranty is for), you need to send the cylinder back to Mohawk to have them reseal it --- or---- they will send you a seal kit (about $150.00 cost) at no charge and you can do it yourself (unless the local Mohawk rep is willing to come out and reseal it for you at no charge). Either way, there really isn't that much of an issue with seals leaking in 2 post lifts, unless the company is using Chinese cylinders.
Nussbaum is trying to make a go of it here in the USA again, but from what I have seen, they aren't making great traction. Traditionally, they have made some fine quality products over in Germany but they seem to be suffering from quality of the products produced here in USA. I have heard rumors of a split between Nussbaum Germany and Nussbaum USA, but I don't know any of the details or even if it's true.
While I would love for every lift to be manufactured domestically, sticking with some of the reputable suppliers will usually guarantee good quality and service, even if the product is made overseas. Rotary Lift & Challenger Lift are the two largest suppliers with actual service and distributor networks (the reason they have the vast majority of the car dealership & national car repair retail markets...
Nussbaum is trying to make a go of it here in the USA again, but from what I have seen, they aren't making great traction. Traditionally, they have made some fine quality products over in Germany but they seem to be suffering from quality of the products produced here in USA. I have heard rumors of a split between Nussbaum Germany and Nussbaum USA, but I don't know any of the details or even if it's true.
While I would love for every lift to be manufactured domestically, sticking with some of the reputable suppliers will usually guarantee good quality and service, even if the product is made overseas. Rotary Lift & Challenger Lift are the two largest suppliers with actual service and distributor networks (the reason they have the vast majority of the car dealership & national car repair retail markets...
JSK
Well-known member
Actually Frank, the reason Rotary Lift and Challenger (both good brands) "have the" USA car dealer and franchise auto repair markets is because they choose to stay in that arena – they have for decades, whereas BendPak caters to general repair shops (all types) and plenty of car dealer business as well. And of course, thousands and thousands of car enthusiasts. If you look at the total auto repair market as a whole, (below) car dealers and franchises deemed to be the "holy-grail” only make up a very small slice of the pie. Just because a brand caters to car dealers does not for one second make them any better in quality, design or service. You’re insulting the intelligence of these readers by claiming so. And Rotary and Challenger are not the only lift companies with national service centers, another boring claim.
BUSINESS TYPE QTY
Automobile Body-Repairing & Painting 45399
Automobile Customizing 3375
Automobile Dealers Performance & Race 937
Automobile Dealers-New Cars 23060
Automobile Dealers-Used Cars 60202
Automobile Emission Testing 417
Automobile Inspection Stations-New/Used 2082
Automobile Lubrication Service 6740
Automobile Radiator Repairing 2085
Automobile Repairing & Service 117741
Automotive Repair Shops 563
Brake Service 2148
Buses-Charter & Rental 3808
Buses-Repairing & Service 177
Motor Homes-Repairing & Service 71
Mufflers & Exhaust Systems-Engine 7885
Recreational Vehicles-Repairing & Svc 2230
Recreational Vehicles-Storage 3746
Tire-Dealers-Retail 32210
Tire-Dealers-Used (Whls) 2793
Tire-Retreading & Repairing 1194
Tractor-Repairing & Service 1072
Transmissions-Automobile 11553
Truck-Dealers-Used 2253
Truck-Repairing & Service 9555
Wheel Alignment-Frame & Axle Svc-Auto 867
GRAND TOTAL 344163
rburke65
Well-known member
I have a Mohawk that I bought used...25 years old. $1500 and have had no issues with the lift, although it doesn't get a lot of use....not like everyday. The lift is built like a tank. Mohawk has been helpful answering any of my questions. At the GM assembly plant that I worked for 30 years, that's the only lift they used.
James E
Well-known member
I'm sorry. I can't hear the name Nussbaum without leaving this here... .
kkenney
Well-known member
XJSuperman
Well-known member
Dad has two; a 9000lb and a 12000lb Mohawk. Both are excellent and have done their jobs with no complaints. The 12k has been in place for almost 30 years with no service ever needed. It picks up anything we want, the largest being a Chevy C70 single axle dumptruck. I grew up with that one and am spoiled because of it. I don't like standing under anything less than a Mohawk. If you've ever used one or operated one you know why.
This is the main purpose of the thread, why should I pay double to have a Mohawk when a Bendpak, Rotary, etc. will work? I still got time to ponder and hopefully get my hands on a Nussbaum. A local dealer is building a new shop, selling their Rotary lifts in 7-8 months, may wait for that..
