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 This is a very important factor to consider when selecting a lifter, not only does it influence the gross weight of the vehicle, it can also influence the operation of your tailgate. If the lifter is too heavy your tailgate will not be able to open and you may have to replace the tailgate lift cylinders. Other factors such as fuel consumption, wear and tear are also worth considering. It is not advisable to fit a lifter weighing more than 400 kgs on a single rear axle vehicle. It is also worth noting that most tailgates will require some modifications to accommodate the lifter. Allowances for this extra weight should also be factored into the equation. Bear in mind that these weights are further exaggerated by the fact that the lifter is located so far behind the rear axle. (see diagram above) Since the mass of the lifter can have such consequential influences, it is important to verify that the advertised weights are in fact the true weights.
Here is an example of what happens to a relatively short 4x2 truck with a 4000mm wheelbase when a 400kg lifter is fitted 2200mm behind the rear axle:  Lifter fitted to truck:  Some adapter frame (grey) is necessary to carry the lifter, let's assume 100kg. The total installed mass is around 500kg and the Center of Gravity (CG) is around 100mm further back from the rear face of the compactor tailgate. Calculating the moment around the front axle, the lifter assembly adds (4m + 2.3m) X 0.5 tonne = 3.15 tonne.meters. Divide this figure by 4 m to see that the rear axle carries an additional .79 tonne. The load on the front axle is reduced by 0.79 - 0.5 = 0.29 tonne. It will readily be appreciated that: - The payload capacity of the truck is reduced by much more than just the 400kg mass of the lifter. - A full load in the truck will raise the load on the axle and may create legal problems of overloading and road damage. - The truck's handling/steering is negatively affected because of the reduced load on the front axle. Tailgate opening:  Because the lifter is quite far from the pivot point, the effect on the tailgate cylinders is very substantial. An increase of 2 tonnes of force on the cylinders is not unusual. We have seen lifters that are advertised as weighing 500kg and have weighed them to find a true weight of 660kg. Our ML220 lifter weighs under 350kg. (More discussion on overall dimensions) |
