Latest update February 23rd, 2017 8:43 PM
Column Footprint Comparisons
Fact: 9 out of 10 lift manufacturers use a 1/4” or 3/8” thick plate steel for their footprints. Only one manufacturer uses 3/4” thick steel plate for their columns “footprint”, Mohawk Lifts. In addition Mohawk’s footprints are wider offering more stability. The “feet” are the largest in the lift business.
In addition to a bigger, wider, thicker and heavier footprint, Mohawk Lifts have more anchor bolts securing the lift to the concrete floor of your shop. The footprint is the part of the lift that contacts your shop floor. By making the footings as large as they do, pressure (as measured in psi) exerted on your shop floor is reduced. Mohawk’s large footprints exert a low pressure on the floor. This is best for any lifts stability and for the shop floor it is mounted to. Other manufacturers with smaller footprints exert a much higher psi on your concrete floor. This can easily cause your floor to crack and provide a much less stable footing. Look at the dramatic difference:
Most fully loaded automotive two post lifts exert between 75 to 150 psi on the garage floor. That could be too much! However no fully loaded Mohawk Lift exerts more than 50 psi on the shop floor. That’s much safer than the other manufacturers. It’s easy to figure psi: simply add the weight of the lift to the fully loaded capacity of the lift, then divide by the total square inches of the lift’s two footprints. Even if your shop has a strong floor, you should be concerned with the lift’s footing. What happens if you outgrow your shop and move to a facility with a not-so-strong floor? All of a sudden, pressure on the shop floor becomes crucially important. The best advice: Plan ahead, long term.
Another way to think about lift stability and pressure on your shop floor is to think about a woman wearing high heels. If she stepped on your foot she could put a hole in it. Yet if she were barefoot, you’d barely notice it. Concentrating all that weight in a high heel or a small lifting footprint, exerts lots of pressure on the floor. It won’t provide much stability for the lift or its load. One ad for a lift company talks about “the small but stable footprint.” It’s either small, or it’s a stable footprint, it can’t be both.
Next, look at the number of anchor bolts securing the lift to the shop floor. Because of leverage the bolts in the rear of the column hold more load than the anchor bolts in the front, or the sides. When looking at different lifts, please note that a Mohawk 10,000 lb. capacity lift uses four 3/4” anchor bolts across the most critical rear of the footprint, while some major brands of lifts only use two anchor bolts. A Mohawk Lift with twice as many anchor bolts, and twice the area on the shop floor will make a Mohawk Lift much safer & stable than other brands. Some lift companies try to compensate for their small footprints by adding a 2” x 2” angle iron to the foot of the lift. These angle irons help secure the lift to the floor, yet they are an annoying obstruction for a mechanic trying to roll his toolbox and jacks around the shop. Instead of working with the lift, you’re working around it. Another disadvantage to using these angles irons to secure the lift is they limit the lift’s ability to stay securely bolted to the floor. Should the first bolt loosen (and maybe even pull out), the second, third or fourth are right behind. Again, this can’t happen with a Mohawk Lift because of the anchor-bolt pattern, and large and stable footprint. Mohawk Lifts don’t have this problem. Mohawk Lifts are easier to work with, faster to work with, simply stated: you make more money when you use Mohawk Lifts.
Comparative Footprints of 10,000 lb. Capacity Lifts
Mohawk vs. Rotary
Mohawk’s large and stable footprint measures 30” wide and is made of 3/4” thick steel plate. Mohawk’s large base with 8 bolts gives stability to the lift, while distributing the load to the shop floor. 
Mohawk vs. Rotary
I love my TP26 lifts my one ton trucks loaded with fuel tanks and tools no problem. I just wish there was a way to use it for cars with low ground clearance.
Any ideas.
Thanks
Brad