Thanks all, some great info!
Aahz
Well-known member
hmmm...I think someone is a bit hurt I didn't include their company in "quality lift manufacturers"....LOL
JSK
Well-known member
Mohawk, Rotary, Challenger (and of course BendPak) are all worthy contenders. If you choose either, I think you would be pleased with your purchase. I am curious however why Nussbaum would be considered a top-shelf product. Is it the German name, is it the high price?
Nussbaum played in the US market over 25 years ago. The strange looking “Euro” two-post lift with the 90-degree rotated columns and German design. People flocked to it thinking it was this incredible (new) feat of engineering and design. The fit and finish was sure European and the electronics, neat. Then the hype quickly faded as the gorgeous lift with the willowy posts and funky carriages got hit with Detroit iron. They fell apart – mostly columns and carriages related.
One thing that US (ALI Member) lift companies have to contend with is America’s love of everything big. Vehicles in Europe are generally smaller. Driving something even just the size of a Ford F-150 around Europe would be ridiculously impractical because of the size of roads and parking spaces. Most of Europe’s metropolitan cities have older infrastructure so it's just easier for people to get around in smaller vehicles. Taxes and duties play a big part as well with larger gas guzzlers way more expensive. You just don’t see dually trucks rolling around town and their SUV’s are not Explorer’s or Expedition’s, their compact SUV’s.
2018's most popular cars in Europe
https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/industry/2018s-most-popular-cars-europe-%E2%80%93-country
2018's most popular cars in USA
http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2018/07/june-2018-the-best-selling-vehicles-in-america-every-vehicle-ranked/
Nussbaum lifts are not typically used to getting beat up. They were not over two decades ago and they are probably not now. Unless they changed dramatically. The look of the lifts seems awfully familiar though. You can find quite a few on eBay and other swap-meet type websites.
Nussbaum came and went because their lifts did not stand up to the abuse US vehicles delivered. Maybe if their price point was better balanced they would have had a better chance. If your stable of cars represents what you’d see driving around Hamburg, then by all means spend $1500.00 more for German engineering, but if you plan to lift trucks and big cars, I think you owe it to yourself to do a little more research.
JSK
Well-known member
Sorry Frank. I still like you. See you in Vegas if you're going to SEMA.
aircommuter
Well-known member
I have a Nussbaum 7000# and a Bendpack 10,000#, I like them both. There are pictures in my auto shop photos.
I have a Mohawk system 1 at home, love it. No floor plates, cables or sheet metal post to deal with. It does cost more then the bendpaks or rotary lifts at the shop but after seeing the quality it didn’t matter. It’s rated at 10,000 but can handle 15,000 if you are in a bind. Nice to drop a trans out of a dually standing up.
The German name, if they are anything like the pro Stihl saws, really good stuff. The price is in line with some of the Challenger lifts.
After talking to the NC plant and not being able to look at one, it has moved down on the list, almost off. Thanks for the info on that company.
I did speak to a Bendpak rep today and sounds like they gave me a better price than on the website, I don't have much time to think about it before the next price increase though.
DriftlessOne
Member
I wish Mohawk made some smaller 4 post lifts. I’m looking at getting the Bendpak HD14T only because it has the tallest clearance under it. If Mohawk made one similar I would buy it.
I have a Mohawk System I in my hobby shop and I love it. I don't understand why people price shop for a lift and then pay for installation. As stated before, if you aren't handy enough to install the lift by reading the clear installation instructions, then you probably aren't qualified to do a brake job safely either. I planned for the lift prior to pouring my garage floor and installed the hydraulic lines UNDER the floor as well as the electric conduit. Thus I have no floor plates or overhead cables or lines between the posts. It's real handy to be able to roll anything around between the posts and never have to worry about lifting a tall vehicle too high and smashing the top of the vehicle. On the system I, each column weighs about 1,000lbs. Most of the Asian lifts weigh about 1,000lbs total including the shipping crate. The one thing I wasn't impressed about my Mohawk was that I still had to shim the base (my concrete was level) because the base wasn't perfectly perpendicular to the column (on either column). Looked to be some warping during the welding process.
Whether you buy an asian (Rotary, atlas, bentpack, challenger,etc.) made lift or a Mohawk, as long as both are ALI certified, they should be perfectly safe. Thus I can understand that many people choose the cheaper lifts for light hobby work. To me the selling feature was no overhead or floor obstructions. If those obstructions aren't an issue for you then the other options start to be more attractive.
