Ask the Expert: What capacity of mobile lift do I need for my job?

Determining the weight of the vehicle being lifted by looking at either the UVW or GVW labeled on the driver’s side at the front of the vehicle can be misleading.

May 4, 2015

Q: What capacity of mobile lift do I need for my job?

A: Determining the weight of the vehicle being lifted by looking at either the UVW (unloaded vehicle weight) or GVW (gross vehicle weight) labeled on the driver’s side at the front of the vehicle can be misleading when it comes to portable lifts. As each column supports a corner of the vehicle (by the tire), you might assume that you could simply divide the GVW/UVW by the number of columns and you have specified your lift. While this method can work, it can be equally misleading. Using a garbage truck as the example, you can expect a weight on the front axle of 20,000 lbs and the rear axles 44,000 lbs. With a total weight of 64,000 lbs and four columns a capacity of 16,000 lbs per column should be enough whereas you would actually require six columns. With 44,000 lbs of weight at the rear, you need at least 44,000 lbs of capacity.

Information provided by: SEFAC, Inc.