Brian
Whether you buy an asian (Rotary, atlas, bentpack, challenger,etc.) made lift or a Mohawk, as long as both are ALI certified, they should be perfectly safe. Thus I can understand that many people choose the cheaper lifts for light hobby work. To me the selling feature was no overhead or floor obstructions. If those obstructions aren't an issue for you then the other options start to be more attractive.
Brian
I haven't looked it up for about 6 years, but I was under the impression at the time that Mohawk was the only US made lift 10,000lbs and under. Many of the other manufacturers did have US made lifts over 10,000lbs. I went to research this further, but the rotarylifts.com website is currently DOWN. But from a rotary salesperson back in 2008:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24777
post #8, stated that the Rotary Revolution line is made in China. I cannot confirm at this time if all their lower capacity lines are or what or if rotary is still in business as their website is down. Most people don't care about the COO, and realistically as long as the lift is ALI certified it should be safe...
Brian
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24777
post #8, stated that the Rotary Revolution line is made in China. I cannot confirm at this time if all their lower capacity lines are or what or if rotary is still in business as their website is down. Most people don't care about the COO, and realistically as long as the lift is ALI certified it should be safe...
Brian
Last edited:
Revolution are Rotarys cheap line made to compete with other cheap lines. Rotary on the other hand are made in the USA.
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk
You can drop by the manufacturing facility if you arrange something beforehand. They don't have a showroom, no. They usually have at least one lift assembled for end-of-line testing at any given time though. I've been there recently (I'm in Charlotte), and it's just a regular steel fab facility, just like countless other companies. They're making and selling a lot of lifts to a lot of dealerships.
I do really like the Nussbaum design though from an engineering standpoint. Pull-type hydraulics instead of push-type, lots of nice elegant details. They're marginally cheaper than a Rotary SPOA10, but not much (close enough to not matter). I was just standing next to that Rotary lift earlier today, and there's things I like about both the Rotary and the Nussbaum. I'd buy either, but I like the Nussbaum a little more for my own personal preferences, and it's also made locally. I'm going to get one when my garage is built later this year.
Rotary, Mohawk, Nussbaum are the only US-made units as far as I know. Even Rotary uses some China parts, like the hydraulic cylinders. The couple of Nussbaum parts that aren't made in the US are made in Germany (hydraulic cylinders, etc).
I'll probably buy a 4-post Rotary down the road for a parking lift to complement the 2-post, if they're made in the US. Nussbaum doesn't make one, so US-made choices are pretty limited. I haven't really looked into that much yet.
Last edited:
Kmp259
Well-known member
FYI .... we've had this Nussbaum Lift for 10 years and it has worked Great....
Perfect for lifting Cars and Trucks and will lift Vehicles all the way up to our ceiling.......Great for Brake Jobs, tire rotations & Exhaust Systems.....works with our Catwalks better then a 2 post lift....
Perfect for lifting Cars and Trucks and will lift Vehicles all the way up to our ceiling.......Great for Brake Jobs, tire rotations & Exhaust Systems.....works with our Catwalks better then a 2 post lift....
Attachments
bottom feeder
Well-known member
Brakes don't weigh hundreds of pounds.
XJSuperman
Well-known member
The entire internet will thank you to post a classified ad in the CLASSIFIEDS forum section, and not hijack someone else's thread. I assume GJ is like other forums in that you need a certain number of posts (most likely 25) before being allowed to post a for sale ad. Do not post your lift for sale in someone else's thread.
sweetk30
Well-known member
he did do that . he was bumping his post count to get the 5 min count .
i helped him figure it all out .
XJSuperman
Well-known member
Fantastic. Seen all too often on my other forums.
onlyn8v
Well-known member
Im looking at buying a used Mohawk lift from someone I know. Just trying ot figure out the capacity, and price. When I was last there I didnt look for the model number on the serial plate (he said he was selling lift with house)
I have a Mohawk System 1. I replaced my 30 yr old Hoffman lift and after seeing the robust build of a Mohawk nothing can compare. There is no plastic or hoses, just a single stainless steel line overhead for the remote column. The base plates are 20x30" and everything else is 3/4" steel and 8 double sealed bearings on each carriage lift. The welds are stunning. I was very fortunate to buy mine privately from an older gentleman that rarely used it. If you can find one on CL grab it! Expect to pay 2200-2800. Very easy to set up. I am in zip code 10984 NY